Jerry Cantrell – Boggy Depot

1998

Columbia

On April 7th, 1998, Boggy Depot, the debut solo album from Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell was released to mixed reviews. The record was produced by Toby Wright who had helmed production duties on Alice in Chains and the album was tracked in various studios namely The Record Plant and Studio X in Seattle. With Alice in Chains in something of an indefinite hiatus after the release of their self titled album in 1995, save for some one-off appearances most notably the band’s stunning Unplugged performance in 1996, Cantrell found himself kicking around with nearly an albums worth of material, yet no real band to furnish it with. Eventually Cantrell decided is was best to go it alone and that, essentially, there was no other real option, not that he would be completely alone; Alice in Chains members Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney would help out with band duties in the studio along with the help of other musicians most notably Rex Brown of Pantera and Les Claypool of Primus. Speaking to Guitar World at the time of the records release, Cantrell stated that: “It’s something I never really wanted to do but the way things have played out, it’s like, why not?…now I’ve got to step up to the plate and take a few swings”.

Boggy Depot kicks things off with “Dickeye” an at once disconcerting and ominous sounding track before the song begins proper with a suitably heavy guitar riff leading into a grooving verse section which then transitions into an almost choral chorus. The tune is an excellent introduction into “solo” Jerry Cantrell and any longtime Alice in Chains fans that may have had any reservations going into this record would have been pleasantly surprised. That surprise would continue with the next track “Cut You In” a highly unusual sounding track and all the better for it. Beginning with a jangly guitar riff which then leads to an odd time verse section before an insanely demented catchy chorus featuring excellent lyrics such as; I cut you in, let it go to your head, I cut you in, part-time friend”, “Cut You In” may very well be one of the best tracks on Boggy Depot and it featured a memorable music video and a memorable handle bar mustache too.

Things take something of a reflective turn with the next track “My Song”. The third single released from Boggy Depot, Essentially “My Song” is a track about lost love – apparently addressing the ending of Cantrell’s long-term relationship at the time. The track begins with an excellent maudlin guitar riff continuing throughout the verse sections before transitioning to a very Alice in Chains esque chorus riff. This is actually intentional; a lot of the tracks on Boggy Depot were intended for the next Alice in Chains record, and this track is clearly one of them. A definite highlight of the album. The hauntingly beautiful “Settling Down” follows, a kind of spiritual sequel to “My Song”. The song begins with pensive, somber piano notes before Sean Kinney and guest bassist Rex Brown’s excellent rhythm section kicks in preceding Cantrell’s expansive vocal. The track reaches something of a hanging crescendo after the second chorus featuring a memorable guitar solo from Cantrell before returning to the pensive verse sections again which leads out the track with a vocal refrain of “and I say no, I say no.”

The eerie, unnerving, “Breaks My Back” follows beginning with an initially fairly sunny guitar riff before descending into a semi bluesy dirge. The added watery vocal effect works well within the context of the track and it’s subject matter and the tune takes a nice turn in its middle section briefly evoking classic 70s rock sensibilities before returning to its original quietly deranged self. “Jesus Hands” is next and it is another Alice in Chains prototype. A suitably creepy almost Black Sabbath vibe neatly encapsulated in crunchy guitar riffs and a memorable chorus section that is just screaming out for Layne’s soaring vocals. Nevertheless, “Jesus Hands” is a decent track, but one that could have done with an additional special presence. Next up is “Devil By His Side” beginning with a fairly urgent guitar riff the track then becomes somewhat redundant and is no far the weakest track to be found on Boggy Depot. The track really doesn’t offer anything new to the listener and comes and goes without ever leaving much of an impression. “Keep The Light On” follows and it’s a pretty throw away track. A kind of cracked southern rock/metal tune with is redeemed somewhat by an interesting middle section, the song feels more like a composition that would have been left on the floor at an Alice in Chains recording session, which is a shame, because the quiet chorus refrain works very well, it’s just that there isn’t really a song to build around it.

“Satisfy” begins with another maudlin guitar riff before transitioning into another semi bluesy chorus riff. The track is an at once atmospheric and draws the listener in and after two fairly dull tracks it’s nice to hear the tried and true Cantrell songwriting style, in-fact this track is quite reminiscent of “Solitude” from Cantrell’s second solo album, 2002’s Degradation Trip and Cantrell is really often at his best as a writer when he writes pensive tracks such as these. “Hurt A Long Time” is next up and the track is essentially a country tune with a metal heart, beginning with a country infused guitar riff before a jarring heavy riff kicks in for the chorus. As a result “Hurt A Long Time” is something of an acquired taste and probably the most unique sounding track on the whole album. But there’s yet more country to come y’all. “Between” has a certain charm about it but I honestly cannot take the track seriously and maybe that’s the whole point. It’s genuinely funny to hear Cantrell sing with a southern drawl and I mean no offense to people who are fans of country music, but it’s not really my thing. Cantrell himself had this to say about the track; “I’m half Yankee and half Redneck and I love country music; I was raised on it. My mom and dad played it all the time”. Musically, the track is just fine but I think Jerry may have been having a bit of fun on this here tune. Boggy Depot closes out with “Cold Piece” which begins with an interesting drum part from the always excellent Sean Kinney and grooving bass from Les Claypool no less, “Cold Piece” is an excellent tune with something of 70’s funk feel in the verse sections before leading to the classic anthemic Cantrell chorus and paranoid sounding piano to complement the slightly demented ending vibe of the track and indeed of the entire album; Boggy Depot certainly has been a dense and enjoyable listening experience.

And yet the record was received pretty poorly by critics at the time. I personally think the criticism was a bit harsh. Boggy Depot is far from the worst record that came out around the end of the nineties and it’s unfair to write is off as sub par post grunge. The album is incredibly varied and eclectic sounding and for the most part, a hugely enjoyable ride. I have a personal preference for Degradation Trip myself, but Boggy Depot is a fine Jerry Cantrell solo work and a pretty brave one for the time too. Needless to say. if you are an Alice in Chains fan, then this is a must listen; some aspects of the music will sound a bit foreign but that can only be a good thing. If for some reason you are not aware of Jerry Cantrell’s solo work, or it passed you by at the time, do go back and have a listen, it is a work that won’t disappoint.

Works Cited;

Weingarten, Mark.,(1998, May) Jerry Cantrell on His First Solo Album and the State of Alice In Chains, Guitar World.

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