Post #1!

Alice In Chains - Dirt (1992)

I was just listening to this album this morning and it occurred to me I don't recall how I ended up loving it. For example, I remember hearing Guns 'n Roses on cassette for the first time when my friend Chris brought it over to my house waaaaaay back in the late 80s. I remember getting the Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik cassette mailed to me by BMG music club because I forgot to cancel the monthly auto ship. I remember my friend Conan playing Nirvana and hearing that for the first time and loving it. I do have one memory of having Dirt on cassette and making the whole family listen to Rooster in the car. Sorry Mom and Dad! LOL. Who knows, maybe they liked it? 😈

What I don't remember is how I ended up with the cassette or how I learned about Alice In Chains. It's a safe bet it was the Rooster music video on MTV... or possibly the video for Would. What I do remember is thinking this band sounded unique and I was a fan immediately. Layne Staley has a one-of-a-kind voice. Jerry Cantrell's guitar tones on this album are possibly my favorite of any rock/metal album and they are so up-front in the mix.... excuse me while I go listen to Them Bones... got myself all amped up LOL. I really enjoy Facelift and the self-titled albums also, but the one released in between, Dirt, will always be my favorite.

The two big singles on this were Rooster and Would. I think I played myself out on Rooster as a tween as I'm not sure if I ever need to hear that one again. I do still love Would, but my favorite part of the album are the first three tracks. Them Bones starts at full speed. More than once I have scared the near-literal crap out of myself if my volume is too loud when that song starts. Them Bones rolls into Dam That River which ended up being one of my all time favorite AIC songs. The initial trio of songs ends with Rain When I Die. I love the difference in feel from the verses to the chorus in that one. I am still hearing new things in Layne's voice 32 years later when I listen to these songs. I just this morning realized that Dam That River seemed to be in an odd time. "It's a mix of 2/4 and 4/4, with occasional syncopations" says one website. Well, alrighty then!

Here are links to YouTube vids of some of my favorite tracks. 💓💥

Them Bones

Dam That River

Reaction to Dam That River - Lost In Vegas