5 Essential Alice In Chains Songs

5. We Die Young - Facelift 1990

Let's start with a balls out rocker and the opening track from debut, 'Facelift'. The main riff to this song is so damn heavy that you should wear a crash helmet when listening to it. The chorus will lodge itself in your brain and perfectly introduces you to the twin vocal harmonies between Staley and guitarist/main song-writer, Jerry Cantrell. These vocal exercises have often been imitated, never matched. Often, musicians will use either 3rd or 5ths, and although Alice did use those, they also used lesser utilised 4ths, 6ths and 7ths to give a creepier sound to their style. Not to mention the way in which the tone of the two singers' voices intertwines so well. We get to hear Cantrell's very cool and off-the-wall approach to lead guitar playing with a warped, little solo to add to the songs sinister feel. Staley's voice is at the more, heated, aggressive end of his spectrum. A fine way to introduce the uninitiated to the band, if you happen to know some deprived souls who have yet to be exposed to the wonderland of Alice in Chains.