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{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
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'''''Jar of Flies''''' is the third studio [[Extended Play|EP]] by American [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Alice in Chains]]. It was released on January 25, 1994, by [[Columbia Records]]. The band's second acoustic EP, after 1992's ''[[Sap (EP)|Sap]]'', it was the first EP in music history to debut at No. 1 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, with the first week sales exceeding 141,000 copies in the United States. The self-produced record was written and recorded over the course of just one week at the [[London Bridge Studio]] in [[Seattle]]. The tracks "[[No Excuses (Alice in Chains song)|No Excuses]]", "[[I Stay Away]]" and "[[Don't Follow]]" were released as singles to promote the EP. ''Jar of Flies'' was nominated for two [[Grammy Awards]] in 1995: [[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package|Best Recording Package]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance|Best Hard Rock Performance]] for "I Stay Away".
'''''Jar of Flies''''' is the third studio [[Extended Play|EP]] by American [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Alice in Chains]]. It was released on January 25, 1994, by [[Columbia Records]]. The band's second acoustic EP, after 1992's ''[[Sap (EP)|Sap]]'', it was the first acoustic EP in music history to debut at No. 1 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, with the first week sales exceeding 141,000 copies in the United States. The self-produced record was written and recorded over the course of just one week at the [[London Bridge Studio]] in [[Seattle]]. The tracks "[[No Excuses (Alice in Chains song)|No Excuses]]", "[[I Stay Away]]" and "[[Don't Follow]]" were released as singles to promote the EP. ''Jar of Flies'' was nominated for two [[Grammy Awards]] in 1995: [[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package|Best Recording Package]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance|Best Hard Rock Performance]] for "I Stay Away".


The EP was well received by critics and has been certified quadruple platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA), making ''Jar of Flies'' one of the band's most successful releases. In Canada, ''Jar of Flies'' was certified double platinum for sales of 200,000 copies. In the United Kingdom, the album was certified silver after selling 60,000 copies there.
The EP was well received by critics and has been certified quadruple platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA), making ''Jar of Flies'' one of the band's most successful releases. In Canada, ''Jar of Flies'' was certified double platinum for sales of 200,000 copies. In the United Kingdom, the album was certified silver after selling 60,000 copies there.
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The first session took place on September 7, 1993.{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=207}} 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."<ref name="Layne talks Jar of Flies">{{cite magazine|url=http://users.stargate.net/~holliday/INT4.HTM|title=Alice in Chains: A Step Beyond Layne's World|last=Andrews|first=Rob|magazine=[[Hit Parader]]|date=June 1994|access-date=January 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908104541/http://users.stargate.net/~holliday/INT4.HTM|archive-date=September 8, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album's sessions lasted 14–18 hours a day,{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=207}} and recording was complete within seven days.{{Sfn|Prato|2009|p=405}} Assistant engineer Jonathan Plum described the sessions as "exhaustive".{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=207}} The album was recorded on tape on a Neve 80-68 [[mixing console]] because Wright wanted the album's acoustic sound to be as natural as possible. Staley instructed that [[Pro Tools]] not be used within the studio; as Wright explained, "Layne absolutely had a working knowledge of his sonic preferences in the studio - and felt analog sounded better for the band's sound."{{Sfn|Brown|2010}} The album's tracks were mostly recorded within one or two takes.{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=208}}
The first session took place on September 7, 1993.{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=207}} 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."<ref name="Layne talks Jar of Flies">{{cite magazine|url=http://users.stargate.net/~holliday/INT4.HTM|title=Alice in Chains: A Step Beyond Layne's World|last=Andrews|first=Rob|magazine=[[Hit Parader]]|date=June 1994|access-date=January 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908104541/http://users.stargate.net/~holliday/INT4.HTM|archive-date=September 8, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album's sessions lasted 14–18 hours a day,{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=207}} and recording was complete within seven days.{{Sfn|Prato|2009|p=405}} Assistant engineer Jonathan Plum described the sessions as "exhaustive".{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=207}} The album was recorded on tape on a Neve 80-68 [[mixing console]] because Wright wanted the album's acoustic sound to be as natural as possible. Staley instructed that [[Pro Tools]] not be used within the studio; as Wright explained, "Layne absolutely had a working knowledge of his sonic preferences in the studio - and felt analog sounded better for the band's sound."{{Sfn|Brown|2010}} The album's tracks were mostly recorded within one or two takes.{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=208}}


