Dirt

Also sounds very generic to me, but presumably because they helped create the sound? It's not bad, it just feels so much like what I listened to as a teen, I have a hard time taking it seriously.

gOODD

Near perfect album

Overall Rating - 2.92/5 (5.83/10). Ultimately, a very forgettable album. Early grunge, and not bad, but not that good, either.

Not my type

Some of the lyrics sound a little vith form now, but some great tracks on here.

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.

8/10

Excellent album give it a listen

metallll rrraahhhhh

Men would rather record an album of mid-range fuzz-dirge yelling their angst for an hour than go to therapy. Sorry to be mean, but AIC does nothing for me. The most overrated Seattle band of the early-90s. “Would?” really pops as the last track as it’s a breath of fresh air from the endless muck.

ogk

That was cool

Least favorite of the big 4 grunge - but the album breathes its chaotic context. The riffness riffes - The singing dramatizes nasaly about dope Not my kind of grunge - but a landmark I guess

Never listened to Alice in Chains before but the whole album was great. Gritty and powerful.

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

This was ok. I really like the hits by Alice in Chains. They have really catchy hooks and cool guitars. I think the reason their good songs are so effective is that the verses are so dark and heavy, and then there is an awesome chorus. The songs without those choruses are mostly boring and heavy in a 'i don't want to be hearing this' way. A greatest hits album by them is a 5, but they have too many songs that don't connect with me for me to listen to a normal album all the way through regularly.

No falla ni una, cada canción es una experiencia y cada canción es diferente a la anterior

The only song on the album I liked was the last one, “Would.” But I remembered liking them before… lt made me look up their “Jar of Flies” EP, which was a favorite back in the day.

Wow. Just finished Mark Lanegan’s memoir and a book about In Utero, so the timing seemed great. This was bad when it came out, and is worse now.

Just as annoying as your little brother. 3/5

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

the highs are high for sure with this one. Few grunge bands in my opinion make a distinctive name/sound for themselves outside the nirvana elephant in the room. This one is solid. A little more spacey/psychedelic and maybe even more dark than Nirvana in some aspects.

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

Not my thing

If this is what Spencer heard when he listened to Metallica, then I understand. But, I still respect the artistry of it and can see a time when this might be what I need to hear that time of day to get me going. Rooster might be my fav.

Loud!! Not sure why Linkin park did it for me and not this

Love his voice. I prefer their lighter songs but still great. Would is a really good song

Some cool guitar licks but the rest of it was pretty irritating

Not bad, listened through a few times.

El disco creo que musicalmente está muy bueno pero no es para nada mi estilo

This is not super for me but I can see why other people love it. Reading the reviews on here is funny because they all range between 4/5 stars and 1 stars with very few in between. I'll give it a 2.5 because I can tell it's a good album for people who are grunge fans, but a lot of the tracks sound the same and I find the lead singer's voice annoying. I will join the chorus of people shouting out Rooster as a standout track, though I have to wonder if that's only because it's the first song to sound different sonically than everything that came before it.

This was my first time really listening to Alice in Chains, and their sound has never really had much success drawing me in. Some cool moments in here, but the vocal style, guitar tones, and overall songwriting aren't really my favorite. I feel like a lot of these tracks end up blending together. Not the worst thing I've ever heard, but it's just not my thing, I guess. Favorites: Would?

Seems like Alice in Chains has been getting a lot of reappraisal lately, so I was looking forward to giving them a full look. Again, the hard rock side of grunge is just not for me. Layne has good voice for the genre but this doesn't do much for me. Instrumentation kind of just flattens out into a sludge and the tone is a little too aggressively dour to me. A very fitting album cover for what you're hearing, just kind of flat brown-ness.

I got older by 10 years before the second song ends.

Hey GTA San Andreas memories. Solid grunge album.

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

How are pounding drums, hateful lyrics & ear bleeding guitar noises considered music?

Man, the way they can intertwine melody into heavy is amazing.

had a few really good songs

The hill I will die on is that Facelift was their only good album.

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

cool grunge, i accidently listened to this album like 6 months ago so that's a vibe LMAO.

Did I listen to the same album as everyone else? The sound feels so muted and depressing across the board, and that vocalist does absolutely nothing to bring any life into this album. Compared to the other big grunge bands, this feels so tame.

4/10 Best songs: Down in a Hole This is a heavy metal/grunge album whose music, surprisingly, I don't particularly dislike. My big issue with the album is that every. single. song. never. ends. They drone on and on and on with the same-sounding instruments, vocals/vocal techniques, and lyrics. It gets boring. There are few to no stand out tracks (mainly because I kept anxiously waiting for each song to end).

Great Album

Noisy, boring, and gloomy.

