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Jar of Flies

by Alice in Chains

Released: January 25, 1994

Acoustic rock, grunge, hard rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Genre Shift.

The Album

"Jar of Flies" is the third studio EP by the American rock band Alice in Chains, released on January 25, 1994, through Columbia Records. The album has a distinctively moody and acoustic style, which is a departure from the hard rock style of the band's previous albums. Despite the hurried writing process, "Jar of Flies" is often noted for its introspective lyrics and harmonized vocals.

Inside the Recording

The album was written and recorded in one week, a decision spurred by the band's need to decompress after their extensive, grueling tour for the previous album, "Dirt".

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

This marks the band's first record featuring bassist…

This marks the band's first record featuring bassist Mike Inez.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies

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Then

Reception

Reception to the album was largely positive, with critics praising the band's experimentation and maturity in their songwriting. Upon its release, "Jar of Flies" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming the first-ever EP—and the first Alice in Chains release—to top the charts. The album spawned two top 10 hits on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, "No Excuses" and "I Stay Away".

Now

Legacy

Despite its brevity, "Jar of Flies" is often considered one of the defining albums of the 1990s alternative rock movement, highlighting Alice in Chains' unique blend of grunge and heavy metal.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Jar of Flies" is the third studio EP by the American rock band Alice in Chains, released on January 25, 1994, through Columbia Records. This marks the band's first record featuring bassist Mike Inez. The album has a distinctively moody and acoustic style, which is a departure from the hard rock style of the band's previous albums.

The album was written and recorded in one week, a decision spurred by the band's need to decompress after their extensive, grueling tour for the previous album, "Dirt". Despite the hurried writing process, "Jar of Flies" is often noted for its introspective lyrics and harmonized vocals.

Upon its release, "Jar of Flies" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming the first-ever EP—and the first Alice in Chains release—to top the charts. It was given double-platinum certification, and it has gone on to become one of the band's best-selling releases to date. The album spawned two top 10 hits on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, "No Excuses" and "I Stay Away".

Reception to the album was largely positive, with critics praising the band's experimentation and maturity in their songwriting. Despite its brevity, "Jar of Flies" is often considered one of the defining albums of the 1990s alternative rock movement, highlighting Alice in Chains' unique blend of grunge and heavy metal.