'Dirt'

It's shocking how good this album is. It's shocking how chockful of hits this album is.

It's a what's what of 1990s alternative rock music. "Them Bones." "Would?" "Rooster." "Dam that River." All great songs and all of them sound incredibly fresh for being 20 years old.

This is a bit of a surprise because it's been probably 20 years since I listened to this album wholly, and I kind of veered away from Alice in Chains as I started growing up. I don't blame myself as much as I blame Alice in Chains. They were never the same after this album, for my money. Other albums just seemed to lack after a while, then they broke up.

In 2002, lead singer Layne Staley was found decomposing in his house after an overdose on heroin and cocaine. He -- like most musicians of that genre and era -- was an avid drug abuser. During the recording of Dirt, it was noted that he would shoot up heroin in front of the band. He apparently smoked crack and did heroin for much of his life. The rest of the band were no saints. Jerry Cantrell was on anti-depression medication and who knows what else. The drummer and bassist were alcoholics.

I firmly believe Dirt is as good as it is because of the drugs. Also, Staley is a corpse because of the drugs. Was that worth it? Do you look back and think "Man, he did about as much as he was going to do on this Earth and his living and dying were as interchangable as underwear.

Thinking about it, it's sort of shocking the band were able to keep things together to tour and record. Not like they were city councilmen to begin with. Throw in drugs and alcohol and it was probably like herding cats. At least we've got this great album.