In the (massively underrated) movie “This Is 40”, Pete, played by Paul Rudd, is desperately trying to teach his family about artistic merit over commercial accessibility in music. In a rebuttal to some Nicki Minaj song that had his wife and daughters dancing about the room in glee, he plays “Rooster” by Alice in Chains. His argument: “THIS is lyrics, this is poetry. This is what is going to survive in a hundred years.” When his wife Debbie argues that “It just doesn’t make people happy”, he replies that “It makes ME happy. I can dance to it” as he starts to sway slightly from side to side, my trademark move at rock concerts. Debbie breaks it to him: “You’re the only one in the room who’s happy.” Pete stops his music. I’ve been giving TED talks like this for as long as I can remember. I feel represented. “Them Bones” kicks off the album with a jump-scare scream to get your attention, and cause you to spill your coffee all over yourself. Look up Jacob Givens’ hilarious YouTube skit about how it always gets him. It's a fantastic song, and sets the scene for the album you're about to hear. Mixing between the “chugging” sounds of metal guitar and smoother melodies layered with harmonies is the recipe that works so well here. And those vocal harmonies, they're just class. The way that Layne's voice harmonises with Jerry Cantrell’s is smooth as hell. When the more dissonant metal sounds switch to those smooth harmonies, it tunes into some frequency in my brain. My brain tells me: it sounds good. “Sickman” is a great example of that. It’s pretty much three songs stitched together. The first melody is thrash metal, and not my thing at all. The second melody is a much more enjoyable grungier sound, bringing those vocal harmonies into the mix. And then a third song of lighter acoustic-ish melody slows things down. On first listen, I didn’t like it at all, but after a couple of listens, the juxtaposition between the sounds start to make the good parts sound even better. Alice in Chains are framed as grunge, but I wouldn’t call anything here grunge at all. It’s closer to metal or heavy rock than grunge. I think Kurt Cobain said something about them being hair metal wearing flannel to try and ride the grunge popularity. I mean, he was probably just being flippant, but it’s a pretty good description. The metal leanings of this isn’t really my thing, but it’s more than often made up for by the smoother Soundgarden-leaning side of the songs on the album. To put it more concisely: I liked it a hell of a lot more than I expected I would. There are surprises here too. “Down in A Hole” might have all the hallmarks of a hair metal band doing their “get your lighters out” soft anthem, but it’s actually a really enjoyable song. “Hate to Feel” channels Sabbath at times with its descending central riff. Pretty much every other song on the album has moments that catch you off-guard too, and I don't mean in a "spill your coffee" jump-scare way. And of course there’s “Rooster”. This is the real gem in the Dirt. Deep lyrical content about parenthood, PTSD and dealing with the realities of the Vietnam war, with that rising chorus. Again, it’s Layne’s voice (and Cantrell’s harmonies) going into the chorus that absolutely kills it in this song. It causes an involuntary wince when it kicks off, which is always a good sign in a song like this. There’s a reason it was Pete’s song of choice in “This Is 40” to try to win his wife and daughters over. Like the rest of the album, it’s dark, dense and asks a lot of you, so it’s no surprise that Pete found himself as the only one in the room happy to be listening to this, swaying from side to side. I’d be right there with him, making the exact same argument.

I love AIC but love their slow. “Swamp rock” style rock better than their harder, grunge sound. Still, classic album with plenty of great tracks.

Oof, I’m in the minority with this one clearly but this did nothing for me. Sounded like a collection of WWE theme songs

Them bones, some track. Badass album

Some classic grunge from one of the OG grunge bands. My fav album of theirs is Jar of Flies.

It does sit nicely between grunge and metal. Sadly I’m not crazy about either of those genres so not a fun ride for me. Rating: 1.9

Approaching this with a perhaps misplaced sense of dread cause this just isn’t my thing. Them Bones has Guitar Hero Nostalgia for me but the rest of this is really dragging Rooster is fine I guess Just unlikeable whining through most of the record. I like the chugging guitar riffs but the vocals often kill it for me. When this ended I said audibly thank god this is over. 2/5 for them bones alone

Uff nei det her e bra bonat, egentlig to men smell på med 3 fordi Them Bones og Rooster e catchy

Høydepunktene er sabla høye. Sterk 4'er.

Synes alle låtene høres helt like ut

Så bra på sitt beste, men dessverre litt for mye «fyllstoff». 3,75

Har store problema med vibratoen i vokalen. Klare ikke overse det. Ellers e det jo ofte ganske interessant. Them Bones e noe av det beste vi fikk av grungen🤝

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.

Grunge med sterke emosjoner. Låtene blir litt for likelydende.

Wow

No es mi tipo de música, y en algún punto se me hizo monotono pero podría entender porque hace parte de esta lista.

Not a huge fan of grunge, but this is as a great album, compelling, brutal and disturbing.

Not my type of music but wasn’t the worst of that genre.

