Alice In Chains – Jar Of Flies (Vinyl) 30th Anniversary Edition
Sony Music / Columbia Records (1994 / This Pressing 2024)

1 review for Alice In Chains – Jar Of Flies (Vinyl) 30th Anniversary Edition
Sony Music / Columbia Records (1994 / This Pressing 2024)

1. 

   4 out of 5

   AMG – May 12, 2024

   Coming on the heels of Dirt, the restraint and subtlety of Jar of Flies are nothing short of revelatory Written and recorded in about a week, Jar of Flies solidified Alice in Chains' somewhat bizarre pattern of alternating full-length hard rock albums with mostly acoustic, ballad-oriented EPs. That quirk aside, Jar of Flies is a low-key stunner, achingly gorgeous and harrowingly sorrowful all at once. In a way, it's a logical sequel to Dirt -- despite the veneer of calm, the songs' voices still blame only themselves. But where Dirt found catharsis in its unrelenting darkness and depravity, Jar of Flies is about living with the consequences, full of deeply felt reflections on loneliness, self-imposed isolation, and lost human connections. The mood is still hopelessly bleak, but the poignant, introspective tone produces a sense of acceptance that's actually soothing, in a funereal sort of way. Jerry Cantrell's arrangements keep growing more detailed and layered; while there are a few noisy moments, most of Jar of Flies is bathed in a clean, shimmering ambience whose source is difficult to pin down, but is well served by Cantrell's varied guitar tones and even occasional string arrangements. And coming on the heels of Dirt, the restraint and subtlety of Jar of Flies are nothing short of revelatory -- though it was written and recorded in about a week, it feels much more crafted and textured than Sap. Jar of Flies is a leap forward and a major work in the Alice in Chains catalog.