The album's acoustic guitar sound was particularly focused on. Wright recalled that "at some points we [[Overdubbing|overdubbed]] some acoustics with micing those acoustics, but when they were recording live off the floor, I'd use whatever [[Pickup (music technology)|pick-ups]] [Cantrell] had in his guitars at the time, trying to keep that sound as close to acoustic-sounding as possible. So that it sounded like it was an acoustic guitar instead of an [[Acoustic-electric guitar|electrified acoustic guitar]]." Cantrell played using [[Ovation Guitar Company|Ovation]] guitars during the album's sessions. To reflect the recording's acoustic climate, Kinney sometimes used [[Percussion mallet#Brushes|brushes]] to obtain a softer feel. [[AKG (company)|AKG 414]] [[microphone]]s were used for overhead registration, while D-12s were used for the floor and rack toms, and [[Sennheiser MD 421]]s were placed on the kick drum. 451s and 57s were mounted on the top side of the snare drum, while a 441 was fitted on the bottom side.{{Sfn|Brown|2010}}
The album's acoustic guitar sound was particularly focused on. Wright recalled that "at some points we [[Overdubbing|overdubbed]] some acoustics with micing those acoustics, but when they were recording live off the floor, I'd use whatever [[Pickup (music technology)|pick-ups]] [Cantrell] had in his guitars at the time, trying to keep that sound as close to acoustic-sounding as possible. So that it sounded like it was an acoustic guitar instead of an [[Acoustic-electric guitar|electrified acoustic guitar]]." Cantrell played using [[Ovation Guitar Company|Ovation]] guitars during the album's sessions. To reflect the recording's acoustic climate, Kinney sometimes used [[Percussion mallet#Brushes|brushes]] to obtain a softer feel. [[AKG (company)|AKG 414]] [[microphone]]s were used for overhead registration, while D-12s were used for the floor and rack toms, and [[Sennheiser MD 421]]s were placed on the kick drum. 451s and 57s were mounted on the top side of the snare drum, while a 441 was fitted on the bottom side.{{Sfn|Brown|2010}}


The characteristic [[Syncopation|syncopated]] drum opening in "No Excuses" was a result of Kinney's [[Musical improvisation|improvised]] experimentation with side-stick drumming. Wright was not an advocate of the technique and said that they "eventually wound up with some [[Bongo drum|bongos]] and some smaller drums set up over the [[hi-hat]] that we incorporated into that [[Groove (music)|groove]]."{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=208}} Staley wrote much of the album's lyrics within the studio and arranged the album's vocal harmonies. Wright recalled the pace of Staley's work as quick, and that the vocal tracks were recorded within one or two takes via a [[Georg Neumann|Neumann M-49]] microphone.{{Sfn|Brown|2010}} Cantrell performed the lead vocals in the track "Don't Follow".{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=209}} Wright described Cantrell as an "awesome" singer, and stressed that "you couldn't have done all those harmonies without him."{{Sfn|Brown|2010}} The album's sessions concluded on September 14. Wright mixed the album at Scream Studios in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] from September 17–22.{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=207}}
The characteristic [[Syncopation|syncopated]] drum opening in "No Excuses" was a result of Kinney's [[Musical improvisation|improvised]] experimentation with side-stick drumming. Wright was not an advocate of the technique and said that they "eventually wound up with some [[Bongo drum|bongos]] and some smaller drums set up over the [[hi-hat]] that we incorporated into that [[Groove (music)|groove]]."{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=208}} Staley wrote much of the album's lyrics within the studio and arranged the album's vocal harmonies. Wright recalled the pace of Staley's work as quick, and that the vocal tracks were recorded within one or two takes via a [[Georg Neumann|Neumann M-49]] microphone.{{Sfn|Brown|2010}} Cantrell performed the lead vocals in the track "Don't Follow".{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=209}} Wright described Cantrell as an "awesome" singer, and stressed that "you couldn't have done all those harmonies without him."{{Sfn|Brown|2010}} The album's sessions concluded on September 14. Wright mixed the album at Scream Studios in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] from September 17–22.{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=207}}
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[[Rocky Schenck]] photographed the album cover in his dining room on September 8, 1993. As he recalled, "The band had come up with the idea for the title and wanted the cover to be a young boy looking into a jar filled with flies. I remember they asked me to use 'crazy colors' in the shot, so I utilized lots of different gels over the lights to achieve the final look." Schenck's assistant took several trips to a nearby horse stable where he caught hundreds of flies using a butterfly net.{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=209}} On January 27, 2019, two days following the album's 25th anniversary, Schenck published rare outtakes from the album cover shoot on his [[Instagram]] account and said that he has forgotten the name of the kid on the cover.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/culture/alice-chains-jar-flies-see-rare-outtakes-ep-cover-shoot|title=Alice In Chains' 'Jar of Flies': See Rare Outtakes From EP Cover Shoot|website=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]|date=January 28, 2019|access-date=April 2, 2019}}</ref>
[[Rocky Schenck]] photographed the album cover in his dining room on September 8, 1993. As he recalled, "The band had come up with the idea for the title and wanted the cover to be a young boy looking into a jar filled with flies. I remember they asked me to use 'crazy colors' in the shot, so I utilized lots of different gels over the lights to achieve the final look." Schenck's assistant took several trips to a nearby horse stable where he caught hundreds of flies using a butterfly net.{{Sfn|de Sola|2015|p=209}} On January 27, 2019, two days following the album's 25th anniversary, Schenck published rare outtakes from the album cover shoot on his [[Instagram]] account and said that he has forgotten the name of the kid on the cover.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/culture/alice-chains-jar-flies-see-rare-outtakes-ep-cover-shoot|title=Alice In Chains' 'Jar of Flies': See Rare Outtakes From EP Cover Shoot|website=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]|date=January 28, 2019|access-date=April 2, 2019}}</ref>


