Mad Season - Above (CD)

Facts Alice in Chains vocalist Layne Staley teams with Seattle pals Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) and Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees) in the tradition of other part-time grunge aggregations like Brad and Hater. These 10 numbers-mostly somber, acoustic-hued ballads like the single "River of Deceit"-are a therapeutic soul-cleansing for the troubled Staley.