Dirt by Alice in Chains (CD, Sep-1992, Columbia (USA))

Dirt is the second studio album by the American Alternative Metal band Alice in Chains. The album was released on September 29, 1992 through Columbia Records. Dirt was produced by the band and Dave Jerden. Debuting at number six on the Billboard 200, the album received generally favorable critical reviews and has been certified 4× platinum by the RIAA.

Many of the lyrics contained within the album deal with depression and drug abuse. Five singles were released from the album, "Would?", "Them Bones", "Rooster", "Angry Chair", and "Down in a Hole". Dirt is often considered by critics and fans as Alice in Chains' best work.
Cantrell had stated that this album was the band's best work and most intense work, and that they all intentionally for years wanted to make a "brutal" record. Six songs on the album were about heroin, including "Sickman", "Junkhead", "Dirt", "God Smack", "Hate to Feel" and "Angry Chair".

Dirt began recording in the spring of 1992. Producer, Dave Jerden was determined to work with Alice In Chains again, as well as vocalist, Layne Staley and lead guitarist, Jerry Cantrell, he truly admired Staley's vocals and Cantrell's riffs and lyrics. For the songs "Them Bones", "Rain When I Die", "Down In A Hole, "Dirt" and "Would?", Cantrell brought in his Black Gibson Les Paul and an amplifier he had bought when he was 17 which had a faster and much raunchier distortion than any amp he used in the past. Layne Staley had recently met Kurt Cobain, and Cobain had showed him some vocal techniques Cobain had used on Nirvana's Nevermind album.

When recording the album, Staley had previuosly checked out of rehab in Portland, Oregon and quickly went back to using heroin. Sean Kinney claimed in a 2005 interview that Staley had told Kinney that he was extremely high on heroin and marijuana during the recordings of Down In A Hole and Angry Chair as well as taking Oxycodone for back pain on every other song on the album, Cantrell had also agreed with Kinney's report, saying that Staley, Jerden and the rest of the band would smoke marijuana in the studio room, even saying that Staley would shoot heroin in front of everyone.

For the bands cover design, Layne Staley provided the artwork, even painting his girlfriend Demri Parrott on the cover, when approaching the band with the design they quickly agreed with it. In June 1992, the albums post-production was complete and the album was 100% complete by the end of June.

Pick it up, this is a classic.

This recording is widely considered to be the masterpiece of the Seattle grunge band, Alice in Chains.

Every track is so utterly perfect, both compositionally and musically. Alice's deep, dark, heavy, brooding lyrics sound so beautiful and melodic that you'll be a major fan before the end of the CD. Jerry Cantrell's heavy, sludgy guitar riffs combine so beautifully and perfectly with Layne Staley's vocals....the only thing that comes to mind in comparison is Lennon and McCartney. My favorite tracks are "Would?" "Angry Chair," and, finally, "Down in a Hole," which is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard in my entire life. That track is so full of despair yet so upliftingly beautiful.

I would like to add that this is my second purchase of "Dirt." I played the first one till it died an untimely death. It is now forever recorded in my computer....for all time......

This was the best Alice 'n' Chains CD ever!! Well that's one man's opinion anyway.. I saw this tour after hearing this CD at least 45 times ( Honestly ) and of coarse the radio playing the song ( Rooster ) over & over & over again.. I believe the song Rooster was written by Jerry Cantrell about a close relation to him that went to Vietnam.. Well that's what I heard anyway... Everything on this CD is typical of the time and place of that sound. Plus, all of this CD is going to be around for a long time...

If you like Alice in Chains, or just any old good rock-n-roll, this is a CD worth listening to. This will give you a look into the complicated, disturbed mind of Jerry Cantrell, the gifted writer that made this band what it is. His songwriting is painfully personal and at the same time beautiful. This CD has some incredible songs, along with some just OK songs, but all part of the magic that is Alice in Chains. A must have!

I bought this album because I liked their first album. This is by far their best album. Them Bones and Rooster are hard driving rock songs with the signature dark sound that is Alice in Chains and embodies the Seattle Sound of the 90's.