Alice In Chains - Dirt

My Thoughts: (Reviewed by K-Billy)

Certainly Alice In Chain’s most critically acclaimed album, Dirt, secured them in their role atop the heap of grunge era metal bands. And offered a startling look into a world of pain and addiction. After the arena metal riffs of “Faceless” the bands debut, Alice In Chains took their already perfected sound and honed and refined it, making their greatest songs on Dirt as strong as they possibly could be. It’s startling to listen to this record for it contains an intensity rarely matched by other bands of the genre, or any at all for that matter. I haven’t hard such passionate vocal deliveries since listening to “Strange Days” by The Doors, where Morrison gives his most stunning performances. Staley on this record recalls the same feeling I had with Morrison. His howls on tracks such as “Dirt” are so dark and menacing that they send chills through the listener’s body. It’s easy to say that he truly was at his best on this album. That’s not to say however that Layne lacked range in his delivery for he puts forth startlingly good melodic efforts on tracks such as “Down In A Hole” which are beautifully tragic in their meaning and execution. Remaining as sharp as the heavy rock of the album yet managing to be an effectively interesting acoustic track of sorts.

Certainly Jerry Cantrell knows how to write good songs. It’s sometimes bothersome to know that so many of the best tracks are written by the band's guitarist, but Staley’s delivery more then makes up for his somewhat lack of input. Songs like “Dirt” are a true example of the sound that influenced such popular bands of today as Godsmack. Remaining eerily tribal yet always in the back of one’s mind is the realization that the song could explode at any moment. Of course the album's tone takes a much darker turn on Dirt. For like their third album “Alice In Chains” there is a consistent and frequent theme of drug use throughout the album. None more blatant then “God Smack” which also influenced the present day metal band led by Sully Erna (name anyone?). This track, penned by Staley, blatantly outlines his thoughts and habits when it came to narcotics. “Stick your arm for some real fun” and “God’s name is smack for some.” They certainly pulled no punches, although in the end that is why they self destructed. Other stand outs include “Would?” one of the bands biggest hits besides “Man In The Box” from “Faceless” and the Staley written “Angry Chair” where simplicity reigns throughout but still manages to be an interesting track. Their second release is perhaps their most coherent and certainly their most respected. At any rate it’s a classic among the heavy rock genre.

Key Tracks:

Dirt
Dam That River
Down In A Hole
Would?
Rooster