Alice In Chains – Dirt: A review
having first stumbling accross alice in chains through spotify in 2019, i was immediately drawn to their album 'Dirt' (1992) due to the fact it was the album containing their most popular song 'them bones'. i gave them bones a listen and realised it was brilliant. I then queued the rest of the album and listened to it on repeat for a very long time. This is an album ive always known very well and had a strong appreciation for.
However, it wasnt until recently (last few months) that i rediscovered this album after it being a long time without listening, and properly started to appreicate it for what it is. This album comes out of the so called 'grunge' period, an era in the early to mid 90's where a hard-rock scene appeared out of seattle washington, creating what are really known as the 'Big 4': Nirvana, Pearl-Jam, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains. Nirvana of course went to become a large commercial success, and i believe to an extent pearl-jam too. However soundgarden (outside of the success of Black-Hole Sun) and especially alice in chains always flew under the radar commerically and were often seen only within the grunge scene and comparitavely never did as well commerically.
Alice in chains in my eyes were always the darkest of the 4, which i think dirt perfectly captures. Their first album facelift released two years prior, is their least dark album and takes a more almost fun spin on the theme of drugs, saying really how they use and enjoy them. Dirt i think is more of a turning point, where the music and lyrics perfectlly capture the moment of realisation where the drugs were becoming a problem. They were no longer a fun thing to take, singer Layne Staley knew he was dependent and had become an addict. Alice in chains went to release their third and final album 3 years later, which feels nothing but hopeless and horrid. Laynes life had been taken over and the music reflects this. 7 years later Layne died of a drug overdose.
Even without knowing this context, dirt is an incredible album. From an instrumental perspective the riffs and music are just unbelievable. Jerry cantrell was albe to write such catchy guitar riffs that create a brilliant atmosphere. However i believe the riffs are able really shine when put alongside the lyrics. For example, the song Sickman constantly changes tempo and does not keep a musical idea for a long time. I believe this is reflected in Laynes lyrics, initally saying how he'll want to become clean from drugs before he dies ('I wont rest until my head is clear'). However this is immediately switched up lyrically and instrumentally with later saying ('what's the difference ill die, in this sick world of mine'). This constant changing creates such a dark atmosphere for the song which is promeninent throughout the entire album.
The whole theme of drug addiction throughout is not one i can relate to, but i dont believe it stops the album from resonating so strongly with me at all. I just think every song is an absoutle banger and just knowing the wider context surrounding it helps me appreicate it more. This is in my opinion the best album to come out of the 'grunge' era, as it is genuienly flawless. And is in my top 5 albums OAT. Definitely worth listening to