Dirt

BUÉDA BANGER WTF

Haven't listened to AiC in years and it's good to be back. Dirt is a 90s grunge mainstay that has withstood the test of time and still goes hard today. Staley's vocals are iconic. There are too many standout tracks on this one, it's a good front to back listen. "Angry Chair" and "Would?" are great bangers to end out the album. 5/5. Would.

Seeing this come up made me very happy this morning. Fantastic record!

Definitely my genre of music growing up in the late 80s/early 90s. A band that should have gotten more respect than they did. Worth a listen even for those who don't find heavy metal grunge their cup of tea.

Oh, mul oli nii hea meel seda albumit järgmisena näha. Mul oli nagunii plaanis see tervikuna läbi kuulata, sest "Down in a hole" ja "Them bones" on mul viimase kuu paari jooksul tihti kordusel olnud. See, et seal albumis on juba kolm laulu, mis mul playlistidesse lähevad näitab, et tegu on tõesti tasemel asjaga. Mulle meeldib nende muusika juures just see teatud pinge, mis enamustes nende lauludes on. Seal on millele toetuda, need on nagu meloodilised käepidemed, mitte et ma oskaks seda selgitada. Kuulan muusikat sama moodi, nagu see kuju nende kaveril.

4.5

4.5

Only question is this: why is Facelift not on the list?

Daaamn dans la voiture le matin ça met directement l'ambiance. Nan très fort bravo (la voix me rappelle un peu Kurt Cobain mais un peu plus chantant jsp si vous voyez).

Ça commence très fort. J'aime bien Alice In Chains même si de base pas fan de la voix du chanteur, j'avais jamais écouté l'album entier. Et quelle manière de finir l'album c'est vraiment excellent ptn.

My favourite Seattle Grunge album great band amazing guitar RIP Layne Staley he was the GOAT

I love everything about this album.

My type of music.

I never quite got on board with the hype surrounding the various "grunge" bands. Don't get me wrong, I like them, but perhaps not as much as others did or do. However, this was not the case with Alice in Chains. Firstly, Alice In Chains are heavy as hell, but in the 1970s sense of hard rock and metal. From the off, you can hear the influence of Black Sabbath, both in the down-tuned, sludgy guitar arrangements and in the vocal melodies of Layne Staley, which are highly reminiscent of Ozzy Osbourne. Staley was a magnificent vocalist, and as much as I love Ozzy, Staley was a far better singer - as demonstrated beautifully on 'Rain When I Die'. 'Rooster' is a stunning song; the dynamics are superbly executed, and the vocals are off the chart. The harmony vocals, often doubled by Jerry Cantrell, are also not to be underestimated. Cantrell's writing is superb on this album, as he penned most of the music and lyrics. That is even before mentioning his guitar contributions. He managed to create a style that was incredibly heavy without relying on the flashy, high-speed shredding that dominated the late 1980s. Instead, his uniqueness comes from a brilliant mix of rhythm, texture, and doing the unexpected. The rhythm section of Mike Starr and Sean Kinney is phenomenal on this album too, acting as the anchor for Cantrell’s shifting time signatures. Rather than playing standard, driving rock, Kinney brings a jazz-influenced swing, whilst Starr’s thick, grinding bass tone drives the songs forward. For evidence of this, one only needs to listen to the menacing, lock-step groove of the title track, the hypnotic pulse of 'Angry Chair', or the brilliant, looping bassline that opens 'Would?'. "Dirt" is a dark and intense listening experience, but one that is executed with exceptional musicianship and song-writing discipline. At the time it stood out from the crowd, and it still does. Five stars. 1 "Them Bones" (5/5) 2 "Dam That River" (5/5) 3 "Rain When I Die" (5/5) 4 "Sickman" (4/5) 5 "Rooster" (5/5) 6 "Junkhead" (5/5) 7 "Dirt" (5/5) 8 "God Smack" (4/5) 9 "Intro (Dream Sequence)" (4/5) 10 "Hate to Feel" (4/5) 11 "Angry Chair" (5/5) 12 "Down in a Hole" (5/5) 13 "Would?" (5/5) Total - 61 Average - 4.69 338/1001 183/338 albums reviewed were new to me.

I listened to Alice in Chains a lot in high school, to an almost agonizing degree. I would start my day, every school day, listening to music about wasted potential and drug addiction, suicide and misery. I quickly got diagnosed and wised up that living that way was making getting out of bed each morning more difficult than it needed to be. I do not mention this to bring this album down, or to state that it's themes are one note and only suitable for teenage sad-sackery. (Not unwarrented sad-sackery, for the record. It wasn't about girls or cars, I was struggling, but it was still no doubt draining and partially self-inflicted.) I want to highlight the opposite, actually: in getting out of high school, listening to more varied types of music, and giving myself room to breathe, I found coming back to this album emotionally cathartic and deeply rewarding. I believe almost everybody comes back to some of the music they consumed in their younger and more vulnerable years with a bit of embarrassment. I mention that to say that there is nothing embarrasing about this album: it is a testament to fantastic songwriting, to pain, to a good drummer and a good bass tone. It's a concept album about not getting any better, it starts with death and ends with forgiveness, forgiveness it may or may not have even earned. It is usually weak criticism to link the dead musicians to the sad songs they wrote, something that should be saved for middling Cobain biographies and high school essays about Nick Drake. But Staley (a bluesman by reason of pain and timing) and Cantrell (a de facto pick for grunge rock god, a genre that didn't accommodate well to writing sweet songs about your dad or playing metal guitar solos) May just be the 90s Lennon / McCartney. Junk-age pop geniuses, helping all the lonely people figure out where they belong. (That may not be the best example, considering Lennon and McCartney famously argued about who wrote that song for years, but the line is still good, right? Right? Bite me, I thought it was good.) I think the reason it's so easy to link the artists to their various vices as portrayed on this record is because of how lived in these themes feel: the 90s had no shortage of albums about hating yourself (most likely ushered in by this band... god knows they ushered in the yelpy "YEAH" that all of the post-grunge slop artists borrowed) but depth is the name of the game here. It's not just music to overdose to (or a major label equivalent) it has nuance and bite. "I've eaten the sun / so my tongue has been burned of the taste" existing in the same song as "I'd like to fly / but my wings have been so denied" is pure fugging genius, especially when the song itself is mixed and mastered like Icarus just now feeling the heat on his wings. But they aren't one trick ponies... it isn't all heroin and yelling (not that that would be a bad thing, or something to take lightly.) The band go a lot of different places, and they go through all of them naturally. Hard rockers exist alongside slower cuts, thoughtful and downright experimental song structures in between the best singles 1992 had to offer. The drumming tosses you around, and lays a nauseating and dense sort of rhythm that keeps the band in line. The bassist acts similarly, knowing when to hold 'em and when to let Layne and Jerry do their (respective and also collaborative) thing. I am not in high school anymore, and I am thankful for that fact everyday. But I am also thankful that I once was, that it weathered me a bit and helped me come to love music as I do now. I am also deeply thankful that this album doesn't suck, and that revisiting it may have actually made it better than I originally thought. Smarter, at the very least.

Probably the best album to come out of that short-lived Seattle scene. 9 out of 10 ex-boyfriends recommended. Seriously, Dirt was to high school boys what Little Earthquakes was to us high school girls.

Iisisti top-5 -levyjä maailmassa. Ei taas asteikko riitä arvostelemaan, eli 7/5.

Ah, a timeless classic from the grungiest of grunge. The mood AiC provides is unmatched, and nothing beats Layne’s vocal. I do kinda like Facelift more for some of the songs, but I will say this one is the most Alice-in-chainy album overall.

5 goat goat goat goat. Not their best album but one of the best.

Now we’re talkin’. This is a top 3 Seattle album for me. Early side of the grunge releases and between Layne & Jerry you have two of the most talented members of the scene. Track by track, this 💿 does not miss.

This is the one grunge album I actually like.

Amazing

One of my favorites coming into this. AIC rules.

Awesome album, I've actually never listed to Alice in Chains but I'm excited to listen to more of them!

5/5

Not every song on the album is amazing. However the entirety of this album was just mesmerizing to listen to when it came out. The depth of emotion in Laynes voice. The fuzzy riffs that transitioned between story telling, weeping and outright lunacy. The drums banging out a rhythm we had no right to hear. This album changed my life.

Absolutely one of the best records in heavy music of the 90’s. Cantrell and co are doing their best work here creating some crushingly heavy riffs and passages of music. Staley’s vocals bring everything together to create something truly special. I’m not even the biggest Grunge aficionado and I adore this album. 5/5. Many would imitate this sound in the coming decade, but few would reach the bar set by Alice In Chains.

A hard 5

While Nirvana and Perl Jam got most of the mainstream attention during the 90s Grunge era, those who knew, and who still know, place Alice in Chains in the same tier, and this album provides ample of reasons why. From alt-radio staple tracks to the 'hidden gems', Dirt is messy with peak musical output, making this album a staple for any lover of rock, grunge or otherwise.

Favorite track : Rooster Learned about this band watching Mike Starr struggle on Celebrity Rehab in 2010. First time listening to the album, liked it. RIP Mike

One of the greatest hard rock albums and bands of all time. Nothing beats The Rooster and Dirt is worth a listen to at any time.

Always loved Alice in Chains. Maybe I should listen to more Grunge

I FUCKING LOVE GRUNGEEEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Intro to this album alone is enough to make me gamble away all my savings 5/5

good

Alice In Chains fuck yeah!!

Easily one of my favourite records of all time. Vocal harmonies, Layne’s lyrics, the sludgy/doomy nature of the whole thing. It’s an absolute masterpiece.

