Grungedown
Intrepid readers of the site will realize we should actually be on Number 17. So, here it goes:
17. I Don’t Know Anything, Mad Season.
It’s almost amazing that the killer riff from IDKA still survives on superrock radio today (and was totally copied by Nixons on Baton Rouge, but doubtful you remember. )– assuming anyone still listens.
Occasionally between Enter Sandman, Black Dog, Jeremy, Stinkfist, or Would? some enterprising DJ (or robot DJ) will spin a cut from Barrett Martin, John Baker Saunders, Mike McCready, and Layne Staley’s supergroup — even though the song was not a big hit at all first time around.
Rumor has it that McCready and Martin did most of the tireless work on the album’s arrangements and concepts, and a high and destructive Staley simply showed up for sessions, ad-libbing and wasted, yet still delivered his typical unique and resonant vocals. That’s not to say the album was put together before Staley, however — only Wake Up and River of Deceit were lying around. Still, as polished as the final version was, the songs all have a patchwork quality to them, bluesy grunge coupled with Staley’s shocking voice. Even on an album as great as Above, IDKA stands out.