Reviews (page 5 of 13)
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
Better than Coldplay
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
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 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.
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.
Good if you’re in an angry mood, but I couldn’t listen to it all the time.
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.
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?”
Grunge!
Памятник героиновой эпидемии.
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
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.
Solid
7/10
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.
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.
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.
The drum rhythm is so cool Esp:junkhead
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!
Like the lyrics slightly less but still loving my rock renaissance
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.
Soundgarden encontra Rob Zombie, infelizmente não me pega, mas é um ótimo album.
Hyvä levy, tiukkoja riffejä ja hyviä slovareita
Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought that I would, it seemed quite similar to the Metal I listened to for a while in my 20s, in fact Iwill probably take it out for a run.
I liked this one a lot. I already knew I liked AIC from the songs I was familiar with, but this album as a whole confirmed it for me. I generally like grunge, so this one fits in my wheelhouse more than it might some other listeners. Still, I think it has a lot to like even for those who aren't necessarily fans. The music is powerful, to say the least. The guitar work really makes the songs what they are, though the other pieces complement it nicely. Really, the "weakest" part is probably the vocal work. It's one of those situations where the voices fit the style and tone of the songs regardless of their singing skill. I don't think having a stronger voice on the tracks would really improve them much, since they're going more for impact than anything else. They add an eeriness and honesty to the tracks that really makes them memorable. It's clear that the album comes from the grunge/metal era of the early 90s where the style was popular, which is kind of interesting to think about. The topics on the album aren't really radio friendly, and the music itself is a bit aggressive and dark. I guess it's a counter to the more bright, gaudiness of metal and pop music that reigned in the 80s. Whatever the reason, Dirt feels like it encapsulates its era well. Even so, I didn't find it to feel dated or out of vogue in my listen. It holds up pretty well. I did have a few issues that keep me from rating it a 5. The main one was the length. I didn't think it needed to be over 57 minutes long, even if pretty much all of the songs were strong. It just felt like it had run its course by the end. It also felt a little same-y over the last few tracks (excluding Would?). They did a good job of mixing up feel for the majority of the album, but there was a little bit of stagnation before the last song. That was likely the result of the runtime (and my attention span), though. There were probably a couple songs that could've been left off in that group. Even so, it's more a nitpick than a strong criticism. This ranks as a really good listen for me. I think it's up there for the genre and era it represents. It has some really great songs spread throughout its runtime and demands your attention, even though it runs a little long. I would definitely listen to it again. Overall: 4.1/5
Really more like 3.5. I much prefer the song Would? than the rest. Layne Staley can really sing (or he could when he was Alive!). Many of the lyrics seem to spring from the mind of a sixteen year old guy. Still the singing and musicians make up for that.
Hadde eg vore litt eldre hadde eg sikkert høyrt meir på dette
Great sounding album, but as someone else said it, it's great if you want to feel like shit. Great tunes, and great voice, but it's just for a specific mood.
Other than the 3-4 songs i already knew it was alright
“yes, yes, yes!” awesome album rating: 8.6/10 fav track: junkhead
Classic rock, some goodies in there. Enjoyable listening
One of my favourite albums
Perhaps the best grunge album of all time. Not my favorite but goddamn is it good. 8/10
Grungy and awesome
Rain When I Die Down in a Hole Sickman Rooster Hate to Feel
i like this album!! i like their voices! i had fun!!! i'm a rock girlie now!!!!! this really is a 3.5 but i'm feeling generous today
Great
Solid metal album. Favourite: rain when We die
What a start to an album. I like Alice In Chains, but they can be a little dirge like in their execution, so this album started off much more lively than I anticipated.
I don't think I've ever listened to all of Dirt, because I was never a fan of Layne Staley's voice. "Would?" is obviously a classic of the grunge era—it's crazy that they close the album with it—and "Them Bones" is a hell of a way to kick off this album. (That riff.) I always found "Rooster" kind of comical, but the run from "Junkhead" to "Hate to Feel" is some of the bleakest music you'll find anywhere. Keep away from the hard drugs, everybody.
Gas
Kind of the anti-Metallica, I think. Undeniably heavy, at least by my non metalhead standards, but still music that's made by and for humans.
sick
Classic grunge album. My only complaint is a lot of the songs sound the same. 4/5
oh yeah i fuck with this MAJORLY
I’ve never really listened to Alice In Chains before of course I’ve heard about them. I really liked this surprisingly, going into it I kinda thought it would be more intense heavy metal. But maybe it’s just this album but it hits on the rock aspect and has lyrics that carry you throughout the songs.
Probably THE Alice In Chains album. They are often grouped into the grunge category from the early 90’s, but they definitely have more of a background influence shared with a lot of metal bands. Notable tracks include Them Bones, Dam That River, Rain When I Die, Down In A Hole, Rooster, Would.
Their Unplugged is a 5 star album. This is close. I wish I could review out of 10, cause this isn’t a 4.
Very important grunge that I've listen to a number of times. Definitely a fan. RiP to Layne.
Chad in Chains
Listened Before? Y When I think of grunge, I think of AIC. This is the grungiest of albums by the grungiest of bands. Well made, and delivered what we all wanted in the 90s. Shame about Lane, but unfortunately he was a tortured soul. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Angry Chair
This album was rad
Say what you want about heroin, it makes some bangers
Overall ass kicker, And I’m not even a grunge guy!
I love this album
Somehow this feels like a symphony conductors approach to metal. Surprisingly peaceful listening. Favorite track was Would?
Particularly excellent pick for someone going through a bit of a mortality crisis at the moment. We'll all turn into a big ol' pile of them bones. Highlights: Them Bones, Dirt.
Pretty good few long ass songs 3-5 amazing songs
Great album
Grunge isn't my go to rock sub genre but Alice in Chains did put out some bangers.
classic grunge rock. groundbreaker, but I think the bands that came after them did it better
At first listen, wasn't a big fan of all the emotional self loathing and drug promotion, but after coming back to it a couple of times I had to admire the albums raw openness. It compares well to other albums of a similar genre, like Nevermind or something by Pearl Jam, and this was probably first out of the stable. Tracks that stand out for me include Rooster and Them Bones. A low 4.
Pleasant surprise! Moody, great riffs, overall a vibe
this album was there for me about a year ago. i didn’t re-listen because i do need to be in a certain mood but i do love this one when in the right mood!
Good soup.
Oh yeah. I love this. Makes me feel like dirt
Hadn’t listened to Alice In Chains before, Staley has a great range. Instrumentals were sick. First half captured me a lot more.
