MAD SEASON — Above (review)

Album · 1995 · Heavy Alternative Rock

3.5/5 · 2018-01-29
UMUR

"Above" is the debut full-length studio album by US, Seattle, Washington based rock/hard rock act Mad Season. The album was released through Columbia Records in March 1995. Mad Season was formed by guitarist Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) and bassist John Baker Saunders, when the two met at a Minneapolis drug rehabilitation center in 1994. When the treatment was completed they returned to Seattle and formed The Gacy Bunch, with vocalist Layne Staley (Alice in Chains) and drummer Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees), which soon changed name to Mad Season. The group was rather short lived as a combination of Layne Staley´s serious drug issues and conflicting schedules made them disband in 1996. John Baker Saunders had a relapse with heroin and died of a drug overdose in January 1999 and Layne Staley died in April 2002. Also as a result of a drug overdose.

So Mad Season was definitely an act with their fair share of drug experiences, and it rubs off on the music which is a type of laid back psychadelic tinged rock/hard rock. It´s often so stoned and laid back that you can almost picture these guys playing in a heroin haze. Which of course isn´t true since it was only Layne Staley who had those issues while recording "Above". They occasionally play some more punchy hard rocking parts, but the album is predominantly more mellow and laid back. The use of instruments like cello, marimba, and vibraphone, in addition to the regular rock instrumentation of guitars, bass, and drums, further enhances the soft and mellow sound of the music. Mad Season have also opted to include saxophone on "Long Gone Day", which is a real treat, and fits in perfectly with the song´s atmosphere.

The 10 track, 55:36 minutes long album is an organic listen, featuring a pleasant sound production and blues and roots rock influences. The material is relatively well written, but not necessarily that catchy upon first listen. "Above" is definitely a grower, but it never really grows beyond being a good listen. For that there are too many sections where not enough happens, and you as a listener are left listening to a couple of guys who obviously enjoyed playing together, but don´t always manage to channel that joy of playing to their audience. That´s probably a harsh choice of words, but although a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved, I still feel the need to voice my opinion on some of the issues concerning "Above" and not just the good things.

more than 2 years ago
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UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Ha ha, nope on that we can agree :-)

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Listened to it again. Liked it better than i remember but some of the slower tracks bog it down a bit. It basically is a mellower version of AIC with the same blues scales minus the grunge. It certainly won't replace "Dirt" :)

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I think i might like it better if it had a different vocalist. Lane just doesn't sound right out of AIC to my ears. Still need to revisit. Will tonight actually ;)

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

That´s true and not as great as AIC of course, but for a stoned laid back rock/hard rock album, it ain´t bad at all.

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

LIke i said, i need to revisit. It just doesn't have the Alice In Chains oomf

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

It´s quite laid back and subtle...boring? well...to each his own :-)

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I own this one but i literally only listened to it once because it sounds like a ridiculously watered down version of Alice In Chains. I have to give it another chance but my recollection is that it's boring as hell