Alice in Chains
Jar of Flies


4.5
superb

Review

by Brendan Schroer STAFF
June 8th, 2015 | 44 replies


Release Date: 1994 | Tracklist


Some of the best albums have been created under the darkest circumstances. Did anyone initially expect The Beatles' self-titled "white" album to be so acclaimed despite the band members' tensions? Or how about the writer's block that plagued the recording sessions of The Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream and Kansas' huge breakthrough record Leftoverture? In the case of Alice in Chains, eviction was the inspiration for one of their biggest successes. Upon returning to Seattle after their highly profitable Dirt tour and playing at Lollapalooza, Alice in Chains ended up being removed from their residence because they didn't pay their rent. So what was the best thing to do? To channel their depression into writing one of the best records of their entire discography.

First things first, this is no Dirt. Jar of Flies features almost none of the high distortion and volume of its predecessor, but expecting another Dirt is missing the point entirely. This is a beautiful, intimate, and mostly acoustic affair that really benefits from subtlety and minimalism; the atmosphere is just as gloomy as Alice in Chains' typical material, but just expressed in a new light with this record. Right from the opening motif and talk box of the hollow and oppressive "Rotten Apple," the band waste no time establishing a sound that's both vivid and isolated in nature. This is all coupled with Jerry Cantrell and Layne Staley's rich vocal harmonies that permeate most of the record, further adding to how layered each song is. That is, except for the incredible ballad "Nutshell," which is probably the most minimalist track on the album; most of the emphasis on the song lies with Jerry Cantrell's mix of electric and acoustic guitar tracks and the vulnerability in Staley's essentially unadorned vocal work. Once again, the intimacy of Jar of Flies is really what separates it from the rest of the band's records.

There are also some interesting experiments throughout the experience, such as the use of violins on "I Stay Away," the harmonica on "Don't Follow," and having the group's first true instrumental with "Whale and Wasp," which focuses almost exclusively on Jerry Cantrell's gorgeous guitar harmonies. These songs definitely break up any potential monotony in the songwriting; however, I would also be remiss if I downplayed the importance of Sean Kinney and then-newcomer Mike Inez on Jar of Flies. They may not initially seem very important in the grand scheme of things, but in reality they are just as important as Cantrell and Staley in giving the album its identity. Inez's bass lines add a new dimension to the guitar work on faster songs like "No Excuses" and the bluesy closer "Swing on This," while Kinney's lighter and more subtle drumming proves to be a great blend with the other instruments during the slower tunes. The only flaw with the album is that, being the EP it is, it's quite a short experience; the record only barely breaks the half-hour mark.

Despite this, the mark Jar of Flies will leave on you will likely be extraordinary. This is quite a different Alice in Chains, but one that had a large impact with the band's future discography; soon enough, their later records like the self-titled album and Black Gives Way to Blue ended up using acoustic tracks unlike previous works like Dirt or Facelift. If anything, it just proves how successful an experiment Jar of Flies was and how much lasting power it still has; this is a wonderful album, probably the band's best alongside Dirt. If you enjoy acoustic guitar playing and the softer side of alternative rock, this is an absolute must-buy... even if it's a bit short.



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user ratings (2655)
4.3
superb
other reviews of this album
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Comments:Add a Comment 
ArsMoriendi
June 8th 2015


41524 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

How is this chapter 3 when it's AiC's 4th official studio release?

ArsMoriendi
June 8th 2015


41524 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

"Idk, Sap doesn't seem like enough of a proper release."



It's a 5/5 though... then again this almost is, never cared for "Whale & Wasp" though

CK
June 8th 2015


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Sap is definitely a proper release, wtf?

CK
June 8th 2015


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

If anything, this is too proper of an EP, and almost too long, to be held to the standards of an EP. Sap is literally as "proper" as an EP can get

ksoflas
June 8th 2015


1444 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Lovely album indeed.

Pos'd.

Tunaboy45
June 8th 2015


18562 Comments


Excellent ep, excellent review. Have a pos.

tempest--
June 8th 2015


20634 Comments


love this release but I've always thought Swing on This kinda ruins the mood and I often ignore that track when jamming this. It's just too positive in an overwhelmingly bleak and depressing sounding record.

also Brendan in your review you mention Staley's vocal harmonies but I'm pretty sure a lot of those harmonies would be with Cantrell, who has always played a massive part in Alice's vocal lines. Seems wrong to only credit Staley for it. Otherwise 👍🏼

LepreCon
June 8th 2015


5481 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

If this had been a full length with consistent quality then it would be a 5.



Sap is like a 4 at most regardless of release status, it never came out here so I had to import mine!

Ocean of Noise
June 8th 2015


10998 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

hell yes, best AiC

ArsMoriendi
June 8th 2015


41524 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

"And yeah, I agree that Swing on This is probably the worst."



Wut, it has a great bassline and great everything.... only weak track on here is Whale & Wasp.

Ocean of Noise
June 9th 2015


10998 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Nutshell is one of the best songs ever.

Titan
June 9th 2015


25270 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Oh Ars

ArsMoriendi
June 9th 2015


41524 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

"Nutshell is one of the best songs ever."



Yeah, probably my favorite on here and top 5 AiC for me.

CK
June 9th 2015


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

First 4 songs are equally perfect to me

ArsMoriendi
June 9th 2015


41524 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Ehh....



Nuthshell > I Stay Away > Swing on This > Rotten Apple > No Excuses > Don't Follow > Whale & Wasp



Swing on This is painfully underrated and bass guitar's mega hard. :P

ConcubinaryCode
June 9th 2015


7692 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

"I watched you chaaaaaange, into a flyyy"

ArsMoriendi
June 9th 2015


41524 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Probably.

CK
June 9th 2015


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Ew, Swing On This xP

Ocean of Noise
June 11th 2015


10998 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

that goddamn guitar solo at the end of Nutshell just slays me

rockandmetaljunkie
June 12th 2015


9658 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

don't follow is prob AiC's most sorrowful tune.



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