Stale Single #5: Far Behind

Song:  Far Behind
Artist:  Candlebox
Album:  Candlebox
Year:  1993

Does anyone still remember Candlebox?  Man, they were the shit for like a minute in the early to mid '90's. Then, well, they faded from the public consciousness.  Which is too bad...I think they had some real talent and should've been a lot bigger.  I mean, fuck, Creed was HUGE.  Why couldn't have Candlebox been as big as them?

Song #5 on the Candlebox self-titled album is the track Far Behind.  I liked this song from the first time that I heard it.  I feel like Far Behind had a throwback feel (like to the 80's) but with a more modern edge to it.  I dug it...and still kinda do.

Far Behind was one of the songs from their debut album that actually got quite a bit of airplay (at least in Tampa) during that time.  Which makes sense, because it was one of the standout tunes on the album.

Anyway...Candlebox disappeared for most of the early 2000's while the members went off and did other stuff.  But, but, but, they are back on the scene, baby!  So, go on and get your nostalgia on and go see 'em live.  Check out their website, here.

Stale Book Review #50: Alice In Chains

Alice In Chains: The Untold Story by David De Sola

Cost: $4.00US

Page Count: 341 (with lots of footnotes and resources after)

A bit of history: When I was 16, my friends and I were totally psyched to learn that the completely awesome Van Halen was coming to the area supporting their album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. So, we piled into 3 or 4 cars and headed to the Orlando Arena (the O-Rena) for the show.  The lights came up for the opening act:  Alice In Chains.  We knew of the band...they had one album out, at the time (Facelift) and thought they would be super cool.  Letdown...they sucked.  Actually, the band was quite good, but the singer, Layne Staley, was obviously bombed out of his mind.  They finished up and a dozen or so people clapped.  At least Van Halen was awesome.

Listening back to the Alice in Chains catalog, you can really get a sense of the immense power and talent of Layne Staley.  While The Untold Story goes into the formation of the band, dynamics, etc...it's always abundantly clear that the crux of the story is on Layne.  To read about his start with the band, decline, and his eventual death were just heartbreaking. We all know the outcome of Layne Staley's life but it was the decline...damn...that was heart wrenching.

What was nice to read about was the jocularity and just how damned funny that the Alice in Chains guys really are.  This is a band that created some of the most somber (yet rocking) tunes on the '90's.  So, this was kind of cool to read.

Finally, enough can't be said about Jerry Cantrell.  He is the creative and driving force of that band, and always has been.  A true talent and, seemingly, stand-up guy.

Anyway, if you are a fan of Alice in Chains go ahead and give The Untold Story a read.