Above
Mad Season · 1995
55 min · 10 tracks · alternative rock
A haunting blend of grunge and blues, woven with introspective lyrics and melancholic melodies that linger long after listening.
Top tracks — play these first
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River of Deceit — This track stands out for its poignant exploration of inner turmoil and addiction, underscored by haunting melodies and powerful vocals from Layne Staley.
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Wake Up — Opening with a gripping urgency, this song encapsulates the band's struggle with existential themes and sets a profound tone for the album.
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Long Gone Day — This track combines spoken word elements with emotive instrumentation, creating an evocative atmosphere that highlights feelings of isolation and longing.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends grunge and blues with introspective lyrics, creating a distinctive sound reflective of its era.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a slow, haunting track that sets a melancholic tone, followed by a shift to more aggressive instrumentation in the second track.
- Several tracks feature layered guitar work that creates a dense atmosphere, while others strip down to minimal arrangements highlighting the vocals.
- The lyrics often explore themes of addiction and introspection, with a recurring use of metaphor that deepens the emotional impact across multiple songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- long, immersive listening sessions
- late-night contemplative moods
- dynamic emotional journeys
- layered, dense sonic textures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Mad Season was formed as a side project during the peak of the grunge movement, with 'Above' being their only studio album released in 1995. This album featured members from prominent bands such as Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains, marking a significant collaboration in the Seattle music scene. The release came shortly after Layne Staley's rise to fame, offering a darker, more introspective take on the grunge sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Temple of the Dog· Alice in Chains· Soundgarden
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Wake Up 7:38
- 2 X-Ray Mind 5:13
- 3 River of Deceit 5:05
- 4 I'm Above 5:45
- 5 Artificial Red 6:17
- 6 Lifeless Dead 4:29
- 7 I Don't Know Anything 5:02
- 8 Long Gone Day 4:52
- 9 November Hotel 7:07
- 10 All Alone 4:12
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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