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REVIEW – Magnetic Eye records are genius. They have this series that I am so high on called “ redux”. This time out they pick an interesting album in Alice in Chains-Dirt. I can remember being on a date and having her hang out at my dorm so I can watch Headbangers Ball for the world premiere of “ Would”. Like most music fans, Alice in Chains Facelift was such a great album that a follow up was so anticipated. The first album felt more like a “ fuck you” to rock radio and mainstream. Dirt embraced both very passionately. This cd felt like a personal journey that had so much depression and drug infused lyrics that I had to do 2 lines of cocaine and a pint to understand the lyric sheet. I felt that Magnetic Eye was so fucking ballsy trying to redux this one with their stellar cast. Sadly enough, they accomplished this and really created their own vision. I decided for a review to start from the first single “ Would”. From the ashes of the mighty SubRosa comes The Otolith. If you thought that SubRosa was special, wait till you hear this song. The Otolith doing “ Would” is the song that music fans have needed but did not know they did. Haunting and direct. Eerie and depressing, this song gave me goosebumps and also filled me with so much promise for their future. The Otolith have proven in less than 6 minutes that they are going to be very major.
Thou does the second single released from Dirt. Their version of “ Them Bones” was faithful to the original but it has the vocals in the background that tries to separate it from the original. Thou is a band that has a very diverse and experimental sound that I wish they would have put more into with the song. That being said, this is the cd that opens the redux and I feel fans will dig it enough to stick around. When people think of the original, it is the second track “ Dam that River” that just tears it all apart. It is heavy and yet so epic that you cannot sit down listening to it. Low Flying Hawks decided that if you can not go over the top with the epic feel why not just make it completely different. That is the best statement I can say about this version. It is calm and gentle. I will say right now, if you are smoking a joint during this song it is the best way to take it. If you are sober and straight, this song will feel out of place. This really makes the lyrics take on a whole new meaning as they do this version. High Priest covering “ Rain When I Die”. I feel that they are put in a no win situation. If they would have gone outside of the box, the song would have suffered. So being faithful to the original, is the best way to remake it. High Priest really do a good version and showcase that they have the chops to be up to the task. “ Down in a Hole” is that song that every fan seems to relate to when they are depressed. Khemmis shocked me, they really were up for the task and not only that but they delivered a very good cover. It compliments the original and yet forges its own vision to stand out.
“Rooster” was the song that I was the most nervous about. I feel it is the song that a redux can never work. Howling Giant must have got that memo and threw it out the window. Howling Giant are fucking insane to pull this off. They added organ tones and changed a few riffs to really create a creation that could compete with the original in terms of non fans knowing which one was truly the original. This alone made me so glad not to judge until I listened. On the surface, people will look at some of the bands and the redux and go in rants before giving it a shot. “ God Smack” by Backwoods Payback, holy fucking shit. I was not a big fan of the Junkhead or Dirt songs, but this comes out of the gates just a monster. Where the original was so out of control with the guitar riffs and Layne’s delivery. This version is not only faithful but it is also insane. If people had no idea who this band was before this redux, they fucking got the education class. This band is something special. I love what they did with this song. (16) “ Hate to Feel” is another good track. I think this is a band that could have toured with Alice in Chains during this era. Vokonis doing “ Angry Chair” is fair. It does not stand out, but yet it does not suck. I liked it, it made me want to listen to the original again. Which is the purpose for these cds. It makes you want to go back after and hear the originals. As a whole, Magnetic Eye hit a home run. Some songs did come up a bit short. I was not sure if it was just me expecting more than I got, or the songs not being up to the task. As a whole though, this is a great cd. This creates such a vision that I feel Layne is smiling gleefully that people had the talent to create their own images of his legacy. If you thought “ Dirt” was an Alice in Chains classic. You should hear what 2020 has to tell you.
