It's been about 4-5 years since I last listened to this from top to bottom. Coming at it now it sure does sound fresh and primal, more so than ever before. I've always been a fan of AIC's debut because the music was very raw, unfiltered and in your face. The songwriting is fantastic, but for me the crown jewel is combination of Layne and Cantrell. It didn't sound anything like I had heard before. I get that it falls into the Grunge category of what became a worldwide phenomenom at the time. But for me Facelift had more of its foot and leg in the Heavy Metal genre than it did with Grunge. What I'm saying it's 75% Metal and 25% Grunge to my ears. Always has been...always will be and no one can tell me differently.

Okay, enough with what it is or isn't. Time to move onto the good stuff, and that of course is Layne Staley on vocals and Jerry Cantrell on guitar. This was a hell of a combination that created an instant classic that still holds up today. Not only that, it blows away 95% of the stuff that comes out now. Lightening in a bottle. The album is littered with so many kick ass songs that it should be the blueprint of artist today to follow. They may not all be "hit singles", but they have a lasting impression that stays with you long after the latest 3 minute pop song you hear on the radio.

Not sure if this has ever been discussed before anywhere, but to me, listening to Layne on Facelift and in general reminds me a lot of Ian Astbury. Hell, AIC sounds like it's channeling The Cult at times and that's a good thing. So, does anyone else hear the similarities or is it just me? Cantrell gets a lot of props for guitar work on this and rightly so. Some amazing riffs and solos that every guitar player owes it to themselves to learn. Tasty licks.

Just wanted to point out that Rolling Stone Magazine gets a big FAIL for not including Facelift in it's Top 500 Albums Of All Time. Doesn't matter since it resides in Penny Can's Top 500 Albums Of All Time List. So, suck it Rolling Stone!!

Fave Songs: All of 'em. But if I had to pick only 3 it would be We Die Young, Man In The Box and Confusion as the best of the bunch.