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

Good

too plodding for me

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.

remember when the music league theme was songs about eating ass and someone dropped 'down in a hole' and you died?

this album is so ass, can barley hear any of the guitar riffs because there’s so much distortion. i like rooster. lead singer’s voice is permanently in cursive.

i can recognize it as being peak for the times, but i often have a hard time getting into most 90s grunge rock. i've been trying to like it more but grunge is never completely my thing unfortunately, with the exception of some of Nirvana and a little bit of Soundgarden in my playlist. i'm just not too crazy about Layne Staley's vocals. i just didn't feel a strong connection here. or maybe i just need to listen to a different Alice In Chains album favorite track: Rain When I Die. i really liked the flow of this one

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

I think I've heard it?

Alice in Chains’ Dirt is one of those albums I can admire from a safe distance. Coming from a love of the Pixies’ off‑kilter sparkle and the Smashing Pumpkins’ dreamy bombast, the Seattle grunge scene never fully pulled me into its orbit—and Dirt reminds me why. It’s a masterclass in mood, but that mood is unrelentingly bleak. There’s no denying the craft here: the harmonies are haunting, the riffs hit with precision, and Layne Staley’s voice carries a rawness that still feels dangerous. But the album is steeped in addiction, despair, and emotional claustrophobia. For someone living a clean, positive life today, that darkness doesn’t feel cathartic so much as something I don’t need to revisit often. Still, Dirt earns its place in rock history. I can appreciate its impact, its honesty, and its influence—even if I don’t feel compelled to dwell in its shadows. A solid three stars for an album I respect more than I enjoy.

I'm not heavy enough for this

Ok

1992 was the peak of Houmous & Chutneys rock era. Always amazes me that other bands even tried to 3.4 6/13 Rooster

Some really good tracks on here. Would? Is probably my favorite on the album and a strong end to the whole thing.

As I make my way through these albums, certain things about my taste begin to crystallize for me. One of them so far has been that grunge is really not my thing. And this album in particular was really a slog. For a band with such a big sound, there's not a lot going on that grabs my ear. When you compare them to some of their "alternative" peers of the early 90's, they don't have the vulnerability or edge of Nirvana, the swagger and playfulness of Jane's Addiction, the creativity and darkness of NIN, or the soulfulness of Blind Melon, just to name a few. Again, they have a big sound but it's just kind of stuck in this predictable, mid-tempo chug that quickly loses my interest. I'm gonna put this at a 2/5

2/3

I got into AIC late which is surprising seeing as I was a big grunge/alternative fan (Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden etc). Such a shame we lost another one way to soon.

Nothing like a nice grunge album about heroin to wash away the stink of another terrible 70s British album

a lot less messy than the offspring album but i dont think this is for me still i liked dam that river kinda? i like a certain part of the chorus but the rest of the song doesnt hit like that specific part it has a depressing vibe that i cant fw. it doesnt make me feel depressed but like you can tell what its trying to go for and i find it kinda cringe especially in sickman. “though i walk through the valley of rape and despair” ??? 😭 would is prob best song on the album which doesnt say much cus the albums really bad but it actually is quite a decent song

Into the flood again Same old trip it was back then

Classic

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.

90’s Grunge ⭐️Sickman

First listen I heard the metal, didn't like it much. Second listen I heard the grunge, it sounded a bit better. Third I heard it as a heroin album, okay that makes sense now. The next two levels in my journey would probably require life experience to appreciate, so I'll leave it there for now.

ÄÄH I really didn't go into this thinking that I would enjoy the album – I was planning to just skim through it and probably give it 3 stars. Instead, I was surprised that I knew and already really liked the first track "Them Bones," mostly from playing ATV Offroad Fury on PlayStation 2 with my best friend in middle school. What really makes this great is the harmony between Staley and Cantrell – their voices blend really well and their harmonies are tight. By the end of the album, I was starting to get a bit sick of Staley's vocal tone, specifically the nasal, vowel-rounding quality that is a bit reminiscent of Cher.

I really wasn't in the right mood for this today but I think it's pretty good. Reminds me of Nirvana.

Alice in Chains is Callie approved. She started stomping her feat and head banging.

Dope, very Accessible grunge music. Great vocals, great lyrics, definitely for times when you've got angst and want to accentuate said angst with some tunes. 8/10

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.

This was gritty and tough and great. Was hooked from the first song.

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

17/03/26 Masterpiece

3.5 Could do with being a bit shorter

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.

Dirt immediately starts guns blazing with Them Bones and doesn't let up whatsoever until the end. Great vocals, great hooks, great mixing. Not the first band I reach for on most days, but there's really nothing I can fault here. Favourite track: Would?

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

some songs are bangers (Them Bones, Would?) some are too long to my taste (Rooster, Sickman, most of the middle of the album)

I am familiar with some grunge music; Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden etc, but haven’t had much exposure to Alice in Chains. I really enjoyed this albums and picked out a few songs I was familiar with from long ago. Very enjoyable listen. Some very dark lyrics. 3 stars. Fave track - rooster

Enjoyed this Musically engaging

A bit more metal than the other Seattle bands. Still has that annoying drawl though. Will I be listening again? Probably not.

