The Essential
Samuel's Review
This is the first album I heard from Alice in Chains and since then they have become a part of my life. I am only 17 years old and I heard this album two years ago when I was trying to understand what the hell grunge was, and I remember that in that time I felt so much depressed, I felt so much weird, it was not a good feeling; it was a feeling that consumed the inside of me, but when I heard this album I realized someone else, somewhere else and in sometime else, felt something similar too. The best thing was that he expressed that feeling through the music and he had a very good musical talent with songs such as: "We Die Young", "Would?","Dirt", "Man in the Box", "Love, Hate, Love", "Over Now", "Nutshell" and you know the rest of the list; those are the best for me, but all the songs of this album have a common characteristic: they all are damn good with an original and unique sound that I have never before and I do not think I will.
T.'s Review
Very close to being an essential collection-this is definitely the best CD to buy if you are just getting into AiC or need a 'best of' for your car/friends to have all the "hits" to listen to. However, "Down In A Hole" one of AiC's only ballads and definitely one of their best songs and a popular retail single and radio promo single along with an MTV music video. The song is not only a personal favorite but a huge public hit so why wasn't it included? Also it includes virtually all of Sap and a song from every album but why wasn't a single song included from their 2000 album Live??? It would be nice if at least one song from that album was included. I remember "Man in the Box" being a radio promo and it being a moderate hit, at least this could've been on The Essential.
Overall this CD is amazing, the songs have been remastered and sound much better, the artwork is cool and includes photos never seen and a lengthy biography and is AiC's largest, most comprehensive booklet with interesting facts-who knew Mike Inez sang background vocals with Cantrell on the two songs from Last Action Hero??? It also includes a small hint that AiC is back for good-'baldy' card. This entire collection marks a footnote to the end of AiC with Layne and hints at a new start without Layne. The title is appropriate and this has been done much better than 2001's lame artwork and packaging for Greatest Hits. The Essential seems to have more backing and input from the band and is directed at true fans-old and new. If I could have my way as a huge AiC fan I would have included "Down In A Hole" & at least one track from their Live album. That would be my idea of The Essential AiC. However, this is the best that they've offered since 1996. For fans of AiC this is Essential.
Matt's Review
This compilation of Alice songs is really great. I was really pumped when I saw it because my Dirt CD is just broken from being played so often, as is my Jar of Flies and Facelift. I was extremely surprised that this CD's compilers didn't just fucking ignore songs like "Hate to Feel" and "Godsmack", which were missing from greatest hits. My only complaints were the CD lacked "Down in a Hole", which is absolutely an essential, both studio and unplugged versions. The crowd's reaction when Layne said "This song is called Down in A Hole" during the MTV unplugged show should be enough to justify this songs presence on the CD.
One of my personal favorites, "Don't Follow" from Jar of Flies, was also not included. Being one of the rare AiC songs written in a major key, plus the fact that it is pure beauty, it should have also been included. Also, adding some jingling bells or changing the filter on Staley's voice does not justify the songs as remixes. Should have kept the originals. But mad props on the inclusion of "Get Born Again" and "Died." Very proud of you for that. So I thank AiC greatly for putting this CD out, giving me the ability to rock on for another couple months until this CD breaks from constant rotation. Keep rockin, and RIP Layne Staley, the greatest and most powerful singer in history.
