Mad Season: Above 2LP 180g Vinyl

Why you'll love it

This Music On Vinyl 2LP set is remastered on 180g vinyl and adds "Locomotive," "Black Book of Fear" and "Slip Away," songs from the band's unfinished second album with lyrics by Mark Lanegan. Above reached No. 24 on the Billboard 200 and went gold.

This edition

2LP set
180g vinyl
Remastered
Bonus tracks
Pressed in the Netherlands

About the album

Seattle in 1994 had no shortage of side projects, but this one had a lineup to stop a record shop in its tracks: Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees and bassist John Baker Saunders. They recorded Above at Bad Animals Studio that winter with Brett Eliason co-producing, and Columbia put it out in March 1995.

"River of Deceit" became the hit, a gentle, rolling song with Staley at his most open, and it climbed to No. 2 on the Mainstream Rock chart. "Wake Up" smoulders, "X-Ray Mind" and "Lifeless Dead" bring the heavier side, and "I Don't Know Anything" still turns up on rock radio. Lanegan, Martin's bandmate in Screaming Trees, sings on "I'm Above" and "Long Gone Day," with Martin adding vibes, and "November Hotel" gives McCready room to stretch out at length. Staley drew the black-and-white cover art himself.

It's that rare thing, a supergroup that sounds like a band, all late-night blues and slow-burning grunge. Four musicians from four bands, one album; by Seattle supergroup standards, an admirably tidy discography.

Also at Kops: more Mad Season on vinyl · browse Alternative