Top

dirt and very beautifully and cool produced album of melodic metal full of heartfelt lyrics about relationships and drugs and overdose and death with heartfelt lyrics and unique solos at least in sound

ooooo feels good to be a winner

Already heard it!!! 10/10 masterpiece of an album 😁😁😁

This is the quintessential early 90’s rock album to me. Yeah some might have bigger hits on them but this is the complete product. A guide to the rock music at the time neatly packed in one apbum. 5/5

GONNA END UP A BIG OL' PILE OF THEM BONESSS

9/10 Some great songs on here, in particular: Them Bones, Would? and Rooster. Some of the other songs are a bit abrasive, but do reward repeat listens

A staple of my youth, absolutely amazing from start to finish.

Really good album with memorable songs. Hype asl I'd reccomend it tenfold

gOODD

Near perfect album

Did everyone at school ever show a short film about the consequences of drug use? I propose a more innovative solution: students should simply listen the segment of this album from "Junkhead" to "Angry Chair," with lyrics and a biography of Layne Staley printed. If they're smart, they won't even think about drugs again. Even though Alice in Chains is probably my least favorite of the grunge big four, this album is the quintessence of the genre. Slow, heavy, as if mired in the dirt, Jerry Cantrell's doom metal riffs overlaid with bluesy lyrics. The cover is also perfectly chosen: while listening, your consciousness seems to melt, hallucinating on your subcortex, as if you're in the middle of an endless desert. An extremely dark and, at times, depressingly oppressive album — and, surprisingly, equally beautiful.

Excellent album give it a listen

Dirt is an album I’ve listened to hundreds of times, and it still feels just as heavy and powerful as ever. Songs like Rain when I die, and Would? have always stayed with me, with their crushing riffs and haunting vocal harmonies. The album carries a deep sense of darkness throughout, and it feels less like a collection of songs and more like a single, overwhelming mood. It’s not just music I like, it’s something that has stayed with me over time.

I’ve always loved this album. One of my favorites of the era. 5/5

It’s crazy this album got mainstream. It’s heavy and dark and an album that really captures the 90s.

This album is hard. Many elements are more metal than grunge I would say. The opener slaps. It all kinda slaps. Not what I'd normally listen to, but really appreciated this. Fave Tracks: Them Bones, Rain When I Die, Rooster, Junkhead, Would? 4.5/5

GUYS DONT MAKE ME LISTEN TO ALICE IN CHAINS -sigh- fine WHY IS THIS ACTUALLY FIRE THO??? FUCK I SKIP TWO BANDS AND THEN THIS MAKES ME FEEL GUILTY, but Oh gezz now I see why so many people fw this guys as hard as they do, they're actually really good! Head Creeps is a highlight for me esp. Overall, really solid album by a really solid band, in here you get great vocals, great instrumentals, great production, mixing, the whole thing! I wouldn't really mind listening to AIC's other albums after this; great introduction to the band as a whole

One of my favorite albums of all time. Cantrell and Staley were unbeatable. Such a heavy album for the mainstream attention it got.

Great Album

Må bare innrømme at dette albummet treffer hardt i nostalgikategorien. Har 10/13 låter fra dette albumet lastet ned på Spotify, haha. Kan ikke gjøre annet en 5/5, rip Layne og alt det der. Han var forresten bakgrunnsbilde på telefonen min fra 2011-2013.

Such a damn good album. Love Layne’s voice.

Another awesome heavy rock album...and I thought Alice in Chains was from like the 80's. It's really hard for me to keep these legendary rock bands straight in my head as.....i'm sorry to say, that they all blend together for me. Not in a bad way because the music is good, but I honestly cannot tell one from the other. I've heard these songs a ton of times, Them Bones, Down in a Hole, Rooster etc.........never knew who sang them. I'd believe you if you told me a different band did all of them.....but here they all are on one album. Part of the problem is that the bands are huge, and then there are individual members that are bigger than others and it makes it hard to know ok who played in what band and what songs are theirs? Not easy when you didn't grow up with the music. Anyway, this album is very heavy in music and in theme. It's very self-loathing and depressing, focusing on heroin addiction. It is a concept album, so it takes a lot more unpacking than i'm able to do, but it's a powerful album that allows the anger, disappointment and self-loathing violently flow through you.....without needing to be violent yourself. It's not a violent album. I personally can't see myself destroying a room to it, but it's like a quiet, contemplative, "battle within yourself" type of violence that is directed inward. Great album.

4.5 - Essential rooster grunge, they were great during that fesitival in parramatta a few years back.

Into the flood again Same old trip it was back then

This shit is great, why did I avoid this band for so long? Hard hitting and grimy, if you told me this was the best grunge album I’d believe you.

An album that offered companionship from the moment it was released, through years of adolescent and young adult alienation and depression, this record is a timeless masterpiece. Having had the privilege of seeing Jerry Cantrell perform a few of these songs on his Fall 2025 "I Want Blood" tour, I can state confidently that tracks like "Rain When I Die," "Rooster," and "Would?" still hit hard and have stood the test of time.

Classic of the era with great singles and solid production (at least on the 2022 remaster).

17/03/26 Masterpiece

Seattle’s Alice In Chains kicked the grunge scene into the national conversation with 1990’s Facelift. Certified gold before Nevermind’s release, Facelift ushered in a new age of radio-rock not fit for the glittering ‘80s. Facelift turned the world’s ears to Seattle. But 1992’s follow-up, Dirt, is the band’s masterpiece. On Dirt, AIC carved out their niche with dark melodies and the haunt-you-in-your-sleep harmonizing of Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell. At its best, Dirt sounds like the Beach Boys or Fleetwood Mac covering Black Sabbath. This darkness was real. At 25, lead singer Staley was already a chronic rehab dropout. By 1992, guitarist/singer Cantrell was 5 years into depression and alcoholism following his mother’s death. Bassist Mike Starr was in a spiral of pill abuse. Dirt may be the druggiest drug record that ever drugged. Half the tracks have lyrics by Staley, so soaked with heroin they sound sticky. Songs like “Rain When I Die”, “Junk Head”, “Sickman'', and “God Smack” bring the listener to the shadowy corners of Staley’s addiction. The brooding Cantrell-written/Staley-sung singles “Down In a Hole”, “Rooster”, and “Would?” are the emotional uppercuts defining the record and became the band’s signature songs. “Down In a Hole” is a cry for help from a post-break up abyss. “Rooster” is an apocalyptic first-person Vietnam War narrative, told from the perspective of Cantrell’s father. “Would?” is a tribute to their friend Andy Wood, the Mother Love Bone singer who died of an overdose in 1990. These songs showed that Cantrell’s songwriting was every bit as essential and distinctive as Staley’s vocals. Dirt’s unique sound is the work of producer Dave Jerden using a mix of 3 different amps at once for one guitar. The blend gave a band’s worth of range to a single axe. Cantrell’s tone was thick and chunky while remaining impossibly clear. Over the following decades Dirt became a legendary album in production circles, introducing the term sludge to critical vocabulary. Even if you ignore that it’s stuffed with great tunes, Dirt is still a sonic unicorn. Staley’s health was never strong enough for them to tour extensively, so the band spent most of the two years they dominated rock radio sitting in Seattle. In 1994, they released the stunning acoustic EP, Jar of Flies, which generated hits and critical adoration, but no tour. 1995’s self-titled LP followed, notable mostly for Staley’s almost total absence and the lack of tour. In 1996 AIC played their first show in years, a goosebump-inducing Unplugged session heavy on Dirt cuts. Originally panned for the awkwardness of Layne’s struggles - “like hearing someone sing at their own funeral” - Unplugged soon became vital. Staley then disappeared into Seattle’s drug scene until his overdose death in 2001. Starr died of an overdose in 2011. More than the obvious cautionary tale, Dirt proved dichotomies can coexist on one record, one song, or even one chord. Its pummeling heaviness lives within its soaring melody; its harrowing subject matter is lifted by the production’s sparkling clarity. It’s a true classic whose legacy doesn’t just endure, but grows.