2.5

Awesome

Pretty decent metal album 4.0

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).

This is not for me.

6/10 No es mi estilo, gritos innecesarios.

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?

They got the title right.

Interesting grunge sound, but distinct enough from bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana to justify its existence. Fairly dark and depressing lyrics, as the entire album centers around Layne Staley’s drug addiction. Pretty good as far as 90s grunge dad rock goes.

it's not exactly revelatory at this point to say that the term "grunge" is something of a post-hoc rationalization. sure, many of its major movers and shakers had geography in common, particularly the bands we now call its Big Four, who all came from Seattle or elsewhere in the state of Washington. you could also say these bands were bucking the prevailing trends of the time, and bringing guitar music back to some sort of basics as the 90s began. but even still, those four bands don't sound a whole lot like each other, to my ears anyway. Nirvana was equally fascinated by 60s pop and sheer walls of noise; Pearl Jam are a fairly straightforward alt-rock outfit; Soundgarden's best moments place them in a lineage encompassing lumbering stoner and sludge acts; and Alice in Chains started as a glam metal band! you'd think any band associated with the "grunge" label would want nothing to do with the excesses of glam, right? well, not entirely. of course, Nirvana famously covered Bowie on MTV; and on Dirt, the second Alice in Chains album, you can hear a combination of heavy metal riffing with pop song structures which, from a certain vantage point, feels akin to something Dokken might've put together in the 80s. what sets Alice in Chains apart, of course, is the inescapable darkness surrounding their work. I'm not just referring to Layne Staley and his famous struggles with addiction and depression, which of course he mined for vocal and lyrical gold on almost every track here. I'm also referring to the compositions, which demonstrate Jerry Cantrell's knack for balancing consonance and dissonance, melodicism and fierce aggression. the ♭VI and the minor iv really get a workout, two chords that can take any mood and darken it substantially. the lack of any bright spot in Staley's outlook on Dirt is pretty well-known, what with its replete references to death, suicide, heroin and et cetera; but of course, it would mean nothing if it wasn't set with the right soundtrack. strong 8/10.

Good

I've always liked Alice in Chains as a group, they've made some of my favorite metal songs (aka just Man in the Box), but this album didn't really connect with me the way I was hoping. It's not bad or anything, it's actually littered with pretty amazing songs, but I think it just goes a song or few too long. I was really getting tired by the end, and there's not a ton of variety. Still pretty great though. Favorites: Them Bones, Junkhead, Dirt

okay but too long

du grunge !

Big Alice in Chains fan, but this album just isn't it.

Hey, that's an Opeth cover!

Good for a drive - energetic

Way heavier and harder than I remember. While I could like a single Alice In Chains song hearing it on a soundtrack or 97X back in the day, an entire album of this kinda hard rock is not for me. Not my genre.

Respect the craft, admire the vibe, but I’ll be over here humming R.E.M. while the grunge kids stare at me like I brought a kazoo to a funeral.

I feel like I’ve heard of this group before, but since I’m not a fan of this genre, I didn’t bother looking into them beforehand. This is a 1 for me.

Oh gawd, I can’t believe listened to this because of a guy I dated. Had my fill back then so honestly didn’t need to listen again.

not my vibe but good musically

Didn’t expect to like it judging by cover

Very repetitive

Great grunge rock. I can see why this is considered one of the greats for this genre, but totally not my thing these days.

Cañero de pelotas

Baller move att skriva en låt och sen släppa 13 tagningar av den.

I was scared of Alice in Chains going into this album, but was surprised to find that I thought this album was pretty good. You learn something new every day!

not my favorite and even my music taste but is good.

I don;t know why I am reluctant to give this a 5. It has 4-5 bangers. I just have owned this album since it came out and have never put it on...must be a reason?

It sounds like I should be into grunge but I really am not. This is an album with 2-3 amazing power ballads (Rooster, Down In a Hole and Would) and then a lot of chugging boring heavy metal. The metal bits are actually much better and more powerful on their first album, Facelift. Here it’s a snooze fest. Anyway three starts for notability and the ballads.

Really phenomenal album and somehow one that I haven't listened to until now. Layne Staley, man. What a voice. This band rules, this album rules, and if I hadn't already listened to Superunknown as a part of this project, I'd probably call this the best grunge album ever. I'm so conflicted as whether to give this a 4 or 5 stars, but know that it's somewhere in the middle. Favorite track: Them Bones

Horrible.

God I wish Layne hadn't had such a rough go, but this band was destined to burn bright and fast. By far the heaviest, grungiest band Seattle produced, this is a real deep dive into the darkness and anger these four dudes dealt with constantly. It suffers from length and sameness but when it hits it hits like a sledgehammer.

