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The Unplugged acoustic series is one of the best concepts to emerge from MTV in recent years, and Alice in Chains' performance ranks among the best of the MTV Unplugged series. Alice in Chains was one of the heaviest bands to emerge from the Seattle grunge scene in the early 1990's, and listening to albums like Dirt and especially Facelift it's hard to imagine the band in an acoustic setting, stripped of all of the pummeling heaviness of those two albums. But when you consider the more melodic direction the band took with their Sap and Jar of Flies EPs, you knew the idea had potential. To sum up the band's Unplugged performance in one word - powerful. As much as I love the Alice in Chains studio albums, once you strip the songs down to the acoustic level it exposes just how good these songs really are, and showcases the incredible songwriting talents of Jerry Cantrell. Layne Staley's emotional vocals are another key element of this album's power. The late vocalist had the ability to channel so much of his self-destructive energy into his performances, and this is no exception. No matter what your opinions on addiction, it's hard not to be moved by Staley's singing, particularly on songs like "Down in a Hole" and "Would". Ultimately, I think this MTV Unplugged album is the best of what Alice in Chains had to offer. With few exceptions, I prefer the acoustic songs on this album to their studio counterparts. They just seem to resonate more in the acoustic setting. In the end, Alice in Chains Unplugged serves as the band's crowning achievement as well as a testament to wasted potential and what might have been. All Alice in Chains fans should own this album, as should anyone who's into alternative rock, grunge, or hard rock in general.Read full review
This is a brilliant and essential CD - one of the top 5 albums ever, IMO, and simply THE best 'live' album to date. This excellent performance is also one of the best recorded of all time, leaving one with the feeling of being there, accompanied by goosebumps when played on a well-executed audio system. If I were only permitted to choose 5 cd albums to play on a deserted island (that happened to have a good audio system and electricity), this would definitely be one of them. RIP Layne Staley.
I decided to buy it because I think they were (are) one of the greatest grunge rock bands ever. Their harmonies are phenomenal, and I wanted to hear them live. I love everything about this CD. For a live performance, they are right on the money on every track. There is nothing I dislike about this CD and will enjoy listening to it many times over for years to come. The new Alice in Chains is playing in my local area in a small venue, and were the fastest sellout ever for this venue, so this is probably as close to actually seeing (hearing) them live as I'll get.
Ridicules to ask if this is a good album... it's one of the best live sets you will ever hear. If you are not familiar with Alice In Chains or if you are one of the originals like myself you will listen to this till your cd player breaks. I never get tired of listening to the guitars and Layne and Jerry's voices. These guys came out at the brink of grunge but were so much more than to be labeled that. A unique sound, extreme talent and rest the soul of Layne Staley. There will never be another duo like Layne and Jerry! Get your hands on this album, you won't regret it~
This is, without a doubt, one of the best CDs I've ever heard. Such a great group; so diverse with their music. The acoustical sound is amazing. They honestly sound better live than they do on a studio mix. The only "downer" is knowing that Layne is no longer with us... what a great loss to music. Even if you're not a big AnC fan, I highly recommend this CD - you won't regret it. I purchased this copy for a good friend who is 69 years old... and she loves it.
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