Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2 [Limited] [ECD] by Jerry Cantrell (CD, Dec-2002, 2 Discs, Roadrunner Records USA)

This second offering from Alice in Chains guitar player Jerry Cantrell is his opus Degredation Trip. The album comes in two versions: The first release, a single disc album, and the second release, a double disc version. The double disc was originally how Jerry wanted to release the album. The single disc was the label's request and contains songs from both of the discs. I will be reviewing the double disc version as that is the one I have.

Degredation trip is SOLID and I mean solid. The album came out in 2002. This was after AIC frontman and close friend Layne Staley died. Jerry was feeling a large range of emotions: some relating to Layne, and some relating to his career and image. The range of emotions is as large as the range he shows on this album. There is depression, regret, sadness, anger, love, lust, and numerous other emotions that Jerry lays out for all to hear. He puts himself and his inner feelings on display. I love every song on this disc because I really can identify with Jerry. Not because I have been in his situation, but the music and lyrics really convey his message clearly. When I'm feeling down, I listen to this album. It really makes me feel like someone else knows what im going through. But despite the personal level of feelings conveyed, the album manages not to sound whiny. Maybe it's the lyrics, maybe the music, who knows.

Either way, this double disc features good songs, and if you buy this one instead of the single disc version, you get 13 more. Some of my favorites are: Angel Eyes, Solitude, Locked On, Gone, Chemical Tribe, Pro False Idol, Siddhartha, Anger Rising, and Pig Charmer. But as I said earlier, there is not a weak song on Degredation Trip. Jerry takes you on a voyage into his world and I recommend you go along.

I had owned the single disc version of Degradation Trip for years before knowing of the existence of the Volumes 1 & 2 set. Bummer for me! What made this album fantastic in it's first incarnation is only made better here. More great songs: not demos or outtakes, but the ones that were trimmed when Roadrunner Records didn't want to release a 2 disc set in the first place. Really makes you wonder how they decided what to cut, as the "new" songs here stand up well with anything on the original release. And they rock pretty hard.
One other great thing about this release is that the tracks are now in the order that Jerry had intended them originally. It almost makes it a concept album, documenting lives of excess and eulogizing Layne Staley, Alice In Chains fallen lead singer.
Don't miss out...this is the version of this gem of an album that you really want!

recieved very quick and in condition noted. would recommend to anyone. excellent service. not a problem. i give them 150%. im never writing a review again though because it wants a hundred characters and i have no idea what else to say. im sorry to put this on this review because they were great. sorry to the sellers.......

This is a double cd and every song on it rocks. Jerry has gone back to his roots on this one. It is full of great, dark riffs. If you are a fan of Alice in Chains then this is a must.

As other reviewers have mentioned, this was a 2002 release that was already in the can and pressed when Layne Staley was found dead. This was Jerry Cantrell's second solo album with the first being Boggy Depot in 1998(oh yeah, get that one too). Ofcourse at first listen, Alice in Chain's fans probably daydream how this album would have sounded with Jerry and Layne's layered lyrics dancing together. It is ironic that some of the inspiration of Degradation Trip came as a result of Jerry being AWAY from Layne.

This is a very solid two CD set and somewhat more difficult to find than the single CD version. Spend the few extra bucks and get the double CD, it was how Jerry intended to release it.

Yes, the subject matter is dark but it rings just as true, brutal and honest as the lyrics that Jerry penned for Alice in Chains.

I listen to this album from beginning to end and I like it more every time I hear it. That is a sign of a great piece of work. This album flies under many people's radar, I would advise that you buy it, plop it in and turn it up.

When you review the lyrics, you can see that this project probably left Jerry emotionally spent. He has not released another album in the last five years since Degradation Trip was released.

Hey Jerry, when's the next one comin' out? Sign me up!

I prefer the single Degradation trip CD we origanally bought, but this does have a few more good hits on it. We needed 3 copies, one for the car,
one for the downstairs sterio, and one for upstairs sterio! He's that good!