As an album, Jar of Flies is a little different from a lot of the other music I listen to. In fact, when I told a friend I had been listening to Alice in Chains, she said multiple times how shocked she was. However, especially recently, this album has been one of my favorites. It flows nicely, and I enjoy listening to it when I need to relax or focus on getting work done. While writing this review, I learned a lot about the songs themselves and their meaning overall. I have gained some knowledge and perspective that I hope to continue growing. Alice in Chains did an incredible job on this piece of music, and I truly enjoy every single tune from Jar of Flies.
“Rotten Apple”
The first track from Jar of Flies is “Rotten Apple.” This is one of the first ever Alice in Chains songs I remember listening to. Although I haven’t been listening to them for very long, this is one of my favorites. It starts subtly and slowly with an acoustic guitar riff that I love. Then, they add a layer of guitar which, after some research, I found uses a talk box. The talk box gives it that unique sound that almost feels like the guitar is literally speaking to you. This intro is so unique and special. The way that it is recorded makes me feel like I can just melt into the instruments and lyrics. After the instrumental intro, the lyrics are added in.
Musically, the verses are quite repetitive, but I think that this nature makes sense within the song’s context. “Rotten Apple” is about drug addiction and the temptation that comes with that addiction. The repetition portrays the cyclical nature of a relapse. Within these repetitive verses, lyrics like “Innocence is over” and “Confidence is broken” reveal the reality of a lot of drug abuse, which can lead to the loss of so-called innocence, especially if started at a young age, and the loss of self-confidence and self-respect. It continues into the chorus, which is by far my favorite part. The transition from verse to chorus makes me feel like I am falling and am immersed in the song itself.
The chorus is still calm overall, although slightly less than the verses. The lyrics of the chorus detail the drug user’s feelings about their own addiction. The first line, “What I see is unreal,” shows that the person knows that they are slightly detached from reality, while the next line, “I’ve written my own part,” focuses on how they know they have done this to themselves. The next lines, “Eat of the apple so young, I’m crawling back to start,” convey the cycle of relapse and how, once again, the person is starting over. The music also slows down on the last line, giving extra emphasis to “crawling back to start,” which feels like they are actually crawling back. The way this tune can show that kind of emotion to the audience is incredible to me. The second and third verses are very similar to the first, detailing elements of drug abuse and its consequences. “Rotten Apple” overall feels quite melancholy. It is almost monotone, which further emphasizes that same cyclical, repetitive feeling.
“Nutshell”
In all honesty, “Nutshell” is almost just like “Rotten Apple.” It also starts with a calm guitar that continues throughout the song, and it is also about drug addiction. I do like “Nutshell” overall, but I think the public overplaying it has slightly ruined it for me. Lyrics like “I fight this battle all alone. No one to cry to, no place to call home” only continue to place the idea of self-isolation and lack of self-respect because of drug use into the listener’s mind. “Nutshell” as a whole is not anything super special. It is a great track with a very dark meaning. I appreciate that it is cohesive, not only with “Rotten Apple,” but with the album as well. The guitar solo during the bridge is cool. I feel like it is rare to hear an electric guitar played with such passion and emotion, especially over such a calm and sad song. However, outside of that, I do not have a ton to say about “Nutshell.”
“I Stay Away”
The next tune, “I Stay Away,” is my favorite song off of Jar of Flies by a landslide. Every time I listen to it, I have a newfound appreciation for it. The intro guitar riff is so amazing that it makes me excited to listen to the rest of the track. When the vocals come in, they have the signature Alice in Chains sound of harmonies that have an eerie and gravelly sound to them. The verses are simple and short and I simply just adore the chorus. The way the lyrics are sung makes it feel like they are being pulled like taffy. The vocals leave the listener with an unsettling and haunting feeling. The bridge and ending of “I Stay Away,” where the lyrics are, make up some of my favorite bits of the entirety of Jar of Flies. They are built up with guitar and strings in the background, making “I Stay Away” so beautiful and interesting. Not to mention the guitar solo during the bridge, which is one of the best, if not the best, on the album in my opinion. Honestly, the string instruments during these sections of “I Stay Away” are so beautiful to me. I love the addition and how they are incorporated into the music. I think it is so unique and cool, especially in the rock and grunge style that they use.