The first pressing of the compact disc for <i>Jar of Flies</i> included plastic flies visible on the front view of the clear spine.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pnvTdlmrxIIC&pg=PA126 | title=Alice in Chains }}</ref> It earned a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package. <ref>https://www.grammy.com/awards/37th-annual-grammy-awards</ref> The record received a multi-format reissue for its 30th anniversary in 2024. One of them was a vinyl record with the carcasses of real flies pressed into it and limited to 100 copies.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/alice-in-chains-reissue-jar-of-flies-on-vinyl-filled-with-real-dead-flies-3578819 | title=Alice in Chains reissue 'Jar of Flies' on vinyl – filled with real dead flies | website=[[NME]] | date=January 29, 2024 }}</ref>
The first pressing of the compact disc for ''Jar of Flies'' included plastic flies visible on the front view of the clear spine.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pnvTdlmrxIIC&pg=PA126 | title=Alice in Chains }}</ref> It earned a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package.<ref>https://www.grammy.com/awards/37th-annual-grammy-awards {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> The record received a multi-format reissue for its 30th anniversary in 2024. One of them was a vinyl record with the carcasses of real flies pressed into it and limited to 100 copies.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/alice-in-chains-reissue-jar-of-flies-on-vinyl-filled-with-real-dead-flies-3578819 | title=Alice in Chains reissue 'Jar of Flies' on vinyl – filled with real dead flies | website=[[NME]] | date=January 29, 2024 }}</ref>


==Release and reception==
==Release and reception==
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| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Alice in Chains: Jar of Flies|magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|issue=89|page=93|date=February 1994}}</ref>
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Alice in Chains: Jar of Flies|magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|issue=89|page=93|date=February 1994}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RS"/>
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="RS"/>
| rev9 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev9 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor1-link=Nathan Brackett|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-link=Christian Hoard|title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide#Fourth edition (2004)|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]]|edition=4th|year=2004|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/13 13]|chapter=Alice in Chains}}</ref>
| rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor1-link=Nathan Brackett|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|editor2-link=Christian Hoard|title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide#Fourth edition (2004)|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]]|edition=4th|year=2004|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/13 13]|chapter=Alice in Chains}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev10 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev10score = {{Rating|8|10}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Arnold|first=Gina|author-link=Gina Arnold|editor1-last=Weisbard|editor1-first=Eric|editor1-link=Eric Weisbard|editor2-last=Marks|editor2-first=Craig|title=[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]|year=1995|publisher=[[Vintage Books]]|isbn=0-679-75574-8|pages=10–11|chapter=Alice in Chains}}</ref>
| rev10score = 8/10<ref>{{cite book|last=Arnold|first=Gina|author-link=Gina Arnold|editor1-last=Weisbard|editor1-first=Eric|editor1-link=Eric Weisbard|editor2-last=Marks|editor2-first=Craig|title=[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]|year=1995|publisher=[[Vintage Books]]|isbn=0-679-75574-8|pages=10–11|chapter=Alice in Chains}}</ref>
}}
}}


''Jar of Flies'' was released on January 25, 1994, by [[Columbia Records]]. The album was promoted by two singles, "No Excuses" and "I Stay Away", both of which received music videos. "No Excuses" reached #1 on the [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Album Rock Tracks]] chart, becoming the first single by the band to do so.<ref>{{cite book|last=Henderson|first=Justin|title=Grunge: Seattle|year=2016|publisher=Roaring Forties Press|isbn=978-1938901546|pages=84, 95}}</ref><ref name="Singles1"/> Cantrell admitted that "we couldn't believe that it did so well," and that "the success of ''Jar of Flies'' showed us that we could do what we liked and that other people would like it too."<ref name="GuitarWorld99"/> A limited edition [[Enhanced CD]] was produced. This version of the album includes a lyric sheet, a biography and discography of the band, the music videos for "No Excuses" and "I Stay Away" and fragments of interviews with the musicians.{{Sfn|Brown|2010}} In addition, 2,500 copies were made of a double EP including ''Jar of Flies'' and ''Sap''.<ref name="BandCalledAlice"/><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Summers|first=Jodi|title=Jarring the World|magazine=Hit Parader|page=51|issn=0162-0266|date=May 1994}}</ref>
''Jar of Flies'' was released on January 25, 1994, by [[Columbia Records]]. The album was promoted by two singles, "No Excuses" and "I Stay Away", both of which received music videos. "No Excuses" reached #1 on the [[Mainstream Rock (chart)|Album Rock Tracks]] chart, becoming the first single by the band to do so.<ref>{{cite book|last=Henderson|first=Justin|title=Grunge: Seattle|year=2016|publisher=Roaring Forties Press|isbn=978-1938901546|pages=84, 95}}</ref><ref name="Singles1">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/alice-in-chains/chart-history/rtt/|title=Alice in Chains Chart History (Mainstream Rock)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref> Cantrell admitted that "we couldn't believe that it did so well," and that "the success of ''Jar of Flies'' showed us that we could do what we liked and that other people would like it too."<ref name="GuitarWorld99"/> A limited edition [[Enhanced CD]] was produced. This version of the album includes a lyric sheet, a biography and discography of the band, the music videos for "No Excuses" and "I Stay Away" and fragments of interviews with the musicians.{{Sfn|Brown|2010}} In addition, 2,500 copies were made of a double EP including ''Jar of Flies'' and ''Sap''.<ref name="BandCalledAlice"/><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Summers|first=Jodi|title=Jarring the World|magazine=Hit Parader|page=51|issn=0162-0266|date=May 1994}}</ref>


