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"Degradation Trip" is the second solo album by Jerry Cantrell.
Released on May 18, 2002, it was considered a tribute to the historic Alice In Chains singer, Layne Staley, who died the month before this album's release.
Unlike "Boggy Depot," which appeared to me a bit "lighthearted," "Degradation Trip" rediscovers much darker atmospheres, and manages to deliver (with the right proportions) that psychological weight which has become a trademark of AIC.
Joining Cantrell are Robert Trujillo (bassist, now with Metallica) and Mike Bordin (drummer), and their style has inevitably influenced the sound of the album, leaning towards metal. Jerry Cantrell has almost always managed to adapt well to these "new" sounds, especially with the hypnotic opener "Psychotic Break," "Angel Rising," and "Hellbound", which contrast with songs that are, in my opinion, not bad, but less successful and somewhat anonymous ("Chemical Tribe" and "Spiderbite").
The best of Cantrell, however, comes out when he returns "to his world": "She Was My Girl," "Mother's Spinning In Her Grave," and "Angel Eyes" (which inspired "Your Decision") are among the best episodes: the first two are impactful and energetic, and the third is emotional.
We also find two ballads/gems, namely "Solitude" and the closing "Gone" (which, along with "Looked On", recalls Layne Staley): two other performances demonstrating the maturity acquired by the guitarist, who not only manages to overcome a debut that was sometimes unclear, but also delivers a work that does not pale in comparison with other previous works.
Unfortunately, "Degradation Trip" did not achieve much success (unlike the AIC reunion album "Black Gives Way To Blue," which is ultimately the offspring of this album), but trust me, it is absolutely worth discovering for those who do not know it, or reevaluating for those who have hastily judged it poorly.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
04 Angel Eyes (04:44)
Homely, thick in mind, never listen
Worn, tired, siren drawn, tunnel vision
Don't forget this chance only live once
Sprung, hypnotized by light, had to get some
Get it all
She said I forgive you
Don't regret our time
You've got to move on love
Angel eyes
Four years and still I dream
Agonize
Such beauty not since seen
Bow down, piper leading, you were one
Hungry, took the prize, then you got dumb
Don't live out your life like a sad song
Sprung, hypnotized by light, had to get some
Get it all
She said I forgive you
You must too or die
You've got to let me go
Angel eyes
Four years and still I dream
Agonize
Such beauty not since seen
Angel eyes
Your face is all I see
Agonize
Forever haunting me
05 Solitude (04:00)
Written by Jerry Cantrell
There's no out, downside up for good
No light, reflection understood
Had to try, perversion satisfied
Insane...so, I indulge the beast awhile
When hurting yourself feels right
And there's nothing familiar in sight
Take the time to pull the weeds
Choking flowers in your life
Or seal your doom
Cold transparent blue
Locked inside a room
In solitude
There's no flesh, my own ghost awaits
Unclean, defiled, hallucinatory state
Lust, sloth, not my only sins
It's just how, when it's time, on a degradation trip...yeah
When hurting yourself feels right
Long gone the will to fight
Take the time to pull the weeds choking flowers in your life
Or seal your doom
Cold transparent blue
Locked inside a room
In solitude
Insanity takes you
So black it's untrue
So black it's untrue
07 Hellbound (06:46)
Written by Jerry Cantrell
Going down a last act scene
Curtain call begin bowing
Self-appointed abuse king
Hellbound, that's my belief
Black eat white, cassette thrill
Whatever come, eat your fill
Choke on bones, flowing stream long filled
The truth is to some degree we all steal
Hellbound
Come 'round
Hellbound
Going way down
Justified, a self-made man
All I do is what I can
Edges sharpened, blasted sand
Bizarre, devoted fan
Black eat white, cassette thrill
Whatever come, eat your fill
Choke on bones, flowing theme blown still
The truth is to some degree we all steal
Hellbound
Come 'round
Hellbound
Going to stay down
Warshington (yes, he actually spells it this way...), a fish belly rust
Sad chapter read last page first
Black eat white, cassette thrill
Whatever come, eat your fill
Choke on bones, flowing dream now killed
The truth is to some degree we all steal
Hellbound
Come 'round
Hellbound
Going way down
09 Castaway (04:58)
Written by Jerry Cantrell
Day break, wind is blowing strong
No escape, caught on a reef in the storm
Castaway, licking his cracked lips sore
Patient, waits, hoping the rats reach the shore...yeah...yeah
Yesterday, seems a lifetime now
Remembering those he left and how
Out in space laughing at all below
Island stage, plays to his thoughts and ego...yeah...yeah
Dusk fall, fading sun no fire light
Memories amplify his plight
Gathering, searching for shelter above
Feel the sting, choking on hoarded love...yeah...yeah
Thin, cold, tired...castaway
11 Chemical Tribe (06:35)
Should I live so long
To see 'em dropping bombs
Hope I have you near
Check out what comes after here...what comes after here
Generation turned a chemical tribe
Don't really care if we live or die
Generation turned a chemical tribe
Been sold out and it's no surprise
Let the black odds roll
Why we can't tell
Ball inside
Roll me over is this hell...is this hell?
Generation turned a chemical tribe
Don't really care if we live or die
Generation turned a chemical tribe
Been sold out I can't tell you why
No last supper rite
Bitchslapped 'fore you reached the table
Born in ending times
Leaning more toward Cain than Abel
No last supper rite
Bitchslapped 'fore you reached the table
Born in ending times
Possibly more truth than fable
Generation turned a chemical tribe
Generation turned a chemical tribe
Generation turned a chemical tribe
Generation turned a chemical tribe
Been sold out let me say goodbye
No last supper rite
Bitchslapped 'fore you reached the table
Born in ending times
Leaning more toward Cain than Abel
No last supper rite
Bitchslapped 'fore you reached the table
Born in ending times
Possibly more truth than fable
No last supper rite
Bitchslapped 'fore you reached the table
Born in ending times
Leaning more toward Cain than Abel
Bitchslapped 'fore you reached the table
Could it be more truth than fable?
13 Locked On (05:37)
Everything you heard I did and maybe then some ok
Does it make you happy and now is it out of the way?
Everything you heard I done and probably then some ok
Does it really matter of course I took it all the way
What more can I say
Locked on--what's the deal?
Faded rock star, push and needle
You don't know, well that's alright
You do your thing, I'll live my life
Every word you read is true, baby I won't deny
Don't you push me over, I ain't even finished my ride
Every word you read is true and maybe that is a lie
Strap session closing and I'm a-going out of my mind
What more can I say
Locked on--what's the deal?
Falling rock star, push and needle
You don't know, well that's alright
You do your thing, I'll live my life
Locked on--what's the deal?
Faded rock star, push and needle
You don't know, well that's alright
You do your thing, I'll live my life
Every song I wrote I meant what I said at the time
Yeah I spent some time looking death right in the eye
Every song I wrote I captured a fragment of time
Dying a little bit makes you appreciate life
Nothing more to say
Locked on--what's the deal?
Faded rock star, push and needle
You don't know, well that's alright
You do your thing, I'll live my life
Locked on--what's the deal?
Falling rock star, push and needle
You don't know, well that's alright
You do your thing, I'll live my life
Locked on
Locked on
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By sadeyedpocahontas
I fell in love with 'Dirt', the wonderful vocal harmonies you and the late Layne knew how to weave into that unique and morbid sound tapestry.
Powerful tracks like 'Castaway' or 'Hellbound' and melancholic ballads in the style of Jar of Flies like 'Solitude' or the funereal 'Gone' took up a large space in my playlist that summer.