Love Alice in Chains' sound. Unfortunately it's their only sound. Bones is forever a part of me given how many times I played it on Guitar Hero.
3.5 RYM
This is a remarkable album - very tight, great playing, loved the harmonies. A little dark and heavy for my tastes, but objectively great.
This is not my type of album, but it was a good listen. Probably won’t go back to it, but still not a terrible listen by any means.
fuck this rocks
I liked it and the heavy rock vibe sounds. Some of the songs I liked more than others. Def a dude rock band
Rock is rock - nice album, fun. Nostalgic about my childhood. Andrew Caldwell really liked this band.
Didn’t think I’d like it as much as I did! Good intensity and not the worst vocals. Listened a couple times.
I mean, I like this band so.
Alice in Chains is not Alice Cooper.
This album just gets better and better upon each listen, though I don't think it's a five yet. Still very good. Easily one of the best of the grunge era. Favorite track: Rain When I Die 4.5/5
Great album with great songs. Can be a bit drawn out to listen to the full album straight. Has many hits.
Great album. Hard rock with a metal soul front to back
I think it's good I didn't understand much of the lyrics :D
If someone told me this is on par with Nevermind I wouldn't argue
Still holds up. Ahhhhhhh
Baita álbum, gostei bastante. É beeem estilão Alice in Chains mesmo, obviamente. Não é minha pegada favorita, mas acho daóra, bão de ouvir. Destaque pra Them Bones e Would? Feels nostálgico forte do GTA. Boas pra cacete. PS: Que zuera foi essa com Iron Man na Untitled? kkkkkk
I was a little skeptical at first but the later songs of the album I really enjoyed
cool dirty album.
Raw and emotionally gut wrenching. Grunge classic for a reason. Would? Might be one of my favorite songs of all time. That, and the Alice In Chains Unplugged performance of some of these songs (notably Down in a Hole) are some of the most poignant moments in rock history with the lead singer visibly succumbing to addiction as he performed live for one last time.
solid album in the hard rock genre
Classique
Gotdam what a bruising attack of a record. I sure don’t understand why AiC was ever called grunge, this is straight metal to my ears. Love Layne’s sneering voice and those harmonies. Love the ass kicking drum sound. Love the crunchy guitar in small doses. The only downside of this sound (STP’s first album too) is the lack of any real dynamics. After a while it starts to all sound like the same sludgy thing. But one album at a time, this kicks ass.
Progressive, new, stoner... nice
Thoughts before listening: This is my favorite album from Alice in Chains, and it contains some of their best songs. Of the 4 main grunge bands, I probably go back and listen to AIC the least, but I tend to be happy when I do hear them. In general they're a little more dense in their sound than the other groups, but they definitely rock. Review: So the way I remember AIC and this album is accurate. Sludgy, dark grunge music that does definitely have quite a bit of melody in the mix. Layne Staley is a very unique singer and his voice is part of the overall darkness of this album. Layne has more of a growl and snarl than the more accessible vocals of say Eddie Vedder or Chris Cornell. "Rooster" and "Would?" are some of the better songs of this era, and this album has a number of deep cuts that resonate with me as well. I'll give this 4-stars.
Incredible album that takes me right back to my freshman year in college. I understand why some may find this to be lacking, as many of the songs are over-driven. Not all songs on this album are great (some are actually bad), but the overall musicality is very strong, the lyrics (particularly for the time) are well written. This is a defining album of grunge rock with, in my opinion, Nirvana's Nevermind and Pearl Jam's Ten rounding out the big three.
Enjoyed this a lot 4
Incredible. I love this album. It's got great sound, great writing and incredible singing. Very deserving of being on the list, even if this isn't your style of music.
Pre: like this album Post: grunge with melody
Another classic from my college years. For me, this record has some of the very best songs to come out of the grunge scene. Rooster, Would, Them Bones, Down In A Hole. There’s some filler here too, and if it was an LP vs CD, probably a 5 star record with those saved for B sides. Also should note that I have an odd affinity for heroin inspired rock. If you did some smack and sang about it, I probably love it. With more mature ears, it’s a little too much of a Sabbath tribute, and Jerry Cantrell listened to too much Randy Rhoads, but still really enjoy this one
If I rated this purely on the likelihood of me listening to it again, I would have rated it a 3. For some reason I have never really loved Alice In Chains despite them ticking a lot of boxes. However, I recognize this album is very good. It’s full of great metal riffs, big hooks, authenticity, a unique soundscape and production.
4/5 - I haven’t listened to Alice In Chains in 25+ years, but this album holds up really well. If this list needed sludge grunge with some fantastic guitar riffs, this is a great choice.
Good.
I really dig the metal/grunge music but this band always eluded me. Of course I heard all their big hits, and I think that's what drove me away. The songs were fine, but never really captured me. The rest of the album is great and I'm kinda bummed I missed out on them for so long. Will for sure be listening to them more now
Another one of those albums that if you weren't there at the time you probably don't get. The grunge sound hit hard and fast in the 90s and Alice in Chains was at the front of the pack. Some surprisingly good writing here and the hits are really solid. It's just at 13 tracks that heavy, dark sound starts to wear especially with most songs pushing 5-6 minutes.
Heavy stuff.
I have already heard most of the songs of this album and I can easily play them on repeat.
Too track: Them Bones / Would? / Rain When I Die
Great gym album. Got back into running listening to this album, and think it has some real good tracks
ts is good
Very compelling album, normally not an avid listener of grunge and heavier music but I thoroughly enjoyed many of the tracks. The beginning of the record features some incredible guitar work, but towards the latter half of the album, the quality just drops off for me.
Solid album! 🤘
I was more of a Bush fan than Alice In Chains, but I do like them and this album is excellent. RIP Layne!
I'm not sure why but I missed this on release. It's rather good, even if the subject matter is not pretty.
Tight vocal harmonies, sludgy bass lines, overdriven guitar. The evolution of grunge.
Love the guitar sound. Somehow the album sounds more dated than nirvana even though I can feel the era in the sound
I was pleasantly surprised with this record. I didn't think I would like it, but I am glad to have listened to it. Every track bangs. Favourite Track(s): Them Bones, Dirt, Would? Least Favourite Track(s): Godsmack
Fav: Them Bones Least Fav: God Smack I’m yet to figure out why Alice is in chains, good album tho
Rooster is one of the greatest songs ever written. The rest of the album is pretty damn good too.