This is an album I wouldn’t have needed to listen to in order to give my rating, but I’ll happily take the excuse to give it another spin. Alice in Chains are an amazing band, and their output with Layne is almost untouchable (though I still really like their modern stuff). • Them Bones is one of the best opening tracks to any album. It kicks in with one of the most startling beginnings to a song, and it never lets up. I love the use of 7/8 and how natural it feels • Dam That River keeps the momentum going, being equally if not more energetic than Them Bones • Rain When I Die begins to let up, with a long instrumental intro before we hit the first verse. Layne still belts the chorus, but the verses definitely take a step back and it sounds great. • Down in a Hole is where the album really shows down for the first time, and it’s one of my favourite ballads from the band. Layne and Jerry’s harmonies are at their best here. • Sickman is where the album takes more of a turn into darker territory, both in terms of subject matter and sound. The pounding drums and palm muted riff in the verse give way to a chorus that makes you feel like you’re spinning, with crazed screams breaking up the two. As an aside, the drum groove on this song reminds me a ton of WMA by Pearl Jam, which came out the year after. • Rooster is a masterpiece of a song. I feel like I can’t say anything about it that hasn’t been said a thousand times before. I remember where I was the first time I (consciously) heard it, and I’ve loved it from then on. I feel like this song is the second best example of how melodic Layne and Jerry could be with their vocals, behind Man in the Box. The intro and outro don’t feature any words, just extremely high pitched “ooh”s, yet when you the song performed live every audience member will be singing it. • From Junkhead on, the album really takes a dive into griminess, even more than it already had. This song in particular feels like a daze, with the chorus acting as occasional levity from the thick smog the verse creates. • Dirt keeps the mood low, with the chorus not even really providing any fresh air from the sludge. • God Smack was definitely biggest grower on the album for me, for a while it was the only track other than Iron Gland not in my playlist, but then I heard it played between sets at a gig and it was like I was hearing it for the first time again. It’s not my favourite song on the album, or even close to it, but the chorus is one of the best moments on Dirt • Iron Gland (or Untitled) is the only track on the album I don’t regularly listen to. It’s such an oddity on the tracklist, it’s not bad but it’s also not a song, and it doesn’t really work as an intro or outro to its adjacent tracks. Still though, it has some cool sounding guitar and vocals, so it’s hard to be too harsh on it, especially considering its length. • Hate to Feel kinda feels more like a Facelift song than one from Dirt, which is about the highest praise I could give any Alice in Chains song (no hate to Dirt though, obviously). It sounds a bit brighter than it’s surrounding songs, despite the lyrics, and it feels like a last gulp of air before diving into Angry Chair. • Speaking of, Angry Chair is a really unique song. I’d say it’s probably the band’s most iconic drumbeat, and the main guitar riff is so recognisable. The chorus sounds a bit lighter than the rest, but it still comes back to that pounding pre-chorus. I really like how the song feels like it’s about to end, only to bring back the drums and fade them out. • And then we finish the album with the also iconic Would?. It’s another absolutely incredible song, and a tribute to Andrew Wood (who was also the subject of Temple of the Dog, one of my favourite grunge projects). A couple of years ago, this probably would’ve been my pick for my favourite song, but now I’ve played it a little too much and learned to love some other songs a lot. It’s still very high up that list though. I probably don't need to say anything else, but this is an incredible album. Alice in Chains were, and are, a very special band, and their 90's output is pretty unparalleled. Dirt isn't even my favourite album from the band, that would be Jar of Flies (followed by Facelift), and yet I still think it's a near-perfect release (seriously, how was I meant to pick a favourite track?). After finishing Dirt, I put on all of the offcuts and releases from around this time that I could find (like Fear the Voices, Lying Season and What the Hell Have I) just to round out the Dirt-era of the band. Phenomenal album, incredible band. Favourite song: Dam That River

Awesome

Hell freaking yeah, my favourite album from here so far and another 5-star for the books. Gives me good memories of watching MTV and VH1 music videos when I was like 4 years old. THIS is the kind of grungey metal I love and want more of. Not screamo bullshit, or the growlings of a rabid dog begging to be put down, or mindless strumming of an electric guitar as fast as you can with no rhyme or rhythm, or shitty lyrics that are just fake-edgy for the sake of it with no meaningful commentary. I wrote down my favourite tracks SOMEWHERE but I lost it. So I'll eventually go back and re-listen to put them here. "God Smack" is a certified banger and definitely on there though (and is the name of another band whose albums I hope are on this list).

Yessss, finally a metal album!! I love Alice in Chains so much and I have to say this is their best album so far. There's so many incredible songs on this but my favourites would have to be rooster, down in a whole, them bones and would?

Hey, that's an Opeth cover!

Didn’t expect to like it judging by cover

One of my personal favorites of all time. An amazing display of grunge music and an album I always come back to

I was dismissive of this one when it came out. I gave it a serious listen about 6 years later and became an instant fan. "Would" is an all-time favorite song.

Listens: 4 Standout Tracks: Down In A Hole, Sickman, Rooster, Dirt Really like this album. Did a double-take when it first came up. Thought I was having to listen to another Alice Cooper album. This album just sounds really good. The production is high fidelity. The guitar, drums and vocals are all really prominent. Reminds me a lot of Audioslave and Queens of the Stone Age. I think I've heard Rooster before, probably on the radio, but I can't place it. This gets high marks.

Finally, something right in my wheelhouse. This is a grunge/sludge metal classic. It’s dour, it’s angry, it’s heavy, and there’s a lot of hits on here (I prefer ‘Would?’ over ‘Rooster’, but you can’t really go wrong). I love the harmonies between Staley & Cantrell; ‘Rain When I Die’ is the best deep cut and the best example of said vocal harmonies, and also a sneaky good showcase of Staley’s powerful voice. Is it the cheeriest listen ever? Not at all. Are there a couple too many tracks about heroin use? Probably. But I love the band and this album, it kicks ass. The music just punches you in the face. Two in one week is crazy, but this is gonna make the cut as my 15th 5/5

Killer album that only starts to falter near the end of side two. Thankfully it wraps up with another classic.

100% pull, an all time fave of mine

This is just awesome. Real heavy grunge.

Incredible record, tremendous vocals and instrumentals. Jerry Cantrel's riffs are amazing. Just an incredible and raw, emotional experience. It is a certified classic. I loved it.

Alice In Chains one of the greatest bands ever

как же струячит

5.0 - Awesome

Life changing

Klassiker, Meisterwerk, mein Lieblingsalbum aus dem Grunge.

Fantastic

Virspusēji zināju, ka šis albums ir 🔥, bet agrāk tikai 3 dziesmas pazinu

That’s gonna get a big ol' Hell Yeah Brother from me

5/6

This is the epitome of grunge for me. You can feel it as you listen to this masterpiece of an album. Alice In Chains is the best band in this genre and this album showcases all of the best. Full of all time classics and perhaps the best first side of an album in all of the genre. It als has my favorite song of all, Would?, as the closer. Would give this more than five stars if I could.