“No Excuses”
Following “I Stay Away” is “No Excuses.” This is where I started to notice that the album feels like it is grouped in pairs. “Rotten Apple” and “Nutshell” are a duo. Both are about drug addiction and have a relatively similar feel. Then, “I Stay Away” and “No Excuses” are both about relationships and the struggles within them. They also have a similar musical build to me. This continues through the rest of the record. I enjoy “No Excuses” greatly, and it is probably my second favorite. The backing guitar riff is cool, and I like how it builds into the chorus. In a way, this song also seems to tie together the two halves of the album. It incorporates the idea of drug use as mentioned a lot in the first half, but it also focuses on relationships like the second half. This also feels like the peak of the mountain from Jar of Flies in a way. “I Stay Away” and “No Excuses” are definitely the most upbeat and the loudest tunes on this record. Before this pair, songs are building up, and after it feels like they are slowly working their way back down. Overall, I really like this song not only for the musical aspects but because of the meaning and the effect it has on the rest of the album’s flow.
“Whale & Wasp”
Similar to “No Excuses,” “Whale & Wasp” seems to very much be a transition. Unlike the rest of the tracks, this is a completely instrumental song. It utilizes strings, acoustic guitars, and an eerie electric guitar that truly sounds like a whale’s sound. Out of all the tracks from Jar of Flies I think that this one is named the best. The way the instruments work with each other genuinely sounds like the noises of a whale and a wasp. However, together they create a beautiful piece of music that is majestic and unique.
“Don’t Follow”
“Don’t Follow” is the song that I would pair with “Whale & Wasp,” continuing my thoughts that this album comes in pairs. It is also slower and more acoustic than many other tunes on Jar of Flies. Instead of electric guitars and heavier drums in the background, “Don’t Follow” has a prettier acoustic guitar. It also continues to explore relational struggles and feelings. The lyrics describe someone leaving their friendships to walk their life alone. At this point, I started to realize just how sad a lot of the songs from Jar of Flies actually are. Most of them are about addiction and relationships that are struggling. When I listen to this album, I am not usually listening super hard to the lyrics, so it hadn’t always occurred to me how deep and meaningful the songs are. A little over halfway through “Don’t Follow,” it does pick back up with some drums and a more upbeat feel. The harmonica picks up, and the lyrics become a little louder. I think this is to transition better into the last tune on the album. Because there is not an even number, there cannot be an even number of pairs, but the last three songs flow very nicely together.
“Swing on This”
“Swing on This” starts with a slower, quieter bassline that continues the bluesy feel from “Don’t Follow.” It quickly transitions into a faster, harmony-filled tune, similar to “I Stay Away” or “No Excuses.” I think that “Swing on This” is a perfect end to this album. It ties everything together in a way. It incorporates musical elements like the harmonies, drums, guitars, and bass that are similar to the other songs. But the meaning is once again quite cohesive with the rest of the record. After doing some research, I found that the lyrics detail a drug addict’s refusal, struggle, and resistance to rehabilitation. This incorporates not only the drug theme but also that of relational struggles. One of the reasons I love this album so much is because of that cohesiveness. I know exactly what I am putting on and what the energy is going to be the whole time. I basically never put it on shuffle because of the flow and storyline of it.
Ultimately, Jar of Flies is a super unique album to me. I love how cohesive it is as a whole and the incorporation of themes in every song. Whether those themes are musical or within the meaning, each tune flows together and works within the piece as a whole. On some albums, a piece often doesn’t quite fit. But Alice in Chains does an incredible job of having each song feel like it belongs on the album. I have enjoyed listening to and will definitely listen to Jar of Flies often in the future. Plus, writing about it and analyzing it as a full piece of work has given me a new perspective on this record that I look forward to continuing to discover.