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'm Above
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
“I’m Above” by Mad Season is a song about overcoming resentment and pain inflicted by someone you trusted. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been taken advantage of and lied to for some time and has finally come to terms with the truth. The opening line “For clear space and soundness of mind, I’ve let you play me fo some time” implies that the singer recognized that someone was manipulating them but allowed it to happen, possibly out of love or loyalty. They realized that they were being used as a tool to serve someone else’s interest, and now they don’t want to be a part of that anymore.
The line “So you rely on my faith in your kind, Or rather continue to pretend that I'm blind” shows that the singer once trusted this person, but after being betrayed, they no longer believe in their honesty or reliability. The chorus “I'm above, Over you I'm standing above, Claiming unconditional love, Above” suggests that the singer has come to a place of forgiveness and is rising above the situation, but also claiming that they deserve better. They have learned from their experience and have emerged stronger and wiser.
In the end, the song is all about taking responsibility for one's own actions and choices in life. It’s about choosing to forgive and move on, but not forgetting the lessons learned from the pain. It’s a powerful message that encourages listeners to grow from life’s challenges and become better individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
For clear space and soundess of mind
I needed to create a peaceful and stable mental space for myself.
I've let you play me for some time
I've allowed myself to be manipulated by you for a while.
One can only receive and retain
I could only take in so much before it became too much.
But the lies you recite for your gain
But you continue to tell lies to benefit yourself.
So you rely on my faith in your kind
You depend on my trust in you.
Or rather continue to pretend that I'm blind
Or you continue to act as if I can't see through your lies.
You say I made your life a living hell
You claim that I made your life miserable.
And yet still let me pay you when I fell
And yet, when I was at my lowest, I still helped you out.
How is it you're feeling so uneasy?
Why are you the one who seems anxious and troubled?
How is it that I feel fine?
Why do I feel okay despite everything?
Life reveals what is dealt through seasons
Life shows us what we're given through different stages.
Circle comes around each time
What goes around, comes around.
I've been blessed with eyes to see this
I've been fortunate to see the truth in the situation.
Behind the unwhole truth you hide
You keep the incomplete story hidden from me.
Bite to remind the bitten, bigger
I'll give you a taste of your own medicine in a larger dose.
Mouth repaying tenfold wide
I'll repay you in a much larger manner than you first gave.
Try to keep bad blood in the past
I aim to leave the negative feelings between us in the past.
Never thought a chance, a chance it would last
I never believed that there was a possibility for us to move forward.
I have strength enough, enough to forgive
I have the power and ability to forgive you.
I desire peace where I live
I want to live in a state of peace and harmony.
Over you I'm standing above
I am in a higher and better place than you are.
Claiming unconditional love
I love you without conditions.
I'm above
I've risen above the negativity and drama.
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mark Lanegan, Mike Mccready, Layne Staley, Barrett Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sttrogdor93
The album is a 10/10, but this live performance is somehow a 15/10
@ledzep9943
Dude for real! 🤣🤘🏼
@jonathanmoore8886
Bought this cd with my first paycheck from my first job at KFC.
@Mr.Wonderful731
Money very well spent!
@dylansabbath9085
funny coz i work there
@robovac3557
You blew a whole pay cheque on it then.
@daintydaisy517
Oh I thought it was still cassettes at this time😮
@billythetree8932
@@daintydaisy517 really? Alice in chains albums were on CDs and mad season was later than Alice so..
@kpsa7108
Imagine the handful of blessed people who got to see this small moment of magic in person
@charlesray4148
Saw it with my new bride! Didn't know what I was experiencing at the time bit what a memory now my friend
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