Mad Season: All-Star Rock Collaboration Done Right
Written: May 21 '02
Product Rating:
Pros: great songs, amazing guitars, emotional
Cons: repetitive at times, depressing
The Bottom Line: Like rock? What about Alice in Chains or Pearl Jam? If you answered yes to those questions it's time you buy Mad Season's Above with members of both bands.
The untimely, although not totally unexpected, death of Alice In Chains figurehead Layne Staley is a good reason in which to write and publish a review of his final really viable contribution to music. Now seven years old, Mad Season proved a very successful side project for the members of a few very well known early 1990’s Seattle Bands.
The joining of Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready (guitar), Alice In Chains’ Layne Staley (vocals, guitar), Screaming Trees’ Barrett Martin (percussion), and somewhat unknown bassist John Saunders to form Mad Season certainly surpassed expectations. What the collaboration also did was prove that each of the four artists was talented without their musical brethren. The only album that they ever made together was Above, released on Columbia in early 1995.
An easy comparison to make would be to that other Seattle collaboration/memorial Temple Of The Dog. But, the two bands were very different. Where Temple Of The Dog was triumphant and rousing Mad Season was dour and depressing. However, both bands were equally great and remain fair representations of the state of music in the early and mid 1990’s.
What most drew me to this band six or seven years ago was the sheer artistic genius that the combination of Staley and McCready amounted to. And, with the addition at times of vocals thanks to Mark Lanegan (vocalist for the too-often-ignored Screaming Trees), these songs are not only emotionally sour but also thought provoking and ultimately entertaining. The members and various other contributors of Mad Season sounded comfortable in their new setting. And, with Alice In Chains releasing their worst album to date in 1995 the album was a welcome addition to my music collection.
At just ten tracks, Above is a relatively short album. I would have liked to see more songs, but on a positive note at least the tracks that made the album are very good. The one minor complaint I have is that many songs do sound very much alike thus blending in and making them difficult to identify. At times, this is an okay thing, while at other times I wish that Mad Season would have just dropped the grunge (there…I said it) act. Alas, this is what Mad Season was. Grunge. Plain and simple. If a similar band were to form today, they would be laughed off stages and called musical hacks. But, in 1995 this was great music. And to me, a 1995 high school graduate, this album in many was is representative of my musical taste then and still today.
If I were to pick just one song that is the most important out of the ten, I would certainly choose River of Deceit. The introductory guitars are soothing and understated and emotionally evocative. As one of the quieter, more melodic, and most lovely rock tracks on the album it really can’t get better than this. Staley’s ordinarily harsh vocals are calm yet remain moody throughout and tie the guitars and bass together seamlessly. The song seems thrown together and relaxed. One line always resonates in me My pain is self chosen. Repeated throughout, the lyrics seem prophetic following the deaths of Staley earlier this year and Saunders in 1999.
Wake Up is also a beautiful track. Sounding a bit like the Doors with haunting keyboards and melodies and layered yet simple-sounding instrumentation, the glum track is easily one of the most appealing of Above. Staley’s vocals are surprisingly coherent and restrained. Overall, songs of this musical era don’t get better than this. The can’t get better than this.
Harder and more driving, I’m Above got some radio airplay once in a while. There’s a good reason that DJ’s picked up on the song even though it was never officially released as a single. The reason? Well, it’s a great track. Before the mid-tempo can become awkward, the song breaks into incredibly ambitious guitar riffs from McCready. The one thing that I am forced to admit is that the choruses are all pretty repetitive even if I enjoy all the musical elements.
Above is an easy listen from beginning to end. Its short length is beneficial in that the songs don’t become tired and overwrought. I do sincerely enjoy all of the songs for one reason or another and the faults are minor (repetitiveness at times, depressing). The benefits certainly outweigh any problems (great collaborators, competent song writing, amazing guitars, emotional). Other songs worthy of mention include Lifeless Dead, I Don’t Know Anything and X-Ray Mind. But, don’t limit yourself to just a few songs. Take this entire album in from beginning to end.
I highly recommend this album. There are better releases from each of the main projects from the contributors, but on a whole Mad Season was a worthwhile endeavor. If you liked the entire Seattle movement in the early and mid 1990’s it’s about time you pick up Above. And, if you call yourself a fan of Layne Staley you’re obliged to own this disc.
Track Listing:
1. Wake Up
2. X-Ray Mind
3. River of Deceit
4. I’m Above
5. Artificial Red
6. Lifeless Dead
7. I Don’t Know Anything
8. Long Gone Day
9. November Hotel
10. All Alone
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Since this album is of course a side project, it’s easy to make some similar recommendations. Here’s a brief list of other albums to check out:
Alice In Chains – Dirt [1992] or Jar of Flies [1994]
Pearl Jam – Vs. [1993] or Vitalogy [1994]
Screaming Trees – Sweet Oblivion [1992]
Temple of The Dog – Temple of The Dog [1990]
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