Dirt
Alice In Chains
1992
Album Summary
Dirt is the second studio album by the American rock band Alice in Chains, released on September 29, 1992, through Columbia Records. Peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, the album received critical acclaim. It has since been certified four-times platinum by the RIAA and gone on to sell five million copies worldwide, making Dirt the band's highest selling album to date. It was also the band's last album recorded with all four original members, as bassist Mike Starr was fired in January 1993 during the tour to support the album. The album spawned five singles: "Would?", "Them Bones", "Angry Chair", "Rooster", and "Down in a Hole", all with accompanying music videos. Dirt was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. The music video for "Would?" was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film, as the song was featured on the soundtrack to Cameron Crowe's 1992 film Singles. The songs on the album focused on depression, pain, anger, anti-social behavior, relationships, drug addiction (primarily heroin), war, death, and other emotionally charged topics. The track "Iron Gland" features Tom Araya from Slayer on vocals. Most of the music from the album was written by guitarist Jerry Cantrell, but for the first time vocalist Layne Staley wrote two songs by himself ("Hate to Feel" and "Angry Chair"), both also featuring Staley on guitar. In retrospect, the album has continued to receive acclaim, with Rolling Stone placing the album at No. 26 on its list of the 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time. Dirt was included in the 2005 book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. It was voted "Kerrang! Critic's Choice Album of the Year". Guitar World named Dirt as the best guitar album of 1992. Loudwire named it as one of the best Metal albums of the 1990s, and Rolling Stone ranked it at No. 6 on its list of "50 Greatest Grunge Albums" in 2019. Alice in Chains' fourth studio album, Black Gives Way to Blue, was released on the 17th anniversary of Dirt, on September 29, 2009.
WikipediaAn album like Dirt is catnip to critics because the music seems to match the life experience of its creators, which gives them an opening to talk about personalities instead of music. And sure enough, Dirt is relentlessly queasy, claustrophobic and tortured. But I can say that without having listened carefully to the lyrics--it's all in the music. How does Alice in Chains pull it off? They create disorientation through odd and shifting time signatures and sections which border on the atonal. The queasiness comes from guitarist Jerry Cantrell's guitar tone, which is typically swathed in reverb and flange, and the almost melismatic singing style of Layne Stanley, which is compounded whenever he doubles or triples his vocals in parallel voicings. The claustrophobia is achieved by allowing almost no empty spaces in the music. Even in the quieter moments, Dirt is a non-stop assault. When you add in the killer hooks from singles like Would?, Rooster, and Angry Chair, and you have the recipe for one of the great rock albums from the grunge era.
Classic album from the grunge era. Excellent song writing with great melodies, harmonies, and heavy guitar sounds. The whole band sound fantastic on this record. Also one of the greatest opening riffs to any album, ever.
really not my thing, cringy vocals paired with boring, rigid and unvaried instrumentation.
