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For Sale Apr 2, 2026 at 11:44 PM

"Would?" by Alice in Chains has to be one of the most badass songs.

Posted by Giff95

The bassline alone feels incredibly sludgy in the best way. It sounds so heavy and thick, like it is pulling you under, dragging through the inevitable "flood" the song builds around. Layne Staley's voice delivers a perfect mix of vulnerability and grit that cuts right through. Paired with that bassline, everything sounds so dense and jampacked. It sounds like there's real weight behind every aspect of it. One of those songs I knew I'd heard and loved before but could never track it down. When I started going through Alice in Chains' discography, almost the moment it played, I knew I finally found it. Definitely had a rush of excitement realizing I finally discovered it!
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lebruf Apr 2, 2026 +113
Hit me hard first time I heard it back in 1993. The last few lines starting with “Am I wrong” is such a great melody progression towards a sick ending.
113
y7kim Apr 3, 2026 +8
The drum fill at that part is sublime
8
Senators_1992 Apr 3, 2026 +107
For me, it’s the definitive song of the era. The bass line, the way Jerry and Layne’s vocals play off one another - it’s the literal definition of the word “grunge” with the way it’s constructed.
107
cjcoake Apr 3, 2026 +46
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is the most important rock song of that era, but I've always thought "Would?" was the best. I listen to it a lot more these days, at any rate.
46
Senators_1992 Apr 3, 2026 +22
Don’t get me wrong, I love Nirvana, but it just doesn’t hit the same when you hear it used in modern media like Captain Marvel or The Boys. The same can’t be said when you hear “Would?” in [the S2 trailer](https://youtu.be/jrLhP5sK2wI?si=IKxI05qTriSdy-bq) for The Punisher though. There’s something about the song that just captures a mood.
22
No-Midnight-2187 Apr 3, 2026 +15
Nirvanas non-single album cuts and B sides, scrapped songs are among their best work imo
15
Senators_1992 Apr 3, 2026 +5
Some of the best performances on the Wishkah CD are the album tracks from Bleach: School, Blew and Negative Creep.
5
Olelander Apr 3, 2026 +1
I wish they’d have stayed under the surface for a couple of more albums after Bleach. We would have had some f****** great 90’s indie punk stuff, this is what I feel like they really excelled at, as evidenced by the looser and more off the cuff B-sides you mention and Bleach itself.
1
yamahowzer Apr 3, 2026 +1
Bleach is peak Nirvana and in utero was the album Kurt always wanted to make, he hated nevermind.
1
AlcoholicWombat Apr 3, 2026 +5
Facts. I stay away also captures a certain mood
5
dego_frank Apr 3, 2026
Gotta use it correctly like how they did in the Pattinson Batman. Nirvana is at least on the same level as AiC
0
DauntingPrawn Apr 3, 2026 +8
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is the most important *pop* song of the era, or as the late, great songwriter himself literally called it: his attempt to write, "the ultimate pop song."
8
corpse2b Apr 3, 2026 +54
Into the flood agaaiiiiin
54
the_ballmer_peak Apr 3, 2026 +32
Same old trip it was back then
32
Cominginbladey Apr 2, 2026 +29
One of my favorite songs of that era. What The Hell Have I is another creepy Chains classic.
29
hoppyhoppyhippo Apr 3, 2026 +6
Sick man
6
BitersBlock Apr 3, 2026 +1
Them Bones.
1
xm1l1tiax Apr 3, 2026 +2
Never heard what the hell have I before until now, I’m in love thank you
2
superslab Apr 3, 2026 +18
[Again](https://youtu.be/__biilMpnmw?si=iO-h1qYmzAKG3pDC) is also a favorite. They didn't mince words, no matter how ill Layne became.
18
r_bradbury1 Apr 3, 2026 +16
So I made a big mistake.
16
Breakzjunkee Apr 3, 2026 +14
I go through periods of my life where I listen to Would and Nutshell on repeat for hours at a time.
14
SockeyeSTI Apr 3, 2026 +7
Unplugged nutshell for me
7
chanslam Apr 3, 2026 +3
Gotta be careful with that one. Always a risk to suck you into a hole for a couple days. But it’s so captivating and impactful.
3
wilan727 Apr 3, 2026 +3
Yep. For me it helps me reflect on past traumas when I feel I want to clean out a bit.
3
doozle Apr 3, 2026 +30
![gif](giphy|XvjC06Gh9lhfZNBNIM)
30
Exotic-Commission-15 Apr 3, 2026 +24
Them Bones
24
GreenZebra23 Apr 3, 2026 +10
AAH!
