A reissue of the legendary acoustic EP Jar of Flies by American rock band Alice in Chains, celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The original album was recorded in 1994 at Seattle's London Bridge Studios, during a break in the Dirt tour. All songs were conceived and recorded in the studio over the course of seven days. Toby Wright, known for his work with Metallica and Mötley Crüe, served as engineer and co-producer.
The EP, named after guitarist Jerry Cantrell's high school experiment, was stylistically different from Alice in Chains' previous albums and stood out from the rest of the grunge scene. While the band had previously played heavy metal inspired by bands of the late 1960s, the new record was predominantly acoustic, offering a wide variety of styles—from acoustic rock and blues-rock to folk music and jazz. For the first time, Alice in Chains featured an instrumental composition, as well as strings and a harmonica.
Jar of Flies became the first EP in music history to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The album was certified quadruple platinum in the US, double platinum in Canada, and silver in the UK. Over time, Jar of Flies has earned its status as one of the most influential grunge albums, showcasing the creative diversity of Seattle bands.
Tracklist:
- A1 Rotten Apple 6:56
- A2 Nutshell 4:16
- A3 I Stay Away 4:13
- A4 No Excuses 4:15
- B1 Whale & Wasp 2:35
- B2 Don't Follow 4:21
- B3 Swing On This 4:01
