Old bands release new CDs: Muse, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains

November 2, 2009  
Filed under Entertainment

This fall the music industry has seen a resurrection of bands that many say may have peaked back in the 1990s, yet they have churned out brand new material in hopes of proving the critics wrong.  The earliest album on the list is The Resistance by Muse which was released on September 15th. This alternative rock band hailing from the UK has seen mixed reviews from listeners in the United States ever since their formation in the late 90s. If you listen to 93.5 WARQ at all, then you have no doubt heard “Uprising”, the biggest hit from The Resistance blaring at least three times a day. This album shows Muse’s continued innovation and creativity in the art of music with lead vocalist Matthew Bellamy’s soaring falsetto voice and the band’s ingenious techno-classical style. “The Resistance really shows how Muse has matured over the years along with their music. All aspiring musicians should turn to them for inspiration,” says senior Justin Eargle. Love them or hate them, it is impossible to doubt Muse’s consistent originality which is highly reflected in the new album.

Next on the calendar is the highly anticipated Backspacer by the legendary Pearl Jam, released September 22^nd. This new album is significantly more upbeat than the band’s past work and lacks that untouchable grunge element that won them their fame. While it is physically impossible for Pearl Jam to release a bad album, Backspacer was nevertheless disappointing for many who followed their early work. Obviously, though, someone likes this new collection because it reached Billboard’s number one spot on the charts. The band’s first single from the new album, “The Fixer” has also seen rapid success ever since its initial release. “Pearl Jam has been epic for the past twenty years or so,” says senior Taylor Fraser. “Everyone knows at least one of their songs.” It is true that Pearl Jam’s early success has firmly positioned them as one of the best bands of our time. I highly recommend Backspacer to anyone interested and strongly urge those who listen to it to explore the band’s earlier work as well.

Finally, making its release on September 29^th, comes the new Alice in Chains album Black Gives Way to Blue. Like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains emerged from the Seattle scene during the early 90s with a heavy grunge style, flannel shirts, and long haired band members. This is the band’s first album since the tragic death of vocalist Lane Staley in 2002. Although, the new lead singer, William DuVall, lacks his predecessor’s edgy vocal skills Black Gives Way to Blue emphasizes this band’s instrumental talent. From Jerry Cantrell’s chainsaw guitar riffs to his harmonizing backup vocals, Alice in Chains has overcome the adversity of losing a key member to produce a genuinely good album.  I recommend this album to anyone who has an interest in 90s grunge metal or has heard “Check My Brain”, the first single of the new album, on the radio and liked what they heard.

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