Album Details

• Artist: Alice In Chains
• Album: Jar Of Flies Ep
• Label: Columbia
• Year of Release: 1994
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2011-04-19

Between Dirt and Facelift, one cannot deny the influence that Alice In Chains had on alternative music in the 90's. Quite often I thought they got the short end of the stick when people talked about the Grunge era. Regardless, Alice In Chains is an important band and had Layne Stayley not taken his life, one might think they'd still be breaking barriers.

Anyway, Jar Of Flies solidified AIC's musicianship in my book. Sure, Sap was beautiful in its own right but songs on Jar Of Flies like "No Excuses", "Whale and Wasp", and "Don't Follow" not only showcased Layne's quite diverse, albeit quite monotone voice as well as Jerry Cantrell's clever guitar works. Look to the later song and as user gutterseed stated below, could easily be used as a lullaby for the little ones. If you have listened to Dirt and Facelift and are still left looking for more, then please check out Jar Of Flies before you dismiss this influential band. They are a vital part of rock history, dispite what others may say. I do appreciate that Cantrell has got the band back together with a new singer, and I don't mind the new album but I can't help but feel a vital piece of Alice In Chains is missing.

User Reviews and Comments

on 2011-06-06 hstisgod Said:

Terrific range, relive it!

"How is it you're feeling so uneasy? How is it that I feel fine? Life reveals what is dealt through seasons. Circle comes around each time ..."
Rating: 9/10

on 2011-06-06 hstisgod Said:

ACtually.. I'd say his best range was displayed on Mad Season, but honestly, the beef began with user219 ya punk ass!
Rating: 9/10

on 2011-06-06 dscanland Said:

Would you say that Layne had great range with his voice? If so, please point it out in one of their songs. He had limited range but was extremely charismatic in his vocal delivery.
Not Rated

on 2011-06-05 hstisgod Said:

Wow, dare you question the great and might Dennis? I agree in a way that Layne's voice was monotone, but uinquely terrific and rangefull as well.
Rating: 9/10

on 2011-06-05 user219 Said:

Reasonable review. Obviously the reviewer underestimates both the band and teh album. Calling Layne's voice "monotone" makes me question if the reviewer needs to have his hearing checked, or may be his brain?
Rating: 10/10
Rating: 4/10

on 2011-05-29 hstisgod Said:

agreed... still think you should give the review a shot lol
Rating: 9/10

on 2011-05-29 Trismus Said:

Ha! No, it's a good review I just feel slightly stronger about the album. That band is unique in that it never shied away from Layne's addiction and self destruction. They rode it out to an inevitable end and to allow your albums to tell that story is incredible to me.
Rating: 10/10

on 2011-05-29 hstisgod Said:

that sounds like a write-off challenge to me.
Rating: 9/10

on 2011-05-29 Trismus Said:

I have to disagree with the review but only because it doesn't go far enough with the praise. I wouldn't consider Staley's voice monotone at all and Jar of Flies is integral in setting the stage for what would be a discography chronicling the slow death of a tortured soul. If Staley's last album was the death knell (AIC's Self Titled, which I believe it to be with it's far darker subtext than even Dirt) then Jar of Flies served in establishing pathos for what would be the unfolding autobiography of a man's slow suicide, thus making the album an integral inclusion for all first time listeners of Alice in Chains.
Rating: 10/10

on 2011-05-29 hstisgod Said:

Good review, this album helped mold my taste a bit for sure. feel the same about the new singer, good sound just not the same.
Rating: 9/10

on 2010-10-03 gutterseed Said:

I wish my parents would have played this album for me when it was time to go to sleep at night when I was a child. Between this and mad season's only album, I think it's safe to say I was robbed, it's the perfect combo for night time! The 70's sucked! I would have killed to be rocked to sleep by this album, instead I got rocked to sleep by the likes of the Everly Brothers! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Not Rated