Dirt
by Alice In Chains

From Caesar01 11/25/2018 22:48 | #225645 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Hard for me to express how much this album resonated on a personal level. Dirt captures the feeling of being trapped, whether from addiction or depression etc. There is something incredibly poignant in listening to Layne Staley on this album, knowing how things would turn out.
Them Bones is a fantastic opener, and Dirt continues on with strong sequencing, Rooster the album centerpiece and Would as a perfect closer. Jerry Cantrell's guitar riffs and solos are very interesting and inventive, as well as overtly and powerfully dark. Additionally, Staley and Cantrell combine to create some of the most memorable vocal harmonies in alternative (or any) rock.
I think a line from Would best captures this album's essence: "So I made a big mistake / Try to see it once my way." Dirt is angry, harsh, and brutal, yes - but it is also deeply, painfully emotional. Its songs don't ask for forgiveness, but simply understanding. (Edited)

"I want you to scrape meeeeeeee, from the walls"

Damn no matter how many times I hear it it still gives me shivers.

This album is a fantastic portrayal of addiction and the workings of an addicts mind. It does a fantastic job at showing (or reminding) you what it feels like. The album's outlook is one whose life has been consumed by drugs and it shares with you the power and the consequences of that.

This is grunge as much as it is metal. It's heavy and moody, and groovy in places. I don't even know the word that describes the feeling in the title track, but it feels exactly how the lyrics say it should.

There are imperfections to be found but they stand out more only because of the length of the album. There is so much to love here it is hardly a detraction.

To those who don't like this album, I hope you never find anything in it to relate to.

Standout tracks: Dirt, Sickman, Would? (Edited)

From micah88800 04/04/2018 12:57 | #212283 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Dirt rocks. That's all there is to it. With an opening song as epic and explosive as "Them Bones", you know you're in for a hell of a ride. This album is as dark as grunge got, with nearly every song dealing with either death, depression, anger, suicide, drug addiction, etc. The subject matter is extremely heavy, but somehow comes off really fun. The instrumentation and riffing are so top notch."Rain When I Die" is my personal favorite riff of all time and the bass line on "Would?" is one of the most recognizable bass lines in music. This is the grungiest of the grunge. If you are into that era of music, this album will blow you away. (Edited)

Layne’s voice, whether by itself or in harmony with Cantrell, is legendary. The rhythm section gives a master class on how to play bass and drums in absolute lockstep.

The problem is that the songs are so personal and so dark that you feel a bit guilty for participating in an early prophetic statement on Layne’s eventual demise. I get that this album was gritty and honest, but the man needed treatment far more than he needed a gold record. (Edited)

From joedec 10/12/2015 22:38 | #151365 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

One of the defining Grunge albums of the 1990s. (Edited)