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THE REVIEW
7 songs, 7 emotions. And here the review of this EP by Alice In Chains could end.
A record that represents the other side of the band. If you were used to the Heavy Rock outbursts of Facelift and Dirt, this work will confuse you, showing you an acoustic side decidedly characterized by a claustrophobic and dying sound. The unique voice of Layne Staley caresses the dark notes created by the guitar of the great Jerry Cantrell, the light drumming of Sean Kinney, and the bass of Mike Inez. Jerry Cantrell proves to be a 360° guitarist, worthy of being considered one of the best ever.
"Rotten Apple" appears with a sick and vaguely bluesy sound, which accompanies us for seven minutes, introducing us to this wonderful creation of the Seattle group. "Nutshell" is a song as simple as it is deep and moving, where the echoes of Cantrell's electric guitar are reduced to the bare minimum until the solo arrives. It also leaves a bit of sadness when Layne sings "...if I can't be my own I'd feel better dead", a sort of prelude to the end. In "I Stay Away" during the chorus, violins accompany us and Staley's scream hurts us. "No Excuses" I find no words to define it other than a great song. The instrumental "Whale And Wasp", if listened to in silence, leaves the body numb and incapable of reacting to stimuli. "Don't Follow" is a song where country and gospel merge to create another emotion. Cantrell's voice accompanies us in the first part only to leave us, Layne Staley takes us by the hand and carries us with his voice until the end. "Swing On This" appears as a song with a more cheerful text and concludes this little gem set in the Alice In Chains discography.
One of the peaks of Alice In Chains, one of the few bands that has consistently produced albums of excellent quality.
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Summary by Bot
Jar Of Flies showcases Alice In Chains' acoustic and emotional depth, contrasting their heavier past works. The EP features powerful vocals by Layne Staley and masterful guitar from Jerry Cantrell. Each of the seven songs delivers distinct moods, from dark blues to haunting instrumentals. Notable tracks include 'Nutshell' and 'No Excuses.' This EP is a standout in the band's discography.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Alice in Chains
American rock band formed in Seattle in 1987, noted for two-voice harmonies, dark lyrical themes and a signature grunge/alternative-metal sound. Fronted by Layne Staley until his death in 2002; later continued with William DuVall.37 Reviews
Other reviews
By bONJ
You realize you can no longer live without these gems.
Only some distorted echo of the word 'grunge' remains in your head, buried under thirty minutes of amazing music.
By Bluice
Layne Stanley’s voice, expressive and very sweet, throws in everyone’s face the private pain that slowly crumbles him from the inside.
Their acoustic and intimate side is worth as much as or perhaps more than their Metal-Grunge component.
By andre'79
"'Nutshell,' the track that all, guitarists or not, would dream of writing at least once in their lives."
"Jar of Flies, an apparently ordinary cassette, is one of those 'proofs' that cannot leave anyone indifferent. Authentic and heartbreaking confession."
By danass
"A song that is alone worth the entire discography of Alice In Chains."
"Jar of Flies is undoubtedly one of the best musical products of the 90s, a monumental work but at the same time so experimental and different from the classic tone of Alice in Chains."