Never been a fan of Alice in Chains. I find their music oppressive and creepy. That being said - they were really good at what they did. I jumped out of my chair when the album started, even though I'd heard the song before. That's a good rock song. They hit hard from beginning to end.
Wowww ok really liked this one
fave, almost 5
8.5/10 Favourite: Dam That River Least Favourite: God Smack
Cool as fuck. 4.5⭐
A very dark and heavy album from one of the patriarchs of grunge. I know I’m in the minority here, but I’ve always liked the instrumentation of AIC much more than the vocals, which I was reminded of on my relisten here. I think this prevents me from liking the band as much as I should. Musical taste is funny that way. 7/10
Listening to Alice in Chains' "Dirt" right after Pearl Jam's "Ten." While Dirt is really good (I owned the CD), Ten was IMHO way better.
Ein großartiges Album. Nutshell ist eines meinerbesonders häufig gehörten Stücke über all die Jahre.
Thought i was going to hate this, but just kije 'More songs about buildings and food' (Talking Heads) i am very pleasantly surprised. I love it, there are no bad tracks on thus album and it's a solid 4 out of 5.
I don’t think I know any AIC songs. For a first listen knowing nothing of them I quite liked it. I think on a few repeat listens this would make it to 5 but the tradegy of this project is you move on to the next album without having the chance to really get to know an album that is totally new to you.
Great album, classic sound, but just not quite a 5 star for me.
2025-09-18: Listened to lacking sleep, after a cold shower. It reminded me of the sounds of my youth: at times it resonated with me so, though in a distant fashion. The vocals were nice sounding, though at the end I felt s little tired of them. I felt like the lyrics came in short bursts, somehow lacking fluidity, but I would like to go through them once more paying a little more attention. There were oddities in how some tracks sounded, such as the way the fullness of the sound came in and out in “Junkhead” (I specially noticed in the second half), but I don't know if they were intentional, or particular to Spotify's encoding of the supposed remastered version of the album (I initially replayed parts thinking that my sound system or my hearing might be failing me). I rate it above a 3, though I would have to give it another chance to place it a a solid 4 or above.
Grunge - loved it on a second listen. Rain When I Die & Dirt the two highlights.
I like it
Pacific Northwest Grunge. Love the sounds and emotions of this album. So many of Alice in Chains classics come off of this record. My favorite song by them, Down in a Hole, along with Rooster, Angry Chair and the title track Dirt. I have definitely given more time to the acoustic versions of these from the fantastic MTV Unplugged, which is a bit more up my alley. Nonetheless, it is great to play this one loud in all of its grungy glory. RIP Layne! I am sure there could've been so much more great music if you were still with this world.
Staley and Cantrell singing together is rather golden combo. For me this band is Jerry Cantrell with good lead vocalist. Cantrell's riffs an occasional slowness takes this album to its own position. Could this be a five star album? Yes it could be but now listening it as whole for a long time I feel that some last step is missing.
This sounds still nice.
Need to spend more time with this one
Rad as hell
rocky but not to hard
Alongside Nirvana and PJ, Alice In Chains was my other favorite grunge band. I love Layne Staley’s vocals and the great guitar work by Jerry Cantrell. I don’t typically like hard rock, but that early 90’s sound matched up with where I was in my life at the time, acknowledging my own depression and learning to cope with it. Music was one of the best ways I found. I wasn’t sure if this would still hold up, and it does.
435/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
I loved this album in college. Still great.
I've always loved this album. I think it's still my favorite by Alice in Chains.
Iconic 90s grunge metal, lane Staley's voice is unmatched in the genre
Wish i could do 3.5. Liked it more than i was expecting, great vocals and more melodic than i thought. Sounds like the only grunge band who would admit they listen to Queen and Metallica.
Alice in Chains are a great band and this was a phenomenal album. It did start to lose some of its high quality with the last few songs but there were some break rifts and melodies through that made me feel relaxed but motivated at the same time
понравились 2 песни, первая и последняя, оценка - 4.
Um álbum que eu ouvia durante a infância e adolescência, e sempre acreditei que este fosse um disco de Metal. Só agora em minha maioridade eu entendi melhor a definição de Grunge, e sei que Alice in Chains faz parte do quarteto fantástico do subgênero. Mas mesmo com este meu novo conhecimento adquirido, percebo que ainda assim acredito que o som do Alice seja bem mais pesado que os das outras bandas de Grunge que conheço. Pessoalmente, eu ainda prefiro Nirvana quando quero ouvir Grunge. Talvez seja uma opinião não tão popular, sei lá. Particularmente, quando o assunto é Alice in Chains, prefiro bem mais ouvir o MTV Unplugged deles do que qualquer disco de estúdio. Uma coisa que noto neste álbum, Dirt, é que ele possui um início incrível e um final maravilhoso, mas ele acaba se perdendo um pouco no meio. Possui uma faixa ou outra notável, mas contém também várias canções que eu considero inconsequentes. Pode discordar, eu aceito. Também não sou muito fã da tendência que esta banda tem de alongar suas faixas para durações bem demasiadas, empregando muitas repetições das mesmas passagens. Acaba transformando o disco numa escuta bem tediosa em alguns momentos. Mas como eu disse, essa banda pros meus ouvidos é a mais pesada do Big 4 do Grunge. E há nisso um certíssimo mérito. Aprecio demais os vocais do Layne, e minhas partes favoritas deste disco e dos outros álbuns da banda são as harmonizações melódicas, como no refrão de Them Bones. Adoro o som da voz dele. Além disso, o tom de guitarra neste álbum é inconfundível, um verdadeiro deleite pros ouvidos. E mesmo que algumas faixas sejam alongadas demais, pouco disso importa quando o álbum encerra com Would, fazendo-me esquecer todo o tédio que senti em algumas faixas anteriores. 4/5
nice guitar
Knew the hits of course, but never listened to the full album. It really sure why I never listened to this, I like all the artists that Alice In Chains is normally associated with. Really liked it, though a bit heavier than some of the other grunge I’m familiar with. Would definitely out it for a workout or to just blow off steam.
Really want to like this, because I always want to like metal, and it's got harmonies! Unfortunately, the harmonies sorta feel the same all the time, but I do appreciate the heaviness (especially from the drummer)! That being said, it's still probably my favorite grunge album not from Nirvana.
Peak
Great album. Songwriting, singing and guitar playing are all top tier.
Yea man. Pretty pretty pretty good.
