Alice In Chains

Jar Of Flies

Tearjerker

Review Score:

(10/10)
Most AIC fans will shoot me for saying this, but I think that this is their best release. "Dirt" was amazing, no questions asked, but it was perhaps too dreary to sit through in one sitting. I love this album's more acoustic approach and it brings tears to my eyes, especially now that Layne passed away. The lyrics of "Nutshell" are very simple but some of the effective of AIC's career. You can feel that Layne was suffering through a crippling and isolated heroin addiction ("And yet I fight this battle all alone"), as well as merciless media speculation ("My gift of self is raped/ My privacy is raked"). Even in the last song "Swing On This," which is kind of upbeat but in a very disturbing way, he seems to be in denial about his addictions but makes it obvious due to his physical condition ("let me be I'm alright/can't see you see I'm just fine/a little skinny, OK, I'm asleep anyway").

"I Stay Away," and "No Excuses" are great songs, though very melancholy as well. "Rotten Apple," is one of many of AIC's darker songs, reminiscent of Dirt. For an album that just passes the 30 minute mark, it's very emotional and not drawn out to death, like their self-titled album in 1995, which would ultimately prove to be their last.

RIP Layne. Hope you found some peace within yourself in death. You're already missed, immensely.

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