knew i liked it - didn't remember how fucking much i liked it - shit was dope
A fuse of metal and grunge that brought Alice In Chains to the mainstream. For a mainstream record in the 90s though, this was a pretty stark and gnarly album. I do like Layne Staley’s voice and quite a few of the songs, but some of them just don’t have the memorability that I thought they might have. I still tend to prefer Nirvana and Soundgarden over AIC. Favorite song: Rooster Least favorite song: Hate to Feel
This is pretty great and wished I'd heard it when I was younger; heavier than I was anticipating (sort of a sludge metal/grunge hybrid) with some absolute monster riffs - the opening 1-2-3 of Them Bones, Dam That River and Rain When I Die is unstoppable. Being an hour-long album largely about drug addiction with pretty grimey production, it can often be a bleak and difficult listen - especially knowing the eventual tragic fate of the lead singer Layne Staley. It may have been better being slightly shorter, but I honestly don't know what I'd cut - in isolation, there's not really a bad track here and it does flow very well. A strong 4/5. Favourite tracks: Them Bones / Dam That River / Junkhead
I remember being scared of Alice in Chains when I was a kid, and having listened to it now, I was right to be scared. This is dark stuff, but I can appreciate them so much more now. Drugs suck. Them Bones is a perfect opening track. Really great work on that song. Sets the tone, awesome licks and the chorus is solid. Dam the River is an angry song. Then Rain When I Die is one bummer of a song. It could be taken to mean that he'll die right be fore the "rain" that could have saved him. Or it could just grunge angst about death and rain and darkness. As I read, I see that the two main songwriters, Jerry and Layne had a tumultuous relationship to say the least and Layne tended to write the darker, sadder, drug related stuff, and Jerry wrote about girls. Also, a girl named Demri apparently had quite a grip on Layne in some way. Down in a Hole sounds like a Layne song, and it's excellent. Great rock song that has elements of grunge, ballad, and alternative styles. As I write this I discovered I am wrong and Jerry wrote this about a girl named Courtney, but Layne singing it certainly fits his persona. Oof, Sickman is a drug song. Jesus, to be so aware of your addiction and express these thoughts only to inevitably fall victim to them is just so tragic. This song is so segmented; I think the idea here is to mirror the manic wildness of the high and then follow it with the self-loathing low afterwards. The video for "Rooster" tells you everything you need to know. Very important song for the band, and one that makes you think about war, parents, life, everything. Junkhead - another drug song, but a totally different take than Sickman. Sickman can be seen as a metaphorical journey, but Junkhead is on one hand an honest account of a user and on another an admittance of helplessness. Either way, it's dark as hell. What I did just read though makes this album amazing. A theory is that Junkhead, Dirt, God Smack, Iron Glad, Hate to Feel, and Would? are all an interconnected mini-concept album on the cycle of drugs. Listening to it that way made for a hell of a trip, and if it is indeed the point of this final suite, it makes the album far more epic.
Most depressing album ever? At least of the grunge era which is not a small thing... A masterpiece in any case...
I was about to go to sleep, but this album had me just so hyped that I wasn't able to for another 2 hours, I love it, possibly the best grunge album of all time, yes, I think it's better than nevermind.
Such a classic album. Everything is on point here from the singing to the drums. One of the best grunge albums of all time
Cantrell and Staley are the single best 2-man combo in music, and this album is their peak (except maybe Facelift or Jar of Flies, depending on the day). 5/5.
Loved every second of this album. Always thought Alice in Chains would be too heavy for me and didn't give them a chance, but this was the perfect blend of eerie, dark, intimate, and foreboding. Just truly fucking epic and awesome. This is the kind of album I had hoped to discover through this platform
I remember taking a trip to Romania back in the mid-nineties with my best friend Frosty Ian. After guzzling at least a dozen dark beers, we found ourselves in the backroom of a dingey, smoked filled bar. Alice in Chains was playing which really brought the mood down. Ian was in a bad way and sank deeper into a battered up old sofa with every swig he took. I was slurring my words and dribbling all over the ear and neck of a washed up barmaid with a pair of tits like a broken accordion and a fanny like a crow's deathbed. She must have been desperate for some action, because before we knew it she was straddling Ian's rigid length, whilst I tried to thumb my soft cock into her cesspit of a gob. This broad loved it and squealed as we both jizzed in her eyes. She scrambled round like a maltreated Stevie Wonder, as Ian and I high fived and wiped her blood from our faces and penises. We headed off into the night laughing and making wise cracks about the monstrous rogering we just gave that disgusting troll.
Alice In Chains nous prouve encore une fois que faire du heavy metal tout en ayant une belle voix nasale, c'est possible.
Somehow I missed out on this band during their heyday. I got into the other bigger ones from the Era (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden) and must have figured I was all set. But I saw Singles a million times and knew "Would" from that movie. It's bizarre, I love Nirvana and Pearl Jam and like some other grunge acts. But this one for me is just OK. Two good songs.