10
Trizzae Apr 3, 2026 +5
I believe them bones are me…
5
werther595 Apr 3, 2026 +4
Leading off the album with that track is such a punch in the face (but in a good way, LOL)
4
Cease_one Apr 3, 2026 +1
Best opener to an album. Only competition is Megadeths Rust in Peace opening with Holy wars…The punishment due.
1
SpaceMonkeyOnABike Apr 3, 2026 +1
Painkiller.
1
Trent_A Apr 3, 2026 +4
Layne’s screaming during the intro that transitions into, “Iiiiii belieeeve them bones are me…” is peak Alice In Chains, IMO.
4
_head_ Apr 3, 2026 +9
Yes. 
9
me_me_me Apr 3, 2026 +16
Now go check out the soundtrack to the movie Singles!
16
ShoutattheDeviljho Apr 3, 2026 +6
It absolutely is. 
6
Evelyn-Bankhead Apr 3, 2026 +6
Dirt will always be on my top 10 favorite albums list
6
Superhereaux Apr 3, 2026 +4
Off topic and a completely different genre of music, but when you said sludgy and thick I immediately thought of the main guitar riff on the Black Angels’ [Black Grease](https://youtu.be/6G7yLulp4oI?si=K06DIgNftkFUQaor)
4
wcu25rs Apr 3, 2026 +3
I'll always upvote a Black Angels reference.  My all time favorite band.  
3
No_Artichoke7180 Apr 3, 2026 +6
I was just looking it up and the song is evidently about the cycle of addiction and social stigma attached. I had always interpreted this song as being about relationships. I used to enjoy playing this baseline when I was younger. Its very approachable, but it requires endurance and focus. RHCP Parallel Universe is similar but faster. Both lines are very simple and basically anyone could learn to do it, but doing just right takes some determination.
6
LordHumongus Apr 3, 2026 +10
It was written as a tribute of sorts to Andy Wood, the lead singer of Mother Love Bone.
10
Acmnin Apr 3, 2026 -9
Fun fact, song meanings and explanations are always wrong because the west has lost all ability to interpret such meaning, and even explaining it to most people would just make you a kook. The master and flood are metaphors for the shadow and the unconscious.
-9
chrisinvic Apr 3, 2026 +5
Second best baseline to come Out of Seattle! First still belongs to operation mindcrime
5
barnibusvonkreeps Apr 3, 2026 +4
I played this song 15 million times back to back when I first bought this album. This and Angry Chair. Chains will always rip.
4
allothernamestaken Apr 3, 2026 +11
Buddy you need to listen to more AIC because as great of a song it is, and it's a great song for sure, there's plenty more where that came from.
11
Father_Chris_St_Mary Apr 3, 2026 +3
It’s fantastic. Sinister and menacing. 
3
Icy-Whale-2253 Apr 3, 2026 +3
It’s a perfect song. Every f****** body in the band was pulling their weight.
3
justpuddingonhairs Apr 3, 2026 +3
That last chorus when Layne comes back in and stretches the notes on the "Yeeeeaaaaahhhhh" and "baaaaaaaaaaaack theeeeennn" always tops it off perfect. I love in the video how the camera zooms in on Layne.
3
bstring777 Apr 3, 2026 +2
This is definitely one of my favorites from AiC, and its my first choice as a karaoke song haha. I manage to hit all the notes in that one somehow, if warmed up.
2
Bostonterrierpug Apr 3, 2026 +2
It’s no Tiny Tim…
2
Bad-job-dad Apr 3, 2026 +2
when he holds that note.... mmmomg
2
campy86 Apr 3, 2026 +2
That and Man in the Box.
2
CT_Hoops Apr 3, 2026 +2
Best album of the 90s IMHO
2
saint_bonni Apr 3, 2026 +2
When I used to hear it as a little kid in the mid 90s I loved it but I knew I couldn’t understand it. When I was 22, just before checking into rehab, I had the cd in my car and I finally understood. Glad I made it out. Down in a Hole hit me hard too
2
BobbyGuano Apr 3, 2026 +2
The bridge after the 2nd chorus in this song is incredible…the noisy guitar work into the 3rd repeat then the new chorus at the end with the chugging riffs behind it hits so f****** hard. The last minute of this song hits so hard. It’s always been my favorite AIC song since the first time I saw the video 😂
2
sungun77 Apr 3, 2026 +2
The true meaning of a timeless song, it sounds just as good today as when it came out 34 years ago. On a side note: My wife and I visited Seattle last year and I wanted to visit the Mother Love Bone mural at Easy Street Records, as we turned down Alaska St "Would?" Came on the FM station... perfect
2
TotallyHumanPerson Apr 3, 2026 +2
You would (heh) love[ Dan Barracuda's breakdown](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FwH1PMI7HOc) of the song. I love hearing him enthusiastically geek out about a song while flawlessly performing it.
2
Jmohill Apr 3, 2026 +2
That entire album is a masterpiece
2
brian1183 Apr 3, 2026 +2
One of the best endings to a song ever.
2
manofthepeopleSMITTY Apr 3, 2026 +1
Pretty much
1
alivefromthedead Apr 3, 2026 +1
Heard it playing from a bar in San Francisco 7-8 years ago. was refreshing in the middle of all the EDM and dance clubs
1
Zcrumb Apr 3, 2026 +1
Amazing hook and the fact that they don't repeat it endlessly really adds to the song.
1
Crazy_Response_9009 Apr 3, 2026 +1
It’s really really good.
1
KatieMarmalade Apr 3, 2026 +1
Loooove playing this song on the bass.
1
MrWillM Apr 3, 2026 +1
Saw them in 2013 I wanna say? It was the layne staley tribute tour. Opened with them bones and closed with would? It was so cool for 16 yr old me
1
Verum_Orbis Apr 3, 2026 +1
Again and Got Me Wrong are 2 of my favs.
1
Donnie_Dont_Do Apr 3, 2026 +1
It's a rare song where the background vocals come in before the lea vocals. The only other one I can think of where this happens is Orange crush by REM
1
IsThistheWord Apr 3, 2026 +1
There's a version on YouTube with an isolated vocal track. Highly recommend it.
1
doctored_up Apr 3, 2026 +1
Everything about the song is great including this post!
1
whiznat Apr 3, 2026 +1
It is an excellent song. But IMO there are many AiC songs that are equally as good.
1
House71 Apr 3, 2026 +1
Top 5 coolest songs ever. Never gets old.
1
paperunderpants Apr 3, 2026 +1
That’s my all-time favorite song, period. Still gives me chills every time I hear it.
1
cerpintaxt44 Apr 3, 2026 +1
Check out madseason 
1
medicwhat Apr 3, 2026 +1
One of my favorite songs. Listen to it all the time.
1
The_Goondocks Apr 3, 2026 +1
Rooster is my AIC jam
1
ArdFarkable Apr 3, 2026 +1
SO WEIRD scrolling past this with the EXACT song stuck in my head. Very weird 
1
Woodyfixthis Apr 3, 2026 +1
I love it, I would also put "mailman" by Soundgarden up there too. From the beginning it just sucks you in.
1
grynch43 Apr 3, 2026 +1
It’s actually one of my least favorites from Dirt, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like it.
1
thewordthewho Apr 3, 2026 +1
Same old trip it was baaaack then
1
polarzombies Apr 3, 2026 +1
Into the flood again
1
dego_frank Apr 3, 2026 +1
It’s a great song but probably not even top 5 of theirs for me.
1
Eylisia Apr 3, 2026 +1
It is *SO* good!
1
AnuStop Apr 3, 2026 +1
Would smash
1
shilgrod Apr 3, 2026 +1
Down in a hole is also junkie terrific
1
Screambloodyleprosy Apr 3, 2026 +1
The entire Dirt record is ethereal. Junkhead, Dirt, Angry Chair, Rooster. Chefs kiss.
1
Juztaan Apr 3, 2026 +1
If. I. Would. Could. You???
1
generous_guy Apr 3, 2026 +1
How this f****** shit AI generated slop opinion got 500 upvotes is beyond me
1
IsaacWright88 Apr 3, 2026 +1
That bassline sounds like it walked in wearing boots and a grin, total sludge anthem.
1
Appropriate-Today779 Apr 3, 2026 +1
Is that the one that goes “enter my butt againnnn”
1
ChronoMonkeyX Apr 3, 2026 +1
Loved that album. Did not like angry chair until I saw a friend of a friend's band in college cover it, and then it became one of my favorites. Those guys were so good.
1
MANTHEFUCKUPBRO Apr 3, 2026 +1
Rooster is my pick, since about his dad being a badass in the Vietnam war
1
SlammaJammin Apr 3, 2026 -1
Most amazing cover of this song ever: [https://soundcloud.com/chava-1/chava-mirel-would-single](https://soundcloud.com/chava-1/chava-mirel-would-single)
-1
human_eyes Apr 3, 2026 +2
I hate everything AI but goddamn if I don't love this soul "cover" https://on.soundcloud.com/eQxfVgm1TTlsqpyxti
2
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