На удивление хороший гранж, на данный момент я не фанат этого направления, он всё ещё чувствуется так называемым middle of the road для меня. Здесь присутствуют хорошие песни, но есть оочень отталкивающие, от чего у меня очень смешанные чувства с ним. 7/10 Highlights: Rain When I Die; Down In A Hole; Sickman; Would?
As context, I was going to offer a spicy take that this album is better than Nevermind. But in listening to it for like the 1000th time, there’s something missing from it. It’s (perhaps unintentionally) a concept album about the destruction of addiction, and grounded by the real tragedy of Layne Staley … it feels like it’s too dark, if that makes sense. Like a book or a movie you experience once, recognize for what it is, but then never need to experience it again. I think there’s utility in using art (music) to feed emotion, even our darker emotions, but this is too much. Maybe this came up on the wrong day, but an album I was for-sure ready to give five stars only gets four because it wasn’t diverse enough. At least, not today.
Dirt is a grunge masterpiece and is a smacker.
Album.is very good. Has not dated as badly as some other Grunge albums have.
First time listening to Alice in chains (at least systematically - entire album at once). Intriguing rock album with some pieces almost drifting into different genres. Overall it’s good ole hard rock, with tasty solos and riffs that bring a metal flavor at times. Some of the tracks had hints of blues, and some had prog vibes. Not sure at which label/studio the album was recorded and mastered at, but it quickly struck how well it was done, with crystal clear overdriven leads and very nice stage separation. Very cool sound overall, but tends to be somewhat agressive given the mediumish tempo of most tracks, requiring a certain mood to be listened 😅 Fav tracks: Them Bones, Rain when I die, Dirt
A solid example of 90s alt rock. Some very catchy stuff but it really beats you over the head with the drug references.
So close to giving this a 5. I don’t think I ever listened to this album from start to finish. It has all the great grunge components and it just delivers.
Dirty grungy deathly good
Fav song- would? (2022 remaster)
What the hell was happening in Seattle in the 80's and 90's? This and Soundgarden, both of which I really love, but my GOD are they dark. This is some of the heaviest and most dismal music ever made, only lumped in with Grunge by the sheer proximity in time and space to that movement. It's all METAL when you boil it down. Dirt indeed. Great musicians, and the tragically short-lived Layne Staley's best work. Powerful, but listen with the lights ON. And don't do drugs.
Badass album. Grunge classic that goes hard and matches the feeling of these guys. Powerful music hits you in the face and grabs your shirt to make you listen. I do have one 90s bone to pick. If the song was good enough to make the album, give it a damn name. Calling it untitled gives it a damn title. It’s a cop out to call a song “untitled.”
Hell yea who's Alice
LONG LIVE THE ROOSTER 🤘
Really enjoyable, and would never have listened otherwise. Feels like a frontiersman for what came later in the genre
4/5. Loved it in the 90s. Still love it now.
I thought I hated this, and then I listened some more and decided I loved it. I too want to moan and groan about the state of the world with some sick guitar playing in the background.
Good album. Dark, soulful lyrics and strong guitar riffs. -3.5/5
Day 29 First listen- What a perfect fusion between grunge and hard rock! My mind has been blown! (4.5/5)
I said yesterday that every generation of rock takes the last generation and builds on it. This is the right takeaway from Hair Metal. Its like they took the trite blues playing and screechy vocals and made them way way way darker and heavier. It really feels more like Black Sabbath than Def Leppard but a continuation of both. And the Black Sabbath vibes were strong. The minor key riffs and the bends and slides are really visceral. It makes a really unique sound. I do think this album is probably 3 or 4 songs too long. I guess thats what happened when CDs came out and we could start loading up albums with more songs? I had fun with this incredible grim album today.
Our first grunge album, and the only one of the 4 big Seattle grunge bands I’d not really listened to. Lyrically it’s very depressing and heroin fuelled but god I love early grunge. Wouldn’t put it as high as Ten or Superunknown but probably becomes a 5 with future listens. Them Bones is such a good opener
Honestly all Alice In Chains songs sound kinda the same to me, but I like the sound so that's no problem.
4/5 many songs sound similar but still great
Them Bones and Rooster are worth the price of admission here! Not a huge fan of hard grunge rock but man this was pretty good. Heavy distortion, deep bass lines and hard solos. It does wear a little thin by the end, but the distinct vocals give a nice flavor to the whole thing. Also its fitting that God Smack being the worst song begat the absolute dumpster fire band of the same name.
Wasn’t expecting much but I kind of dug this! Obviously “Them Bones” and “Rooster” are the standouts but I was grooving on the rest of the album despite how heavy it got at times. Not bad!
Love this sound. Metal/grunge. I'm not sure what would get it a five. Listening to the album a bit more might help but as it is a strong four.
“What’s my drug of choice? / Well, what have you got?” Dirt is a powerful album that is tough to listen to. It’s easily the bleakest breakout from a fairly bleak genre, but it’s a great showcase for Layne Staley’s vocal talents before he snuffed himself out. I also think “Would” is the best song on the “Singles” soundtrack, which has no shortage of bangers.
Pulled my cassette copy out for this one! Unfortunately, this cassette has seen better days. So kinda sounds like shit. And yet, this album is still sounds great.
A banger of an album for sure- so many hits. Alice In Chains have such a powerful sound, mixing hard rock elements withe the alternative essence of the early 90s. Lots of hits with maybe a few songs that get lost in the mix. Overall- great album
Heavy and catchy.
What‘s this? Instrumentation from metal, harmonies from blues, lyrics from grunge. Polyphonic singing? Complex song structures? This one is hard to put in any drawer. I never listened to Alice in chains before. Part of me feels at home, in a mix between Pearl Jam and Linkin Park. The production us superb. The guitar sound thick. Drums sound like Dave Grohls. It somehow ticks all the boxes but still doesn’t stick. Then they lost me in the 2nd part (after untitled) it got too depressing. Maybe I got weary over time or the last songs are more hopeless than the 1st part. Drug addiction is maybe not a theme you should use for a whole album. Favourite track: Rooster.
I've always been aware of Alice In Chains, but never really taken the time to listen to their stuff. It's pretty good. I think that this is one of those albums that really unfolds on repeated listens which this new album per day format doesn't really reward much Standouts Rain When I Die Junkhead God Smack 4/5
Very enjoyable
I have a love/hate relationship with Alice In Chains. I always found them the least appealing of the popular grunge era bands. Yet I cannot deny that Rooster, Angry Chair, and Down in a hole are great and timeless sons. I remember seeing them headlining a lollapalooza and really enjoying the show. So I guess, yeah this is a great album, just not one I’m really willing to pick up very often.
