Listened to it same day it came out. At first I was not blown away, as it just sounded like a simple "Black Gives Way To Blue" B-side. Nothing more, nothing less.

But as I listened to it over and over again, more came out of the song. Firstly, I will say this... the second half is far superior. I just enjoyed the second half more.

I'd be curious to hear more of the album, but if Hollow is the first single, it's not near as strong of a first single as A Looking In View was for BGWTB. jmho

I pretty much agree with Buzz here. Nail on head.

Neemo, and this also goes out to DCK who just doesn't seem to get it... I don't expect you to. You have to be born here, and live it. I think the intensity of gun culture is even greater in the Southern U.S.

Even if you come here on vacation or just pass through, you cannot understand it. Because on the surface our logic is illogical to an outsider. I totally get it guys, I really do. I think "what if I was sitting in Sweden trying to figure this out", "what if I was sitting in Toronto trying to figure this out".

Why are guns so important? Why is it when guns lead to gun violence, the American answer is to buy more guns?

We DON'T live in fear here in the U.S. We just don't. Only the lunatic fringe live in fear. I'm speaking of religious types that are at the church every Sunday, convinced "Obama is gonna have chips implanted in your brain so you have to have it scanned to buy a loaf of bread, then the anti-Christ will come". Those people live in fear. Rednecks who see anyone of middle eastern decent "as a terrorism that needs to luv Ammerika or GIT OUT!" Those people live in fear.

The average American does not live in fear. Most who carry guns, especially out in public do it out of concern, not fear. Prepardness as if a gun were a good tool, not a weapon to hurt. The idealism of self-protection.

I used to work night shift as a desolate construction site years ago. Now will constantly rotated shift work. A guy who was training me, he would bring his pistol with him (illegally mind you on a state work job); he would bring his pistol for the night jobs because you were out in the middle of nowhere, and there was alot of drug running in that area. He felt safer. But when we worked day shift -- he NEVER brought it. Not because more people, because he didn't feel the need or the threat.

What's my point? Guns vs. Guns is something that is bred into us from birth. We are given toy guns to play with as small children from day one. Our ego's and manhood are tied into "how much of a macho rock n' roller I can be" -- on how well you can shoot and operate a gun, even if you don't own one.

I've been around guns my whole life, and NEVER in over a quarter century have ever had to go into public with a gun (other than school). Which brings me to my next point... school. Why did  I have to do it for a brief period years ago? Not because of gun violence, but because gangs were operating their daily business out of my school and unfortunately I got kinda dragged into a squabble I didn't ask for, and if I was SMART I had to hold a piece for my own safety.

Their rules. Not mine. Had nothing to do with school. Had nothing to do with fear. Had to do with them inforcing what they believed was their right to do business, and me having to protect my ass from a lightweight pusher that name dropped anyone and everyone as an accomplice to save his life because he was using his own product he was supposed to sell. Another story for another day. Other than that, that was the only time it was a necessity, and everyone I know outside of myself in that situation--NEVER has had to carry one on them in their entire life to protect themself. That's how SAFE it is to live in and be an American.

Which brings me to my next point...

What do Americans fear?

Absolutely nothing.

That's right. It's not a culture of being fearful, it's a culture of being FEARED and of inforcing and indoctrination. A wise man once said, "the only things that matter in this world is American interests, and anything that's countered to them".

Creating guns, creates dollars. If you can sell a war, you can sell those guns. If you sell those guns -- you make MONEY. And LOTS of it.

The news...

If you sell this story

"America A-okay; 3 people died today from a shooting; 1,456 people died today in car accidents"

That doesn't sell newspapers. Or blogs. Or news ratings on CNN.

But this news story

"American epidemic, wide spread gun violence leaves 20 children dead; guns responsible for more deaths than acts of God"

That sells. If it bleeds, it leads, and it puts butts in the seats.

I could go on, and probably bore everyone here, but at the end of the day gun violence is not "killing our country". Heart disease, cancer, car accidents... those things are killing our country. Guns? Maybe a little, but not really in the grand scheme of things. Ultimately we don't fear anything. We create profit potential. Creating death machines, creating news stories, cumming on the graves of those who die to sell news, selling an image of rampant gun violence sells political seats and agendas, and ultimately dollars get moved.

THAT is the United States of America, and for that I have no defense. That's what we do. Chase after the almighty dollar, and kill to make it more valuable. Guns are just a means to an end, and those who fall victim, casualties in the war of making as much money as possible.

Use Your Illusion

That's just the way I see it. I'm sure plenty will disagree with me.

Now that we've all survived the Mayan doomsday, I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy and productive 2013. A new Alice In Chains record is on the way, and hopefully others (GN'R ?) may follow.

I already got a few of my Christmas gifts early, and they were these nice Chamois shirts from Cabela's. Wanted them for 2 years, and finally got them. Made Christmas for me this year, can't stop wearing them.

Not that this is a shock, but I completely agree with Faldor's take.

I'm telling you man, if it happens... there's gonna be A-LOT of bloodshed. Gun nuts and rednecks have been looking for an excuse for years. Tie religious beliefs and God given prophecies in to it... suddenly you're doing it for what you believe in, which always trumps the law. Obama would have more dead kids on the ground that would make Newport combined with Waco look chicken shit.