Band: Mad Season
Album: Above
Original release date: March 14, 1995
Label: Columbia

Personnel:

• Layne Staley - vocals, guitar
• Mike McCready - electric and acoustic guitars
• John Baker Saunders - bass
• Barrett Martin - drums, percussion, double bass, cello, marimba, vibraphone
• Mark Lanegan - vocals on "I'm Above" and "Long Gone Day"
• Skerik (Nalgas Sin Carne) - saxophone on "Long Gone Day"
• Mad Season, Brett Eliason - production

Track list:

All songs written by Layne Staley, Mike McCready, John Baker Saunders, and Barrett Martin, except where noted:

1. "Wake Up" – 7:38
2. "X-Ray Mind" – 5:12
3. "River of Deceit" – 5:04
4. "I'm Above" (Staley, McCready, Saunders, Martin, Mark Lanegan) – 5:44
5. "Artificial Red" – 6:16
6. "Lifeless Dead" – 4:29
   
7. "Interlude" -- 0:42 (cassette only)
   
8. "I Don't Know Anything" – 5:01
9. "Long Gone Day" (Staley, McCready, Saunders, Martin, Lanegan) – 4:52
10.  "November Hotel" – 7:08
11. "All Alone" – 4:12

Singles:
"River of Deceit"
"I Don't Know Anything"

Billboard Top 200 peak: #24

 

The legendary collaboration between Layne Staley and members of Pearl Jam and the Screaming Trees. A definitive moment in grunge, and a must-have album for Alice fans...and everyone else.

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I AM RIFUGIUM: PRESIDENT OF EARTH.

Sad that they never released more material. They define the term epic. The whole album flows so perfectly and is filled with so much emotion.

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Evacuate, assemble here

http://www.last.fm/user/BlackSession323

Coma:

Sad that they never released more material. They define the term epic. The whole album flows so perfectly and is filled with so much emotion.

I agree with you a 100%.

My favorite songs on this great album are Long Gone Day, All Alone, Wake Up, Lifeless Dead, River of Deceit and November Hotel oh and I'm Above...well pretty much all of them but those are the ones i really enjoy listening to especially on the Live at the Moore Theater DVD

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Mirror on the wall will show you what you're scared to see...

Wake Up is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I've ever heard.

Layne's vocals are perfect here.  

I agree that this is essential for all Alice fans...... I just wish there was more!

 

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"We play so fine, don't you agree?" ~ Layne Staley

"We want to celebrate what we did and the memory of our friend." ~ Jerry Cantrell

PunkyLunky:

Wake Up is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I've ever heard.

Layne's vocals are perfect here.  

I agree that this is essential for all Alice fans...... I just wish there was more!

 

 

Right on. Wake Up is fantastic. This album is one of the most underated albums of the decade in my opinion. People still seem to be discovering it.

I too wish there was another album but am glad this group of guys got together in the first place, they really did something special on this album. I like Layne's artwork on the cover too.

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RIP Layne. The music lives on..........

PittsburghSmoker:

I too wish there was another album but am glad this group of guys got together in the first place, they really did something special on this album. I like Layne's artwork on the cover too.

Yeah, I agree. You can tell that they all really put their heart into it, and out came one of the best releases of the 90's.

As for the cover, anyone notice how close this My Chemical Romance cd cover looks? Vultures, liars, thieves !!!!

 

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Evacuate, assemble here

http://www.last.fm/user/BlackSession323

PunkyLunky:

Wake Up is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I've ever heard.

Layne's vocals are perfect here.  

I agree that this is essential for all Alice fans...... I just wish there was more!

 

i agree 100% i love wake up one of my top five songs its sung so beautifully

Don't get me wrong here, I love AIC, but this may be Layne's best work EVER! These songs stand in time as a window into Layne's world that I believe few people knew about. When I heard these songs, I was blown away!! I couldn't believe this music was SO good. Mike Mccready has never sounded that good, before or since, EVER!! I don't want to take anything away from Alice, but Mad Season somehow gave Layne an avenue that Alice didn't. I don't know how to explain it, but Mad Season WAS Layne. That is why even though there was talk of another effort with a different singer, it NEVER would have worked without Layne. These songs are brilliant, plain and simple, there isn't a bad song on this disc!!!

IS THIS THE WAY I SPEND MY DAYS?

IN RECOVERY OF A FATAL DISEASE

ARTIFICIAL RED SMOKE POISON COMSUME 

 

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I totally agree, artificialred.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

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"We play so fine, don't you agree?" ~ Layne Staley

"We want to celebrate what we did and the memory of our friend." ~ Jerry Cantrell

Someone needs to hop on getting that DVD released.

I remember reading a few years ago in the Ten Club that there were plans for it, but so far, no further news. 

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I AM RIFUGIUM: PRESIDENT OF EARTH.

what dvd????

I agree artificialred.  This was Laynes masterpiece and stamp on his talent as an artist.  It puts him ina ahwole different category and talent.  I dont know if I would say I like it better than AIC but there are times I probably do.  I wish they wouldve made another album.  They released the Moore Theatre show on VHS but as most know its only 75% or less of the show.  What's the deal with that?  I mean the live cover of "I Don't Want To Be A SOldier" needs to be released for all to see how bad ass these guys were. 

PunkyLunky:

Wake Up is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I've ever heard.

Layne's vocals are perfect here.  

I agree that this is essential for all Alice fans...... I just wish there was more!

 

 Wake Up really is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever. It's strange, I'm no drug addict, but I can still relate to the words, as they sort of tie in to a situation I'm in. It's the standout track on an amazing album. Which is saying something. It's such a shame they never got 'round to making a second album. 

McCready is God!  

yep great song the best line is a little peace from god you plead and beg so true

artificialred:

Don't get me wrong here, I love AIC, but this may be Layne's best work EVER! These songs stand in time as a window into Layne's world that I believe few people knew about. When I heard these songs, I was blown away!! I couldn't believe this music was SO good. Mike Mccready has never sounded that good, before or since, EVER!! I don't want to take anything away from Alice, but Mad Season somehow gave Layne an avenue that Alice didn't. I don't know how to explain it, but Mad Season WAS Layne. That is why even though there was talk of another effort with a different singer, it NEVER would have worked without Layne. These songs are brilliant, plain and simple, there isn't a bad song on this disc!!!

IS THIS THE WAY I SPEND MY DAYS?

IN RECOVERY OF A FATAL DISEASE

ARTIFICIAL RED SMOKE POISON COMSUME 

Couldn't speak better myself, artificalred! This album is a 90's masterpiece... a XX century masterpice. Everything fits perfectly. It's a very distint music from what Layne was used to do in Alice in Chains and that only proofs how talented and versatile he was. His lyrics are pieces of the most sad, beautiful and honest poetry. And the way he sings it.. and the way the other members were able to find the perfect melody is amazing. An unforgetablle album for sure.

Lifeless dead is one of my all favorite songs ever. Wake up, River of Deceit, Long gone day... Man.. they're gems!

I'm no drug addict too.. and never was.. But as someone said before, we can relate to those lyrics in so many ways. Layne was a poet... RIP angel.

I wish they'd release a DVD of the Live concert at the Moore. *sigh*

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~ I've tried to hide myself from what is wrong for me ~

http://laynestaley.forumotion.com