ALICE IN CHAINS, HAUNTED BUT NOT PHASED

The first words you hear on Facelift are “Scary’s on the wall/ Scary’s on his way.” The first words you hear on Dirt are “I believe them bones are me/Some say we’re born into the grave.”

The first words you’ll hear on Black Gives Way to Blue are “Hope, a new beginning/Time, time to start living.”

I’m saying this band has had a major shift in life-philosophy.

Here’s an album sampler. It’s a too-brief taste of what the band has in store for you when the record is released on September 29.

After the jump, check out Jerry Cantrell doing an acoustic performance of the title track, which is the last song on the album. I’d urge you to pay attention to the lyrics if you can. And don’t forget that Elton John plays piano on the studio version of the song.

-AR