The album entered the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart at number one;<ref name="bb"/> with first week sales of over 141,000 copies, becoming the first ever EP and first Alice in Chains release to top the charts.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8356896/kanye-west-albums-seven-tracks-classic-albums|title=Kanye West Announces 7-Song Album: Here Are 17 Other Classic Albums With Only 7 Tracks|last=Enos|first=Morgan|magazine=Billboard|date=April 19, 2018|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> It was the only EP ever to gain this distinction until 2004, when the ''[[Collision Course (EP)|Collision Course]]'' [[mashup (music)|mashup]] EP by [[Jay-Z]] and [[Linkin Park]] also achieved the number one spot ten years later,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1494614/jay-zs-retirement-gets-even-richer-as-collision-course-debuts-at-1/|title=Jay-Z's Retirement Gets Even Richer As Collision Course Debuts At #1|last=Dangelo|first=Joe|website=[[MTV]]|date=December 8, 2004|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> and [[Bad Meets Evil]]'s EP ''[[Hell: The Sequel]]'' in 2011.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/470157/eminem-royce-da-59-debut-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-with-bad-meets-evil-ep|title=Eminem & Royce da 5'9" Debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 with Bad Meets Evil EP|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|magazine=Billboard|date=June 22, 2011|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> ''Jar of Flies'' has sold 2,037,853 copies during its first year<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattleweekly.com/2001-05-02/news/21-bestselling-records-by-seattle-artists/|title=21 Bestselling records by Seattle artists|last=A. Martin|first=Richard|newspaper=[[Seattle Weekly]]|date=October 6, 2006|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> and was later certified triple platinum in 1995 and quadruple platinum in 2022.<ref name=RIAA/>
The album entered the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart at number one;<ref name="bb"/> with first week sales of over 141,000 copies, becoming the first ever EP and first Alice in Chains release to top the charts.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8356896/kanye-west-albums-seven-tracks-classic-albums|title=Kanye West Announces 7-Song Album: Here Are 17 Other Classic Albums With Only 7 Tracks|last=Enos|first=Morgan|magazine=Billboard|date=April 19, 2018|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> It was the only EP ever to gain this distinction until 2004, when the ''[[Collision Course (EP)|Collision Course]]'' [[mashup (music)|mashup]] EP by [[Jay-Z]] and [[Linkin Park]] also achieved the number one spot ten years later,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1494614/jay-zs-retirement-gets-even-richer-as-collision-course-debuts-at-1/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106173847/http://www.mtv.com/news/1494614/jay-zs-retirement-gets-even-richer-as-collision-course-debuts-at-1/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 6, 2017|title=Jay-Z's Retirement Gets Even Richer As Collision Course Debuts At #1|last=Dangelo|first=Joe|website=[[MTV]]|date=December 8, 2004|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> and [[Bad Meets Evil]]'s EP ''[[Hell: The Sequel]]'' in 2011.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/470157/eminem-royce-da-59-debut-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-with-bad-meets-evil-ep|title=Eminem & Royce da 5'9" Debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 with Bad Meets Evil EP|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|magazine=Billboard|date=June 22, 2011|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> ''Jar of Flies'' sold 2,037,853 copies during its first year<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattleweekly.com/2001-05-02/news/21-bestselling-records-by-seattle-artists/|title=21 Bestselling records by Seattle artists|last=A. Martin|first=Richard|newspaper=[[Seattle Weekly]]|date=October 6, 2006|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> and was later certified triple platinum in 1995 and quadruple platinum in 2022.<ref name=RIAA/>


Paul Evans of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' called the EP "darkly gorgeous",<ref name="RS"/> and Steve Huey stated "''Jar of Flies'' is a low-key stunner, achingly gorgeous and harrowingly sorrowful all at once."<ref name="AMG Jar of Flies"/>
Paul Evans of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' called the EP "darkly gorgeous",<ref name="RS"/> and Steve Huey stated "''Jar of Flies'' is a low-key stunner, achingly gorgeous and harrowingly sorrowful all at once."<ref name="AMG Jar of Flies"/>


===Awards and accolades===
===Awards and accolades===
The album was nominated for a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package|Best Recording Package]] in 1995,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1995-01-06/entertainment/ca-17089_1_vocal-performance/5|title=THE 37TH GRAMMY NOMINATIONS|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 6, 1995|access-date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025050609/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-01-06/entertainment/ca-17089_1_vocal-performance/5|archive-date=October 25, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> but lost to Buddy Jackson for "Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys" performed by [[Asleep at the Wheel]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/03/arts/the-1995-grammy-winners.html|title=The 1995 Grammy Winners|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 3, 1995|access-date=January 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612044635/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/03/arts/the-1995-grammy-winners.html|archive-date=June 12, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The single "I Stay Away" was nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance|Best Hard Rock Performance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1995/grammys.htm|title=37th Annual Grammy Awards - 1995|website=Rock On The Net|access-date=December 8, 2007|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526210443/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1995/grammys.htm|archive-date=May 26, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
The album was nominated for a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package|Best Recording Package]] in 1995,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-06-ca-17089-story.html|title=THE 37TH GRAMMY NOMINATIONS|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 6, 1995|access-date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025050609/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-01-06/entertainment/ca-17089_1_vocal-performance/5|archive-date=October 25, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> but lost to Buddy Jackson for "Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys" performed by [[Asleep at the Wheel]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/03/arts/the-1995-grammy-winners.html|title=The 1995 Grammy Winners|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 3, 1995|access-date=January 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612044635/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/03/arts/the-1995-grammy-winners.html|archive-date=June 12, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The single "I Stay Away" was nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance|Best Hard Rock Performance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1995/grammys.htm|title=37th Annual Grammy Awards - 1995|website=Rock On The Net|access-date=December 8, 2007|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526210443/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1995/grammys.htm|archive-date=May 26, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>


