Dirt
Dirt wastes very little time being polite. The opening scream on Them Bones arrives with a guitar riff that seems to trip over its own feet, then land exactly where it should. No warm-up, then. Just Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell and a very clear idea of how this is going to go.
Released in 1992, Alice in Chains' second album sits comfortably between grunge and metal. Cantrell's guitars have plenty of weight, but the songs also have melodies that are surprisingly easy to remember. Dam That River is a good example: a thick riff, a strong chorus and no unnecessary hanging around. Staley can sound furious, exhausted and painfully exposed, sometimes within the same song. The vocal harmonies add another layer of unease. These are catchy songs, even when the subject makes singing along feel a little strange.
Rooster gives the album some room to breathe. Written about Cantrell's father and his experiences in Vietnam, it takes its time before the heavier guitars arrive. That patience matters. The chorus feels earned, and Staley's voice does a lot of the work without needing constant noise behind it. Down in a Hole is just as important. The gentler playing leaves the sadness right out in the open, with a chorus that stays with you long after the song ends.
There is a downside to all this intensity. The run through Junkhead and the title track can feel heavy going, both musically and lyrically. Addiction and self-disgust keep returning, and a full album of that asks quite a bit of the listener. The strong melodies help, but they don't make it comfortable. This is probably not the record for every mood.
Would? is an excellent closer. Mike Starr's bass pulls it forward, the chorus opens everything up, and the abrupt ending leaves the tension hanging. It also brings the focus back to how well this band writes songs. Dirt deserves its reputation because the riffs, voices and choruses hold together so well. The darkness is a large part of its character, but the songwriting is what makes it worth returning to.
