As previously stated, this song is lyrically a continuation of sorts to Don't Follow, as it deals with the consequences of running away and starting anew - your family missing you and having to deal with your problems all alone. It contains a bit lighter atmosphere, although the lyrics are fairly twisted still. Swing on This is the most out of place sounding song on the album, harboring a jazzy/swing sound. It could also be seen as a warning to not follow this person's behavior - try to better yourself and face your problems in order to work through them, or simply don't do addictive drugs in the first place. Don't Follow details the dream of simply running away from all of your problems (in this case, addiction and depression, although Cantrell wrote this song). The title of the song has to do with the contrast of the aforementioned weeping guitar (the whale) and the sharp guitar rhythm (the "stinging" wasp), which could possibly symbolize the battle of addiction yet again.įinally, the album closes with Don't Follow and Swing on This, two songs that could somewhat be seen as two sides of the same coin. It's short and beautifully sad as the guitars sound genuinely painful, like someone weeping in despair. It has no words yet could still potentially be the saddest sounding song on the album. Whale and Wasp follows and is the only instrumental track in the band's discography, and what a damn song. Yet another heavy hitting song lyrically, however this time it's a tad more disguised by the slightly more upbeat sound. This time, guitarist/co-vocalist Jerry Cantrell penned the lyrics, which describe watching his friend/bandmate (Layne) battle with addiction and detail their failing artistic relationship as Layne's condition worsens. No Excuses is almost upbeat sounding musically, which is a relief as it lets you rise up again after the harrowing first three songs, however its lyrics retain the same darkness. ![]() I Sat Away is yet another very lyrically simplistic song with very unnerving vocal melodies, specifically in the chorus, and an extremely powerful refrain. I Stay Away and No Excuses are a bit more upbeat than the first two songs, which makes sense since they are the singles. This song, yet again written by Layne, is truly straight from the heart and soul as it describes how helpless he feels against his addiction as he (and the media) watches himself fail, boldly stating "if I can't be my own, I'd feel better dead." Absolutely the most bold statement from Layne and, despite the song's simplistic nature, possibly his defining moment as a songwriter and singer. This song is infamously depressing and is often considered the saddest song ever written and performed, and it quite honestly lives up to this. Nutshell is the second song on the EP and is, without a doubt, the most heavy hitting song the band ever wrote. This is the longest song on the EP and it uses a bluesy sound as well as monotone and odd vocal melodies to almost set anxiety off in the listener. Opening song Rotten Apple deals with this exact situation - a narrative of the descent into drug addiction. ![]() Layne was spiraling down into the qualms of addiction and depression, and his lyrics give you just about the deepest and most personal inside look you can get. ![]() However, none of this could apply to Alice in Chains's Jar of Flies EP in any way.Īfter releasing their breakthrough "grunge" (but really heavy metal) masterpiece Dirt, where did the band decide to go next? Instead of going the commercial route and dumbing down their sound to make a typical upbeat alternative record, they released another acoustic EP filled with the absolute darkest and most depressing music they had ever made, and still haven't beat. I usually don't give EPs that much attention and, quite frankly, they almost never hold a candle to band's full length releases, as there are either too few songs or they simply aren't of the quality that you'd find on a LP.
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