14 Years Later, Still the Best

It must have been in 1990 I was in a record store in Ballard, WA, asked the clerk what he thought of this album “Facelift” by some band called “Alice in Chains”. I’d read about it in a review in the NY Times of three albums from Seattle bands Alice, Soundgarden, and I’m not sure who the third one was but I don’t think it was Nirvana, maybe Screaming Trees. Anyway, I’ll never forget what the clerk said. He got a glazed look in his eyes and said, “Dude. I’ll take it song for song over Houses of the Holy, any day.” That was weird since Houses of the Holy has been my rock album gold standard since the first time I heard it. With a recommendation like that of course I bought it. I was skeptical at the time but the clerk was right: Facelift was an awesome record, and Alice in Chains was an awesome band. After a 14-year absence from the recording studio, AIC’s released a new album, Black Gives Way to Blue. Judging by this song (Check My Brain), the band’s as good as ever.

Dude. After I give the new album a listen, I’ll let you know if I take it song for song over Facelift, any day.