**Alice in Chains – *Dirt* (1992)** *An In-Depth Review* --- ## Overview Released on September 29, 1992, *Dirt* stands as Alice in Chains' definitive statement and arguably one of the most harrowing rock albums ever recorded. Following their 1990 debut *Facelift*, this sophomore effort captured the band at the precipice of both commercial breakthrough and personal implosion. Produced primarily by Dave Jerden (who also helmed *Facelift*), the album was recorded across London Bridge Studio in Seattle, One on One Recording Studios, and Eldorado Recording Studios in Los Angeles—a process interrupted by the 1992 LA riots, forcing the band to flee to the desert with Slayer's Tom Araya until tensions cooled . The album represents a quantum leap in focus and intensity. Where *Facelift* hinted at darkness, *Dirt* plunges into the abyss with unflinching candor. It peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified 5× platinum, yet its commercial success feels almost incidental to its artistic mission . --- ## Lyrics & Themes ### The Architecture of Despair *Dirt* functions as a concept album in all but name, particularly in its middle section ("Junkhead" through "Angry Chair"), which traces the narrative arc of heroin addiction with devastating specificity . Layne Staley's lyrics read less like songwriting than confessional testimony—he wasn't writing *about* addiction; he was documenting his own disintegration in real-time. **Key thematic strands:** **Mortality and Existential Dread** "Them Bones" opens the album with a mathematical assault on death: *"I believe them bones are me / Some say we're born into the grave"* . The 7/8 time signature creates a lurching, unsteady rhythm that mirrors the lyrical anxiety—Cantrell's riff feels like a countdown to oblivion. **Addiction as Character** "Junkhead" is perhaps the most disturbing track, presenting heroin use not as tragedy but as seductive lifestyle: *"What's my drug of choice? / Well, what have you got?"* . The song's slow, doom-laden trudge creates a sonic equivalent of nodding off, while Staley's delivery—simultaneously alluring and repellent—captures addiction's dual nature. **Trauma and Survival** "Rooster" (written by Cantrell about his father's Vietnam experience) and "Down in a Hole" (Cantrell's meditation on relationship failure) broaden the album's scope beyond drugs . The former's wandering, seven-minute structure relies on the power of its chorus and the Staley/Cantrell harmonies to create something anthemic yet deeply personal . **Guilt and Grief** "Would?"—the closing track written for the *Singles* soundtrack—elegizes Andrew Wood (Mother Love Bone), whose 1990 heroin overdose haunted the Seattle scene . Staley reportedly wore Wood's actual shirt in the video, blurring the line between performance and mourning . The lyric *"If I would, could you?"* reads as both accusation and plea for understanding . --- ## Musical Composition ### The Sound of Suffering *Dirt* perfected the "Alice in Chains formula": drop-D tuning, sludgy Sabbath-inspired riffs, and the iconic dual-vocal approach that blended Staley's piercing anguish with Cantrell's earthy harmonies . **Sonic Architecture:** - **Guitar Work**: Cantrell's playing evolved from *Facelift*'s 80s metal roots into something more textural and dissonant. The chromatic riffing in "Them Bones," the wah-drenched Eastern modalities of the title track, and the clean, haunting arpeggios of "Down in a Hole" demonstrate remarkable range . - **Rhythm Section**: Sean Kinney's drumming favors atmosphere over flash—his work on "Rain When I Die" creates a slow, drowning sensation, while Mike Starr's bass on "Would?" provides the song's propulsive, funeral-march foundation . - **Vocal Production**: Staley's vocals are often buried low in the mix—a controversial choice that some critics found frustrating (wanting to hear him "screeching his heart out"), but which arguably enhances the sense of being trapped underwater . **Structural Diversity:** The album balances explosive aggression ("Them Bones," "Dam That River") with doom-metal dirges ("Junkhead," "God Smack") and melancholic balladry ("Down in a Hole," "Rooster"). This dynamic range prevents the unrelenting darkness from becoming monotonous . --- ## Production Dave Jerden's production on *Dirt* walks a tightrope between rawness and polish. The album sounds expensive—layered guitars, carefully crafted vocal harmonies, pristine separation of instruments—yet maintains a claustrophobic, almost suffocating intimacy . **Notable Production Choices:** - **The "Dead Puppy" Incident**: Staley reportedly surrounded himself with morbid objects (including a dead puppy) in the vocal booth to access the necessary emotional states - **The Iron Gland Mystery**: The 43-second hidden track features Slayer's Tom Araya and originated from band frustration during sessions - **Vocal Layering**: The stacked harmonies on tracks like "Sickman" and "Hate to Feel" create a ghostly, choir-of-the-damned effect that became the band's signature The production's "cavernous" drum sound and frequent guitar solos have drawn criticism from some quarters as being somewhat dated or excessive , but these elements largely serve the material's emotional weight. --- ## Influence & Legacy *Dirt* occupies a unique position in rock history—simultaneously a commercial juggernaut (5 million copies sold) and an artistic suicide note . Its influence radiates across multiple genres: **On Metal**: Bands like Tool, Deftones, and Korn absorbed Alice in Chains' ability to merge crushing heaviness with melodic accessibility . The album proved that metal could be emotionally vulnerable without sacrificing power. **On Grunge**: While often categorized as grunge, *Dirt* actually helped delineate the boundaries between Seattle's punk-influenced scene and its metal roots. As one critic noted, "Alice in Chains came from metal more than they did punk" . **On Hard Rock**: The album demonstrated that radio-friendly hooks could coexist with 7/8 time signatures, dissonant harmonies, and lyrics about heroin withdrawal. It expanded the vocabulary of what mainstream rock could address . **The Curse of Authenticity**: Perhaps no album in rock history has been as tragically prophetic. Staley's lyrics—*"I lie dead gone under red sky"*—read as self-fulfilling prophecy following his 2002 death from overdose . Bassist Mike Starr (who played on *Dirt* but left shortly after) also died of an overdose in 2011 . This lends the album an almost unbearable documentary quality that transcends mere entertainment. --- ## Pros & Cons ### **Strengths** | Aspect | Assessment | |--------|------------| | **Emotional Authenticity** | Unprecedented in mainstream rock; Staley's willingness to document his own destruction creates art of almost uncomfortable intimacy | | **Musical Chemistry** | The Staley/Cantrell vocal harmonies remain unmatched in rock history—simultaneously beautiful and deeply unsettling | | **Sonic Diversity** | Successfully balances thrashy aggression, doom metal, acoustic balladry, and psychedelic texture within a cohesive vision | | **Cantrell's Songwriting** | From the mathematical precision of "Them Bones" to the emotional devastation of "Down in a Hole," his compositional growth is remarkable | | **Cultural Impact** | Defined the "dark alternative metal" template that influenced countless 90s and 2000s bands | | **Timelessness** | Despite its specific historical moment, the themes of addiction, depression, and trauma remain painfully relevant | ### **Weaknesses** | Aspect | Assessment | |--------|------------| | **Vocal Mix Issues** | Staley's vocals are consistently low in the mix, occasionally obscuring his emotional delivery—particularly frustrating on "Would?" | | **Pacing in Middle Section** | Tracks like "Sickman" and "God Smack" can feel repetitive or like "filler" compared to the album's peaks | | **Overwrought Elements** | The "cavernous" drum production and frequent guitar solos occasionally veer into 80s metal excess | | **Exhausting Intensity** | At 57 minutes, the unrelenting darkness can be emotionally draining—this is not a "fun" listening experience | | **"Angry Chair"** | While not bad, it pales in comparison to the album's other ballads and feels somewhat like a lesser retread of "Man in the Box" | | **The "Wah-Wah" Problem** | The title track's extended Middle Eastern-influenced wah-wah section can feel self-indulgent | --- ## Conclusion *Dirt* is not an album one "enjoys" in the conventional sense—it is survived. It represents the rare intersection of commercial success and uncompromising artistic vision, of heavy metal's sonic power and confessional poetry's emotional nakedness. The album functions as both masterpiece and cautionary tale. Sean Kinney's assessment captures this duality perfectly: *"That's a tough album for me. People are like, 'That's your greatest record.' It's bittersweet"* . The same authenticity that makes *Dirt* transcendent also makes it tragic; we are not merely listening to performances, but to documentation of real pain that would eventually consume its creators. Thirty years later, *Dirt* remains the definitive document of addiction in rock music, the heaviest album to ever sell five million copies, and arguably the greatest achievement of the Seattle scene. It is a monument carved from suffering—beautiful, terrible, and absolutely essential. **Final Verdict:** A flawed masterpiece that redefined the boundaries of what mainstream rock could express. The imperfections—the muddy mixes, the occasional filler, the exhausting darkness—are inseparable from its power. It is not Alice in Chains' most "perfect" album, but it is unquestionably their most important.

Peak 90s

this was excellent, I thought it would be too intense or weird for me but it strikes the perfect balance. i get the hype now

Wow. This was an amazing album all-around. It kicks off with a bang with "Them Bones," which is easily one of the most powerful album openers that instantly sets the tone for the rest of the album (rivaled only by the likes of bands like Nirvana, Led Zeppelin and Ramones), and does it start out with a huge opener. The immediate "Ahhs!" backed by the rhythmic strumming of Jerry Cantrell's guitar is really powerful, and the band's versatility really shines through with the 7/4 section during the guitar solo. The next several songs are more emotional, but still hard hitting, especially "Rain When I Die" and "Down in a Hole." Then it reaches "Rooster"- an emotional masterpiece that really rocks out and is an amazing listening experience. Then AIC continues that energy through the next 5 songs until it reaches "Angry Chair." Although I am not sure of its meaning, I really enjoyed the song, and it culminates in the masterpiece "Would?" In this song, both Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell sing, which makes for a really cool sound, working in tandem with the stellar bass from Mike Starr and the drum groove from Sean Kinney. Overall, Alice In Chains really brought their A-game to Dirt, and it shows with incredible musicianship and songwriting. Favorite tracks: Them Bones, Down in a Hole, Rooster, Angry Chair and Would?

Classic. Banger after banger <3

Genau meine Art von Musik. Die Themen auf dem Album sind keine leichte Kost, aber das passt gut zu dem Grunge/Metal/Hard-Rock Sound. 5/5

one of my favorite albums of all time. A Soundtrack to my youth.

Alice in Chains is probably my favorite 90s rock/grunge band. I played the hell out of this album throughout my life, so it holds a special place in my heart. I love their sound & style. That nassssty bass tone is *chefs kiss*. Layne Staleys voice is incredible and one of my many vocal inspirations. Every song is good. Never gets old.

We live in a yin and yang world of light and darkness, happiness and sadness, pleasure and pain. There can’t be one without the other. This album was a game changer. It plumbs some dark places but does so in a courageous, vulnerable, and even beautiful way. It may be disturbing some. I found myself identifying with the rawness of disappointment, despair, and addiction. Down In A Hole hits me in a deep place like few songs can. Jerry Cantrell is the architect here but there is something about Layne Staley’s vocals that is gripping and visceral. The harmony with Cantrell make their sound uniquely identifiable and haunting. This a 5 for me. Landmark album in the grunge genre.

I had always listened to Jar of Flies more since I have it on vinyl, but this record is right on par with it! Just some bangers, a unique sound both on vocals and guitar.

I love this album - one from my formative years that hasn't in any way diminished over time. Wonderful, expressive, powerful work.

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhhhh

😎✌️

Amazing album front-to-back. Alice in Chains was one of the first bands I really got into as a young teenager, so I'm definitely biased, but I really feel this album holds up well. There's not a bad song on here and I feel Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell are both at the tops of their crafts. I also really enjoy the exploration of addiction, from Junkhead's self-assured confidence to the low points like Down in a Hold. 4.5 -> 5/5

#835. I don't even need to listen to this again to know it's a 5. I mean, I want to, so I'm going to, but all of Alice in Chains' first four albums with Layne Staley [and the Unplugged album] are solid 5 star albums, so I don't really need to. 5/5: perfect

Thiaguismo musical. Forte.

The first review that shows up for me at least best sums up my feelings and experience with this album. I am the perfect age and demo for this to be in my wheelhouse. I have heard the singles all in excess of 200 times, even stooping so low as to sing "Rooster" in a karaoke bar in Gotemba, Japan some 23 years ago as a young Marine. In spite of or because of the aforesaid, this is a "5 Star" for me. There is something here for anyone who loves guitar music and you can love it even if you don't.

One of my all-time favourites.

Truth be told, I was a little late to the AIC party. It was late 95 when I caught the video for Grind on some late night Alt rock music program that I’d recorded and loved the vibe of it. So Tripod was the first album of theirs I bought but a few months later I owned them all. That included their MTV Unplugged session (which I won in a Kerrang competition) which aired in mid 96 which was sadly all too close to the end for Layne and for a while, the band itself. It did give me plenty of time to dive back into their material and, although they were all fantastic, Dirt was the one I went back to most, attracted by its dark and visceral portrayal of addiction and death. It was like nothing I’d heard before and still haven’t! The combination of Layne’s powerful yet pained and vulnerable vocals with Jerrys incredible riffs and melodies; not to mention their dissonant eerie vocal harmonies are just so unique. I just wish we could have had more!

ABSOLUTE CINEMA

Great album. One of the best from the 90s grunge big 4.

Very garage-y. Best song is Molly’s Chambers. It has a good, not overly complicated groove and you can understand the lyrics. It’s the cleanest sounding without losing much of the gritty feel. The rest of it is fine. Not a must-listen though.

Them Bones - 5/5 Dam That River - 5/5 Rain When I Die - 4/5 Sickman - 3.5/5 Rooster - 5/5 Junkhead - 4/5 Dirt - 4.5/5 God Smack - 4/5 Iron Gland [Untitled] - 3/5 Hate to Feel - 4/5 Angry Chair - 4.5/5 Down in a Hole - 5/5 Would? - 5/5 One of the defining albums from the grunge era, and one the grimiest at that (though not Alice in Chain's grimiest sounding album, that's their self-titled). A deep and dark look despair, depression, and addiction, which are tragically how Layne Staley died years later. Both the opener of Them Bones and the album ender of Would? both are in my regular rotation. A must listen for the grunge genre. Overall: 5/5 Favorites: Them Bones, Dam That River, Rooster, Down in a Hole, Would?

