This song is the litmus test for any audio format. The bass line is a slow, molasses-thick pulse. In MP3, it can feel muddy. In FLAC, each note of McCready’s slide guitar exhibits a harmonic overtone series that feels three-dimensional. The infamous “My pain is self-chosen” line—you hear the saliva in Staley’s mouth, the natural compression of his vocal cords straining. It’s uncomfortably intimate.
In the pantheon of 1990s rock, few records carry the weight of tragic brilliance quite like Above (1995), the sole studio album by the supergroup . Featuring a convergence of Seattle’s most tortured souls— Layne Staley (Alice in Chains) on vocals, Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) on lead guitar, Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees) on drums, and John Baker Saunders on bass—the album is a masterclass in slow-core despair, bluesy introspection, and raw, unfiltered emotion. Mad Season - Above FLAC
Use dedicated lossless media players like Foobar2000 (Windows), Audirvana (Mac), or VLC Media Player (Cross-platform) to ensure bit-perfect playback without system degradation. This song is the litmus test for any audio format
: An expansive instrumental track showcasing Barrett Martin's powerful drumming. Legacy and Success Mad Season - Above (Deluxe Edition) (2013) Hi-Res In FLAC, each note of McCready’s slide guitar
The album's lead single, "Hello", peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
What makes Above so special? It is an album that defies easy categorization. While it carries the heavy DNA of grunge, it is deeply infused with blues, jazz, and a 1970s jam-band feel. Martin’s tribal percussion and vibraphone work create a unique atmosphere, while McCready’s guitar moves from languid, bluesy grooves to powerful, arena-rock crescendos. However, the heart and soul of Above is Layne Staley. In a departure from his work with Alice in Chains, Above is the only album comprised entirely of lyrics written by Staley, many of which were inspired by a collection of spiritual books he carried everywhere, including the works of Kahlil Gibran.
Mad Season formed in 1994 during a period of heavy transition for the Seattle scene. The band brought together iconic musicians from different definitive groups: (Alice in Chains) – Vocals Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) – Guitar Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees) – Drums John Baker Saunders (The Walkabouts) – Bass