Photo courtesy of Loudwire.
Alice in Chains is a band with two distinct eras. Their first — which they are more widely known for — is heavy, gritty grunge headlined by lead vocalist Layne Staley and guitarist Jerry Cantrell. Following Staley’s death from a drug overdose in 2002, the band transitioned to a more refined metal sound — now featuring vocals from William Duvall.
The earlier era is far more well-known due to Cantrell’s prowess writing immaculate riffs on the electric guitar and combining his vocal harmonies with the howl of Staley’s lead vocals. So why is the band’s only album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 somber and focused on acoustic instruments?
Released on Jan. 25, 1994, “Jar of Flies” is a seven-track album rife with vibrant acoustic instrumentals and morose vocals. Gone are the in-your-face anthems of prior albums. “Jar of Flies” gently lulls the listener into a state where they end up wallowing in depression and self-reflection.
The journey to ending up curled up on the floor bawling your eyes out starts with the track “Rotten Apple.” The sullenly plucked notes of the acoustic guitar and bass mixed with the squawking electric guitar immediately make the listener feel uneasy.
As the verse begins, Staley’s first vocal on the album states bluntly “innocence is over.” On every listen, that line is a hard punch in the stomach, instantly making the listener feel bleak and empty.
The verse continues along at a pedantic pace as Staley’s voice drones over the hum of the guitars. The two swell into an almost discordant harmony as “Rotten Apple” reaches its chorus.
At this point, the not-so-subtle undertones of substance use are front and center. Staley morosely sings about writing his own part in life, eating of the “apple” from a young age and having to crawl back to start.
Whether or not the listener personally struggles with substance use disorder, the idea of yearning to reset in life after a choice made at a young age is near universal.
The song meanders through Staley’s continued reckoning with his choices, needing to “repent tomorrow” and “suspend his sorrow.” By the end of the almost seven-minute song, the listener will most likely feel dismal.
Then the opening chords of “Nutshell” begin to strum. This song is the most melancholic, defeated song on the album. It sows sorrow in just over four minutes the likes of which can only be rivaled by a dark, snowy winter in Alaska.
Staley despondently sings over the ringing strings of the guitar about his isolation, being all alone in his battle — “no one to cry to, no place to call home.”
Instead of a traditional chorus, “Nutshell” features Staley and Cantrell vocalizing “oohs” over the continued strumming of the plaintive guitar chords.
The second verse of the song sees Staley resigning himself to his fate. He is isolated, and without anyone, all that repeats in his head is “If I can’t be my own, I’d feel better dead.”
This heavy thought is followed by more “oohs,” then a slow fade out as the guitar rings out into the void of nothingness left in the wake of “Nutshell.”
While other songs like “No Excuses,” “I Stay Away,” “Don’t Follow” and “Swing On This” are all must listens on “Jar of Flies,” the fifth track “Whale & Wasp” is the glue that holds this album together.
Being the song that features an electric guitar most prominently on the album, the use of the instrument is both tasteful and effective in making the listener feel utterly dejected.
The electric guitar wails over plucked strings of an acoustic, beautifully combining to create a truly empty feeling. For a moment, the electric guitar steps aside for a despondent stringed quartet to take the spotlight.
When the electric guitar returns, it features two strings being plucked to create a wailing harmony that is equal parts elegant and forlorn.
Six of the seven songs on “Jar of Flies” convey their disconsolate ideas to the listener through both instrumentals and vocals. “Whale & Wasp” is able to make the listener feel pensive and gloomy with just a few stringed instruments, and that is truly impressive.
“Jar of Flies” isn’t for everyone. If you hate music that evokes strong emotions, this album might not be for you. However, if you’ve had one shower beer too many and are ready to cry for the next three to five business days, put this album on and let those tears out.
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