Aliisa Kahleissa. Ihan mukiinmenevää. Tulee ihan nuoruusvuodet mieleen kun grunge oli sikakovajuttu.

Oikein hyvä

Kovaa tykittelyä. Meinas levyn loppupuoliskolla loppua jaksaminen vähän same oldista, mutta viiminen biisi pelasti koko paketin ja virkisti takasin taajuuksille.

I guess it's for the greater good of society that we don't all like the same thing 😐

I really thought this might be my kind of thing, but it was sooooo mid.

I overlooked this band for way too long.

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

Kinda hypnotic. For a long drive at least. But wouldn’t listen to again.

Solid grunge album. They definitely had their own sound. Super guitar/bass driven. A very solid album.

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.

Initially not something that caught me, i prefer Nirvana but dont know much grunge. Later i got a but more into it but unlikely i will listen again. 3.5 stars

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.

This has not aged well. I used to listen to this quite a bit back when it came out. I can't believe I used to think I liked it. Everything sounds like mud: the mix, the vocals, the lyrics. Even the cover leaves a lot to be desired. "The Rooster" and "Would?" are this album's saving graces, but they aren't enough to overcome the unrelenting sameness of the other tracks.

Very moody and heavy feeling. A few tracks are lighter but they're not enough to make me feel the need to listen to the album again.

Even though many of the tracks are 3 minutes, they feel like they go on forever… struggle to get thought this…

idccccccccccccccc høydepunkt: down in a hole

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

i’d give it a 4.5 if i could. a nearly perfect classic rock album of its time. standouts: them bones, down in a hole, rooster, junkhead, dirt honorable mentions: sickman, hate to feel favorite: dirt

People in the reviews keep saying this is a fusion of metal and grunge. Grunge, itself, was the fusion of metal and punk, so that description is a little bit redundant. Alice in Chains, admittedly, was the closest to the metal corner of the grunge spectrum of the big 4 Seattle bands (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and AIC). They've also always been my least favorite of those bands. There's a LOT of literal riffing on this album. It's sludgy and histrionic, but occasionally, a little diamond appears, sparkling in all the grime.

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

i have heard this album a couple times before. i don’t really have much to say about it. it’s just a good album. hits on hits on hits. the bass work so nasty, it’s really damn good. rain when i die hit a lot harder this time. that fake fade out is so cool every time anyone does it. fuck this thing is so good. i’m on down in a hole. first song i don’t really remember is next, sickman. hope it doesn’t fall off. i’ve heard rooster too much. i remember sickman. it’s kickass. i forgot that the bassline in rooster is incredible. i haven’t heard rooster too much, this song is awesome. WHATS MY DRUG OF CHOIIIIIICE 🗣️🗣️🗣️ junkhead might be the best song on this album and that’s saying A LOT. i love when they bring out the queens of the stone age guitar sound. fuck the end of god smack and untitled. corny asf. godsmack is a great song outside of that dumb voice at the end. hate to feel isn’t hitting. holy fucking ending. angry chair into would. christ. i’m sure this goes hard on heroin.

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.

Ok

Not my thing

I realise that apart from Nirvana and Mudhoney, I didn't listen to a lot of grunge. What I have heard on this list hasn't excited me much. Chugs along in that 90s way. Songs too long, too many tracks. Not the worst though. 2.5 rounded up Heard before? Some Owned: No 50/220 (22%) Will I get: No

Pretty good, 3.4

Growley emo cotton wool mouth gunna sing ya about ddruuggs

4/5

By no means is this my favourite and I never think to listen to Alice in Chans. But it strikes a bit nostalgic for me as it was on the radio a lot when I was a kid and Layne has a distinctive voice.

Not my favourite grudge metal band, but all is good here.

Alice In Chains one of the greatest bands ever

They could also have called this Sludge.

look. i still don’t like metal. i enjoyed “dirt”

No estoy acostumbrado al heavy, pero la verdad es que es un album que he disfrutado más de lo que me esperaba

I can sort of see why these guys were called grunge, but for me it doesn't quite sit in that category. There's too much hair metal in the mix for it to feel truly grunge to my ears - too much guitar wankery and fucking wah pedal(I say this as a guitar player myself), too much warbly vibrato and performative twang in the vocals. The lyrics are occasionally so juvenile as to be funny for all the wrong reasons "you piss upon my candle / so proving you're a fake"... erm... the harmonies soar and the production is good, I just think it's not 100% for me. 2*

как же струячит

5.0 - Awesome

I’ve tried listening to this album so many times but every time I get to rooster I hear it and want to watch apocalypse now or sum. The album is actually really good though especially now that I finished it.