Lot of iconic songs on this one, with lots of staying power. Surely a Seminal work for the genre at large. Only nit pick is that a few of the songs felt self aggrandizing. Length for the sake of length. Good album overall
#DÍA 7: 1001 Discos Que Hay Que Escuchar Antes De Morir (English Translation Below) Hoy ha tocado uno de esos álbumes que llevo milenios queriendo escuchar pero que nunca encontraba el momento, así que al fin lo pongo en mis oídos. Oídos ahora reventados tras los gritos maníacos con los que arranca Them Bones y lo pesadas que suenan las guitarras durante todo Dirt. Como buen álbum de Stoner te hace botar la cabeza lentamente, hipnotizado por las cuerdas y la distorsión. Las vocals de Layne Staley junto a Jerry Cantrell son vigorosas y muy expresivas, lo que bien busco en un disco de grunge. Letras que tratan principalmente de la adicción a las drogas y al hoyo al que te llevan, a querer ser enterrado. Los temas contienen una ira que parece insostenible, las guitarras y el bajo te hacen sentir que vas romper tus dientes de apretarlos. La lista de canciones es prácticamente impecable, quizá me falta algo más de dinamismo, puesto que empieza a perder sabor hacia el final, principalmente con God Smack y Hate to Feel, a parte del extrañísimo interludio con Tom Araya de Slayer. Aún así consigue terminar por lo alto con Would?, un tema oscuro pero de lo más pegadizo. No he escuchado mucho grunge aún, pero desde luego que este disco me da ganas de explorar más. Favoritas: Them Bones, Dam That River, Rain When I Die, Down In a Hole, Sickman, Dirt, Angry Chair, Would? Menos favorita: Hate to Feel #DAY 7: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die Today we will talk about one of those albums I’ve been wanting to listen to for ages but never seemed to find the right moment—so I finally put it in my ears. Ears now blown out by the manic screams that kick off Them Bones and the crushing weight of the guitars throughout Dirt. Like any good stoner album, it makes your head slowly bob, hypnotized by the strings and distortion. Layne Staley’s vocals alongside Jerry Cantrell’s are powerful and deeply expressive—exactly what I look for in a grunge record. The lyrics mostly deal with drug addiction and the downward spiral it leads to—wanting to be buried. The songs carry a rage that feels barely containable, and the guitars and bass make you feel like you're going to break your teeth from clenching them so hard. The tracklist is nearly flawless—though I do wish there was a bit more dynamism, as it starts to lose flavor toward the end, especially with God Smack and Hate to Feel, not to mention the bizarre interlude with Tom Araya from Slayer. Even so, it manages to close on a high note with Would?, a dark yet incredibly catchy track. I haven’t listened to much grunge yet, but this album definitely makes me want to explore more. Favorites: Them Bones, Dam That River, Rain When I Die, Down In a Hole, Sickman, Dirt, Angry Chair, Would?
This gets a little dirge-like at times for me to truly love it. I've always been a fan, though.
Haters be hatin. This is a great example of what grunge can be, with its mixture of sludgey heavy songs and more emotional ballads.
I was expecting a lot worse given how a lot of reviews thought it was awful. I really liked a lot of it! A lot of sameyness, but that’s not necessarily bad. Lot of good guitar work too.
a classic? i guess
Klassiker. Fet låt på fet låt, og med en nydelig nerve. Noen partier gjør det ikke helt for meg, og vokalen har en tendens til å bli litt for overbærende for min smak. Beste låt: Them Bones
Overraskende fet plate. Vipper alltid mellom å irritere meg over og digge vokalen, men den gjør jo denne plata. To første låtene smalt gøtt, men refrenget på Would? er jo chefs kiss.
A superb Grunge Rock piece, perhaps a 5 within its Genre, but a bit repetitive in tone. Missing perhaps a Man in the Box or Nutshell to push it over.
List has been cooking lately. 4.5 stars
Good name for a dirty album. It's hard and surprisingly melodic in places, and from the era before anyone had discovered metronomes. Can it be called organic? I like it.
Layers of sound
Started off with a banger and then proceeds to dish out more bangers. The production is dirty but in the best way possible. The vocals were immaculate with some decent range that beefed up the album as a whole. This was a great listen. Shoutout to Radio X for putting me on early on. Top 4: Them Bones, Down In A Hole, Rooster, and Would? / Honorable Mention: Sickman (love the switch ups in it) No bad songs 4.00-4.25/5
An iconic album from that scene for sure, but not at the levels of other bands in my uneducated opinion. Still a great album that gets a play when I’m in the mood for Layne Staley’s tones. Standout tune ‘Down In A Hole’.
I was going to go with a three star, but I think the best songs are just too good.
Alice gotta stop playing in the dirt she gonna mess her chains
Absolute banger! Superb rock album!
Some awesome songs, and some that drag. Love the style, don’t always love the execution. Still, the high points are amazing. 4 stars.
enjoyed this one!!! i felt like some of the songs sounded the same though
Them Bones is solid Down in a hole is closeish to black hole sun level, just don’t like the lyrics Rooster is good Angry Chair is okay Everything between Rooster and Angry Chair is meh/didnt listen
Huge album for young people from NN who spend too much time in CEX. He is an incredible hook writer and singer I guess. Rain when I die slaps!! They do have a tendency to over extended hooks/refrains tho. Sickman has the circus rock vibe that’s put me off in the past. Early 90s huge time for the white guy with dreads thing. Junkhead is crazy! People used to write songs where the whole bit was “I like taking drugs” and it would be massive. Godsmack vocal effects 🧐🧐🧐 It’s v hard to detach yourself from a modern lens when revisiting these things, but idk if you just submit on a SICK RIFFS level this is great. I weirdly think most modern rock bands would sooner aim for a purist version of the 80s heavy metal vibe than going for the revisionist take on here, but it’s fun! Why can’t BOTH be fun??? Hate to Feel intro rules. Hate to Feel rules.
