Customer Reviews

Facelift

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Facelift by Alice In Chains started it all. Grunge began here. So did one of the greatest bands of all time, Alice In Chains. Jerry Cantrell's guitar playing is amazing and so are his lyrics. Michael Starr and Sean Kinney's rythm is tight as always, and Layne Staleys voice sounds as amzing as ever!

The album starts off with one of Alice In Chains best songs, 'We Die Young' is hard, heavy, and scary! 'Man In The Box' is next and it just maybe Alice In Chains best song. It has one of Jerry Cantrells best guitar solos. Next is the classic 'Sea Of Sorrow' which is also one of Alice In Chains best songs. 'Bleed The Freak' is one of my all time favorite Alice In Chains songs, its just a killer song! 'I Cant Remember' is another great song, a little slower but still heavy as hell! 'Love, Hate, Love' is a great hard rocker, its kinda crazy though! 'It Aint Like That' doesnt really stand out but its still a really good song. 'Sunshine' is a killer hard rock song with awesome guitar! 'Put You Down' is a strange but good song. 'Confusion' is a really strange song but I love it. 'I Know Something about you' has Beatles-esq lyrics but metal music, is killer! 'Real Thing' is the perfect song to end the album.

Buy this you will love it and I can garanty that!!!

Years ago, MTV played "Man in the Box" on Headbanger's Ball and I was intrigued enough to purchase this cassette. Wow! Talk about blown away. While "Man in the Box" is very strong, the rest of the album is just as good. If you like this group, you'll understand the perfect combination of powerful metal and harmony (with Layne Staley's unique voice). This is definitely heavier than their later productions (Jar of Flies, SAP). And, for that reason mainly, it is also their BEST.

Facelift is not just a great 1st release, it is a great album. Period. From "We Die Young" to "Real Thing" the album is a metal and grunge masterpiece. As is typical with Alice in Chains, there NO are letdowns. A few of my favorite tracks are "Bleed the Freak"(OUTSTANDING), "Real Thing", "Sunshine", and "I Can't Remember" not to mention the greatness of "Man in the Box" Simply put, if Facelift kicks ass. Although their career wasn't as long as others, AIC is my favorite band and is especially underrated when compared to the other 3 major Seattle groups, each of which I am also a fan
I must also recommend any of Alice in Chains later releases, including Sap and Jar of Flies. For Jerry Cantrell to not be mentioned on Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarist list" is blasphemy. How Kurt Cobain can be named 12 and Cantrell not even on the "top 100" is BS.

By taking Alice in Chains out of the
underground,Facelift is an important
album that established an audience
between those who listen to grunge,
Alternative rock,Hard rock and Heavy
metal.

Facelift is a classic A.C.I.album.
Featuring the #1 hit single "Man in
a box".Other popular track's include
"We die young","Sea of sorrow"and "Bleed
the freak".

I only saw A.C.I.once opening up
for Van Halen/Sammy Hagar.I'm glad
I got the chance to see them at least
once before Layne passed away.

This is my second favorite album by
A.C.I.and it's one of their best album's
ever made.

This album is a must own for every
die hard AC.I.fan.

Is there anybody who can sing like Layne Staley? I don't think there is and this cd prooves it. Not only are the vocals excellent, the songs are all great. The guitars have a nice crunch to them and some cool solos. This cd is well worth the $11 I payed for it, it's one of my favorites. If you like metal/grunge/rock you will love this cd!

Alice In Chains' debut album has it's high points and low points. The best songs are "Love Hate Love", "Confusion", and "Man In The Box". Among the less great songs are "Sea Of Sorrow" and "Real Thing". "Love Hate Love" is easily the best song on the album, utilizing Layne's voice and Jerry's guitar for what they do best, while showcasing lyrics that, while disturbing, create a dynamic of pain and beauty that the group would display flawlessly on the rest of their albums. "Facelift" may not be a great album, but it's a good place for any rock fan to start.

