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When Alice in Chains' debut album, Facelift, was released in 1990, about a year before Nirvana's Nevermind, the thriving Seattle scene barely registered on the national musical radar outside of underground circles (although Soundgarden's major-label debut, Louder Than Love, was also released that year and brought them a Grammy nomination). That started to change when MTV jumped all over the video for "Man in the Box," giving the group a crucial boost and helping to pave the way for grunge's popular explosion toward the end of 1991. Although their dominant influences -- Black Sabbath, the Stooges -- were hardly unique on the Seattle scene, Alice in Chains were arguably the most metallic of grunge bands, which gave them a definite appeal outside the underground; all the same, the group's sinister, brooding, suffocating sound resembled little else gaining wide exposure on the 1990 hard rock scene. Neither hedonistic nor especially technically accomplished, Alice in Chains' songs were mostly slow, oppressive dirges with a sense of melody that was undeniable, yet which crept along over the murky sludge of the band's instrumental attack in a way that hardly fit accepted notions of what made hard rock catchy and accessible. Although some parts of Facelift sink into turgid, ponderous bombast (particularly over the erratic second half), and the lyrics are sometimes immature, the overall effect is fresh, exciting, and powerful. While Alice in Chains would go on to do better and more consistent work, Facelift was one of the most important records in establishing an audience for grunge and alternative rock among hard rock and heavy metal listeners, and with its platinum sales certification, it also made Alice in Chains the first Seattle band to break through to a wider, less exclusively underground audience.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
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Alice In Chains, Associated Performer, Main Artist - J. Cantrell, Composer, Lyricist - Layne Staley - Sean Kinney, Drums, Percussion - Michael Starr, Bass - Kevin Shuss - Jerry Cantrell, Guitar - DAVE JERDEN, Producer
(P) 1990 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Alice In Chains, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Layne Staley - L. Staley, Composer, Lyricist - J. Cantrell, Composer, Lyricist - Sean Kinney, Drums, Percussion - M. C. Starr, Composer, Lyricist - Michael Starr, Bass - S. Kinney, Composer, Lyricist - Kevin Shuss - Jerry Cantrell, Guitar - DAVE JERDEN, Producer
(P) 1990 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Alice In Chains, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Layne Staley - J. Cantrell, Composer, Lyricist - Sean Kinney, Drums, Percussion - Michael Starr, Bass - Kevin Shuss - Jerry Cantrell, Guitar - DAVE JERDEN, Producer
(P) 1990 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Alice In Chains, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Layne Staley - Jerry Cantrell, Composer, Guitar, Lyricist - Sean Kinney, Drums, Percussion - RON CHAMPAGNE, Engineer - LESLIE ANN JONES, Assistant Engineer - Michael Starr, Bass - Kevin Shuss - DAVE JERDEN, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Recording Engineer - Bob Lacivita, Mixing Engineer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1990 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Alice In Chains, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Layne Staley - L. Staley, Composer, Lyricist - J. Cantrell, Composer, Lyricist - Sean Kinney, Drums, Percussion - RON CHAMPAGNE, Engineer - LESLIE ANN JONES, Assistant Engineer - Michael Starr, Bass - DAVE JERDEN, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Recording Engineer - Kevin Shuss - Jerry Cantrell, Guitar - Bob Lacivita, Mixing Engineer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1990 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Alice In Chains, Associated Performer, Main Artist - DAVE JERDEN, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Recording Engineer - Layne Staley - L. Staley, Composer, Lyricist - J. Cantrell, Composer, Lyricist - Sean Kinney, Drums, Percussion - RON CHAMPAGNE, Engineer - LESLIE ANN JONES, Assistant Engineer - Michael Starr, Bass - Kevin Shuss - Jerry Cantrell, Guitar - Bob Lacivita, Mixing Engineer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1990 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Alice In Chains, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Layne Staley - Jerry Cantrell, Composer, Guitar, Lyricist - Mike Starr, Composer, Lyricist - Sean Kinney, Composer, Drums, Lyricist, Percussion - RON CHAMPAGNE, Engineer - LESLIE ANN JONES, Assistant Engineer - Michael Starr, Bass - DAVE JERDEN, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Recording