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,
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
found catharsis in its unrelenting darkness and depravity,
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
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
, the restraint and subtlety of
are nothing short of revelatory -- though it was written and recorded in about a week, it feels much more crafted and textured than
Sap
. Perhaps
would have gotten more credit if it had been a full-length album; as it stands, the EP is a leap forward and a major work in the
catalog. ~ Steve Huey