layne staley[r.i.p.}was one of the most underrated metal vocalists ever.i just loved that guy's voice.facelift might not be alice in chains best cd but it's still a cd all serious hard rock/metal fans should own.the album starts off with we die young[this is the best track on this cd and my favorite a.i.c track after them bones]man in the box is perhaps the most known track on this cd and it's a great track,sea of sorrow is a track i can listen to over and over[great vocals by staley on this track}bleed the freak is a decent track but nothing great,love hate love seems like filler to me,it ain't like that is perhaps one of the most overlooked tracks on this cd{i just love that track],sunshine is average at best,put you down is o.k. but i find it gets boring after a couple of listens,confusion is another cool track,i know something bout you is another underrated track on this cd[great song]the last track is real thing ,this is perhaps the low point of this cd{not a good track at all}overall this is a pretty good cd by alice in chains,a cd that is worth the effort and cash to get.

Nirvana gets credit for everything... ALICE IN CHAINS came out way before Nirvana did. ALICE IN CHAINS had a much greater influence than Nirvana ever did on 90's music.
When all of the alternative poseurs came out in the mid 90's (Caroline's Spine, Local H, all that evil sounding drug influenced stuff) they drew much more from the thrashing and minor harmonics of AIC than anything by Nirvana. AIC set the precedent for the transcendence of metal, something beautiful that quickly rotted with commercialism. The only thing Nirvana inspired was Foo Fighters and Puddle of Mudd

This Alice in Chains' debut album only partially represents what the whole AIC thing was about. Just like many debut efforts, it mixes influences, styles and trends, and makes an impression of a band full of creativity but yet unsure of a direction they would be heading. So, we have AIC trademark sludgy riffing and slow tempos on tracks like "Sunshine" or "Confusion", or most impressive "Love, Hate, Love". But alngside them we also have more lively mid-tempo songs like "We Die Young", or "Put You Down". The intro to "I Know Somethin' (About You)" could very well be placed on any Red Hot Chili Peppers album. And the closer, "The Real Thing", is an energetic hard-rocker.

Alice in Chains clearly find their inspiration in the legacy of such notable British acts as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, taking the bluesy touch from the first band, and downtuned guitar sludge from the second. Layne Staley's very diverse vocals are at their best on this record. Obviously, drugs haven't yet taken their toll on him. As usual, Jerry Cantrell's guitar is the cornerstone of the songwriting, and he also contributes with good backing vocals, creating multi-layered vocal patterns with Layne. The rhythm-section also suites the music and presents versatility in styling.

Though the songwriting at times is debatable here, and the difference in song-styles might turn off some listeners, still it's a very recommended album. Somehow it's emotionally uplifting to me.

Alice in Chains released the first CD of the grunge movement perhaps unwittingly. Facelift was marketed originally as a metal CD with a bit of a twist but when Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and others in the Seattle area really got the grunge movement moving in the next couple years, their pull pushed AIC the rest of the way into the grunge genre. But this album really isn't that far from Dirt musically. While it is not as good as Dirt, Facelift is still a great debut and a great taste of things to come. Listening to it leaves you wanting more than just a taste of Alice's music. Facelift is a pretty consistent CD, with most of the songs after the first few pretty good yet not great, contrasting with the mountain peaks and gutter lows of Dirt.
Facelift starts off with a bang with the engaging and mind-blasting opener "We Die Young." The rage seethes and the head rings and as soon as the song jolts to an abrupt halt just two and a half minutes long, you are hooked. From there it only gets better with "Man In A Box," the defining song of Alice in Chains' career. Who can forget the grating, booming crunch of the opening guitar and Layne's full-throated vocals. You know from the beginning that this is the song to remember. On the chorus, Layne and Jerry make the perfect, if odd, vocal combination with Jerry's mournful answers fitted neatly between Layne's incredible fully exerted cries. And of course, Cantrell doesn't disappoint on the solo either. Hit repeat a couple dozen times and enjoy all of this one. After that, AIC completely jerks you around and completely surprises you with some almost funky keyboard that gives way to the familiar sounds of trademark AIC music. This song is a little softer still with a strangely catchy chorus. Though those three are the highlight, the rest of the CD rarely disappoints. Facelift features arguably Jerry Cantrell's best work, particularly on solos, and Layne's vocals, always bearing new slight variations with each recording, have their most strained, edgy, urgent feel here, fitting the more edgy, urgent sound of Facelift.