We all remember our first loves, right? When it comes to music, my first love was grunge. My parents exposed me to great music: southern rock, classic rock, and 80s country for the most part. My older brothers—between four and eight years my elders—turned me on to heavy metal and hip-hop. On any given day it wasn’t uncommon for me to sing along to Blackfoot, Rush, Keith Whitley, Danzig, or Public Enemy. However, Grunge was the first genre that no family member introduced me to and that made it feel distinctly my own. When I first heard Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains I knew I’d found something great. I didn’t know then the staying power that these bands would have or that over thirty years later I’d be sitting in a charming coffee shop writing about Alice in Chains’s “Nutshell” but here I am.
If I can’t be my own
—Layne Staley
I’d feel better dead
Jar of Flies was an interesting album and I doubt that the band had the foresight to predict they would be performing on MTV Unplugged two years later. Nevertheless, Alice in Chains’s “Nutshell” seems ready-made for such an intimate setting. This song continues to captivate for several reasons and it’s not hard for me to understand why. The lyrics, the composition, and the emotions it carries all resonate deeply and each band member’s talents are showcased in only four minutes.
First of all, vocalist Layne Staley gave probably his most memorable performance ever during the Unplugged session. His voice is powerful and it is also haunting. He looks frail which strengthens his voice’s power while also heightening his vulnerability. He leaves us with undeniable proof of his ability to convey unfiltered emotion and authenticity. Tell me that you’ve experienced deep pain and that this performance doesn’t stir something in you and I’ll suspect you of dishonesty. In his lyrics, Staley exposes his struggles with a tone that is as succinct as it is poignant. Despite living for another six-ish years, one YouTube commenter hit the nail on the head when he wrote something akin to, “The closest you’ll ever come to seeing a man sing at his own funeral.”
Jerry Cantrell crafted a wonderful melody that is simple, yet intricate and just as emotionally charged as Staley’s lyrics. It’s all a stirring blend of textures (in the original) and melancholy. Thanks to Cantrell’s guitar work, we don’t need Staley’s vocals to be moved profoundly by this song. But we have them nonetheless.
The foundation is laid with solid precision by bassist Mike Inez and also by Sean Kinney on drums. Inez’s subtle bassline is probably my favorite in the band’s entire catalog. It complements Cantrell’s guitar to create an immersive landscape that I find myself “singing” along with as much as I do the lyrics. Kinney’s drumming is restrained, but he maintains the steady somber beat that underlies the song’s contemplative mood.
“We chase misprinted lies / We face the path of time”. Those lyrics set a tone of futility. What’s all this for? What’s the point? We spin our wheels while still hurtling towards obsolescence. And yet… we keep on. These lyrics say more by saying little. What are the misprinted lies? Tabloid misrepresentations of the band? Gossip? Delusions of our future? It’s anyone’s guess, I suppose, and to me, that’s what really makes a song resonate. Its lyrics are applicable in several instances.
To conclude, Alice in Chains’s “Nutshell” is a timeless song from the mid-90s (a time when grunge was beginning to die). But pain and loss? Introspection? Those are universal themes with no expiration date and will resonate with listeners for generations to come. The song represents the convergence of mighty talent as well as authenticity. Emotive vocals, immersive guitar work, bass contributions that change your heart rate, and percussive restraint truly exceed the sum of their parts. “Nutshell” does what many an artist seeks to do: distill down the best parts of their band’s talent into a masterpiece that stands the test of time. Maybe it inspires us to do the same: focus on the best of what we can bring to ourselves and our loved ones.
Don’t let this session of the Hangover Cafe get you down. The point of these is to dig deep. Not to get maudlin. Take care!