In November 2011, ''Jar of Flies'' was ranked No. 4 on ''[[Guitar World]]'' magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/readers-poll-results-top-10-guitar-albums-1994|title=Readers' Poll Results: Top 10 Guitar Albums of 1994|last=Grassi|first=Tony|website=Guitar World|date=November 8, 2011|access-date=January 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117233740/http://www.guitarworld.com/readers-poll-results-top-10-guitar-albums-1994|archive-date=November 17, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
In November 2011, ''Jar of Flies'' was ranked No. 4 on ''[[Guitar World]]'' magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/readers-poll-results-top-10-guitar-albums-1994|title=Readers' Poll Results: Top 10 Guitar Albums of 1994|last=Grassi|first=Tony|website=Guitar World|date=November 8, 2011|access-date=January 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117233740/http://www.guitarworld.com/readers-poll-results-top-10-guitar-albums-1994|archive-date=November 17, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
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==Influence==
==Influence==
''Jar of Flies'' served as inspiration for [[Strung Out]]'s 2018 acoustic EP, ''Black Out the Sky''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.today/P4Ibz|title=DS Exclusive: Jason Cruz on "Black Out The Sky," Strung Out's upcoming dynamite acoustic EP|website=Dying Scene|date=May 10, 2018|access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref>
''Jar of Flies'' served as inspiration for [[Strung Out]]'s 2018 acoustic EP, ''Black Out the Sky''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dyingscene.com/news/ds-exclusive-jason-cruz-on-black-out-the-sky-strung-outs-upcoming-dynamite-acoustic-ep/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20181224164128/https://dyingscene.com/news/ds-exclusive-jason-cruz-on-black-out-the-sky-strung-outs-upcoming-dynamite-acoustic-ep/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-12-24|title=DS Exclusive: Jason Cruz on "Black Out The Sky," Strung Out's upcoming dynamite acoustic EP|website=Dying Scene|date=May 10, 2018|access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref>


[[Cane Hill (band)|Cane Hill]]'s lead vocalist Elijah Witt said that ''Jar of Flies'' was a major influence on the band's 2019 acoustic EP, ''[[Kill the Sun (EP)|Kill the Sun]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thenewfury.com/wordpress/interview-cane-hills-frontman-elijah-witt-on-their-new-ep-pantera/|title=Interview: Cane Hill vocalist Elijah Witt discusses "Kill the Sun", Pantera, and Alice In Chains|last=Bryan|first=Daniel|website=New Fury Media|date=December 5, 2018|access-date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109063810/http://thenewfury.com/wordpress/interview-cane-hills-frontman-elijah-witt-on-their-new-ep-pantera/|archive-date=January 9, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Cane Hill (band)|Cane Hill]]'s lead vocalist Elijah Witt said that ''Jar of Flies'' was a major influence on the band's 2019 acoustic EP, ''[[Kill the Sun (EP)|Kill the Sun]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thenewfury.com/wordpress/interview-cane-hills-frontman-elijah-witt-on-their-new-ep-pantera/|title=Interview: Cane Hill vocalist Elijah Witt discusses "Kill the Sun", Pantera, and Alice In Chains|last=Bryan|first=Daniel|website=New Fury Media|date=December 5, 2018|access-date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109063810/http://thenewfury.com/wordpress/interview-cane-hills-frontman-elijah-witt-on-their-new-ep-pantera/|archive-date=January 9, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
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{{album chart|Canada|5|chartid=2388|access-date=April 10, 2020|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Canada|5|chartid=2388|access-date=April 10, 2020|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Danish Albums ([[IFPI Danmark|IFPI]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-04-02.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=14|page=20|date=April 2, 1994|access-date=April 10, 2020}}</ref>
!scope="row"|Danish Singles ([[IFPI Danmark|IFPI]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-04-02.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=11|issue=14|page=20|date=April 2, 1994|access-date=April 10, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"|5
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{{album chart|Wallonia|82|artist=Alice in Chains|album=Jar of Flies|access-date=March 31, 2024|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Wallonia|82|artist=Alice in Chains|album=Jar of Flies|access-date=March 31, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|-
! scope="row"| Croatian International Albums ([[Top of the Shops|HDU]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-24-tjedan-2024/|title=Lista prodaje 24. tjedan 2024.|date=June 3, 2024|publisher=[[Top of the Shops|HDU]] |language=hr|access-date=June 19, 2024|archive-date=June 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618213236/https://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-24-tjedan-2024/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 15
|-
! scope="row"| Hungarian Physical Albums ([[Association of Hungarian Record Companies|MAHASZ]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2024. 13. hét |url=https://slagerlistak.hu/album-top-40-slagerlista-fizikai-hanghordozok/2024/13 |publisher=[[Association of Hungarian Record Companies|MAHASZ]] |access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref>
| 22
|-
! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums ([[Tónlistinn]])<ref name="ICE">{{cite web | url = https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/ | title = Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 13 – 2024 | publisher = Plötutíðindi | language = is|trans-title=The Music – Albums – Week 13 – 2024|access-date=April 1, 2024|archive-date=April 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401210544/https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 28
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{{album chart|Portugal|80|artist=Alice in Chains|album=Jar of Flies|access-date=April 7, 2024|rowheader=true}}
|}
|}
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==Certifications==
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Jar of Flies''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|artist=Alice in Chains|title=Jar of Flies|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1994|certyear=1994|access-date=February 26, 2017}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|artist=Alice in Chains|title=Jar of Flies|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1994|certyear=1994|access-date=February 26, 2017}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=New Zealand|artist=Alice in Chains|title=Jar of Flies|award=Platinum|relyear=1994|certyear=1994|id=3614|access-date=March 10, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=New Zealand|artist=Alice in Chains|title=Jar of Flies|award=Platinum|relyear=1994|id=1994-06-03|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=1994}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Alice in Chains|title=Jar of Flies|award=Silver|relyear=1994|certyear=1995|id=3475-57-2|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Alice in Chains|title=Jar of Flies|award=Silver|relyear=1994|certyear=1995|id=3475-57-2|access-date=August 14, 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=EP|region=United States|artist=Alice in Chains|title=Jar of Flies|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1994|certyear=2022|access-date=August 14, 2016|refname=RIAA}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=EP|region=United States|artist=Alice in Chains|title=Jar of Flies|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1994|certyear=2022|access-date=August 14, 2016|refname=RIAA}}

