The band went on a semi-permanent hiatus in 1996 due to the band members' conflicting schedules and Staley's problems with substance abuse. Attempts were made in the late 1990s to revive the group without Staley, and material for a follow-up release to Above had been worked on; however, the band dissolved following the death of bassist John Baker Saunders in 1999 from a drug overdose. Staley also died of a drug overdose three years later. Martin and McCready have since made two short partial reunions, one in 2012 and one from 2014 to 2015. A special edition box set containing a remastered edition of Above and various unreleased material was released in March 2013.
During the production of 1994's Vitalogy, Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready went into drug and alcohol rehab at the Hazelden Clinic in Minnesota, where he met bassist John Baker Saunders.[5] In 1994, when the two returned to Seattle, Washington, they formed a side band with drummer Barrett Martin. McCready played in such bands as Pearl Jam and Temple of the Dog, Martin with Skin Yard and the Screaming Trees and Saunders with blues talents such as Little Pat Rushing, Hubert Sumlin, Sammy Fender, and The Lamont Cranston Band.[6] Immediately the trio set up rehearsal time together and wrote the music for two songs that would later become Mad Season's "Wake Up" and "River of Deceit", both of which would later appear on the band's album Above. McCready then brought in friend and Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley to round out the line-up. McCready had hoped that being around sober musicians would push Staley to get himself sober.
Despite not having a single song completely prepared (only beginnings of songs, according to Martin) and not even having a name for the band, McCready scheduled an unannounced show at the Crocodile Cafe on October 12, 1994, which turned out to be a big success. The song "Artificial Red", which was also to appear on the album, actually came together during the show itself. Two more gigs were scheduled (November 6 & 20, 1994) at the same venue, with the band calling itself The Gacy Bunch, after both the notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy of Chicago and the 1970s sitcom The Brady Bunch. On January 8, 1995, the band made an appearance on Pearl Jam's Self-Pollution satellite radio broadcast, a four-and-a-half-hour-long pirate broadcast out of Seattle which was available to any radio stations that wanted to carry it, performing "Lifeless Dead" and "I Don't Know Anything".
After gaining more popularity, the band recorded its only album and changed its name to Mad Season, which is an English term for the time of the year when psilocybin mushrooms are in full bloom, and a term which McCready related to "the seasons of drinking and drug abuse." The album, Above, which was recorded in Seattle, Washington at Bad Animals Studio (co-owned by Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart) and co-produced by the band and Pearl Jam sound engineer Brett Eliason, featured ten songs. It also included guest vocals and additional lyrics by Screaming Trees frontman and solo artist Mark Lanegan. McCready said, "We did all the Mad Season music in about seven days. It took Layne just a few more days to finish his vocals, which was intense since we only rehearsed twice and did four shows." The album was released on March 14, 1995 through Columbia Records to critical and commercial success. Over the course of 1995, Above scaled the Billboard 200, eventually peaking at No. 24 and spawning two singles: "River of Deceit" (#2 Mainstream Rock Tracks, No. 9 Modern Rock Tracks) and "I Don't Know Anything" (#20 Mainstream Rock Tracks). Above was certified gold on June 14, 1995.
McCready described the songs on the album as "some jazzy stuff, some blues, some arena rock." Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic said that the album "sounds like a cross between Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam, taking the ponderous seriousness of Alice and PJ's '90s update of winding '70s guitar rock." Staley's lyrics dealt with his personal troubles, with Martin saying, "Layne Staley felt as though he was on a spiritual mission through his music." During the lyric writing process, Staley was reading the book The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, which was a strong influence on the lyrics and the overall tone of the album. "I Don't Know Anything" is a heavier, blues-influenced track, while "Long Gone Day" takes considerable jazz influence, combining the use of samba-style bass, xylophone, and saxophone.
Staley is credited for writing all the lyrics on the original release within the liner notes of the 2013 deluxe issue. As was the case with much of his work with Alice in Chains, Staley's lyrics dealt with his struggle against addiction as well as other personal troubles. Lyrically, much of "River of Deceit" was inspired by Khalil Gibran's The Prophet. Vocalist Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees contributes guest vocals on "I'm Above" and "Long Gone Day"; he is also credited for co-writing the music to those tracks along with McCready and Martin. Lanegan also wrote the lyrics for the three bonus tracks on Disc 1 of the deluxe issue - "Locomotive", "Black Book of Fear", and "Slip Away". R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck is credited for co-writing the music to "Black Book of Fear" along with McCready, Martin, Saunders, and Lanegan.
I
Mad Season Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've let you play me for some time
One can only receive and retain
But the lies you recite for your gain
So you rely on my faith in your kind
Or rather continue to pretend that I'm blind
You say I made your life a living hell
How is it you're feeling so uneasy?
How is it that I feel fine?
Life reveals what is dealt through seasons
Circle comes around each time
I've been blessed with eyes to see this
Behind the unwhole truth you hide
Bite to remind the bitten, bigger
Mouth repaying tenfold wide
I'm above
Over you I'm standing above
Claiming unconditional love
Above
Try to keep bad blood in the past
Never thought a chance, a chance it would last
I have strength enough, enough to forgive
I desire peace where I live
I've been blessed with eyes to see this
Behind the unwhole truth you hide
Bite to remind the bitten, bigger
Mouth repaying tenfold wide
How is it you're feeling so uneasy?