LOVEEE THIS ALBUMMMMM!! IMMEDIATE 10 OUT OF 10!!! RAAAAHHHH

Very good album love AIC. Tracks I like: Them bones Down in a hole Rain when I Die Junkhead Would?

Way more famous than I realized. And is really good, should be on a permanent rotation.

An album I have heard bits of over the years, but never in full. A sound before its time that has created a cult like following, similar but not quite as intense as Tool's fandom. Really great, really fun sound, love it.

A true classic album I remember when this came out when I was in high school the sound was so alive and electric. It was a great to listen to something with some soul and feeling in it if you’ve not listened to this, this is a must have in your collection.

My first Alice in Chains album and a pleasant surprise. A bit more metal than grunge and all solid songs. Very good album and great guitar and bass sound.

Yeah this album rules. Everything that is riffy and badass about Alice In Chains is on full display here. Honestly a very heavy album and quite metal-ish in a lot of moments. When the riff comes in on "Rooster" - holy fucking guitar tone, Batman! All of the Layne/Jerry harmony vocals are fantastic. They were somehow so aware of their predicaments but completely unable to turn the tide. I think what makes this album so good is the combination of these great clean vocals with some really grimy and heavy instrumentation. Some of the riffs on this album are like two steps away from total Crowbar territory. It's like a mainstream sludge metal album that has just enough pop/rock in it to keep its appeal. Fantastic record.

Another one that I do not have to listen to. This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Pretty sure it's one of the CDs I found in my dad's collection so I listened to it a ton when I was younger. It's stayed in my rotation and I revisit it a lot. So many great songs. Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell's vocal harmonies. Amazing riffs. "Down in a Hole" is such a fantastic song in particular. "Dam That River" is a ton of fun to play on guitar. "God Smack" is weird but that riff has always been a favorite of mine. "Would?" is another of my favorite songs of all time, that bass riff is classic.

top

Iconic grunge album, some would say one of the best grunge albums of all time. For me, it’s definitely the best AiC studio album. I’m not a guitar guy but I love Cantrell on this. I love the rhythm section, guitars, vocals and just everything. Although not a perfect album, I just love it.

10/10 Favorites: Them Bones Rain When I Die Down In A Hole Rooster Would?

I actually really enjoyed this album. I’ve not been too into rock/metal before and I was pleasantly surprised with this choice.

I listened to this not too long ago and gave it five stars despite not at all being a fan of this when it came out when I was 15 and that being like a prime time to be into it. That voice has really grown on me over the decades as have those riffs. But then it felt like a slog towards the end and I was thinking maybe four stars is more appropriate. But then Would came on which made me think of the Singles soundtrack which is a top ten album for me and so that goodwill bumped it up to five stars again. Don't do drugs. At least not those kinds of drugs.

This was 5 stars before i even pressed play

I know the album please give something new , down in a hole is a banger tho

Not my first time listening to this one, first day that I'm familiar with one of the albums. Still as great as I knew it was. A wonderfully vicious, heavy album where every member hits their stride and plays amazingly well. This is *the* album anyone should listen to if they want to "get into" grunge. It's essentially an album about misery, and the instruments give off that vibe just as well as the lyrics. Some off the sickest riffs and chugging bass lines you'll hear in this genre, and tbh, I don't even care for grunge that much. Favorites: Them Bones, Down in a Hole, Sickman, Rooster, Dirt Least Favorites: N/A 10/10, First one so far (aside from rounding up Vol. 4)

Grungy bangers, with a few average songs. Low to mid 9

INTO THE FLOOD AGAIN

Dirt-AIC I AM BIASED Alice In Chains drew from metal areas of punk like other grunge acts This album was the last before the lead singer got really addicted and struggled with drugs, and the habit eventually killed him. You can hear the beginning of pain in this album the riffs and distorted guitar is insane, it still allows for solos though Rain When I Die is beautiful, especially followed up by Down in a Hole, the lyrics are so depressing about this painful break up Down in a Hole takes the Rain When I Die and milks the emotion out of it Half way through there seems to be shift to depression rather than the stadium anthems of Them Bones Sick Man is almost like an overview of the songs before it in its transitions Rooster is written about Laynes Dad who fought in Vietnam that he failed to connect with. He cried the first time he was played the song These might be the best lyrics so far Layne Staley’s voice is overshadowed a little, but as soon as you hear it it takes over, he’s almost as powerful Chester Bennington This album is phenomenal.

I AM BIASED Alice In Chains drew from metal areas of punk like other grunge acts This album was the last before the lead singer got really addicted and struggled with drugs, and the habit eventually killed him. You can hear the beginning of pain in this album the riffs and distorted guitar is insane, it still allows for solos though Rain When I Die is beautiful, especially followed up by Down in a Hole, the lyrics are so depressing about this painful break up Down in a Hole takes the Rain When I Die and milks the emotion out of it Half way through there seems to be shift to depression rather than the stadium anthems of Them Bones Sick Man is almost like an overview of the songs before it in its transitions Rooster is written about Laynes Dad who fought in Vietnam that he failed to connect with. He cried the first time he was played the song Dirt's riff is so unbelievably nasty God Smack has an interesting opening, not particularly bad though Untitled is a great transition track Hate to Feels Outro is PEAK These might be the best lyrics so far Layne Staley’s voice is overshadowed a little, but as soon as you hear it it takes over, he’s almost as powerful Chester Bennington This is by FAR my favorite album of our series so far

One of the first records I ever loved. Beautiful vocal harmonies and outstanding riffs. Favorite track: Down in a Hole

Love this album

Good.

Love this album

Awesome sauce

Awesome jam

Это КРУТО. Это один из самых КРУТЫХ альбомов. Ты слушаешь и понимаешь как же КРУТО. Нечего комментировать. Лейн Стейли - очень крутой и эмоциональный вокались. Это реально жесткая музыка, именно жесткая, а не тяжелая. Один из лучших альбомов вообще.

LURRVVVV

Them bones is legendary.

This is a great album. It has some really excellent standalone hits (Would?, Them Bones, Rooster), but the whole album is strong overall. I’ve listened before multiple times so I’m perhaps biased on this one because I have more exposure.

6 stars

One of the best albums of the grunge/alt-rock era. Sometimes bordering on metal, Alice in Chains stands up as one of most consistently strong '90s bands. Yes, this album is long, and yes some of the tracks have the same style, and yes the last couple tracks before "Would?" seem to drag, but still. Terrific album. Above most other bands of the decade with stronger melodies, better vocals, and more interesting and ear-catching progressions and instrumentation.

Tätä on tullut kuunneltua ja tuttua tavaraa. Suosikkejani on Rooster, Down In A Hole ja Would?

One of the most stacked grunge albums. Super dark but some excellent melodies and Layne is incredible as always

classic

Great grunge record

Can’t believe I’ve never listened to this album in full.

An album about a downward spiral into addiction while screaming for help. An unreal album. Layne Staley stands outs on every single track. One of the best albums of the 90's.

Best grunge album and it’s not even close.

It has been a very long time since I’ve listened to this in its entirety, certainly not since the days of the portable Sony cd player and poor quality headphones. The remaster is simply amazing and I really enjoyed hearing certain riffs and lyrics that I don’t remember hearing before. That said, listening to this again is like a gut punch. This takes me back to a time I’d rather not remember, yet I am so thankful this music was there when I needed it most. This is a one and done album for me in middle age.

Amazing album. Important soundtrack to my youth

Day702 - from start to finish this album hit hard. i still can pick it up and binge it for days. now that soundgardengot inducted to the rock hall hopefully alice in chains won’t be far behind

This is a definitive masterpiece and possibly the greatest grunge album of all time. It melds grunge, metal, and the darkness of addiction into an unrelenting body of work. To this day, the album sounds fresh and the production is phenomenal. It’s one of the few albums I know where every song is fully realized while also being great to listen to.

This shit rules. Kind of depressing, but so sick.

Yeah great album, classic

One of best 90s albums of all time. So visceral and raw, pure grunge with interwoven hard rock riffs. Huge drums and super groovy bass all topped off with the cherry known as Lane mf Staley. Pure power and virtuosic singing leading the forward melody.

Rooster

Станом на зараз це кращий гранж для мене. Це звичайно може змінитися, але поки передумов не бачу

Легкі 5 балів, на цьому альбомі я знаю кожну ноту, мабуть, слухаю його дуже давно та навіть колись грав кавери на приблизно половину пісень звідси. Alice in Chains все ще один з моїх улюблених гуртів евер.

Bönger

This was a really hard album to review cause I’ve sort of grown away from it over the years. But in highschool I was obsessed with this album as well as Soundgarden’s Superunknown. But as the teenage angst has faded away from my life, some of these songs don’t hit the same anymore. I still recognize that this is a STAPLE in the grunge community, like a totally unstoppable masterpiece. Possibly even Alice In Chains best album. But aside from not relating to the music as much as I did before, I gotta say it still holds up really well. Like easily one of the best albums I listened to in hs. The only fault I have now as an adult is that there are a few skips, not a lot, but a few like I don’t care for damn that river. I also wish there was alittle more bold experimentation, like the only song on this album that sounds like they tried something vastly different sonically is Angry Chair and that album I think has become my favorite on the album. But at the end of the day the problem with reviewing this album is that it truly does deserve a 4.5 stars. It’s not quiet perfection but it’s definitely higher than a 4. So I guess by the laws of rounding it’s gunna get a 5, which feels less egregious than giving it a 4.