Latest revision as of 21:24, 20 November 2024

Jar of Flies
EP by
Alice in Chains
ReleasedJanuary 25, 1994 (1994-01-25)
RecordedSeptember 7–14, 1993[1]
StudioLondon Bridge (Seattle)[1]
Genre
Length30:49
LabelColumbia
ProducerAlice in Chains
Alice in Chains chronology
Dirt
(1992) 		Jar of Flies
(1994) 		Alice in Chains
(1995)
Singles from Jar of Flies
  1. "No Excuses"
    Released: 1994
  2. "I Stay Away"
    Released: March 1994
  3. "Don't Follow"
    Released: October 1994

Jar of Flies is the third studio EP by American rock band Alice in Chains. It was released on January 25, 1994, by Columbia Records. The band's second acoustic EP, after 1992's Sap, it was the first acoustic EP in music history to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, with the first week sales exceeding 141,000 copies in the United States. The self-produced record was written and recorded over the course of just one week at the London Bridge Studio in Seattle. The tracks "No Excuses", "I Stay Away" and "Don't Follow" were released as singles to promote the EP. Jar of Flies was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1995: Best Recording Package and Best Hard Rock Performance for "I Stay Away".

The EP was well received by critics and has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making Jar of Flies one of the band's most successful releases. In Canada, Jar of Flies was certified double platinum for sales of 200,000 copies. In the United Kingdom, the album was certified silver after selling 60,000 copies there.

Background and recording

[edit]

Following Alice in Chains' extensive 1993 world tour for Dirt, bassist Mike Starr getting fired during the tour for his drug use,[6] and Ozzy Osbourne bassist Mike Inez joining the band,[7] the members returned home to Seattle after the end of their Lollapalooza tour and found themselves evicted from their residence after failing to pay the rent. Homeless, the band then moved into the London Bridge Studio in Seattle.[8]

During Alice in Chains' June–August 1993 appearance at Lollapalooza,[9] guitarist Jerry Cantrell called producer Toby Wright with a proposal to collaborate on new material. Wright reacted positively and booked ten days at the London Bridge Studio. Despite Cantrell's assurances, the band did not have any planned tracks before the session began.[1] Drummer Sean Kinney had said, "After playing loud music for a year, we'd come home and the last thing we wanted to do was crank up the amps right away. That stuff was written on buses and whenever we had downtime. We did Jar of Flies to see how it was to record with [bassist] Mike Inez. We just went into the studio with no songs written, to check out the chemistry. It all fell into place. The sounds and the tones were really good. We thought it would be a waste not to put that material out."[10]

The first session took place on September 7, 1993.[1] 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."[11] The album's sessions lasted 14–18 hours a day,[1] and recording was complete within seven days.[12] Assistant engineer Jonathan Plum described the sessions as "exhaustive".[1] The album was recorded on tape on a Neve 80-68 mixing console because Wright wanted the album's acoustic sound to be as natural as possible. Staley instructed that Pro Tools not be used within the studio; as Wright explained, "Layne absolutely had a working knowledge of his sonic preferences in the studio - and felt analog sounded better for the band's sound."[13] The album's tracks were mostly recorded within one or two takes.[14]

