The Essential Alice In Chains 2 Disc Set -flac- ((top))

This is the test for bass response. The guitar is tuned so low it borders on industrial noise. On a low-bitrate MP3, this track sounds like static. In FLAC, it sounds like a psychotic breakdown. The panning effect—guitar swinging from left to right—is disorienting and perfect.

The first disc is a lesson in dynamics. It opens with "We Die Young," a blistering statement of intent that established the band's heavy credentials. But the brilliance of the sequencing becomes apparent as the disc progresses. We hear the transition from the gritty Sunset Strip metal of Facelift to the sludge of Dirt . The Essential Alice in Chains 2 Disc Set -FLAC-

is a definitive 2-disc compilation album released on September 5, 2006 , covering the band's career from 1989 to 1998. It is widely considered the most comprehensive overview for both new listeners and longtime fans, sitting between the massive Music Bank box set and the more concise Greatest Hits . Release Details & High-Fidelity Audio This is the test for bass response

For the casual listener, a greatest-hits CD suffices. But for the discerning audiophile, the collector, or the student of 90s hard rock, there is only one standard: . In FLAC, it sounds like a psychotic breakdown