I like this album I have listened to it a lot before

I could give five stars for Layne Staley’s vocals alone. His voice and his writing sit on their own level. The deepness, darkness and suffering he can carry in a single line is what makes the whole Alice in Chains sound feel complete. Other grunge acts like Nirvana and Soundgarden have never reached me in the same way, but Alice in Chains has always stood higher. It is probably the musical complexity, the heavier tone and once again Staley’s voice and how naturally it locks in with Cantrell’s guitar. There is a blues quality in that blend that feels both raw and deliberate. My previous review was on Stephen Stills and that led me back to CSNY. I cannot help comparing their vocal tonation to Alice in Chains. Both rely on layered harmonies that melt into the instrumental backdrop. CSNY let their harmonies drift upward, open and bright, while Alice in Chains turned the same idea into something tense and shadowed. That is exactly what I enjoy: the claustrophobic, darker version of it. Alice in Chains carries a blues core not in the classic twelve bar sense, but in the emotional pull of how Staley and Cantrell shape their lines. The harmonies may be tight and grunge heavy, yet the phrasing is pure blues, with bends that never resolve cleanly and minor thirds stretched into something aching. The voice and guitar move like two troubled storytellers answering each other, turning the blues inward and darker. Where CSNY used harmonies to lift everything open, Alice in Chains pulled the idea downward into something weighty and human, with the blues sitting right at the centre of that heaviness.

A 4.7 but let’s be generous. Riffs for days and really liked Layne’s pained vocals. Bit of a somewhat overlooked grunge gem

This whole album still goes hard and Rooster still gives me goosebumps. No skips.

The best hour of music anyone released in the 90’s? I think it might be. AiC in the 90’s were such a unique band. Started off as a metal band. Marketed at the time as part of the grunge scene. Moved (seemingly) effortlessly between those spheres, but never truly appeared to be part of either. They made three brilliant albums and two haunting EP’s, with Dirt as the centrepiece (musically and chronologically). The album begins and ends abruptly. In between we’re treated to a rollercoaster ride of high energy rockers and emotional ballads - always with a looming sense of danger and destruction. On Dirt, the band seems to be at a crossroads with one way going to the decadent but fun parts of the reckless rock n roll lifestyle, and the other to ultimate disaster. By their next release (Jar of Flies), they had picked their path. Sadly, they were indeed heading towards disaster. Mike Starr was forced to leave the band and Layne Staley descended into darkness. Neither of them is alive today. It would take many years before the band eventually resurfaced in its current form - a different band, but still great. 5/5

I think there's just enough to push this to five-star status, although a number of the middle songs are somewhat forgettable. But the last two songs push it over the top. Is "Would" (the first song on the "Singles" album) one of the top-ten last album songs in rock history? "When the Levee Breaks," "The End," and others would rank higher, but it's a wonderful close to a great album.

Powerful vocals, aggressive riffs, and haunting melodies. Top notch Seattle grunge music.

The greatest of the grunge albums if you ask me, outside of maybe Superunkown. Haunting, driving. Vocals are great, the albums is a wall of sound.

This is a very dark and heavy alternative metal album. The lyrics tell tales of drug abuse and self destruction, and the album uses haunting, heavy soundscapes to great effect. The uniquely dark, droning vocal harmonies and sludgy guitar are the record's most distinctive and strong attributes.

Love this album

Lautestes Konzert meines Lebens, damals Nachtwerk mit 15?...C

Have listened to this album 100s of times since it came out. Love it. On this listen, I notice how much the first couple songs owe to AIC's 'sleaze metal' beginnings. Then it just goes very dark. When I first heard it at 16, I just liked the hardness of the songs, but now they strike me as almost depressing because of all the heroin references. The title track is so sad in hindsight

An album recognized as a masterpiece on release, and still regarded as one today. Something about the early ‘90s felt different: there was less of that “fans love it, critics hate it” divide, and more genuine mass consensus. Of course, it was also still an era of pay-to-play radio and label politics, so maybe another decade or two will reveal even more overlooked bands from that time. Dirt remains a powerful and brutally honest record - unflinching about addiction, relationships, and self-destruction - all wrapped in that unmistakable, heavy-lidded ‘90s grunge sound. It’s dark, cathartic, and timelessly raw.

YESSSSSSSS them bones- 7 dam that river- 6 rain when i die- 6 or 7 down in a hole- 8 or 9 sickman- 7 rooster- 7 or 8 junkhead- 9 or 10 dirt- 9 god smack- 12 lol untitled- 7 hate to feel- 8 or 9 angry chair- 6 would- 7 or 8

One of the all time best grunge albums. RIP Layne

5/5

Best grunge album.

Its peak

Hell yeah!

I've listened to all the big "grunge" albums from this era many, many times. There are only a few of them that still draw me back. Dirt is one of them. There's a freshness and urgency about it that still feels new every time I listen. It's got the whole package for me: It sounds friggin great, it's got pleasingly weird song structures, the lyrics are good, the vocal harmonies are fantastic, and Jerry Cantrell's guitar work is just *chef's kiss*. No way this isn't a . . .

9.5/10

First of all I have to make this clear, Alice in Chains is the best grunge band for two reasons, the first is their EP/album “Jar of Flies” and the other is this album, “Dirt.” Dirt is definitely the bands crown jewel, with pretty much any track on here being able to be taken as your favorite with no complaint. It’s crazy to think about but you’ve got Rooster, Would, Down in a Hole, and Them Bones all on this same album. Layne’s voice is powerful yet haunting and Cantrell provides excellent backing vocals to the mix, all while playing some of the best solos and riffs of the 90’s BY HIMSELF. This is best displayed on the song “Rooster” where Layne sings about his Dad’s experience in Vietnam and the treatment he got coming back, where we get Layne switching between a haunted storyteller style to a powerful chorus, all backed by Cantrell’s virtuoso performance. This album is an absolute classic and worthy of a perfect 5 stars. Favorite Tracks: Rooster Would Least Favorite: None without counting the interlude

Top 5 album oat in my opinion. Would? is my favourite song ever, every song here has some much to come back to, the riffs are perfect, the vocals are passionate, the bass and drums work great and this is just a perfect album. There's an amazing atmosphere all over this that just adds so much emotion and there are countless bangers all over this.

Their best!

Hell yeah

This is #day433 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I believe them bones are me! Over a little more than ten years of listening to grunge, I've concluded that Alice in Chains is my favorite band in the genre, with Layne Staley being my favorite vocalist. What sets this band apart is the partnership made in heaven (Heave Beside You?) between Cantrell's guitars/vocals and Staley's vocals... Dirt is all things grunge. A masterclass in melodies, riffs, and lyricism. A sickening trip into a junkhead's darkness... My favorites are the holy trinity of "Rain When I Die," "Down in the Hole" (I love the fact that my wife loves this one too, as much as their MTV Unplugged performance, especially the video version), and "Angry Chair." But honestly, the whole damn record. Fucking perfection. This is a 5 out of 5, of course. Looking forward to #day434.

OMG this was unexpected and almost brought a tear to my eye... So many memories... RIP Layne <3

I've loved this album since I was a kid, and it holds up. Staley's vocals are are unlike anything before or since, and he brings a haunting presence to the entirety of this album. It's now back on my normal rotation.

I see why people call them the best of the big 4 grunge bands, although I prefer nirvana and PJ. Best track: sickman Worst track Hard to pick, title track I guess 4.75

Goated

5/5 many times over. One of the few albums I would consider to be perfect. Jar of Flies also makes that list. Dark, gritty, and seething. A perfect balance of heavy riffing, acoustic sweetness, immaculate studio production, and harmony...aside from purposefully dissonant moments such as Sickman. I think about Layne Staley often. A true artist both in composition and execution, raw and honest regarding his torments and struggle, and maybe the best voice of in the genre. Cornell and Staley can fight that one out wherever they are. I remember once seeing something along the lines of, "Layne, I will be missing your voice tonight" scrawled on a bathroom wall somewhere. I agreed then, as I do now.

Paras grungelevy ever. Just sopvan masentunut mutta silti groove 5/5

Maybe the heaviest album from the Seattle grunge scene, if you can even call this grunge. A song like "Dam That River" just crushes you with its riffs, while the slower songs feel like wading through waist deep mud. The lyrics are intense, with stark descriptions of depression and drug use. The imagery on the title track has to be some of the most shocking on a mainstream rock album. Despite all this its biggest strength is that it's actually quite accessible. As uncompromising as they are, these songs are still catchy, from the melodies of "Down in a Hole" to the hooks of "Would?" Layne Staley's voice is a pleasure to listen to and it really sells moments like the soaring chorus of "Rain When I Die." The heaviness of the album is impossible to miss, but it's still always a pleasure, not a drag, to listen to.

Perfect album

This was always a great album and remains to be so. Top Grunge-metal band always pushing the boundaries. Drums are tight, bass and guitar riffs huge. Some big tracks here, "Would?" is a banger! 5.

Classic. Love it. No notes. Banger. Own on vinyl.......no further questions

Achei sensacional, pra mim que só ouvi uma música do Alice In Chains, mas gostei da pegada do álbum, agressivo, mas melódico. Sensacional.

Holy moly this album too good bruuuuh

4.5/5

Front to back bangers. A perfect album from a band that didn't miss. Vocal harmonization at a master level. The crunchy, the noise, the bass, 5/5. Just under an hour, doesn’t feel it at all, leaves you wanting to pull up the other Alice In Chains albums to listen to more. Strong contender for best album on the list.

