# New Alice in Chains **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 15, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-alice-in-chains/506527 "2009-08-15T16:03:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cgg419](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cgg419/32/2847_2.png) [@cgg419](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cgg419)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-alice-in-chains/506527/1 "2009-08-15T16:03:48Z")
I’ll admit right away, I was skeptical. Layne had such a distinctive voice that “how could they ever replace him?” Then the first song was released, “A Looking In View”. Pretty damn good, although a little bit long and repetitive. I actually had much higher hopes than before, but I was still skeptical. Along comes yesterday, and I see that the offical first single, “Check My Brain” has been released to radio. . . . BLEW ME AWAY…Classic AIC in my opinion, probably in no small part to the new vocalist, William Duvall, not being pushed to the spotlight, although he is from all evidence an amazing vocalist. What does everybody else think about the new music? ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-alice-in-chains/506527/2 "2009-08-15T16:28:43Z")
Layne Staley was really not that huge of a loss as Jerry sang about 50% of the time anyway. For all intents and purposes they shouldn’t sound a whole lot different with a different lead singer. That said, though there are some songs I love by AIC (Nutshell, Don’t Follow) I’ve always thought they were fairly overrated. Their songs all sound alot alike. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-alice-in-chains/506527/3 "2009-08-15T17:23:31Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Layne Staley was really not that huge of a loss as Jerry sang about 50% of the time anyway. For all intents and purposes they shouldn’t sound a whole lot different with a different lead singer. More like 25-35% of the time I think. Layne was definitely the lead singer of the band I think his voice was so amazing and unique that he made up a big part of their sound. Having said that, I did like the new single. Anywhere to hear “Check My Brain” online? I see the live versions on youtube, but no recorded album versions. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-alice-in-chains/506527/4 "2009-08-15T17:25:46Z")
Nevermind, I found it. [Check My Brain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmYUGVgOi00) Wow, it really is quite good. ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-alice-in-chains/506527/5 "2009-08-16T00:33:52Z")
I’m guessing that, while Layne was definitely talented and had a distinctive voice, the trademark sound that was AIC was due to Jerry’s unique harmonies. If I didn’t know that Layne had died, and that this was a replacement singer, I wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference. And this is coming from a former fan, back when they were in their prime. S^G ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-alice-in-chains/506527/6 "2009-08-16T01:27:47Z")
> [@Satellite\_Guy](#): > > If I didn’t know that Layne had died, and that this was a replacement singer, I wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference. Right, but mostly 'cause the new guy actually does sound similar to Layne, which is saying something. He’s not imitating him, either, he just seems to have a similar sign. ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-alice-in-chains/506527/7 "2009-08-16T01:51:34Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Right, but mostly 'cause the new guy actually does sound similar to Layne, which is saying something. He’s not imitating him, either, he just seems to have a similar sign. Oh, I’m not disputing that he sounds similar, but I saw the video of **A Looking In View** , that was mentioned (in here, I think), and didn’t find as much of a similarity in his voice, as there is in **Check My Brain**. Then again, perhaps the song style itself is more trademark AIC in “Brain”… Either way, I think it’s a good song, and if I was still into that scene like I was in the 90’s, I’d love it. S^G