Alice In ChainsDirt

Dirt is a rather underappreciated album of the 90s, I think. Alice in Chains never reached the popularity of the bands they are lumped in with (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam), perhaps because they didn't display as much pop sensibilities as those other bands. This is a very bleak record, no way around that. With only a few exceptions, the songs on here are heavy, sludgy, densely layered affairs. However, AiC has a very strong sense of melody, which for me is a large part of what makes this album so great; otherwise it might just turn into a wank-fest. No, Alice in Chains have that, and also a good sense of when to back off a bit; they break up the album with lighter and more accessible tracks to break up the sludge.So what about the songs?I feel like most people who listen to this album only like certain tracks and don't understand the rest. They only want the catchiest or most aggressive; this makes me sad, as this album has a ridiculous number of really GREAT songs.I won't review every song, there are 13 of them, but I'll talk about some of my favorites.Them Bones-a great opener, gets things moving and doesn't waste time. The opening ascending riff is killer, the vocal melodies are great, the lyrics bleak. It ends exactly when it needs to, clocking in at only two and a half minutes.Dam That River-This is almost as good as the previous, great riff, love the angry lyrics. but the SOLO. and the vocal melodies. are just great.Rain When I Die-This might be my favorite track on an album of favorite tracks. The opening vocals are killer (and are reapeated again at the end). This song is twice as long as the previous track, yet it never feels too long. With great verses, chorus, solo, this is just a perfect track.Rooster--Another great track; accessible but still dark, with a glimmer of hope in the chorusDirt-People don't seem to 'get' this track, but I wish more people liked it. The chorus is very catchy and very heartfelt--"One who doesn't care, is one who shouldn't be". I didn't like it at first, but after multiple listens it really grew on me.Hate to Feel-Another contender for favorite song-the chorus is phenomenal, I love the rhythm and spacing of it, with great lyrics, great solo, etcAngry Chair-I love, among other things, the moodiness of the verses on this track, and the way the guitar matches the vocals on the 'Hey' of the chorus. Another great song.Would?-this is another popular track, and for good reason. The verses are great, very melodic, and the chorus and lyrics very passionate. I really really appreciate this song coming at the end; it makes me really FEEL it, y'know? I've felt all the pain Layne has been through from listening to the album, and now he just lets it all out. "Have I run too far to get home?"Pros-all the stuff I've been mentioning; a huge number of great songs, with great guitar riffs, great song structuring, great lyrics...excellent sense of melody, dynamics, etcCons-the drumming is a bit weak; it's neither as powerful as Grohl's or as complex as Matt Cameron's. However, it gets the job done, and I like it a good bit on tracks like Angry Chair and Would? It just doesn't have a huge presence, like the bass.Facts-at first I kind of didn't like the vocals, but they grew on me, like the album itself, and now I like Layne's voice a lot. Jerry does a good job on backup tooI've listened to this album at least 100 times. Every listen is great, and I can't recommend this album highly enough. A fantastic album of the 90s and essential listening for any proclaimed hard rock fan.

One of the best of the early 90s grunge era. Holds up real well and sounds better than ever.

Alice in chains are in the top 4 bands of alternative world and this album shows why. A must have for alternative rock music lovers

Great music

Lovely vinyl. been looking EVERYWHERE for it and finally found it on Amazon.

Anyone that is a fan of grunge or 90s rock will agree, this album was a game changer. If you are looking for a great supplement to this album, pick up 'Jar of flies' as well!

This album I got for someone who loves Alice In Chains. It is a great addition to your record collection. It came safely and all is perfectly functional with it

This is one of the "must have" albums if you're into '90s grunge music...if for no other reason than Layne Staley's amazing vocals. What a set of pipes that guy had on him. It was for that reason that I finally decided I needed the best quality copy of this album I could find (not having previously owned a physical copy of any sort), so I bought the vinyl release.I've now listened to this LP twice with my (pretty decent) system set up at the normal level I use for vinyl, and it really has me scratching my head. On one hand the pressing is of good quality...the vinyl is heavy and flat and the instruments sound good. On the other hand, the vocals sound dull and somewhat lifeless on many (most?) of the tracks. I can't seem to figure out why...is it the pressing itself, or the remastering of the album, or was the original mastering like this? Out of frustration I cranked up the amp past my normal level and the vocals did improve, but it seems a ham-fisted way of "forcing" an album to sound better.I don't regret buying the vinyl version, but now I wonder how the CD version compares.