Meh. It all sounded the same

I saw Alice in Chains (this band, not my paternal grandmother bound) on April 16, 1993. Layne sat cross legged on the front of the stage wearing a stocking cap and sunglasses, and didn't move a muscle. Just sat in a heap and sang (quite well, considering). After maybe 5 songs he stood up, dropped the mic, and walked off the stage. House lights came on, and the PA announced "show's over, folks" and we were ushered out. High school me was so disappointed. Despite getting ripped off, I still quite enjoy the album. The despair can be a little overwhelming, but I hadn't listened all the way through in decades (still holding a grudge, I suppose). I'm glad it popped up today and gave me a welcome shot of nostalgia.

I remember Rooster from back in the day... given that this is not my typical type of music -- still a few tracks I enjoyed.

Just like I loved what I got from the generator yesterday, I don't like this equally as much.

again no es mi estilo de música pero lo puse de fondo mientras leia y no se me hizo tan pesado.(aunque sigue siendo un álbum largo a mi parecer) amo el sonido de la guitarra en todo el album. Me gustó mas que el anterior pero en efecto, no lo volvería a escuchar

Seeing as this was my first experience with Alice in Chains, I honestly didn't enjoy Dirt as much as I had hoped I would. At the same time, some of Layne Staley's vocal inflections were so funny that I couldn't help but smile in the moment. Separately, I really hope I'm not the only person who heard "erm, what the sigma" during the chorus of "Sickman." Highlights: Them Bones, Sickman, God Smack, Hate to Feel

Life changing

There were a few songs that lowered this rating. 2.5

Klassiker, Meisterwerk, mein Lieblingsalbum aus dem Grunge.

Can’t go wrong with Alice In Chains. Rooster is always great listen.

8/10

Apesar de eu gostar de rock, não me agradou muito

Favourites: Them Bones and God Smack

ROOOOOSTER

One of my favorite 90s bands. Sucks about what happened. We're probably missing out on some good music.

I can respect the musicality of this album but I find it uninteresting. It's not necessarily offensive to my ears but I will likely never return to it.

Fantastic

I was originally gonna give this album a 3 based off its popularity on tiktok but after listening to it I decided to give it a 4 bc I really enjoyed it and it deserves the hype

Is there going to be a metal album (according to 1001) that I like besides them awesome Black Sabbath records?? How many ACDC, cock rock, Limp Bizkit and grunge albums am I gonna have to go through before the next one! I don't want to be the I hate metal music guy, I love metal music! I'm sorry Iron Maiden I should have rated you higher I don't know what I was thinking! You know I don't hate this, this isn't something I'd listen to of my own volition but it's fine, I get why people like this.

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

Better than Coldplay

I really wanted to dive in to Alice In Chains before and this was a great one to start with! Down In a Hole Dirt These are my favs.

So many great tracks here. At nearly an hour, it does bog down toward the end. Angry Chair and Would close it out strong. I would shave a couple of songs off in order to have 5 stars.

Layne never fails to deliver. What a great voice

Not bad, but also not my thing.

Of all the major grunge bands, Alice in Chains are the ones I’m least familiar with. This album is great, a dark and depressing trip through heroin-addiction and self-disgust. I’m 30 years away from this music I grew up with, and it’s even less relevant to my life now than it was then, but it still fits like a glove.

I could not pick one minute of this monotony out from another to save my life, except for me that awful, inscrutable 'rooster' song

Grunge is such a weird genre in retrospect. Really nirvana was a complete outlier and this is more like the typical grunge sound. I enjoyed listening to it. But not so engaging that I imagine I’ll come back and listen again.

I remember a friend playing AiC at me when we were 15. Decided I didn’t like them and avoided them since. Big mistake. 17 year old me would have loved this. Making up for it a couple of decades later though.

Solid grunge here but nothing too special.

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

5/6

Fuzzy guitar and driving bass make it unmistakably grunge, but it has a darker, heavier bent. There's a heavy metal soul to this. "Would?" is a favorite, and "Rooster" is solid, but other tracks left me wondering how long till the next track. Distinctive sound with some Soundgarden vibes, but Layne Staley was never Chris Cornell.

Fantastic 4.5/5

Yeah, this rocks. If you're in the mood to rock, this album is probably a good one to listen to.

Listened to and from work. Man I really dislike this era of rock. There were a couple good songs but the rest was just unpleasant to listen to. Cringe lyrics, boring rhythm section, about 20 minutes too long. Evil Chair is up there among the worst songs I've listened to in the project so far.

Good if you’re in an angry mood, but I couldn’t listen to it all the time.

6/10

I don’t typically listen to hard rock/heavy metal but I do think this is a good album.

Right up my street. Don't know how I didn't discover these guys in my grunge era but I very much enjoyed this. A gem in amongst this list of howlers.

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.