Forgot how much I liked his album as a teen. On repeat when it came out.

Great Songs: Them Bones, Dam That River, Rain When I Die, Rooster, Junkhead, Dirt, God Smack, Untitled, Hate To Feel Good Songs: Down In a Hole, Sickman, Angry Chair, Would? Mid Songs: Bad Songs:

Second only to Nevermind, this album was an integral part of grunge. The opening songs are in consideration for all-time great 3-song runs, and there's really only one hit single in there. For me, what really stands out about AIC is only teased on this album (but paid in full at their live shows): the insane harmonization between Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell. Coupled with the driving, sludgy guitar parts, this album is a masterpiece, whether you call it grunge, rock, sludge, metal, or anything else. Influence 4. Quality 5. Hits 4. Really good, but a tick heavy and monothematic 4. 4.25

Grof gezegd heb ik van alle grunge-acts het minst op met Alice in Chains. Deze band kwam pas op m'n radar toen een mede 1001 luisteraar en grote speler in de bierwereld tijdens een bierproeverij de MTV Unplugged versie van 'Down In A Hole' aanvroeg. Ik schets even de situatie: Je zit afgeladen vol met dikke DIPAs, barrel aged stouts en een overdadige hoeveelheid stinkkaas en dan hoor je zo'n nummer en dan specifiek die versie voor het eerst. Die versie is heerlijk. Je voelt de koorts veroorzaakt door afkickverschijnselen (dan bedoel ik bij de flink verslaafde zanger, niet bij onszelf tijdens die tasting) en je hoort bijna een paar wanhopige restjes van tanden uit de bakkes vallen (ook hier bedoel ik die zanger, al weet je het nooit met al die pastry stouts tegenwoordig). Als die versie van dat nummer op zo'n moment je kennismaking is met Alice in Chains, dan valt dit reguliere album wat tegen. Althans zo ervaarde ik het toen ik deze daarna een keer heb aangezet. Ik zet hem nu nogmaals aan en alsnog hoor ik dit natuurlijk wel liever dan een groot deel van deze lijst, dat is dan weer het mooie. Het is voor mij echter geen Nevermind. Vanwege die Unplugged versie van 'Beneden in een holletje', vanwege bierproeverijen die ontaarden in een ver-plas-wedstrijd als het gaat om de muziekselectie/-kennis en vanwege die eerder genoemde medeluisteraar die zou onsteken in een oneindige, WOESTE monoloog over hoe kinderachtig hiphop en hoe geniaal deze band is als ik dit zou afkraken kan ik niet anders dan een 5 uitdelen.

Based

Jaaaa lekkerrrr

Incredible

As a kid, when it came to grunge, Alice In Chains was delegated to the same realm as Pearl Jam as something I rarely got to listen to, because my focus was heavily directed towards Soundgarden and Nirvana. I still love Superunknown over all other grunge albums, but I do very much enjoy this album as a sound from my adolescent youth.

I listened the shit out of this record back in '92. Only Jar of Flies/Sap has been on the tray more that this. I still got nothing negative to say about this album. 7/5

One of the best albums ever. Haunting, harrowing. Harmonies are excellent throughout.

When I first saw it was grunge I thought I wouldn't like it but... Wow, I'm really surprised it didn't happen at all. I've loved this album. This is so good! It has a great combination between hard rock and grunge that it doesn't make it feel repetitive or tiring. Instead, it is so fresh and a very enjoyable listening experience. Also, the guitars and the vocals are a highlight for me. But the overall is great, so I've really liked everything there.

Have to think on this one a bit. I've listened to this one a thousand times, so for me it's a no-brainer 5*. But, I've got to do better than the nostalgia bit for justifying that ranking. For me, the musicianship in the heaviness, the vocal layering, the storytelling in the lyrics, the depth of it all. Once you let that in, you're hooked. Kind of like a hit. Careful, that shit can be addictive.

Actually one of my favorite albums ever, definitely top 10 if not top 5. The harmonies, wailing guitar riffs, heavy bass lines, seething anger and heroin energy have seeped into my soul for the past 15+ years since first hearing this back in high school. Legit still listen to this one every few months.

big fan of it I have it on vinyl

Easy 5 stars , one of my fav albums from the 90s and of all time

One of the best albums of the 90s and actually one of the best albums of all time. Every song is amazing, and contains my favourite closing track on any album. Perfect.

the best grunge album (maybe AiC unplugged beats it)

What a band. What an album

In my opinion, “Dirt” by Alice in Chains is the most important single album of the nineties because Jerry Cantrell & Co. succeeded in creating the connection and link between the groundbreaking releases of the “Class of '91” (i.e. “Nevermind” by Nirvana, "Ten" by Pearl Jam, “Badmotorfinger” by Soundgarden, “Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik” by Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Use Your Illusion I/II” by Guns'n'Roses, “Metallica” by Metallica). Every harder band that followed ultimately built on this foundation—with today's ears, you can already hear the source of inspiration for such diverse bands as Korn, Creed, Avenged Sevenfold, and Disturbed on “Dirt.” A milestone in rock history!

Incredible

My favorite AIC album. Laynes voice and his harmonies with Jerry are timeless. In retrospect, some of the lyrics are tough to listen to considering Laynes battles with and eventual loss to addiction.

What an album! This record just kicks so much butt, and just about every song on here is a perfect encapsulation of what Alice in Chains is all about. Best Track: Rooster

One of the most depressing rock albums ever mad... and absolutely brilliant. It drags you deep into a dark, unsettling place, and while it’s not an easy listen, the sheer power of it is undeniable. You have to be in the right frame of mind to take this trip, but when you are, it’s unforgettable.

Layne Staley’s (RIP) and AIC put out some really great music that was instrumental in defining the 90’s sound. Also, saw them at Lollapalooza and they put in a crazy good show.

Sludgy, grungy, and more metal than I understood before *really* listening to it. It's an exceptional album.

I remember the album releasing and just feeling the vibration of the music and angst and emotion

This is peak grunge for me. Layne Staley’s voice is so abrasive one moment then switches to beautiful harmonies. It’s unique in the most positive way. “Would” is my favorite grunge song of all time.

Cover 8 Iconic 90s. This is probably more nostalgic based but it's a great album.

Pearl Jam, STP, Nirvana, Alice In Chains. Grunge!!!! Give me more Grunge. They’ve got every freaking Nirvana album on here but only one of each for everyone else, besides STP who have NONE!! It’s a crime, really. This album is absolutely perfect. It was always going to be a 5 for me. The hardest part about rolling this today is picking a favorite song. I’d be wasting my time just copying the name of every song on the album to select as my favorite, so I won’t. Just know that the Grunge bands are all extremely important to me and I love all of them. No one has a voice like Layne Staley, and no one ever will. Do you want a truly unique sounding album, complete with sounds you’ve never heard before and absolute bangers song after song? Here it is. It’s Dirt. Bummed this is the only Alice In Chains album, but yeah, they picked the right one. Hitting a good streak of legendary album covers as well. This one is so cool. They do so much with what is essentially a single color and make it stand out at the same time.

Deeply awesome - the inspiration behind velvet revolver and alter bridge

Darker, dirtier and heavier than their grunge compatriots but nevertheless, a classic sound backed by heart felt lyrics.

Some great songs, including their best.

I already owned this album on cd before appearing on here, one of my first grunge bands i ever listened to, for sure should listen to it before dying, I don't have any words, 10/10, one of the best of grunge

Great album with Down in a Hole as a chef-d'oeuvre

One of my favorites

See, I remember listening to this when it came out. Track 1 was awesome, and then it seemed like everything else wasn't as good. This time, I'm much more impressed. Great voice.

This is a certified banger

Solid album. Would listen again.

brabo

Outstanding, been too long since I last listened...

A great album but it could have been a perfect album. It's simply way too long, with a number of songs that can be regarded as fillers. However, the highlights are fantastic: 'Them bones', 'Darn that river', 'Down in a hole', 'Rooster', the incredibly sexy - probably the most sexy song in 79 albums so far - title track 'Dirt', and of course 'Would?'. Typically 1992: almost filling a cd. In 45 minutes this would have been a total killer.

Heard it before. One of the most important bands from my early teen years. Their self titled album is probably my favourite in their discography but this one also gets 5/5 for being so iconic 5/5

Head banging heaven

Pure, unfiltered grunge. Alice in Chains was probably the more hardcore of the grunge groups, but not as sludgy as Soundgarden with the riffs. The vocal team of Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley was dynamic. Especially when they sang in harmony. Love this album from start to finish. For some reason, I remember the track order being different than when I bought the CD back in college. Is it just me or was it different back then? Hit like if you agree. 5/5

Perfect, just classic grunge goodness through and through.

I LOVEEE THIS ALBUM!! In my opinion it’s a no skip and it’s perfect for when you are doing something active! The vocals go insane and the album doesn’t have a single song I don’t like! I will probably relisten to it in the future!

Woof another top 5 album of all time for me. I saw Alice In Chains open for Van Halen in support for Facelift. I had already seen Van Halen once but when the “Man In The Box” video dropped I was instantly a life long AIC fan and when it was announced they were opening for Van Halen my friend and I immediately got tickets. It was a hot summer day and not many people were there early to see Layne and crew. My friend and I were the only long haired metal head kids there head banging Beavis and Butthead style to a band that to this day I still consider one of the best to ever do it. I say all this to illustrate just how primed I was for Dirt to be unleashed to the world. The impact it had on me wasn’t immediate, I did love it right away but as time went on the genius in each song became more and more apparent to me. After all these years this album still hits hard and remains one of the longest running constants in my rotation. All of AIC’s releases with Layne are contenders for top albums for me and really I’ve enjoyed the 3 with William DuVall, highlight being Black Gives Way To Blue as well although not as much, also note worthy Jerry Cantrell’s recent release, I Want Blood is a solid album. AIC Dirt, Easy 5 for me!