How is it that I feel fine?
Life reveals what is dealt through seasons
Circle comes around each time
I'm above
Over you I'm standing above
Claiming unconditional love
Above
I'm above
Over you I'm standing above
Claiming unconditional love
Above
I'm above
Over you I'm standing above
Claiming unconditional love
Above
In "I," Mad Season explores the theme of deception and betrayal in relationships. The lyrics convey the singer's realization that they have been played for some time and allowed lies to be recited for the other person's gain. Despite this, the other person continues to rely on the singer's faith in their kind and pretends that the singer is blind to their actions. The singer's eyes are now opened, and they can see the unwhole truth hidden behind the lies.
The chorus of the song, "How is it you're feeling so uneasy? How is it that I feel fine? Life reveals what is dealt through seasons, circle comes around each time," suggests that the singer is now in a better place emotionally, while the other person is feeling uneasy. The phrase "life reveals what is dealt through seasons" refers to the cycles of life and the way that things eventually come full circle. It suggests that the deceitful actions of the other person will eventually catch up with them.
The outro of the song repeats the line "I'm above, over you," emphasizing the singer's newfound position of power and strength. They are "claiming unconditional love" and forgiving the other person, but also standing up for themselves and refusing to be played again.
Overall, "I" is a powerful and emotional song that explores the complex and often painful aspects of relationships, including deception, betrayal, forgiveness, and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
For clear space and soundness of mind
To maintain my mental health and emotional well-being
I've let you play me for some time
I've allowed you to manipulate me for a while
One can only receive and retain
I can only take in so much before I reach my limit
But the lies you recite for your gain
However, the falsehoods you tell to benefit yourself
So you rely on my faith in your kind
You depend on my trust in your character
Or rather continue to pretend that I'm blind
Or you choose to act as if I'm unaware
You say I made your life a living hell
You claim that I caused immense suffering in your life
And yet still let me pay you when I fell
Despite this, I still supported you financially when I was struggling
How is it you're feeling so uneasy?
Why do you seem restless and anxious?
How is it that I feel fine?
What is it about my situation that allows me to feel content?
Life reveals what is dealt through seasons
My experiences in life are shaped by circumstances beyond my control
Circle comes around each time
What goes around, comes around
I've been blessed with eyes to see this
Fortunately, I have the ability to perceive this truth
Behind the unwhole truth you hide
You are concealing the whole truth
Bite to remind the bitten, bigger
'An eye for an eye' - the victim fights back harder
Mouth repaying tenfold wide
Retaliation in full force
Try to keep bad blood in the past
Attempt to move on from past disagreements
Never thought a chance, a chance it would last
I didn't expect our newfound peace to persist
I have strength enough, enough to forgive
I am strong enough to forgive and let go of grudges
I desire peace where I live
I crave tranquility in my surroundings
Over you I'm standing above
I am in a position of power and dominance over you
Claiming unconditional love
Asserting a steadfast and unwavering affection
I'm above
I am superior
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARK LANEGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gal Godonut
1. Wake Up 00:00
2. X-Ray Mind 07:39
3. River of Deceit 12:51
4. I'm Above 17:55
5. Artificial Red 23:40
6. Lifeless Dead 29:56
7. I Don't Know Anything 34:26
8. Long Gone Day 39:28
9. November Hotel 44:20
10. All Alone 51:28
Gal Godonut
1. Wake Up 00:00
2. X-Ray Mind 07:39
3. River of Deceit 12:51
4. I'm Above 17:55
5. Artificial Red 23:40
6. Lifeless Dead 29:56
7. I Don't Know Anything 34:26
8. Long Gone Day 39:28
9. November Hotel 44:20
10. All Alone 51:28
Ellen Calabrese
Me too Wake up Artifucail red
Ellen Calabrese
Wakeup artificial red and lifeless dead are my favorites, Then Alice n chains unplugged sludge factory.
Drazen Stefanovic
I am above
vavjak
Laynes voice soothes me like the feeling of a warm waterfall drenching my body
Laura Stone
@vavjak I know what you mean. I've played this one many times now.. it seems to take me to a place I need to be.
Madison Ave
I'm 61 and I can listen to this album over and over and over, and never get tired of it, as it really is a phenomenal record.
Lars Kristian Gjertsen
This is some of the best music ever made. Like you, I never get tired if this album. I play it at home, in my car and when im taking a walk.
Harry Rehnquist
Above is the most underrated album of all time. I have never listened to an album that covers so many genres and sounds so masterfully. It has hard rock (I’m Above, Lifeless Dead, I Don’t Know Anything, November Hotel), jazz (Long Gone Day), blues (Artificial Red), psychedelic rock (X-Ray Mind), atmospheric (All Alone), and emotional ballads (Wake Up and River of Deceit). And if you believe the people involved, these guys clicked straight away and created this masterpiece in short time. Layne Staley is one of the greatest talents ever. Gone way too soon.
jade1963
Listening now so good man.