First: No Excuses

The unplugged version of No Excuses by Alice in Chains starts with a snap, crackle, chest-kick of percussion that you can feel. It's followed shortly by an acoustic bass guitar drop that will give even the most athletic woofers a run for their money. It’s glorious, and that’s just in the first eight seconds.

No Excuses was penned by Alice in Chains's founder, lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist, and principal songwriter Jerry Cantrell. It was a standout track on their EP Jar of Flies, released in 1994. (This is my favorite Alice in Chains album.)

Having said that, the track I'm talking about is the live performance of No Excuses from their legendary MTV Unplugged set in 1996. Its layered guitar riffs reverberate out into the distance over an effortless fireworks show of percussion constantly simmering and punching along underneath. Of course, Layne Staley's vocals are ragged and raw while harmonizing with the laid-back Cantrell. It's a dizzying solution of sounds, seemingly at odds with each other and totally complimentary.

This show, which marked their return after a two-year hiatus, was the last time they performed No Excuses with Staley. His passing a few months later was a profound loss. No Excuses stands as a testament to the resilience and power of Alice in Chains, even when exploring the softer side of their musical style.

Data

Song: No Excuses
Album: Unplugged
Artist: Alice in Chains
Genre: Rock, Metal, Alt Metal, Grunge
Year: 1996
Length: 4:57
Composer: Jerry Cantrell
Producer: Alex Coletti, Alice In Chains, Toby Wright