Short Takes: Black Gives Way to Blue

Yesterday Alice In Chains released their long awaited new record, Black Gives Way to Blue. It's good, but, not surprisingly, missing the gnarl and snarl of their previous work. Nothing quite explodes off the page like the opening riff of "Dam That River" or has the massive stomp of "We Die Young." Yet it does have some good slow 'n' sludgy burners ("Check My Brain", "Lesson Learned", "Take Her Out"), haunting ballads a la the Sap and Jar of Flies EPs ("Your Decision"), plus that classic Alice In Chains tone. Recommended.