Dirt | ||||
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Studio album by Alice in Chains | ||||
Released | September 29, 1992 | |||
Recorded | March–May 1992 | |||
Studio | Eldorado Recording Studios in Burbank; London Bridge Studio in Seattle; One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 57:37 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Dave Jerden, Alice in Chains | |||
Alice in Chains chronology | ||||
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Singles from Dirt | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Chicago Tribune | |
Christgau's Consumer Guide | B |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
Entertainment Weekly | A |
Kerrang! | 5/5 |
Q | |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10 |
Vox | 8/10 |
Dirt is the second studio album by the American rock band Alice in Chains, released on September 29, 1992, through Columbia Records. Peaking at number six on the Billboard 200, the album was also well received by music critics. It has since been certified four-times platinum by the RIAA and gone on to sell five million copies worldwide, making Dirt the band's highest selling album to date. It was the last album to feature bassist Mike Starr before he departed the band in early 1993.
The album spawned five singles: "Would?", "Them Bones", "Angry Chair", "Rooster", and "Down in a Hole". The songs on the album focused on depression, pain, anger, anti-social behavior, drug addiction (primarily heroin), war, death, and other emotionally charged topics.
The recording of Dirt began in the spring of 1992. Producer Dave Jerden, who had previously worked with the band on their debut, Facelift, wanted to work with them again. He admired vocalist Layne Staley's lyrics and voice, and lead guitarist Jerry Cantrell's guitar riffs. The track "Would?" produced, engineered and mixed by Rick Parashar, was recorded before the album, and first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1992 movie Singles. Dirt was recorded at Eldorado Recording Studio in Burbank, California, London Bridge Studio in Seattle, and One on One Studios in Los Angeles from March to May 1992.