Engineer - Kevin Shuss - Bob Lacivita, Mixing Engineer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1990 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Alice In Chains, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Layne Staley - J. Cantrell, Composer, Lyricist - Sean Kinney, Drums, Percussion - RON CHAMPAGNE, Engineer - LESLIE ANN JONES, Assistant Engineer - Michael Starr, Bass - Kevin Shuss - DAVE JERDEN, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Recording Engineer - Jerry Cantrell, Guitar - Bob Lacivita, Mixing Engineer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1990 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Alice In Chains, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Layne Staley - J. Cantrell, Composer, Lyricist - Sean Kinney, Drums, Percussion - RON CHAMPAGNE, Engineer - LESLIE ANN JONES, Assistant Engineer - Michael Starr, Bass - Kevin Shuss - DAVE JERDEN, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Recording Engineer - Jerry Cantrell, Guitar - Bob Lacivita, Mixing Engineer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1990 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Alice In Chains, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Layne Staley - L. Staley, Composer, Lyricist - J. Cantrell, Composer, Lyricist - Sean Kinney, Drums, Percussion - RON CHAMPAGNE, Engineer - LESLIE ANN JONES, Assistant Engineer - M. Starr, Composer, Lyricist - Michael Starr, Bass - DAVE JERDEN, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Recording Engineer - Kevin Shuss - Jerry Cantrell, Guitar - Bob Lacivita, Mixing Engineer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1990 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Alice In Chains, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Layne Staley - J. Cantrell, Composer, Lyricist - Sean Kinney, Drums, Percussion - RON CHAMPAGNE, Engineer - LESLIE ANN JONES, Assistant Engineer - Michael Starr, Bass - Kevin Shuss - DAVE JERDEN, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Recording Engineer - Jerry Cantrell, Guitar - Bob Lacivita, Mixing Engineer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1990 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Alice In Chains, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Layne Staley - L. Staley, Composer, Lyricist - J. Cantrell, Composer, Lyricist - Sean Kinney, Drums, Percussion - RON CHAMPAGNE, Engineer - LESLIE ANN JONES, Assistant Engineer - Michael Starr, Bass - DAVE JERDEN, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Recording Engineer - Kevin Shuss - Jerry Cantrell, Guitar - Bob Lacivita, Mixing Engineer - Eddy Schreyer, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1990 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
When Alice in Chains' debut album, Facelift, was released in 1990, about a year before Nirvana's Nevermind, the thriving Seattle scene barely registered on the national musical radar outside of underground circles (although Soundgarden's major-label debut, Louder Than Love, was also released that year and brought them a Grammy nomination). That started to change when MTV jumped all over the video for "Man in the Box," giving the group a crucial boost and helping to pave the way for grunge's popular explosion toward the end of 1991. Although their dominant influences -- Black Sabbath, the Stooges -- were hardly unique on the Seattle scene, Alice in Chains were arguably the most metallic of grunge bands, which gave them a definite appeal outside the underground; all the same, the group's sinister, brooding, suffocating sound resembled little else gaining wide exposure on the 1990 hard rock scene. Neither hedonistic nor especially technically accomplished, Alice in Chains' songs were mostly slow, oppressive dirges with a sense of melody that was undeniable, yet which crept along over the murky sludge of the band's instrumental attack in a way that hardly fit accepted notions of what made hard rock catchy and accessible. Although some parts of Facelift sink into turgid, ponderous bombast (particularly over the erratic second half), and the lyrics are sometimes immature, the overall effect is fresh, exciting, and powerful. While Alice in Chains would go on to do better and more consistent work, Facelift was one of the most important records in establishing an audience for grunge and alternative rock among hard rock and heavy metal listeners, and with its platinum sales certification, it also made Alice in Chains the first Seattle band to break through to a wider, less exclusively underground audience.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:54:02
- Main artists: Alice In Chains
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
(P) 1990 Sony Music Entertainment
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