Black Gives Way To Blue
by Alice in Chains
  • Record Label: Virgin
  • Release Date: Sep 29, 2009
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 149 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 142 out of 149
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 149
  3. Negative: 1 out of 149

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  1. MikeK
    Sep 4, 2010
    5
    I LOVE Alice in Chains, but this is a pretty mediocre record. It's not just the absence of Layne's great voice. It's that the album feels incoherent. Some songs are the gloomy sludge metal dirges Alice are famous for, others are the softer ballads present on their between album EP's. Jerry's songwriting chops also aren't as sharp as they used to be.
  2. SamP.
    Dec 20, 2009
    6
    Heavy, grimy, depressing, and thundering, guaranteed to make the listener reconsider suicide. Alice In Chains does it well but the impact is marred by a lack of energy, complimented by stale vocal performances, which makes the album a chore to listen to instead of an enjoyment. Not recommended for first-time AIC listeners.
  3. ChrisL
    Oct 22, 2009
    5
    This record needs a bit more meat, because too much of it is filler and too much of it consists of these droney, whinny songs. Past albums were always dark but had this quirky life and energy to them. Songs like "Private Hell" "Take Her Out" and "Acid Bubble", just sludge on and go nowhere fast. And I would have loved this record so much more if you could actually, you know, HEAR Duvall This record needs a bit more meat, because too much of it is filler and too much of it consists of these droney, whinny songs. Past albums were always dark but had this quirky life and energy to them. Songs like "Private Hell" "Take Her Out" and "Acid Bubble", just sludge on and go nowhere fast. And I would have loved this record so much more if you could actually, you know, HEAR Duvall on more then 30% of it. Even on Acid Bubble, which Duvall carries VERY well live, Cantrell has to have the prominent voice. What a prick. Cantrell, you had your solo trips, now truely harmonize like AIC used to do so well and make AIC a bit more distinct from your solo stuff. Do you know what this record sounding mostly like Degredation Trip #3 is? A hack job so you can actually sell some records. Well, it appears to be working.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

15
#15 Most Discussed Album of 2009
94
#94 Most Shared Album of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Boston Globe
    70
    While there are a few lulls, none are glaringly offensive, and the band builds up so much good will with the stronger material that it’s easy to surrender again to these Chains.
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  2. Hot Press
    50
    There’s still something oddly admirable about Alice In Chains’ stubborn refusal to change.
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  3. Rolling Stone
    50
    What Black lacks are great tunes and a sense of can't-look-away drama.
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