You would think someone who likes Pearl Jam as I do would also like this, but I've never been a fan. Something about the vocals and the style of guitar playing. Similar to the reasons I don't like Metallica. I can see the appeal of this for some, but not for me. 2 stars.
i dont like these album choices, every album i listened to i didn't like or hated probably gonna stop with this website
I'm learning that my 90s instinct was not wrong. I knew of this album. I'd heard "Would?" and quite liked that. But I steered well away from the album. Listening to Dirt now, it's really full-on, the loud Jerry 'n' Layne's loud chiming voices powering in unison, emphasising things that don't need emphasis. At times there's a camp delight to the lyrics, the earnest adolescent subject matter. But the whole album was a lot to consume in one sitting and it doesn't inspire a repeat listen.
This heavy rock (metal) has never been my cup of tea. One or two redeeming songs I thought.
Een album dat ik al lang heb willen luisteren maar er nooit van is gekomen. eerste twee tracks lekker riff based, mooie gitaar solo's. - rain when I die : is "she" de dood herself? "Did she call my name? I think it's gonna rain Oh, when I die" EPIC vocals wel in de chorus. voor de rest weer lekker gitaarwerk en mooie basintro. - down in a hole: heerlijke harmonies tussen lead guitar en lead vocal, both can sing. Een meer rustig nummer dat de emoties en de boodschap mooi meegeeft. standouttrack so far. - sickman: "I can feel the wheel but I can't steer When my thoughts become my biggest fear" --> relatable. zeer lekkere riffs man. speciaal nummer maar wel echt graaf. -rooster: grave opbouw, zang heeft iets speciaal als hij uithaalt en het rauwe in zijn stem naar boven komt. mooie tribute naar de papa rooster. - junkhead: drug abuse addict to addict. zanger is jammer genoeg zelf overleden aan OD. - dirt net zoals de rest raw vocals en instrumentaal sterk. - god smack: einde van de drugtrilogie ( junkhead, dirt en godsmack) -iron gland : enter SLAYEEEEEEEEEEEEEER -hate to feel: zet de toon verder van de rest van het album: STEIREK. - angry chair: ze zijn duidelijk boos.. sterke vocals met sterke instrumentals. - would? : het enige nummer dat ik al kende van AiC. THIS IS IT. verses gezongen door lead guitar, chorus door lead singer. prachtig nummer. MI MA MASTERPIECE? ik twijfel nog. al denk ik wel dat het nog groeit hoe vaker je luistert. JA het moet in den boek SOWIESO must listen, dus daarom de 5.
Love this album. Digs deep and the music is masterfully done. The album just bangs through and rocks on. 9.3/10
Killer. Several great hits and pretty much every other song holds up well. A lot of them do sound similar, but that's really my only criticism... And what's wrong with that when they rock so hard?
Det är så bra!! I ren lyssningsvolym måste detta vara på min topp 10 all time-lista. Men Layne Staley är ju så *otroligt* deprimerad, väljer att inte reflektera över vad det betyder för mig. Them Bones, Rooster, Would? Kanonriff på kanonriff! Älskar Jerry Cantrells gitarrspel så mycket. Inte en tråkig stund, varje låt är ägig
This album is a HUGE part of my late teens/early 20's. The one-two punch of Them Bones then Dam That River might just be my favourite opening to an album ever. Then it just keeps going. So many incredible tracks here, where both the playing AND songwriting are immaculate. One of the best rock albums ever. Absolutely loved revisiting this behemoth.
I haven't listened to this in maybe 7 or 8 years and wasn't sure how it would hold up... ooh boy it holds up. Dirt is certainly the right word, everything about this is pure grit and filth The swaggering riffs! The dense, enveloping vocals! The sheer power of the lyrics and songwriting! Is it grunge? Is it metal? Who cares - it absolutely slaps
Damn this has so many good songs on this. Them Bones is sUCH a good opener.
