"If I can't be my own, I'd feel better dead"
Written: Jan 09 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Amazing guitars, indescribably beautiful vocals, brilliant lyrics...
Cons: Leaves people like me wanting more just because it's so perfect.
The Bottom Line: Buy it and love it: Jar Of Flies contains some of AIC's greatest moments. It's worth buying solely on the godliness of "Nutshell," but get this -- it's ALL good.
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| blindsider's Full Review: Jar of Flies [EP] by Alice in Chains |
Whether artists refer to them as "miniature albums," "a brief sampling of rarities and B-sides", or "a preview of what's to come", EPs tend to have a bad reputation. I guess that's understandable. So many EPs are hastily released with very little thought put into them; it's easy to see that when a number of bands release EPs full of tacky remixes and live recordings of bad quality, EPs are often nothing more than cash-grabs for bands and disappointments for the fans.
But you know there's something special about an EP when it's hailed by a band's fanbase as unquestionably essential. Hell, some Alice In Chains fans even call the 1994 EP Jar Of Flies the absolute best thing the band has ever released. I wouldn't go as far as saying that -- I've said it a thousand times and I'll say it again: I am all about the one and only Dirt -- but there's not a shred of doubt in my mind that Jar Of Flies IS essential. Quite honestly, it's thirty minutes full of some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard.
Released in between the opus of grit and fury, 1992's Dirt, and 1995's experimental self-titled release, Jar Of Flies puts all the focus on Alice In Chains' softer side. Jerry Cantrell uses a gentle, melodic guitar sound and the outstanding Layne Staley (R.I.P.) uses a more subdued sound as well. All the trademark AIC passion, emotion and sadness is still here, just in a less "rocking" form.
Haunting guitar melodies open the seven-minute "Rotten Apple," a song that launches the Jar Of Flies journey in all the right ways. Staley's multi-layered vocals set the tone perfectly for the bleak, dreamy atmosphere that fills the EP. The incredibly depressing "Nutshell" is my personal favorite, and a simple example of why I tend to think Layne Staley was the owner of the most beautiful voice ever. He draws out his words and drenches each syllable in a sadness so authentic, so moving; you can't help but feel his pain as he quietly sings lyrics like "My gift of self is raped / my privacy is raked" and "Yet I find, repeating in my head / if I can't be my own / I'd feel better dead..."
"I Stay Away" and "No Excuses" both have a Southern twang to them due to Cantrell's twangy guitars, but at the same time, these are two very different songs. "I Stay Away" is much slower and creepier. The way the unmistakable Staley/Cantrell layered vocal harmonies are used in the chorus is chilling, and Cantrell's guitar solo is nothing short of stunning. With great lyrics and a ridiculously infectious chorus, it's not too hard to understand why the upbeat "No Excuses" is the most well-known song from Jar Of Flies. "No Excuses" features Cantrell on lead vocals with Staley crooning along in the background. I swear, the way their voices always sound so flawless when harmonizing together never fails to blow my mind.
Another definite highlight comes with "Whale & Wasp," a soothing two-and-a-half-minute instrumental. Anyone who denies Cantrell's tremendous talent may experience a change of heart after listening to this -- I had no idea guitars could sound this beautiful and this emotional. "Don't Follow" is a lovely ballad with Cantrell on lead vocals once again. For the most part, it's depressing, but the peaceful harmonica in the background seems to contribute a sense of hope to the song.
"Swing On This" seems to be the least loved song on Jar Of Flies, and while I don't listen to it nearly as much as the others, it's enjoyable in its own way. Much like the title indicates, it has a happy "swinging" feel, with swaying vocal lines and jumpy guitars that sound downright merry. Clearly, the band had a lot of fun with this one, and it's a nice way to end this (generally melancholic) EP. Call it a happy ending of sorts... the light at the end of the tunnel or something like that.
Jar Of Flies is something essential for anyone and everyone who has even the tiniest amount of interest in Alice In Chains. Whether it's a casual rock fan who heard "Man In The Box" on college radio once and dug it, or an avid listener of Dirt and Facelift that has not yet investigated AIC's other stuff, I can guarantee that this EP is entirely worthy of all the praise it receives and is MORE than worth any money or time anyone may spend on it. It's a masterpiece, and I treasure all thirty minutes and fifty-one seconds of it.
Great Music to Play While: Counting the number of flies pictured in the booklet.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
blindsider
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 in Music |
 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Sheila Doki
Location: Sherman, TX, USA
Reviews written: 343
Trusted by: 132 members
About Me:
Somebody check my brain.
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