The album's acoustic guitar sound was particularly focused on. Wright recalled that "at some points we overdubbed some acoustics with micing those acoustics, but when they were recording live off the floor, I'd use whatever pick-ups [Cantrell] had in his guitars at the time, trying to keep that sound as close to acoustic-sounding as possible. So that it sounded like it was an acoustic guitar instead of an electrified acoustic guitar." Cantrell played using Ovation guitars during the album's sessions. To reflect the recording's acoustic climate, Kinney sometimes used brushes to obtain a softer feel. AKG 414 microphones were used for overhead registration, while D-12s were used for the floor and rack toms, and Sennheiser MD 421s were placed on the kick drum. 451s and 57s were mounted on the top side of the snare drum, while a 441 was fitted on the bottom side.[13]

The characteristic syncopated drum opening in "No Excuses" was a result of Kinney's improvised experimentation with side-stick drumming. Wright was not an advocate of the technique and said that they "eventually wound up with some bongos and some smaller drums set up over the hi-hat that we incorporated into that groove."[14] Staley wrote much of the album's lyrics within the studio and arranged the album's vocal harmonies. Wright recalled the pace of Staley's work as quick, and that the vocal tracks were recorded within one or two takes via a Neumann M-49 microphone.[13] Cantrell performed the lead vocals in the track "Don't Follow".[15] Wright described Cantrell as an "awesome" singer, and stressed that "you couldn't have done all those harmonies without him."[13] The album's sessions concluded on September 14. Wright mixed the album at Scream Studios in Los Angeles, California from September 17–22.[1]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

Due to the dominance of acoustic instruments in Jar of Flies, the album is often considered a continuation of the sound adopted by the band on the 1992 EP Sap.[10][16] The album demonstrates the band's wide range by offering a variety of tracks with an acoustic texture,[17] featuring elements of blues rock[18] and jangle pop.[19] Steve Huey of AllMusic stressed that "the mood is still hopelessly bleak, but the poignant, introspective tone produces a sense of acceptance that's actually soothing, in a funereal sort of way. Jerry Cantrell's arrangements keep growing more detailed and layered; while there are a few noisy moments, most of Jar of Flies is bathed in a clean, shimmering ambience whose source is difficult to pin down".[20] Paul Evans of Rolling Stone stated that Staley's vocals on the tracks "Swing on This" and "Rotten Apple" "ow[e] as much to Styx and Kansas as Jerry Cantrell’s guitars do to Black Sabbath", and that the vocals "evoke pathos as well as anger."[21] Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly noted that "No Excuses" has a '70s-influenced style and described "Swing on This" as "postmodern boogie-woogie".[22] The album's lyrics are dark and gloomy, with Huey writing that "Jar of Flies is about living with the consequences, full of deeply felt reflections on loneliness, self-imposed isolation, and lost human connections."[20] Jon Pareles of The New York Times observed that "Alice in Chains prizes solitude on Jar of Flies, a set of songs about rugged individualism turned into exile."[23]

Title and packaging

[edit]

The album's title originates from a science experiment that Cantrell conducted in third grade. The experiment consisted of maintaining two jars full of flies. The flies in one jar would be overfed, while the flies in the other jar would be underfed. The flies that were overfed reproduced rapidly, but then died from overcrowding. The flies that were underfed managed to survive throughout the year. Concerning the anecdote, Staley said "I guess there's a message in there somewhere. Evidently that experiment had a big impact on Jerry."[11]

Rocky Schenck photographed the album cover in his dining room on September 8, 1993. As he recalled, "The band had come up with the idea for the title and wanted the cover to be a young boy looking into a jar filled with flies. I remember they asked me to use 'crazy colors' in the shot, so I utilized lots of different gels over the lights to achieve the final look." Schenck's assistant took several trips to a nearby horse stable where he caught hundreds of flies using a butterfly net.[15] On January 27, 2019, two days following the album's 25th anniversary, Schenck published rare outtakes from the album cover shoot on his Instagram account and said that he has forgotten the name of the kid on the cover.[24]

The first pressing of the compact disc for Jar of Flies included plastic flies visible on the front view of the clear spine.[25] It earned a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package.[26] The record received a multi-format reissue for its 30th anniversary in 2024. One of them was a vinyl record with the carcasses of real flies pressed into it and limited to 100 copies.[27]

Release and reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[20]
Chicago Tribune[28]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[22]
Los Angeles Times[29]
NME4/10[30]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[31]
Q[32]
Rolling Stone[21]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[33]
Spin Alternative Record Guide8/10[34]

Jar of Flies was released on January 25, 1994, by Columbia Records. The album was promoted by two singles, "No Excuses" and "I Stay Away", both of which received music videos. "No Excuses" reached #1 on the Album Rock Tracks chart, becoming the first single by the band to do so.[35][36] Cantrell admitted that "we couldn't believe that it did so well," and that "the success of Jar of Flies showed us that we could do what we liked and that other people would like it too."[10] A limited edition Enhanced CD was produced. This version of the album includes a lyric sheet, a biography and discography of the band, the music videos for "No Excuses" and "I Stay Away" and fragments of interviews with the musicians.[13] In addition, 2,500 copies were made of a double EP including Jar of Flies and Sap.[18][37]

