For fans of Alice In Chains, the release of Jar of Flies back in 1994 was sure to be another great CD with gritty songs and unique lyrics. But Jar of Flies was a step in a different direction for the band, and displayed the depth and range of quality music few bands are capable of producing.

Present still is lead singer Layne Stanley's unique nasal style. However on Jar Of Flies his sound blends harmoniously with the soft tunes produced by band members Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinney, and Mike Inez. On the bands previous album Dirt, the sounds tended to be more haunting, fast-paced, and gritty. This album took a bit of a step back (or forward depending on how you look at it) with a slower sound, and relaxed feel. Of course the songs continue to rock.

1. Rotten Apple
The CD starts with a soft song titled Rotten Apple. The song sets the mood of the CD with lyrics talking of the price of innocence and arrogance. The unique energy of the song picks up slightly at the chorus, putting a good touch on the song.

2. Nutshell
Slowing ever so slightly, Nutshell starts with a gentle instrumental intro. As the song continues, Stanley's raspy sound accentuates the message of the song - the battle with media and lies. This song gives us a bit of a feel for the musicians perspective in our media-dominated culture.

3. I Stay Away
Perhaps somewhat of a continuation with the theme of the last song, the pace of the music picks up a bit with the lyrics talking of flying south. Stanley makes some of the words in this song really stand out with his unique accentuating sound. With it's strong bass throughout, it's a little different, but it sounds great.

4. No Excuses
My favorite song on Jar Of Flies, No Excuses is the most energetic song on the CD. The message of the song talks of truth and making no excuses. The song is powerful and creates a good positive vibe. It's best described as the "happiest" song on the disk.

5. Whale & Wasp
A rarity for Alice In Chains, this song is an instrumental accentuated by a funky range of guitar sounds. Even though it is not very long, the sound is very relaxing. A nice change of pace for the band.

6. Don't Follow
I found the mood generated by this song is one similar to what you would feel at the closing credits of a movie. The sound is again soft, and the mood is very relaxed. The song is also the closest the CD comes in similarity to the bands previous release, Dirt.

7. Swing On This
I don't know what exactly happened to the band here, but this is really unlike any other song they have ever produced. The song has a blues feel to it which strays back to a rocky-sound at the chorus. I can just picture the band on stage at a blues bar singing it. Talk about range.

Final Thoughts
There are few bands that have stood the test of time with me, and remain appealing as my tastes and attitudes grow and change. Alice In Chains is one of those bands with lots of unique sounds and wide range of style. But the one CD that continues to amaze me is Jar Of Flies as I just seem to enjoy it more and more every time I listen to it. A real gem in the music industry in my epinion.


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Reading or Studying