Jerry Cantrell
Boggy Depot

THE REVIEW

Is it possible that no one has reviewed a Jerry Cantrell album so far?... bah..

Anyway, here I am with my second review, after the self-titled 'Alice In Chains', now I am reviewing "Boggy Depot", Jerry Cantrell's first solo album. It's 1998, 'Alice In Chains' are on hiatus (due to the various, famous health problems of singer Layne Staley, now a chronic addict), except for the recordings made for the two unreleased tracks to be included in the box set released in '99 when the full band was present.

So, Jerry, who still had something to say, locked himself in his house in isolation for months, trying to create new material aided by his companions Sean Kinney, who recorded all the drum parts, and by Mike Inez, Les Claypool on bass.

The album begins with the beautiful and energetic Dickeye, featuring Rex Brown on bass. The song recalls the glory of "Dirt", particularly Dam That River, but more softened. Then we have the classic Hard-Blues of Cut You In in full Cantrell style. This is somewhat a follow-up to Heaven Beside You and talks about his domestic isolation; then the languid and melodic My Song, very cute; moving on with Settling Down featuring Norwood Fischer on bass, very melancholic, and for the first time since Am I Inside (from "Sap") we hear the piano. Here, Jerry showcases his vocal maturity and leaves us with a splendid bluesy solo; then there's Breaks My Back, my favorite from the album, rich in pathos, bringing us back to the desperation sung by Layne in "Frogs", especially through the use of a filtered voice, truly a gem; then the "terrifying" Jesus Hands that begins with an unsettling guitar arpeggio and is the most rage-filled; then a quick one-two with Devil By His Side and Keep The Light On and another slow acoustic ballad which is Satisfy, one of the most intense moments of the album, then Hurt A Long Time, the weakest of the album which starts acoustic and ends distorted, I rate it 6-, finally, the two collaborations with the crazy Primus bassist Les Claypool: the sunny Between and the beautiful Cold Piece, the longest track of the album at a good eight minutes, an Hard-Rock at times Funk with a beautiful guitar solo at the end.

In short, a good album that strongly reminds one of his group, which can also be excused since he was the main composer.
After this album, Jerry will go through terrible times, peaking in 2002 with the death of his friend Layne, and in that year, he will also release his double "Degradation Trip", which I will propose to you soon..