Perhaps a 3.5 upgraded to 4 by nostalgia. When we had Sirius satellite radio, my default station was Lithium, the 90s alternative station. They used to have an ad that said, “If Nirvana hadn’t written the song Lithium, what would we have called this station? Rooster?” Followed by a short clip of a tortured vocal from the Alice in Chains song. That’s pretty much how I’ve always thought of Alice in Chains, as a kind of backup to the grunge acts of my youth. My wife confirmed it when I showed her I had Dirt this morning and asked what I thought of them. “Those are the kinda good songs they play between the really good songs,” she said. So I tried to explore them here as more than 90s grunge radio filler. And I found a lot to like. I agree with many reviewers here that the first three songs are a great series of riffs, maybe more metal than the stuff I knew from the radio. And I definitely enjoyed running through the hits again, especially “Down in a Hole.” But overall I don’t know that it changed my mind about these guys so much. I love the sound but am only so-so on the songwriting, particularly because it stays in such a narrow emotional range. I think music can be dark, heavy, brooding, Gothic, whatever, but still give you some room to breathe, and I did not feel that way by the time I got to “Would?”

Good to revisit. Still don't like the vocalizations, but the guitar licks are pretty awesome.

I found this album to be bad! All the songs sounded the same and they all sounded bad to me. I am no stranger to grunge, I enjoy grunge, some of my best friends are grunge! But this on ain’t it, sis. Sue me!!

Not a huge grunge head but you know what I enjoyed this more than I was expecting, big walls of angst that feel pretty all-consuming in quite a nice way. I think these guitar tones that would have felt really dated about five years ago have benefitted from the revival of this kind of aesthetic so it actually feels quite fresh. This is still just not the kind of music I'm that into, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. 3 stars but would give it an extra half if I could.

mid

Vocals

Peak 90s

Some bangers and then some very samey sounding tracks between the bangers

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?

meh

Grunge!

Wanted so bad to give this a 3 but it got so repetitive.

Памятник героиновой эпидемии.

Classic. Banger after banger <3

Like an odd song now and then from here could be ok but an hour straight makes me want to cry a little bit.

pretty good its like nirvana but better

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

It's fine, Alice in Chains isn't my favorite personally

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.

I was having issues with my headphones so this sounded just like I remembered, very staticy.

The. Worst.

Gen X is the ultimate “lobster too buttery; steak too tender” generation, and they made/listened to music like this to simulate oppression amidst a banal existence. Butt Rock.

Edgy like Hot Topic.

not really my thing

oh Stu LOL you must be thrilled (I hear you can't buy a thrill these days HAAAA) Steely Dan today - yay!!!! As for Alice in Chains, never could vibe with their sound, too dark, menacing and threatening - all that wailing in that key is depressing. Talented musicians but only 2 tracks on here I like

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.

It feels like having butterflies in your stomach. I can't tell if it's excitement, fear, anxiety, or something else. All I know is it is present, lingering, and steady, persisting throughout the album. A steady strumming in my belly.

There will be wah wah pedals and minor keys alongside no shortage of war imagery. This war imagery will be a metaphor for depression, addiction and unresolved issues from our youth unless we are just straight up writing about depression, addiction and unresolved issues from our youth. It is written. And written. And written - over and over and over. There is no hint of sunlight. No variation form the theme. Nothing in the way of hope until the final track. It is telling that the only alternate flavor offered up here is a song from a soundtrack grafted onto the end of this album. Would? Is a masterpiece in any era. It sound like a different band. They manage to transform thr minor key into something exultant. The previous 12 tracks just seem to wallow. I need a little hope. Or at least catharsis but all I get is droning darkness. Maybe that is the point.l? AIC are arguably more impactful on the mid to late 90s than the other members of the Big 4. The textures of this album, the vocal affect spread far and wide. That is an acknowledgement not an endorsement. I'm happy I was old enough to change the channel on that era. Give me Would? Leave the rest.

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’ve always wondered if the title is tied to how murky the production is. Everything sounds heavy, the riffs, the vocals, even the lyrics. By the end I feel kind of exhausted, but also glad I took the journey.

Yeah yeah classic, yeah yeah grunge

AIC was a phase that I went through that embodied a dating phase that I went through. It was great at the time but I left it all behind.

The highs are really high. The lows are just mediocre, generic sludge rock. Still, not bad. 3/5

Okkkkkkk

God….this was awful, though I know some people love it🤣

Dirt is heavy in a way that feels earned, not performative. This isn’t just loud guitars and misery cosplay. The band locks into that sludgy, oppressive grunge sound with real discipline, and the secret weapon is the harmonies. Those stacked vocals are unsettling, almost beautiful, and they elevate the material far beyond standard grunge rage. Not every track needs to be a single, and some of the deeper cuts don’t fully justify their runtime, but when this record hits, it hits hard. The dynamic contrast matters here. The quieter passages aren’t filler, they create tension so the heavy moments actually land instead of just bludgeoning you nonstop. That push and pull gives the album dimension and keeps it from collapsing into monotony. This is a band fully in control of its sound, capturing that thick, grimy early-90s heaviness while still showing restraint and variation. Dark, punishing, and strangely precise. A cornerstone of the genre, even if not every track is chasing perfection. If grunge had a weight class, Dirt would be fighting at the top, no question.