Tja, niet de meest vrolijke of lichtvoetige plaat, maar wat een gewelsige energie en drive! Echt alles is raak. Fantastisch album, waar heel veel herinneringen aan vast zitten.
Ja, eindelijk weer eens 5 sterren, het is jammer dat ik niet meer sterren kan uitdelen, want dit is echt een geweldig album waar ik veel herinneringen aan heb.
Another great one from high school, I've listened to this album countless times
A kick-ass grunge classic with a focus on heavy subject matter lyraclly. Outside of some tracks in the middle, all of the songs here could pass as singles for how heavy and memorable they are. Favourites: "Them Bones", "Rain When I Die", "Down In A Hole", "Rooster", "Angry Chair"
Such deep sorrow and hurt can be felt in this music. Such a good album - one of my all-time favs.
I know it’s grunge and that’s it. I’am a bit if a newbie to grunge only knowing nevermind and ten before this but still lets see how it is: The album starts with the song them bones, arguably a strange song to open off an album but still a good song with a killer guitar solo. Dam that river is quite good, really choppy guitars, and another good solo. Does show how good the singing is for what it’s meant to be. Rain when I die has these really strange guitars, not too sure if it works to be fair, the intro is a little long but I know longer ones. The song is alright, it has a nice chorus which really complements the guitars. The short bridge is cool too. Down in a hole slows down the pace of the album significantly which is good as it shows the verity of the band. It’s really good though just not one that will probably stick out in the future. Stickman is another slower one it’s cool there is an angrier bit as well but it dwells in the slower sludgier side honestly what a song! Rooster is good too, really slow and great lyrics another favourite alongside stickman! Junkhead goes back to the heaviness of the earlier tracks. It’s still fairly nice but just overshadowed by the rest of the tracklist. The title track has a really cool guitar riff so sludgy and heavy. I’am not too sure about the slowness of the singing on the verses on here but still passes overall for me. Next is god smack, the only reason why I’ve herd of this song before is because there’s a not very good band with the exact same name. The song itself is alright the singing is a bit odd on the verses but it’s good just like junkhead it isn’t as good as the others. Then is an untitled track it’s alright just some yelling and an alright lead in to… Hate to feel is one if the sludgier songs in the verses then completely breaks into a pre chorus that slowly leads into the simple but effective chorus. Great outro too. Now the penultimate track angry chair another sludgier song, one I really enjoyed! Great lyrics, great singing, great guitars all you need. The album ends in would?, a great closer not necessary a slow song but slow by their standards what a song honestly!,and the lyrics fit for the closer too! Yeah, I liked it has to be a 5/5 even with two weaker songs.
The darkness and pain at the core of this album emanate aggressively outwards. It grabs you in a vicelike grip and doesn’t let go, immersing you in a world of unbearable raw agony, even after the album is over. It lives in the exact point of intersection between metal and grunge. It’s a tragic listen when you’re already very familiar with Layne Staley’s unfortunate story. But it is ultimately cathartic. And it fucking bangs. Would? is my all-time favourite AIC song; the way it builds is fucking flawless. And it closes the album perfectly. Goddamn magnificent album.
¿Por qué nunca les puse la atención que merecen? Este disco es una joya, de pies a cabeza. Pesado, movido, buenos riffs, una delicia. Va cayendo un poco al final pero Would hace un cierre enorme del disco. Songs: Would?, Rain When I Die, God Smack
Really great album throughout and hits hard. "Down in a Hole" is the best song on the album, IMO. 9/10.
I grew up on 90's grunge and it is by far my favorite genre of music. Of the big 4 (AIC, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Sound Garden), I'd rank AIC as my 3rd favorite. I like the dual vocals of Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell. It's a shame that the same addictions that fuelled such powerful lyrics and themes of their songs ultimately led to the deaths of multiple figures in the grunge scene. This album is packed with hit after hit. I would say that this is their best album.