Solid 90s metal, some good tracks on there iirc
Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell’s vocal harmonies range from beautiful to haunting. Given the pervasive and all-encompassing theme of addiction this record sounds ugly and gloomy, but it mostly works out really well. Alice In Chains played darker and heaver melodic songs when few others were doing the same. Not to mention the variety of softer, harder, faster, and slower songs. Truly a high water mark for 90's rock. Highlights: most of the album, especially "Would?", "Them Bones", "Rooster", and "Down in a Hole" Lowlight: "Sickman" Absolutely essential
4.4 As close to 5* as you can get without quite making it. I think the biggest hurdle for AIC is Layne's vocals. I imagine it'll score poorly on here for that reason. Once you're over that hurdle though, wow. One of those vocalists were the singing style actually helps the instrumentals despite it initially sounding like he just just can't sing (Morrissey/Smith's spring to mind). Rooster is when you first realise the power of the vocals, and then makes the entire thing accessible. Anyway, musically phenomenal, Cantrell is a brilliant writer. Lyrically great as well, if you ever want to be out off heroin listen to this (or arguably their self titled even more so). Only thing thats stopping it from greatness is a couple of weak tracks - Rain When I Die being third is unfortunate as that's such a key album spot, 8th or 9th would have been ideal for that. Iron Gland through to Angry Chair isn't a great spell also. Good, but not great.
Pretty good, especially for someone who didn't listen to grunge except Nirvana and the occasional Pearl Jam. It is a lot groovier then I expected, reminding me of Kyuss a lot. Added to my album list.
Really good. I enjoyed this alot, and its my first real listen of AIC. I had heard their hits on the radio a bunch but its nice to get to know their work a bit more. Awesome rock album. I will revisit this.
This album is so damn good. It blends alternative, metal, grunge, and rock so damn well. Lane and Cantrell are so damn good together, their voices and lyrics are unmatched - and listening to this again, for the 1,000th time, I am reminded of how many bands and act that they have influenced in the 3-plus decades since this album has come out. 8.8/10 80/1001
First song, enjoying more than I thought I would. First thought is that I regret not hearing this in middle school, I would have loved it. I like the guitar solos. I like the heaviness. Overall glad I listened!
I liked it, painful grunge.
Sounds like the cover.
Of course someone should listen to this. Still rips. As strong a statement about what a certain demographic of 90s young person was thinking about as any. It's an album about demons, created by a band haunted by them. I was only tangentially into this as a teenager in the 90s--I couldn't deny Rooster or Them Bones when they came on in my friends' cars, but overall to my ears at the time there was too much 80s metal in its genes and it sounded kinda dated--but sounds great to my 40 something ears now.
Burde ha hørt mer på dette på 90-tallet.
16yo me would love this
This is probably one of the best "metal" albums of the era. It still has 80s-metal undertones (Cantrell's style is van halen-esque at times), but it's also grungy and clearly influenced some late 90s/early 00s bands. Great album.
Classic "metal grunge"
Fucking awesome
Im always impressed by this album. Kind of foregt about it but its an amazing album as a whole. The song order is perfection and hemos make this album a great top one for the 1990
Very good heavy metal album. Groovy, with heavy riffs and melodic choruses. Definite grunge influence. Overall very enjoyable. Favorites: Dam That River, Down in a Hole, Dirt
Well that was sad. Awesome guitar
A classic
Unique harmonies. Solid album. Fairly heavy rotation for me back in 1993. Never liked Rooster, but it was good hearing a lot of these songs for the first time in many years. 4
Another album of it's era (in the best way possible). Love the contrast of vocal harmonies and heaviness of the music. Bless 90s rock
Damn, didn't know i enjoyed rock genere so much?? wow So far Rooster didn't grab my attention, and God Smack is a skip, but other than that...wow this album surprised me haha. 8/10. didn't expect i'd like it
8/10 Wow. Dirt really suprised me. I’m usually not a big fan of loud rock and metal-esque music but this one on the other hand has mastered it for me. I definitely need to relisten to this when I have more albums under my belt because I can see myself appreciating it more then. The hard hitting nature of this album just works and there aren’t any cringey lyrics that some metal bands have. The writing on the songs are super concise, which I love.
Great
I'd heard of AiC, but couldn't name a single track by them, not even a hit. They sort of passed me by somehow. I feel this album went the same way. It started quick, real quick, no messing about with a fade-in, straight in your face with the one track I think I might have heard before. But nothing really stood out, and it felt just a little too much on the pop side for my tastes. Harmonising vocals, a little more like glam-metal than grunge in places. I tried a second and then a third lesson, mainly for the guitar, as it's a nice sound. I feel like I'm being over-generous with 4 stars, but it did grow on me a bit, and I did like the guitar.
Amazing beginning and end, consistent energy throughout. Many iconic songs but starts to blend together after a while. 8/10
YEAAAAAAAAAAAH Eu não sou muito de metal e esse tipo de música, mas os caras são foda. Talvez um dia eu consiga apreciar com mais gosto o quão bom eles são.
Ein klassikar Skitten grunge. Litt kjedelig. For seigt 7/10
It's a GREAT ALBUM!
It's 3 in the morning and its your turn to take the wheel on the way home from family vacation. You just walked out of a Sheetz in a tiny Pennsylvania town that you've never heard. Turn this album on and crack open a watermelon RedBull. Time to lock in.
Layne and Jerry are my favorite post 1990 rock harmonists. So many great songs on this album, and I was really pleased this came up this morning and I "got to listen" to an album I really like. "Am I wrong? Have I run too far to get home?" is one of my favorite lyrics. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
You can definitely feel the heavy metal influence.
I liked it! one of my first grunge records, and it lived up to what i imagined grunge to be. Sickman was my favorite.
Brand new to me, this album packs a punch. It's easy to understand why this album gets attention and stands among the best of grunge.
One of the best grunge albums, very concise from beginning to the end.
Solid metal album, a couple of not-remarkable songs in the second third of the album, but a great listening experience overall. It easily has the best album closer to the whole grunge era. Embrace the darkness.
Solid. Made me think of Nirvana, but just a step below.
Dirt is truly a great album, one of the hallmarks of Grunge and Hard Rock, and has stood the test of time flawlessly. The vocals are crisp, well delivered and hard hitting. Remarkably, the vocal range allows for catchy rock choruses like "Rain when I die" and mellow moments like the beginning of "Down in a hole". The instrumentals are also great, with a powerful guitar with an exquisite distinctive Grunge tone. Drums, bass and the mix work perfectly too. There are a couple of moments that take away from the album. The singing on the "God Smack" verses doesn't fully stick the landing with that vibrato-y delivery. After that, we get "Untitled", a weirdly placed interlude that feels a bit out of place and mostly breaks the momentum towards the end. The standout tracks for me are the excellent "Would?" and "Rain When I Die".