I feel like I should have liked this more. But I never made it there.

Solid

7/10

it's not to my taste, the songs are too long and Would stands out head and shoulders against the rest of the songs. Okay, high 2, wouldn't listen again

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

Intellectually, I appreciate grunge and this movement in music, it’s not my cup of tea. But I really tried and I listened to most of the album. Standout: Rooster (because I already knew it and it’s actually a decent song) 02-01-2026

High 2. Listened with a bleach / mother love bone hat on and found it patchily good E.g. think Would? is great, a classic of its genre. Overall too many uninteresting, self-indulgent songs though.

Should have stayed buried

5.1 When did Bon Jovi start taking heroin? Fav: Would? Least fav: God Smack

I am not a fan of grunge. It felt like I was listening to a bunch of whiny addicts.

Okay. Didn't love it, didn't hate it.

Good. Big 90s grunge vibes

I've always considered this more metal than grunge, and never really listened to it at the time of release. Musically it's good, like the distinct bass sound and the vocals nailed that 90's style, but it does drag . Singles are quality though.

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhhhh

Not a fan of this album. I only like songs like this if they are catchy

1: Dirt 2: Angry Chair 3: Rooster

OMG this was my favorite album when I was a freshman in high school. I think I got the cassette for my 15th birthday back in 1993. Let's see how it holds up... I think so far it's nostalgic but my taste in music has definitely changed since then. A lot of the music sounds like sweaty people in a basement somehow. But I guess that's what grunge IS. Writing music in the dead of winter on a rainy Seattle day will result in music that is dark and gray the way Alice In Chains' music sounds. This album features some great guitar riffs, harmonies, and tricky time signatures which I had forgotten about when I listened to this cassette on repeat in 1993. I guess in the depressing state of winter of 2026, maybe depressing, gritty music isn't what I need right now, but I DO love the nostalgia of listening to this album more than 30 years later. Even though it's not what I would select to play in the car anymore, the music still holds up, especially the singles from this album, and the vocals are really great. Rooster is a standout on the album. The best overall song in my opinion is Would?, the final track of the album. It was also on the Singles soundtrack, which was my favorite film when it came out. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to see what early 90s Seattle was like I still love the album and it has a lot of nostalgia for me, but not every track is a banger, maybe like half of them? 4/5 stars.

Bättre än jag förväntade mig, men också för långt för det den erbjuder. 3.5.

Really tried to like this… but failed

This one shocked me, I thought I would hate it but it was definitely a banger. Honestly, a the perfect album to hep you lock in and make the day your bitch.

Thanks to Headbangers Ball I was pretty early to AiC. “Man in the Box” was just different enough from the metal bands to keep my attention, but also seemed, well, kinda disturbed. But with big choruses! Dirt took that further, probably too much for normie teenage me. One song about a problem with heroin? Cool, speak your truth. A whole suite? Mostly in dirge form? Hmm. But, the songs that hit still work for me and Cantrell’s playing goes well past the metal trappings of the non-grunge bands they were initially associated with. It’s no wonder this is such a formative record for genres that followed.

😎✌️

Always dug this album. This one is right in my wheelhouse. Not much to say other than, hell yeah, I'm glad this one came up today.

More towards the metal end of the Seattle grunge groups with this album which is probably one of their better ones early in their career.

Some really cool stuff on this but often feels like a repetitive soundscape. A little bit too metalic for my taste. Alice In Chains is warranted as being one of the big 4 of grunge, but they are behind Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Nirvana still in my book.

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

The drum rhythm is so cool Esp:junkhead

I think this gets better the more you listen to it, which is good, but at impact I've found the instrumentals not varied enough, probably because grunge is not my favourite genre (I don't dislike it though, like I said, it probably would take me more than a day to get used to it. A good album overall, I just don't like really coesive albums.

Love the vocals, nasty riffs. More metal vibes than other ‘grunge’ bands, further showing that label isn’t very useful. Like the solos as well, vibey

Olihan tuo ihan jees

Hyvää grungerokkia. Yksi suurista mutta ei yllä Nirvanan tai Pearl Jamin tasolle. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tätä kuunteli mielellään!

#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

Like the lyrics slightly less but still loving my rock renaissance

just dont like the nasal ahhhhhh voice

Dull, derivative, tuneless metal. Metal can be many things, but the most unforgivable sin is for it to be boring, which this mostly is. "Rooster" and "Would" offer some brief relief from the tedium late in the record.

Standout Tracks: Them Bones - Great song to kick of a lift a the gym Rooster - I had to pack two apartments worth of stuff into a moving trailer overnight once. So basically, I can relate to slogging through the shit in 'Nam now.

Don't remember. I think metal

Thiaguismo musical. Forte.

Soundgarden encontra Rob Zombie, infelizmente não me pega, mas é um ótimo album.