Jerry Cantrell - Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2
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Free Music Notes for Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2
Free Music Review: Jerry's Music Fully Evolves: The Result? True Genius
Hit: 5 Stars
Jerry Cantrell once again proves himself at being one of the foremost Guitarist/Songwriters in the Hard Rock scene. Degradation Trip Vol. 1 & 2 is the full vision to Cantrell's recent album, simply titled Degradation Trip, which came out earlier in 2002. This new album is spawned from a 1998 intense writing mission, in which Cantrell isolated himself from the outside world and wrote for a few months. It sounds extreme, but what came from it is no less than fantastic. This album is a solid second coming for Cantrell, following his 1998 release Boggy Depot, which was his first solo attempt since the days of Alice in Chains. Jerry Cantrell has really come into himself now. Not since the Alice in Chains days has he been to solid. Cantrell has put together a phenomenal band for this project as well, featuring Mike Bordin of Faith No More and Ozzy fame on drums and Robert Tujillo, of Suicidal Tendencies and Ozzy's band, on the bass. It is really quite impressive. With this, plus some of the best songwriting of his career, Cantrell has really hit the mark. Featuring the singles "Anger Rising" and "Angel Eyes," this album is strong all around and if you are a fan of hard rock, heavy metal, or just good music, you'll love Degradation Trip Vol. 1 & 2!!!
Free Music Review: A Masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is the best I have ever heard. On their own, many of the songs don't stand up to Alice In Chains songs or even Boggy Depot songs, but as an album nothing beats Degradation Trip (1&2). This is the kind of album that you must listen to several times to really appreciate, much the same way as Alice In Chains (self titled). I'm glad I bought the skimpy version a few months before this came out, because it probably would have been too much to take in all at once. Recall that this is not just some bonus tracks slapped on to try and sell some more units, but this double disc is the way it was supposed to be, but business got in the way of art.Standouts include the kick-in-the-groin opening Psychotic Break, Angel Eyes, Solitude, Hellbound, Pro False Idol, Gone. On Volume 2 my favorites are Castaway, Chemical Tribe, Siddhartha, Anger Rising, Thanks For Trying, and 31/32.
My least favorites are 'Owned' and 'She Was My Girl'. When I say least favorite, I mean that in the same way that 10 million dollars is my favorite over 8 million. The most outrageous omissions from the "Reader's Digest Version" are Pro False Idol, Siddhartha, SOS, Thanks For Trying, and 31/32.
For those of you who haven't taken the trip, you are missing an essential listen.
Free Music Review: Flawed but Brilliant
Hit: 5 Stars
It's shameful how many critics and fans alike slept on the album. Even more shameful that Roadrunner didn't bother to promote what was easily one of the best hard rock albums in the past 5 years. It's certainly one of the most harrowing creative expressions of a man's grief I've ever heard. While "Boggy Depot" was Jerry's attempt to break away from the Alice sound, DT 1&2 was him fully embracing it and taking it to a haunting, gorgeous new level, that I daresay he would not have been able to do if Layne Staley had survived. But Layne is certainly all through this album -- there are moments where Jerry is undoubtedly channeling Layne in the harmonies on "Psychotic Break" and all through "Pig Charmer" which seem to be Jerry's attempt at getting into Layne's head during those past few years of his life. But I also see why this album didn't blow up --its occasionally self indulgent and sometimes so morose its unaccessable to casual listeners. But I say, screw the casual listeners. This album was made to be absorbed. (BTW Disk 1 is great, but Disk 2 is jaw-dropping)Free Music Review: The Beauty of Decay.
Hit: 5 Stars
This album in its double-lp format simulates a 2 hour characterization of a man's downward spiral. Where we may not completely understand lyrically unless the lyrics sound too familar, we can take a trip there when experiencing this album with its musical accompanyment, and see it in its full light. With over two hours of quality music, it illustrates the creativity Jerry Cantrell has had harboring since the demise/death of layne staley and the previous lineup of AIC. And the mental punishment uncovered in the meantime.
'Anger Rising' & 'Angel Eyes' definitely were good choices for singles, very melodic,catchy and direct. However, the meat of the album lies in what brings it together, and that is the conceptual, provocative, songwriting that makes it on its on pedestal.
This album should be listened as a audio soundtrack to a movie you hear. Take the time, if you got it. To breathe this in in its vol.1 & 2 format entirely. And help yourself appreciate your current well-being.
-Jake
Free Music Review: Possibly Jerry's best work
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is spectacular throughout. The eleven songs not on the original release are, in my opinion, better than most of the ones that made the first cut. You'll find some of the songs ("Siddhartha" and "Pig Charmer" most often for me) running through your head all the time. "31/32" is a soft, emotional masterpiece, along the lines of "Gone" (also on here) and "Hurt A Long Time" (from Jerry's first CD, Boggy Depot). "Hurts Don't It?" is an instrumental somewhat reminiscent of Alice's "Whale & Wasp" except heavier, with no violins.The bottom line is that I'm not sure that this isn't better than Alice. Saying that feels sort of like a betrayal, since Alice has been my favorite band since '95, when Tripod (the self-titled CD) came out. In any case, this is the best album to come out in at least the last five years, and it was worth all the three years or so that Jerry spent writing, recording, and trying to get it out there for us.