Dirt: Alice in Chains | Extended Play Lounge - Episode 51
Added 2023-09-07 00:43:39 +0000 UTCAfter a hard-fought win in a run-off, I'm pleased to present my review of Dirt by Alice in Chains. There were wafts of memories of hearing a few of these songs previously, but this was my first time really paying attention to these emotionally charged tracks.
Everything is on point here...the vocals are among the best I've heard in this style, the guitar work is quite meticulous and smart, the bass is more intricate than I expected, and the percussion was nuanced and flexible.
ALERT: The topics in this episode touch on suicide, drug use/abuse, and other similar topics.
Comments
I could probably write a long paper on this album. But in short, it’s the single best album I have *ever* heard at conveying true serious depression, and all the pain, rage, and hopelessness that goes with it.
Limekiller
2024-08-09 13:22:49 +0000 UTCThis album has many of my favorites
Adam Henton
2023-10-13 02:08:23 +0000 UTCOne thing about Alice in Chains that I would warn listeners about is the earworms that get glued to you afterwards!
Rebecca Walsh
2023-09-16 16:13:34 +0000 UTCI finally got time to check this out. I definitely remember listening to this repeatedly in college. What I didn't remember until I heard it again was that I very much identified with some of those really dark lyrics at that time. I'm glad to say I no longer do!
Moses Talbot
2023-09-12 22:34:53 +0000 UTCThanks so much!!
R. Douglas Helvering
2023-09-12 18:20:54 +0000 UTCFascinating. Sonically lush and musically complex enough to grab my attention. Lyrically... I don't think I could listen to this on repeat play.
Thom P
2023-09-10 21:57:11 +0000 UTCI was 18 or 19 when the grunge wave hit. Back then, I really was into Nirvana and Pearl Jam a lot. Alice in Chains didn't hit me that much. After all these years, I have to say their music has aged much better than Pearl Jam or Nirvana. This album is a masterpiece.
Jean-Michel LaFontaine
2023-09-10 05:53:04 +0000 UTCJust to follow up on this, Mother Love Bone is the band that became Temple of the Dog and then led to Pearl Jam. Apple is a fascinating listen as you can hear the Gossard/Ament core sound that's familiar from Pearl Jam, but Andrew Wood was a monster all of his own, he was much more of a traditional rock star than his Seattle grunge contemporaries and they're significantly less of a downer than what came out of the grunge scene. Andy Wood's death in many ways was the trigger point that led to grunge becoming what it was, Chris Cornell (a former roommate) among others never really got over it. I'd strongly recommend Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns for a single track reaction, really an incredible piece of work that shows the band and Wood at their best.
Ryan Mellino
2023-09-10 00:33:38 +0000 UTCAdded bonus for The Downward Spiral: Adrian Belew is on 1 or 2 tracks.
Steve Hall
2023-09-09 20:34:10 +0000 UTCI hope you'd consider checking out The Downward Spiral or The Fragile from Nine Inch Nails sometimes, even if it lost. I think you'd find them harmonically and sonically really interesting.
Michael LaPorte
2023-09-08 21:14:58 +0000 UTCGreat commentary Doug. This is one of my all time great hard rock albums. It is an emotional trip to listen to, and the performances, vocally and musically are spot on. Always like watching your reactions to music I know so well, knowing what’s coming… Thanks for all you do.. ✌️
Steve Hartke
2023-09-08 20:46:25 +0000 UTCI’ve watched this like 3 times already! Such a great album and such great commentary on it. We appreciate you Doug! 🤘🏼
Kevin slick
2023-09-08 17:01:40 +0000 UTCDoug trying to announce the next song and gets hit with a wall of Iron Gland might’ve been my favourite part of a great video, thank you Doug.
David Edinborough
2023-09-07 22:42:50 +0000 UTCMy fav of their songs!
Gary Thobaben
2023-09-07 21:35:57 +0000 UTCI have heard these songs a hundred times or more, but I never really listened to them. They aren't always so intense, Please check out "I Stay Away" from their Jar of Flies EP. It's about as "up" as they can be.
Bruce E Bowling
2023-09-07 20:59:11 +0000 UTCA great review, though a part of me still wishes it was the Downward Spiral! :D
Yentl Brandt
2023-09-07 16:42:26 +0000 UTCThank you so much for doing a reaction to this album! Alice in Chains is truly near and dear to my Dad and I. This album is really incredible, but my personal fav is their self-titled album from 1995. My dad was able to see them live during their hayday in the early 90s in Seattle where we used to live. He also went to high school with Andy Wood of Mother Love Bone, the man you mentioned who inspired 'Would?' It broke my Dad's heart when Andy passed away ;'(. Same goes with Layne. When you find time in your schedule, I dearly implore you to explore music from Mother Love Bone, perhaps their album Apple. Thanks again Doug<3
Miranda Spafford
2023-09-07 06:13:31 +0000 UTCGreat review, Doug. As amazing as they are, a whole album of them always left me feeling a bit down. Jar of Flies EP is preferential for me, maybe because it’s more bite sized and less heavy.
Gary Thobaben
2023-09-07 02:27:51 +0000 UTCI hope you had your headphones turned down for that first track! Can knock a few years off ya lol
Phil West Music
2023-09-07 00:47:42 +0000 UTC
