Happy 30th Anniversary to Alice in Chains’ Jar of Flies (EP), originally released January 25, 1994.
For those of us who came of age during the dynamic decade of the 90s, 1994 stands out as perhaps the most impactful year of that era. The eventful year, which saw many of us stand in line to watch groundbreaking films like Pulp Fiction and Interview with a Vampire, would also be the year when nearly all of us sat glued to our televisions to watch a disgraced football legend evade arrest on a slow chase across California’s Interstate 405. Before these and many other generational defining moments, our soundtrack was already primed with Alice in Chains’ EP Jar of Flies.
January 1994 can arguably be considered the peak for the grunge movement, which helped add texture to rock music over the previous three years. Raspy vocals, sometimes acoustic guitaring, and melancholy lyrics slowed the pace from the seemingly endless party tracks that dominated the rock and metal charts over the previous decade. Bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and of course Alice in Chains embraced more introspective songs, which resonated with audiences craving something new and led to the groups topping the Billboard charts and headlining major tours like Lollapalooza. Alice in Chains’ previous album Dirt went on to receive critical and commercial success following its arrival in 1992. Signature songs from the LP like “Rooster” and “Down in a Hole” helped define not only the band, but the entire grunge movement, and in many ways, the defiance of a generation.
Grinding out a grueling touring schedule throughout 1992 and 1993 proved to strain the relationship of Alice in Chains’ members. There are differing accounts as to what exactly was the most detrimental factor, but by early 1993, bassist Mike Starr was replaced with veteran Mike Inez. Inez had built an impressive resume playing for the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and other big names on the metal scene at the time.
Fresh off their stint on the Lollapalooza tour, the band returned to their homebase in Seattle and set up shop at London Bridge Studio. Originally envisioned as a series of recorded jam sessions to build chemistry with their new bassist, the mostly acoustic seven-song Jar of Flies would write the group’s next chapter and cement their place within contemporary rock folklore.
Listen to the Album & Watch the Official Videos:
Jar of Flies’ lead single “No Excuses” is subtly high-spirited, at least instrumentally. The band appears reinvigorated and the arrangement is noticeably more uptempo relative to their previous, murkier hits like “Down in a Hole.” Written by guitarist and co-vocalist Jerry Cantrell, the band delivers a timeless anthem for friendship. Widely accepted as a personal ballad from Cantrell to frontman Layne Staley, the third verse in particular highlights not only the strength of Cantrell’s pen, but the entire band’s uncanny ability to effectively execute emotionally charged hard rock gems. “Yeah, it's fine / We'll walk down the line / Leave our rain, a cold / Trade for warm sunshine / You my friend / I will defend / And if we change, well I love you anyway,” Staley sings.
“Nutshell” may be the apex of the brilliant EP. It shines not only throughout the EP, but to me, it registers as one of the top 3 songs that immediately come to mind when you think of how essential Alice in Chains is to the rock genre. As unfortunate as it was that drugs were so prevalent in youth culture in the 90s, Staley had his personal struggles and was able to navigate the stages toward sobriety through his powerful vocals. Truly one of the voices of his generation, Staley inspired his contemporaries and a host of artists that would follow him by cementing his musical legacy with raw, confessional songs like “Nutshell.”
“Jar of Flies” was an album of the time, all the way through, including its packaging that included limited-edition CDs come with flies enclosed in the CD case. In the short term, the EP had an immediate impact upon the culture, earning the band two GRAMMY Award nominations in the Best Recording Package and Best Hard Rock Performance (“I Stay Away”) categories. In the longer term, Jar of Flies helped solidify the resonant legacy of the grunge movement and turn a good band into rock royalty.
Listen: