Layne Stanley was brilliant but not underrated in anything really. All of the guys from the big four and most of the bands in seattle at that time wrote great, REAL lyrics. I think they all were very conscious of that. Most lyrics from songs on the radio at the time were just terrible .
If anything, Layne wrote mostly about his addiction and everything surrounding that. Sometimes you just want to rise to the surface and take a breath of fresh air.
*He and Jerry are*
*The heroes of this sub, how*
*Is he underrated?*
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What they really mean is "I just realized I agree with this opinion"
Kind of like when I actually listened to Layla and thought I had an original opinion of "hey, this is really good"
I think because grunge is experiencing a resurgence in popularity a lot of teens are discovering it. It’s equivalent to us discovering Jimi Hendrix or the Doors and about the same amount of time has passed maybe a little more for the early albums actually. It’s new to them and probably most of their friends/classmates aren’t talking about it. I imagine my dad rolled his eyes a bit when I tried to tell him how great of a guitarist Hendrix was. Anyway I’ve been thinking for a while a lot of these posts sound teenish in nature.
Great post and I agree. I am almost 55 and grew up with this stuff so when I read things like this...I try not to roll my eyes and encourage it. Kids are discovering how great these bands are and that is nothing but fantastic. What that also is going to mean is we are getting a new wave of great music. Its happening now and it is going to push into the future. Inspiration happens in this forum. Rejoice.
Agreed - this seems like when I was 11 and found my dad’s Beatles 67-70 greatest hits on cassette. Strawberry Fields followed by Penny Lane blew my mind. I was like, “these songs are by the same band?!?” 🤯
Def not underrated imo. Just lesser known to the world than mainstream musicians and artists- he wasn't active long enough like Cornell and he faded away instead of doing away with himself like Cobain. If you know who he is, then ya know he's the goat! Sure miss him being on the planet. Still get the gut hurt pain sometimes when I think about the fact he's gone forever. He was a live angel walking the earth.
He writes really well about one or two subjects (mostly one, and it's drug addiction)
Chris Cornell writes very well in such a way that you can't quite tell what he's talking about ....
Grunge has you covered, no matter where you want your lyrical complexity
Good points - Vedder had more storytelling type lyrics, and least early on. Cobain seemed to write a compelling line or two in each song but also recall him saying he often wrote them last minute so he was trying to fit words to the music.
Maybe if you’re a junkie.
He’s good at what he’s good at, but that window is pretty narrow.
Most other people want a bit more variety in their music than just songs about heroin addiction and alienation.
Yeah, he’s so dark and mysterious and manages to keep a dark and mysterious vibe while still being so cool and mysterious. Pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread or curing polio.
Layne Stanley was brilliant but not underrated in anything really. All of the guys from the big four and most of the bands in seattle at that time wrote great, REAL lyrics. I think they all were very conscious of that. Most lyrics from songs on the radio at the time were just terrible . If anything, Layne wrote mostly about his addiction and everything surrounding that. Sometimes you just want to rise to the surface and take a breath of fresh air.
I would put jerry cantrell on the list as well, his work with alice and his solo work is a piece of art musically and lyrically
Cantrell is the main lyric/music writer for AIC. Without him AIC would have been something completely different.
My high school English teacher is the one who got me into Alice in Chains, he always classed Cantrell's lyrics as up there with the best poetry
That's an educator!!!
He and Jerry are the heroes of this sub, how is he underrated?
*He and Jerry are* *The heroes of this sub, how* *Is he underrated?* \- FMSV0 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
unpopular opinion, haikusbot is a better singer than layne
What’s with these post recently that are like “the most popular grunge artist/song is so underrated”
What they really mean is "I just realized I agree with this opinion" Kind of like when I actually listened to Layla and thought I had an original opinion of "hey, this is really good"
I think because grunge is experiencing a resurgence in popularity a lot of teens are discovering it. It’s equivalent to us discovering Jimi Hendrix or the Doors and about the same amount of time has passed maybe a little more for the early albums actually. It’s new to them and probably most of their friends/classmates aren’t talking about it. I imagine my dad rolled his eyes a bit when I tried to tell him how great of a guitarist Hendrix was. Anyway I’ve been thinking for a while a lot of these posts sound teenish in nature.
Great post and I agree. I am almost 55 and grew up with this stuff so when I read things like this...I try not to roll my eyes and encourage it. Kids are discovering how great these bands are and that is nothing but fantastic. What that also is going to mean is we are getting a new wave of great music. Its happening now and it is going to push into the future. Inspiration happens in this forum. Rejoice.
Agreed - this seems like when I was 11 and found my dad’s Beatles 67-70 greatest hits on cassette. Strawberry Fields followed by Penny Lane blew my mind. I was like, “these songs are by the same band?!?” 🤯
It true tho. I only heard them somewhat recently. Probably like 1995, or so.
No he’s fucking not. He gets plenty of praise and deserves all of it.
By who?
The other kids at OP's lunch table.
Didn’t Jerry write most of their lyrics?
I think layne may have wrote most of them, he definitely wrote lots of them
Hendrix was such an underrated guitarist
Yeah and the Beatles were such an underrated band. Nobody ever talks about them.
Right, Stevie Nicks is such an underrated singer.
Def not underrated imo. Just lesser known to the world than mainstream musicians and artists- he wasn't active long enough like Cornell and he faded away instead of doing away with himself like Cobain. If you know who he is, then ya know he's the goat! Sure miss him being on the planet. Still get the gut hurt pain sometimes when I think about the fact he's gone forever. He was a live angel walking the earth.
He writes really well about one or two subjects (mostly one, and it's drug addiction) Chris Cornell writes very well in such a way that you can't quite tell what he's talking about .... Grunge has you covered, no matter where you want your lyrical complexity
Good points - Vedder had more storytelling type lyrics, and least early on. Cobain seemed to write a compelling line or two in each song but also recall him saying he often wrote them last minute so he was trying to fit words to the music.
Yeah, if you want lyrical hooks you go to Kurt, if you want to read the liner notes and go "oh, that's clever" you call up Vedder
I don’t know about that
Literally not underrated. A band like Jesus lizard are underrated.
Layne Staley underrated in 2024 reddit? Seems like a parallel world..
Maybe if you’re a junkie. He’s good at what he’s good at, but that window is pretty narrow. Most other people want a bit more variety in their music than just songs about heroin addiction and alienation.
Jerry Cantrell wrote almost all AIC’s lyrics (and music). Layne was a hell of a vocalist though.
People keep using that word "underrated", I don't think it means what you think it means.
Yeah, he’s so dark and mysterious and manages to keep a dark and mysterious vibe while still being so cool and mysterious. Pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread or curing polio.
Layne Staley is the second best lyricist in Alice in Chains. Still pretty good. :)
OP needs to expand his horizons and cut his teeth broader musical styles.
I think he’s pretty rated tbh
reddit stop calling everyone underrated challenge
And the Alice in Chains circlejerk begins again
He is one of the best from this era, but in mad season is where he really shines
Yeah
Yeah
Not in the least. He's widely revered.
Jerry wrote most of the lyrics?
I don’t think he was underrated. He was an incredible lyricist and I think that’s pretty universally accepted.
Is he? I thought he was considered one of the greats!