Is Alice in Chains really the most BELOVED grunge band?

Texas Boy · 05-13-2022, 03:35 AM

I always get the impression that Alice in Chains gets the most love out of "Big 4 of grunge", despite not being the most popular (it's obviously Nirvana, but they have a ton of haters; Pearl Jam is also much more successful than AIC and they're also quite polarizing).

What do you think? Is AIC the most beloved/least hated grunge band and WHY?

petitbby · 07-13-2022, 08:48 PM

Idk. Alice in Chains has a crazy biography, but literally all the grunge bands do. also RIP to layne his vocals are so gravelly and emotional. his screech sounds like a cry for help. its beautiful.

SGR · 07-13-2022, 10:30 PM

I don't know how you'd quantify most beloved. But they were special. Dirt, their self-titled album, Jar of Flies and even Sap to an extent were all excellent. Not to mention their MTV Unplugged session. The big thing they had over the others was the harmonizing between Staley and Cantrell. Great band. They inspired many rip offs, the primary one being Stone Temple Pilots but also lesser but still popular bands like Days of the New.

adidasss · 07-14-2022, 02:49 AM

Does Nirvana have a tonne of haters? I thought they were pretty universally liked? Critically at least.

I'm planning to revisit their discography some time soon. Thanks to the recent glowing review of Dirt by Pitchfork, I have Would? stuck in my head for days now. I remember seeing the video on late night MTV when I was about 10 and being mesmerized.

rubber soul · 07-14-2022, 06:37 AM

I was thinking the same thing about Nirvana. To me they and Soundgarden were the best grunge bands. Was never as big on Pearl Jam to be honest and I guess AIC was okay.

SGR · 07-14-2022, 08:53 AM

For the uninitiated or those only lightly familiar with their material, don't skip out on their self-titled album. It has their most underappreciated material:

Out of the "big 4" grunge bands, AIC was easily the most emotive of them. I'm fans of all of them to varying degrees, but none of them were able to convey sadness and misery like AIC were.

music_collector · 07-14-2022, 09:30 AM

I think Alice in Chains is on equal footing with the other three bands (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana). They had their fair share of excellent songs.

Personally, Alice in Chains is my favourite of the bunch. Nirvana was never my cup of tea. Soundgarden would probably be #2 for me, with Pearl Jam #3. Screaming Trees is up there too. I'm starting to get into Mark Lanegan's solo stuff. The man was talented.

jarpywarpy · 08-09-2022, 05:33 AM

I think they're the best, 3 incredible albums, a solid reunion album, the best mtv unplugged and above that they've also got one of the best EPs ever made.

The others are also great but I think AiC did grunge the best, Laynes vocals are next level and I love how much heavier they are.

Carpe Mortem · 08-09-2022, 07:19 PM

AIC had the most balls. That broadened their appeal deeper into mainstream across several age brackets. They had a bit of metal to them.

Carpe Mortem · 08-09-2022, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarpywarpy

I think they're the best, 3 incredible albums, a solid reunion album, the best mtv unplugged and above that they've also got one of the best EPs ever made.

The others are also great but I think AiC did grunge the best, Laynes vocals are next level and I love how much heavier they are.

Yes this. Balls = heavier = AIC

05-13-2022, 03:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
Texas Boy Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 187	Is Alice in Chains really the most BELOVED grunge band? I always get the impression that Alice in Chains gets the most love out of "Big 4 of grunge", despite not being the most popular (it's obviously Nirvana, but they have a ton of haters; Pearl Jam is also much more successful than AIC and they're also quite polarizing). What do you think? Is AIC the most beloved/least hated grunge band and WHY?

07-14-2022, 02:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
adidasss Slavic gay sauce Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Abu Dhabi Posts: 7,993	Does Nirvana have a tonne of haters? I thought they were pretty universally liked? Critically at least. I'm planning to revisit their discography some time soon. Thanks to the recent glowing review of Dirt by Pitchfork, I have Would? stuck in my head for days now. I remember seeing the video on late night MTV when I was about 10 and being mesmerized. __________________ “Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle. Last.fm

07-14-2022, 08:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
SGR No Ice In My Bourbon Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: /dev/null Posts: 4,326	For the uninitiated or those only lightly familiar with their material, don't skip out on their self-titled album. It has their most underappreciated material: Out of the "big 4" grunge bands, AIC was easily the most emotive of them. I'm fans of all of them to varying degrees, but none of them were able to convey sadness and misery like AIC were. Last edited by SGR; 07-14-2022 at 09:02 AM.

08-09-2022, 07:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
Carpe Mortem Crusher of tiny Nords Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Ugly Bag of Mostly Water Posts: 1,363	AIC had the most balls. That broadened their appeal deeper into mainstream across several age brackets. They had a bit of metal to them. __________________ [SIG][/SIG] Mirth is King Be Loving & Open With My Emotions

07-13-2022, 08:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
petitbby Groupie Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: USA Posts: 3	Idk. Alice in Chains has a crazy biography, but literally all the grunge bands do. also RIP to layne his vocals are so gravelly and emotional. his screech sounds like a cry for help. its beautiful.

07-13-2022, 10:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
SGR No Ice In My Bourbon Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: /dev/null Posts: 4,326	I don't know how you'd quantify most beloved. But they were special. Dirt, their self-titled album, Jar of Flies and even Sap to an extent were all excellent. Not to mention their MTV Unplugged session. The big thing they had over the others was the harmonizing between Staley and Cantrell. Great band. They inspired many rip offs, the primary one being Stone Temple Pilots but also lesser but still popular bands like Days of the New.

07-14-2022, 09:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
music_collector Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Canada Posts: 744	I think Alice in Chains is on equal footing with the other three bands (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana). They had their fair share of excellent songs. Personally, Alice in Chains is my favourite of the bunch. Nirvana was never my cup of tea. Soundgarden would probably be #2 for me, with Pearl Jam #3. Screaming Trees is up there too. I'm starting to get into Mark Lanegan's solo stuff. The man was talented.

08-09-2022, 05:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
jarpywarpy Groupie Join Date: Aug 2022 Posts: 17	I think they're the best, 3 incredible albums, a solid reunion album, the best mtv unplugged and above that they've also got one of the best EPs ever made. The others are also great but I think AiC did grunge the best, Laynes vocals are next level and I love how much heavier they are.