Epic, monumental, classic
My original review was essentially that it good, but it just wasn’t really my thing and I couldn’t see myself listening to it in the future. Well, since then I’ve seen so much praise for this album that I found myself constantly wondering what I had missed when I listened to it. Honestly, I’m not sure why I didn’t originally enjoy this album. Thoroughly enjoyed it this time around and will be checking out more Alice in Chains in the future
I was not initially pleased to see this one pop up. I have no relationship to this band and only really liked Nirvana from that era. This was always an album that someone's older brother had. This is a great album and goes pretty hard. I very much liked it! This is what this project is all about!
This album is a microcosm of why grunge is such a weird genre to talk about. Because… it’s not really a genre in the first place? I mean, think about the “big four” of grunge, sure they all have things in common, but think about where they emerged from in terms of rock music Nirvana came from punk and alternative, Pearl Jam from a more classic rock background, Soundgarden from heavy metal, and the subject of this album, Alice In Chains, I mean, they came from hair metal! Y’know, the thing grunge supposedly killed? And it’s not like you can’t hear it, I can certainly hear the sleaze from Guns N’ Roses and Motley Crüe, just with a much less glamorous coat of paint and some sludgier riffs in odd time signatures. That’s all I really have to say tbh, I wrote of all of this cause I don’t have a ton to say about the actual album, it’s great! I’d have a lot more to say if this was jar of flies.
One of the best grunge albums. This one hits hard. Angry Chair alone is a masterpiece.
Well made music to rock to.
This album is like a pair of cargo pants. Thick, sweaty and awesome in so many ways yet not fit for every occasion.
I have not listened to this album in a very long time and was surprised that I still know most of the lyrics. AIC was more straight metal than most of the bands who were labeled "grunge." It's a hauntingly ugly and depressing album. But the vocal harmonies can be rather beautiful at times. They were definitely a force in the 90s and I understand went they made the list, but they are not one of my favorite bands of that era. Nevertheless, this is a solid album that I'm sure sure I'll check out again some day. 3.5/5 Album 43/1001
I really enjoy hard rock and grunge when it's got a bit more more musicality than the usual screaming, and this album is exactly that for me. I may not have loved every song, but I can see why this album is so beloved by both critics and fans, it's just really good music. Highlights: Them Bones, Down in the hole, Dirt, Rooster 4 stars
Lovely album and an iconic one
I understand that it’s good but I just can’t get into heavy metal sorry
Layne Staley's Songs About Using Drugs and Imagining The Moment After You Die, Volume II. The knife edge between hard rock and metal is my happy place. I don't like screaming. I want melody and musicality and thoughtfulness. But I also want the raw power that metal can provide. There are very few bands that can pull this off. Soundgarden and Alice in Chains were the best of the grunge era in this regard. AIC is so unique because of Staley's vocals, and it is easy to see the influence he had on nu metal which followed grunge. But the combo of Staley's vocals and Cantrell's guitar playing really is what really elevated AIC. Not every song worked, but the ones that did are like a unique art form that is almost impossible to duplicate. Great album.
Alice in Chains is a band that I never seek out, but do enjoy listening to. They remind me of Rob Zombie, but they aren't as.... Horror focused. Like the album has horror themes and motifs in the music, but lacks the super natural. It's really good. I just don't know if it is for me. I can see where Godsmack got their influence from.
Really good grunge - listened to it a lot before
I love this album. Alice in Chains is probably my favorite Grunge band to come from this era, probably because they're so influenced by metal music. Not much more to say other than this was a fun one to revisit. Standout tracks are: "Down in a Hole", "Rooster", "Angry Chair", and "Would?"
I find the radio versions of the hits from this record (which is half the songs on the record) pack more of a punch and make for a better overall experience, but listening to the album versions is like watching the director's cut of a movie.
Maybe a little too long for my liking. But it goes so hard when it wants to. A great album
Very good. I like this. Just got sad after reading about their story. For me this is some where between 3 and 4. Closer to 4.
Came back to this late because I can’t let it have a 2.5 average. Loved this album when I was 16, not quite so good listening back but worth every bit of a 4/5
YEAHHHH HERE COME THE ROOSTERRRR
4.0 I had a tough time rating this one. 4-5 Grade A burners but I didn't really care for some of the other songs. The theme of the Album kinda wears on you and do the vocals in some spots. Cantrell's guitar work is pretty interesting, has some great tones, and really more of a metal guitarist as anything.
8/10
Really nice rock album. I like the grunge feel to it. If I had heard this in my teens it would be played on repeat a lot. Today I will have to make due with a listen through and adding some of my favorites on suiting playlists.
Dirt 👍
Great album but as a whole didn’t quite reach the heights to give 5⭐️
RIP Lane Staley
Alice in Chains has never really been my bag, but I liked that, would dip in again. I can't wait until we get to Sap, right Sant?
This is a good one, I’m not going to claim it’s a 5 star album or anything like that, but it is one I don’t mind revisiting. I’m not a huge Alice in Chains guy, but I have always liked this album of theirs in particular.
I can't remember if I first heard these songs in Twisted Metal or ATV Off-road Fury on the PS1 & PS2, but goddamn does it bring me back
Was dreading this...wasn't so bad at all.
8/10. I should caveat this that I was listening when played league and so I couldn't pay 100% attention. That being said it's getting a good score anyway. I guess the main point against it is that it's is not too dissimilar from things I've heard before, however it's focus on slower, powerful chords was enjoyable and they really seemed to create an expansive sound.Comparing to other metal I've listened to so far this was more Metallica than Iron Maiden but just didn't quite pip Metallica as again I think it lacked the killer numbers that Metallica had. Overall very good but there is definitely a potential redo in it here to listen to it with my more undivided attention.
Classic. Great songs
Fantastic. Certainly one of the best grunge albums.
Really solid nostalgic album for me. Dirt is a radio album that, for once isn't shit. It is chock full of harrowing vocals and epic riffs. Rating: 4.5
If blues and heavy metal had a kid. A great representation of what grunge is, in my opinion. Gritty, raw, loud, with great vocals. fav tracks : Rooster, JunkHead, Would ?
Yeah this is a Seattle band from the 90's but this is more metal than grunge. Metal with melodies. Layne's voice has this sorrowful bite that cuts right through and Jerry has this sweet voice that carries the harmony. Interesting to hear that dynamic against the wall of guitar and drum sound. 3.5 rounded up.
not a big grunge fan or its vocal style, but this album is great
4 93%
I grew up with a lot more nirvana/pearl jam than AIC playing around the house, that said it’s a cool record. More on the metal side of grunge but I enjoyed it
awesome af
4/5
Yeah
The first wave of grunge in which AIC is important does change things. This an album to listen to. I like them bones in particular. Can get a bit samey. But is worthwhile anyway. 3.5 rounded up.
