(10) Alice In Chains - Jar Of Flies (1994)

“Jar Of Flies” is the third studio EP by the Seattle, Washington grunge band Alice in Chains, released on January 25, 1994 through Columbia Records.

Following Alice in Chains' extensive 1993 world tour for Dirt and appearance at Lollapalooza, the band members returned home to Seattle to find themselves evicted from their residence after failing to pay the rent. The band then moved into London Bridge Studio feeling lonely and depressed. Vocalist Layne Staley said the band "just wanted to go into the studio for a few days with our acoustic guitars and see what happened." "We never really planned on the music we made at that time to be released. But the record label heard it and they really liked it. For us, it was just the experience of four guys getting together in the studio and making some music."

Written and recorded in one week in September 1993, Jar of Flies was produced by the band members themselves. Jar of Flies marks the first album with bassist Mike Inez. Guitarist Jerry Cantrell said, "That was the first time we'd written with Mike Inez...The whole Jar of Flies EP proved to both us and the fans what a talented and valid part of the band Mike was. He plays the nastiest, darkest shit but he's got the sweetest heart in the world."

Jar of Flies debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP—and first Alice in Chains release—to top the charts. Paul Evans of Rolling Stone called the EP "darkly gorgeous", and Steve Huey stated "Jar of Flies is a low-key stunner, achingly gorgeous and harrowingly sorrowful all at once". Jar of Flies features Alice in Chains' only number one single on the Mainstream Rock charts, "No Excuses". The second single, "I Stay Away", reached number ten on the Mainstream rock charts, while the final single "Don't Follow", reached number 25. After the release of Jar of Flies, Layne Staley entered rehab for heroin addiction. The band was scheduled to tour during the summer of 1994 with Metallica and Suicidal Tendencies, but while in rehearsal for the tour, Staley began using heroin again. Staley's condition prompted the other band members to cancel all scheduled dates one day before the start of the tour, putting the band on hiatus.

All lyrics written by Layne Staley, except where noted.

Track listing
01. "Rotten Apple" (Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez) - 6:58
02. "Nutshell" (Cantrell, Inez, Sean Kinney) - 4:19
03. "I Stay Away" (Cantrell, Inez) - 4:14
04. "No Excuses" (Cantrell Cantrell) - 4:15
05. "Whale & Wasp" (Cantrell) - 2:37
06. "Don't Follow" (Cantrell Cantrell) - 4:22
07. "Swing on This" (Cantrell, Inez, Kinney) - 4:04

Personnel
Layne Staley – lead vocals
Jerry Cantrell – guitars, vocals
Mike Inez – bass, guitar, additional vocals
Sean Kinney – drums, percussion
Toby Wright – engineer
April Acevez – viola
Rebecca Clemons-Smith – violin
Matthew Weiss – violin
Justine Foy – violoncello
David Atkinson – harmonica
Randy Biro – additional vocals
Darrel Peters – additional vocals

Released: January 25, 1994 (1994-01-25)
Recorded: September 7 - 14 1993 at London Bridge Studio in Seattle, Washington
Length 30:49
Genre: Acoustic, blues-rock, grunge
Label: Columbia Records
Producer: Alice in Chains