YES! They kick your ass from the start of the opening track. I was an MTV kid around this time, so that was my first into to this band. My sister was into 80's hair metal, so this came along and ran that shit away. I love the odd harmonies and the heavy, sludgy, grimey music. Dirt is a great name for this album, because it's dirty. There isn't another band like these guys, save Soundgarden maybe. Both killer bands. Rain When I Die is fucking hard and beautiful. This is a 5, easy. The worst thing about this album is the band God Smack got their name from the song God Smack. That band sucks. That song is great.

Perfect fifths and perfect fourths. These are the note intervals for the harmonies used on the vocals throughout this album and nothing sounded like this back then because of it. A lot doesn't sound like this now, even though Staind and Taproot did their Layne Staley homework for sure. What a great album that really took me back. I really wore this one out. Would is a masterpiece. RIP Layne. You can hear the struggle with addiction all through the album.

Possibly thr best album of the grunge era.

One of my favorite albums of all time. 1990s classic.

Yeah... I've always loved this album. Listening to it again in its entirety after a while, I can say this is truly one of the greatest albums I've listened to. Songwriting, musicianship, singing, production, lyricism... everything. 5/5. A no-brainer.

I know the hits but never really dug into AiC's full albums - really very good!

I disliked Jar of Flies and didn't expect anything from this album but Dirt works so much better for my taste with its darker sound, I really loved it

One of the greatest albums. Every song is a banger.

I never got to see Alice In Chains play live while Layne Staley was still alive. When I finally did get to catch them in concert when they were touring for Black Gives Way To Blue, the band played quite a few songs off of this record. It was like Layne was being channeled through the music. Will DuVall of course did a great job at stepping up into Layne's old roll, and he sang Layne's parts with an obvious reverence and respect. It was haunting, just like this album is. Dirt is a very appropriate title for a record that has all of Layne's demons on display for us to see. It's not just the Layne show, though. Jerry Cantrell's “Rooster” is haunting in a different way, giving listeners a taste of what wartime in a foreign land is like. “Would” is a tribute to the late, great Andy Wood of Mother Love Bone. The whole record is haunting, and not just because of the ghost of Layne Staley. “Rain When I Die”, “Dam That River”, “Down In A Hole”, “Hate To Feel”, and “Angry Chair” are all standouts on a record that is very nearly perfect.

5/5 Sure, the lyrics are haunting and deeply depressing, but this album slaps! Would and Rooster would be enough to make this a masterpiece. But wait, here comes Them Bones, Down in a hole, and Angry chair to pile on even more glorious grunge ear-spank. RIP Layne!

So nice I had to listen twice.

Driving percussion. Melancholy lyrics. Great bookend tracks. Yup, that's an excellent 90s rock album.

One of my faves - probably not actually their best and tbh probably only 4 stars but nostalgia factor adds an extra

Probably the 2nd best grunge album to be made. A lot is discussed about Layne’s powerful vocals (rightfully so) but what is extremely underrated is Jerry’s guitar playing throughout this album. Definitely made the correct single choices as they’re the best songs on the album. The first half of this is phenomenal and closes with their best ever song. Couldn’t recommend it more. 1. WOULD? 2. THEM BONES 3. DOWN IN A HOLE 4. ROOSTER 5. RAIN WHEN I DIE 6. DAM THAT RIVER 7. ANGRY CHAIR 8. DIRT 9. JUNKHEAD 10. SICKMAN 11. HATE TO FEEL 12. GOD SMACK 13. UNTITLED (IRON GLAND)

All-time classic

Wow this is bleaker than I remembered, and I listened to this every day at one point

Kan rigtig godt lide Alice in chains og jeg Kan rigtig godt lide grunge. Jeg er lige kommet tilbage fra festival hvor vi har lyttet til meget hårdt rock som læner ind i metal. Derfor læner jeg ind i at give det 5 stjerner.

Grunge classic, loved it then and love it now

One of the great PNW bands of the 90's! Brilliant

The guitar work here is so good, the riffs are all really solid. Very much closer to the metal side of grunge. Wastes absolutely no time getting started too. Doesn’t outstay its welcome. Lyrics are good. Just all around really great.

Awesome, so many great songs

Arguably the best Grunge album of them all. Brilliant from start to finish.

Amazing from start to finish

Once of the greatest albums of all time! WOULD!!! JUNKHEAD!!! FUCK1

Even though this came out in the height of my teenage music idolatry years, I was never into them. Maybe too nasally, too dark. I was surprised by how much I dug this. That voice is otherworldly. 4.5 stars that I'll round up to 5 why the f not.

Love this album, great memories

Classic grunge metal album. I already own it on vinyl and only buy albums I truly love. 5/5

great

one of my favorite all time albums

Jason S and I walked into what looked like a really nice home but turned out to his mother's Cafe. He poured some coffee out of a silver cup put it on a tray and passed it to me. I poured myself a cup and it spilled everywhere but in the cup. He didn't say I did anything wrong but the vibe was I did something wrong. I was trying to spot wash the coffee when he pulled me aside to sit on the couch with him. It was as though the couch was getting smaller bc (all white couch) He kept getting pushed closer., but now there were 3 of us on the couch the 3rd being Anna who sometimes turned into Aliena. Jason patted me on the back and walked off with some mystery girl. She was wearing a long black silk night gown. We started when she started crying. I felt very uncomfortable and asked her should I stop. She said no this is what she does. We moved to a more bed like pull out couch and started again. Again she started crying and when I looked down it looked like pee everywhere. I stopped, she was crying, I said this feels weird and when I looked down at the bed there was egg yolks everywhere. I was afraid Jason would be mad so I went to another room and it looked at first like Eric was giving Jeremy a back massage. I kept making faces at him to get him to come and help me when I realized it was Eric getting the massage by some young blonde. Jeremy was just sitting in front of him. Weall looked like we did 30 years ago. I went into the room to apologize and it was full of people. Young people. I heard my daughter introduce me to someone but I couldn't see my daughter. I didn't recognize anyone and what was once Jason's moms quaint house like Cafe was a big party. I went to Eric to apologize. Then everyone was gone. Just Eric Jeremy and Jason and the few girls that started that my mind has already erased. I made a mess I said.

A mandatory listen of grunge and imo the best Alice in Chains album

Easy 5 for me

Its top tier and nostalgic

This album is a masterpiece. The harmonies are absolutely sick, the music is killer and the cover art is iconic. 1001 album worthy: yes 92/169

Definitive 90s rock album, RIP Layne 🤘

06/06/2025 Good bit of grunge that.

A grunge masterpiece. It almost veers into heavy metal territory but with some great vocals and sounds. I love this album.

SSSLUUUUURRPPPPP SSSSHHHLLLLOOUUURPPPP SCHLUUUURRRRPPP SCHLOOOUUUURRRPPPPPP RRRRRUFFF RRRRAWK KA KAAAAWWW SCHELUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRP progledat ću kroz prste činjenicu to što nije jar of flies

Un album fundacional para mí. Una gloriosa mezcla de metal, hard rock y grunge.

Admittedly, I am a big fan of 90s alternative. There is a ton of great albums from this genre in the decade, from Pearl Jam’s Ten to Live’s Throwing Copper to Soundgarden’s Superunknown and Nirvana’s Nevermind. Lots of great music. That said, admittedly, I was not a fan of Alice In Chains when they first came out. It took me a while to come around on them, so I’ve never owned this album. Upon my first full listen to it, I realize I have been missing out all these years. The opener, Them Bones, really sets the tone for the rest of the album. It’s just in your face right from the jump. Lane Staley’s vocals are great throughout and the harmonies with Jerry Cantrell are excellent. Of course, the songs that everyone has heard like Down in a Hole, Rooster, and Angry Chair (saving Would for later) are highlights, but others like Rain When I Die help this record hold up from beginning to end. And as for that ending track, Would? is one of those songs that just defines this era of rock. A killer track that is one of my favorites of the decade, and a great end to what I found to be a tremendous album.

Grew up on this.

Another album I enjoyed a lot more than I expected. It has elements of grunge, sludge and metal but also has a lot of hooky songs and was very consistent. Them Bones and Rooster are maybe my favourites but half the album is in contention.

10/10. I feel blessed that I was given this album after Iron Maiden's self-titled album. This is one of my favourite albums of all time. I love this album very much! It's perfect!!! :)

At age 12 I was a huge fan of Nirvana. Circa 2007 I got wind of Alice In Chains. If I knew them 5 years before that they would have probably been my obsession instead of their counterparts. This has a nice heavy feel to it overall, even the slower songs. The one grunge band that leaned very close to metal, considering they opened the 1991 Clash of the titans tour with Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth. I own a best off of AIC and I think only one song of Dirt isn't on that. Banger!

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background The nostalgia factor is strong for this one. Summer of 91 I was listening to Facelift a lot and the release of Would? and the Singles Soundtrack in 92 really ramped the anticipation of Dirt. When Dirt finally arrived it did not disappoint. Standouts to me are Would?, Rooster and Down in a Whole, but all the tracks are great minus the throwaway Iron Gland. Cantrell's harmonies on top of Staley's voice are a combination truly unique to me.

Magnific record, a cornerstone for the grunge. A very heavy dark and solid band with tons of deppressive feelings. Layne Staley nails each vocal here. Jerry Cantrell its a riff master, the sound of this record is massive. Please check the best track "Down In A Hole"

Never been dope sick but I think this is how it would feel