This album is hard going. I listened to Dirt quite a bit when it first came out, and it was heavy listening even by grunge standards. Grunge was a genre marked by anxiety, self-loathing, depression and heroin abuse, and Alice in Chains took all of those themes to their ultimate extreme. It was really dark at the time, but became horrifyingly real when it became apparent that the band (especially Layne Staley) were living that reality. Staley's descent into a self-created slow suicide to through drug addiction is tragic and highly disturbing. I find it hard to listen to the album, aware of the reality. I just can't get off on the drama of the story anymore. I saw them at the Hodern Pavilion in late 1993, which seems like it was right at the end of their life as a (barely) functional touring unit. Staley had broken his foot, and sang from a chair, barely moving. The band was professional and sounded great, but clearly did not want to be there, and I recall little communication or chemistry between the band members. My memory is that they didn't play 'Would?' and possibly didn't even play an encore. I was disappointed that they didn't grace us with their best song and biggest hit. It was not a happy show for anyone, I think. They just seemed morose and barely tolerating being on stage. Musically, the album is really strong. Jerry Cantrell's guitars are amazing -- how many people have copied that guitar tone since, although few have his tasteful playing. Despite being a heavy, noisy and often dissonant album, the vocal melodies are often strong a memorable, and the vocal harmonies are amazing -- something you rarely hear in heavy music. This is uncompromising and original; one of the best albums of its era. Unfortunately, the darkness it described was documentary, and ultimately destroyed (slowly and painfully) several members of the band. It's difficult to take pleasure in that. I certainly don't understand anyone who thought that this album encouraged or glorified drug use. 4.5 stars, rounding down for being a petulant live act.
First Alice In Chains album, i love how gritty it is. It’s haunting and heavy but not in an obnoxious screamy kind of way.
I certainly understand why people who share a lot of my musical DNA do not like this band and this album, but I will always have a soft spot for Alice In Chains. This was probably the hardest album I listened to in my youth and it paved the way for a lot of other grunge bands. Still love it.
An album I've neglected listening to for too long. Never really been a fan of the grunge era so it'll be intetesting to see what I think after giving it a focused chance. I'm expecting good things from what I've heard about this. Them Bones I love the heaviness and the melodic guitar. Dense and loud. I feel ambivalent about the vocals, they feel very of this era of 90s rock music. Great songwriting as to cram this much musical content into such a brief and condesed song without it feeling messy. Good. 4/5 Dam That River Kick-ass guitar riff. Well constructed lyrics, easy to follow along with. I've turned around on the vocals, the performance fits well on top of the metal inspired tunings. Good. 4/5 Rain When I Die Awesome disturbing guitar squeals in the intro. The bass and the drums together create an ominous atmosphere for the guitar to play in. The doomy guitar prior to the verse is also really cool. Yeah that guitar riff slaps. Raw and powerful vocals on the chorus. Interesting way to end the track. Great 4.5/5 Down in a Hole Really slow, really dense. Has a lot of buildup to what ends up being a fine if not unspectacular chorus. Ends up being a loud wall of distortion with some dark and unsettling lyrics. The effect on the chorus adds to the cramped feeling of the song. Fine. 3/5 Sickman Has some progressive changes in tempo that I find pretty cool. Love the drumming on this. I don't like the vocals here, they range from flat, to whiny to nasaly never really landing anywhere pleasant. The lyrics are sort of messed up, there's a lot of despair and loathing in there. Fine. 3/5 Rooster It's strange hearing a Vietnam war song from an early 90s band. I do quite like it, reading about its meaning really helps as with the added context the song has an additional emotional layer to it. The complicated relationship with his estranged father channeled into a into a frankly harrowing song about the horrors he went through. I also like how the chorus at times almost sounds triumphant in a way, the more open instrumentation really highlights it and contributes to it sticking around even after the song concludes. Understandable how this is one of the more popular tracks from the album. Great. 4.5/5 Junkhead Musically a continuation of their sound from the previous tracks on the album. Doesn't feel quite as felshed out as other songs so far. Doesn't really have much about it that sticks out as noteworthy other than that little guitar passage with the strange effect on it. They do this sound really well however. Fine. 3/5 Dirt Classic heavy metal esque guitar riff. Angsty, edgy, raw lyrics about what seems to be pretty serious mental health issues. Kinda slow, the chous does a lot of lifting. Decent. 3.5/5 God Smack As strange as the vocals are in periods, I really like it as a creative decision. Adds variety without deviating too much from the established sound of the album. I like the added guitar effect on the chorus, and the edge in the singing. Interesting inclusion. 4/5 Untitled Experimental little interlude over a strange sample. Creates a feeling of unease heading into the final stretch of the album. Interlude/5 Hate to Feel Downturned. Has a lot of negative energy. Really angsty. I like the drumming on this track a lot. The chorus is sort of catchy. Has a lot of emotion behind it, but to me it got a bit too much, a bit to vitriolic and a bit to direct. Draining. 2.5/5 Angry Chair The rhythm section builds a nice groove. The lyrics feel personal, though they so sort of go over my head a little as I struggle to understand their meaning, is it about addiction? Decent chorus. Decent. 3.5/5 Would? Sweet Jesus what a glorious bassline. The chorus is close to as good as it gets for this type of music. Cathartic and catchy, musically kicks a lot of ass during its brief time in the spotlight. Amazing vocal melody. Great tribute. Iconic song of the era which has stood the test of time. 4.5/5 Despite not really being my thing I really appreciated what this album did, and how consistent it was. With such a limited sound it risks running out of ideas, yet I feel it really never did. All songs feel unique and purposeful while all touching on similar heavy subject matter. Can't call it a fun listen though, as I found it quite emotionally draining due to how dark and heavy it was. There really wasnt any light in there what so ever. While they did do a lot with the sonic pallatte they presented it did however run its course, where I feel like 57 minutes sort of got a bit too long. With those minor complaints out of the way I would say that I don't really mind feeling drained at the end. Music should cover all range of emotions and should remain relevant to all aspects of the human experience. Alice in Chains did a great job at portraying the more negative sides of life, while feeling real and genuine while doing so. 4/5 Fave track. Rooster Least fave track. Hate to Feel
Best of their albums for sure.
Finally! A great album.
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