Kenneth Bridgham's Album Reviews
A disturbing yet undeniably classic hard rock (metal, grunge, alternative rock, modern rock, whatever you want to call it) record that feels like it was written and recorded inside of the very tomb alluded to in the haunting "Down in a Hole" track. Rarely has there been a song that speaks so frankly about self-loathing and addiction ("You don't understand who they thought I was supposed to be / Look at me now, a man who wont let himself be"). It was a message with which many in the so-called Generation X could relate, and it still resonates today as opiate addiction spreads once more through the U.S. I actually prefer the version of this song from "MTV Unplugged," however.
The swampy radio hit "Rooster" is the record's best track amid a series of standouts, perhaps because it is one of the rare songs which temporarily breaks the lyrical themes of self-destruction. It is the type of song that could only be written either by a man who has survived warfare, or by one who was raised by the survivor, full of poetic personal details and chilling first-hand observations.
Dirt is an apt title for the album. Everything about the record feels grainy, course, and decayed, which is clearly by design. As heroin-addicted singer Layne Staley's nasal, anguished, and grime-encrusted voice pours across each track, his songwriting and singing partner Jerry Cantrell miraculously harmonizes with him over distorted guitars full of foreboding. While Dirt is not exactly a pleasure to listen to, it is without a doubt a fascinating listen, one that is addictive in and of itself.
The swampy radio hit "Rooster" is the record's best track amid a series of standouts, perhaps because it is one of the rare songs which temporarily breaks the lyrical themes of self-destruction. It is the type of song that could only be written either by a man who has survived warfare, or by one who was raised by the survivor, full of poetic personal details and chilling first-hand observations.
Dirt is an apt title for the album. Everything about the record feels grainy, course, and decayed, which is clearly by design. As heroin-addicted singer Layne Staley's nasal, anguished, and grime-encrusted voice pours across each track, his songwriting and singing partner Jerry Cantrell miraculously harmonizes with him over distorted guitars full of foreboding. While Dirt is not exactly a pleasure to listen to, it is without a doubt a fascinating listen, one that is addictive in and of itself.
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