A classic. Bought this on cd when I was in middle school. Not a bad track on this album
1992 was a crazy good year for music, and Dirt is a strong contender for best album of 1992. Every song on Dirt is a banger, there arent ANY weak tracks. Its also one of the clearest "cries for help" you'll ever hear. 5/5
This album could've just been 30 minutes of white noise and Rooster, and It'd still be great. Instead, you get to hear an hour of sick riffs and self-deprecation through a haunting voice. What an album.
A grunge masterpiece. Every song memorable. “Would?” is the perfect ending!
Yeah! Seen these guys 6 times. Always an opener, and weird pairings too. Van Halen, Aerosmith. I saw them open for Poison in '89, a last minute replacement for Warrant in Portland, Or. Someone said find me a replacement Now! and someone else said there's this band in Seattle making waves. AIC got booed off the stage. Poison fans were not ready for this. Pretty sure they thought hair metal was going to be around for ever. But then flannel became en vouge. Anyway. Great album. Facelift was better. Fucking love these guys.
Dark, heavy, badass, angry. I loved AIC and this album as a teenager. Bone crushing guitar work, awesome vocals, really cool use of vocal harmonies to darken the sound even more. Favorite song: Would?
Incroyable que ce soit le premier album proposé alors que je l'ai écouté des dizaines de fois!!!
Slaps. Has some funky rhythms. Conveys the message and the emotions behind it really well.
Capolavoro triste e avvolgente. La voce di Staley è una meraviglia ultraterrena.
Still as good as ever. Musically Alice in Chains were head and shoulders above all of the other 'grunge' bands. The song writing is spectacular. It, of course is not going to be everyone's taste. There are arguments that can be made that Layne Stanley was not as an accomplished vocalist as Chris Cornell, and these I could agree with. Nevertheless the finished product is better than that of Soundgarden, Nirvana, Mudhoney or even Temple of the Dog. Yes there is some filler on Dirt (Hate to Feel and God Smack) but very little. For me this is the exemplary album for grunge - a solid 5 stars
[admit that grunge hits wheelhouse] [reference lead singer’s death from overdose] [list other grunge and grunge-adjacent artists who died from overdose] [short aside about 27 club] [back on topic about constant energy of album] [mention awesome guitar work by guitarist] [allude to depressing topic of most of the songs] [concede to compulsion to rate album five stars]
90's grunge was jam packed with incredible bands. I used to say that "Alice in Chains are the most underrated grunge band" and then I would say "Stone Temple Pilots are the most underrated grunge band" and then I would say "Nirvana are actually the most underrated grunge band" "No wait it's Pearl Jam- yes, the massively famous band Pearl Jam are underrated". All of those statements are true. I have so many great memories with this band and this album. Track 1- "Them Bones" was the first guitar solo I ever learned. Accomplishing it was a true euphoric moment in my life. Track 4- "Down In A Hole" was the teenage depression anthem in my house for both my brother and I in those early teen years. I think it's one of the best songs ever about depression. Track 13- "Would" is so heavy and catchy and MASSIVE sounding. It's also a song that is serious yet the music video has this one funny moment in it - at 3:20 when Layne turns to the camera and says "WOULD" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nco_kh8xJDs) and my friends and I used to mimic it every time we would say the word "would" There's so much weight in the songs, such a heavy production that compliments the arrangements so damn well. The melodies are genuinely catchy like pop songs, but are in minor keys and covered by distorted guitars and raspy voices. The vocal harmonies are SO impressive and different for grunge/rock music. I have yet to hear a rock/metal band do harmonies like Alice in Chains. Dirt is a 5/5 for me and possibly one of my top 10 albums of all time. Layne was a gift, Jerry Cantrell is a gift, Sean Kinney is a gift, Mike Inez is a gift. AIC is a GIFT!