21 Years Ago: Alice in Chains Show a Different Side on the ‘Jar of Flies’ EP
By 1994, Alice in Chains were not only one of grunge’s biggest names, but already counted among the world’s most popular rock bands of any kind. They were so popular, in fact, that what started as a casual attempt to blow off some creative steam -- a brief collection of acoustic songs named ‘Jar of Flies,’ released on Jan. 25, 1994 -- became the first EP in music history to enter the Billboard charts at No. 1.
Of course, Alice in Chains had already shown the softer side to their oft-bombastic alternative metal with 1992’s similarly low-key ‘Sap’ short-player. But based on the more abundant evidence provided by electrified full-lengths like ‘Facelift’ and ‘Dirt,’ few anticipated that the band might reprise their only modestly successful sonic detour away from their core strengths.
Not least the band itself, which, according to lead singer Layne Staley, wanted nothing more than to find a quiet place in which to hole up for a while (choosing Seattle’s own London Bridge Studio) following the punishing tour in support of ‘Dirt,’ and the loss of their Seattle crash pad. One week later, the founding threesome of Staley, guitarist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney, along with still relatively new bassist Mike Inez, emerged with all of seven new tracks, written and recorded in a torrent of inspiration.
Some of these, including the lead-off single, ‘No Excuses,’ its follow-up, ‘I Stay Away,’ and the EP-opening ‘Rotten Apple,’ showcased full band performances. In each, their customary intensity was reeled back significantly, though that was not entirely foreign to fans of popular melodic album cuts such as ‘Bleed the Freak’ and ‘Rooster.’ The greatest surprises were saved for uncommonly spartan, restrained and simply gorgeous musings like ‘Nutshell,’ ‘Don’t Follow’ and the instrumental ‘Whale and Wasp’ -- all of which laid bare the vulnerabilities of Alice in Chains' musical soul like never before.
And perhaps it was this unexpected invitation to look behind the band’s customary wall of metallic guitars that appealed to so many long-time fans, while seducing countless new ones along the way. In any case, proof of the broad listener appeal for the creative triumphs found on ‘Jar of Flies’ was immediately confirmed by its astonishing, chart-topping success -- and then perpetuated by its lasting legacy as a high water mark in the Alice in Chains catalog.
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