The album entered the Billboard 200 chart at number one;[38] with first week sales of over 141,000 copies, becoming the first ever EP and first Alice in Chains release to top the charts.[39] It was the only EP ever to gain this distinction until 2004, when the Collision Course mashup EP by Jay-Z and Linkin Park also achieved the number one spot ten years later,[40] and Bad Meets Evil's EP Hell: The Sequel in 2011.[41] Jar of Flies sold 2,037,853 copies during its first year[42] and was later certified triple platinum in 1995 and quadruple platinum in 2022.[43]

Paul Evans of Rolling Stone called the EP "darkly gorgeous",[21] and Steve Huey stated "Jar of Flies is a low-key stunner, achingly gorgeous and harrowingly sorrowful all at once."[20]

Awards and accolades

[edit]

The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package in 1995,[44] but lost to Buddy Jackson for "Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys" performed by Asleep at the Wheel.[45] The single "I Stay Away" was nominated for the Best Hard Rock Performance.[46]

In November 2011, Jar of Flies was ranked No. 4 on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1994.[47]

It was featured on Guitar World magazine's "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994" list in 2014.[48]

In April 2014, Jar of Flies was ranked No. 12 on Rolling Stone's "40 Best Records From Mainstream Alternative's Greatest Year" list.[49] In May 2014, the EP was placed at No. 5 on Loudwire's "10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1994" list.[5]

In April 2019, the EP was ranked No. 42 on Rolling Stone's "50 Greatest Grunge Albums" list.[4]

Influence

[edit]

Jar of Flies served as inspiration for Strung Out's 2018 acoustic EP, Black Out the Sky.[50]

Cane Hill's lead vocalist Elijah Witt said that Jar of Flies was a major influence on the band's 2019 acoustic EP, Kill the Sun.[51]

Track listing

[edit]

All lyrics written by Layne Staley, except where noted. All music written or co-written by Jerry Cantrell, co-writers are listed below.

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Rotten Apple" Mike Inez6:58
2."Nutshell" Inez, Sean Kinney4:19
3."I Stay Away" Inez4:14
4."No Excuses"Cantrell 4:15
5."Whale & Wasp"instrumental 2:37
6."Don't Follow"Cantrell 4:22
7."Swing on This" Inez, Kinney4:04
Total length:30:49

Personnel

[edit]

Alice in Chains

Additional performers

  • April Acevez – viola
  • Rebecca Clemons-Smith – violin
  • Matthew Weiss – violin
  • Justine Foy – violoncello
  • David Atkinson – harmonica
  • Randy Biro – additional vocals
  • Darrel Peters – additional vocals

Production

  • Produced by Alice in Chains
  • Engineered and mixed by Toby Wright
  • Assisted by Liz Sroka and Jon Plum
  • Art direction by Mary Maurer
  • Photography by Rocky Schenck
  • Band photography by Pete Cronin
  • Electron Microscope photography by Alicia K. Thompson
  • Management by Susan Silver

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Jar of Flies
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[72] 2× Platinum 200,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[73] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[74] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[43] 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g de Sola 2015, p. 207.
  2. ^ Anderson 2007, p. 219.
  3. ^ Yarm 2012, p. 484.
  4. ^ a b "50 Greatest Grunge Albums". Rolling Stone. April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Carroll, Rob (May 20, 2014). "10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1994". Loudwire. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  6. ^ de Sola 2015, pp. 191–194.
  7. ^ "Jerry Cantrell & Mike Inez of Alice in Chains Join The RE Show in Studio - 8/14/17". The Rich Eisen Show. August 14, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2018 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "Alice In Chains". Archived from the original on March 1, 2000. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  9. ^ Yarm 2012, p. 423.
  10. ^ a b c Gill, Chris (September 1999). "Alice in Chains – Dirt". Guitar World. pp. 53–60. ISSN 1045-6295. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Andrews, Rob (June 1994). "Alice in Chains: A Step Beyond Layne's World". Hit Parader. Archived from the original on September 8, 2006. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  12. ^ Prato 2009, p. 405.
  13. ^ a b c d e Brown 2010.
  14. ^ a b de Sola 2015, p. 208.
  15. ^ a b de Sola 2015, p. 209.
  16. ^ Anderson 2007, p. 96, 219.
  17. ^ Anderson 2007, p. 96.
  18. ^ a b Gillian G. Gaar (August 5, 1994). "A Band Called Alice". Goldmine. pp. 54–56, 58. ISSN 1055-2685.
  19. ^ Weiss, Dan (October 6, 2016). "The 10 Best Alice In Chains Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  20. ^ a b c d Huey, Steve. "Jar of Flies – Alice in Chains". AllMusic. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  21. ^ a b c Evans, Paul (March 24, 1994). "Jar of Flies". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 12, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2008.
  22. ^ a b Sinclair, Tom (January 28, 1994). "Jar of Flies". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  23. ^ Pareles, Jon (March 6, 1994). "RECORDINGS VIEW; Lightening Up On the Gloom In Grunge". The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  24. ^ "Alice In Chains' 'Jar of Flies': See Rare Outtakes From EP Cover Shoot". Revolver. January 28, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  25. ^ "Alice in Chains".
  26. ^ https://www.grammy.com/awards/37th-annual-grammy-awards [bare URL]
  27. ^ "Alice in Chains reissue 'Jar of Flies' on vinyl – filled with real dead flies". NME. January 29, 2024.
  28. ^ Kot, Greg (February 10, 1994). "STYLISTIC DARING". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
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Bibliography

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