Cantrell rides solo in 'Boggy' debut

Alex Khachaturian

REVIEW
	Boggy Depot Jerry Cantrell Columbia

Some of the most well-recognized artists from the early '90s are breaking away from their bands to try to establish themselves as solo performers and to stay in the spotlight. Scott Weiland made his debut apart from Stone Temple Pilots this past week, Chris Cornell, former Soundgarden vocalist, has a solo project that's been in the works for several months now, and most recently, Jerry Cantrell, the talented guitarist/songwriter/singer for Alice In Chains, came out with his own release "Boggy Depot."

Alice In Chains fans will not be disappointed with his guitar playing and certainly not with the lyrics. He continues to write about personal issues in his life such as hope, lost love and troubled friends. His singing isn't radically different than what fans may be used to in past albums, with the exception of the country-tinged ballad "Between," where Cantrell flirts with a Southern accent. There is also a noticeably mellow tone on songs like "Satisfy," "Hurt A Long Time" and "Settling Down," the latter two of which were shelved by Alice In Chains.

He also considerably tones the grunge influence down in "Boggy Depot." The majority of the songs are slow-paced tunes, lacking a heavy guitar-based rhythm. Cantrell kept his overall style the same, but his experimentation with a mellower edge did not come across well. In fact, the best songs on the album are the ones where he sings over a heavy guitar. Although these tracks aren't necessarily fast-paced, they hit listeners by making sudden shifts in tempo from slow to heavy and hard.

The song "Breaks My Back," in which Fishbone's Norwood Fisher contributes bass, is the strongest on the album. The rhythm helps convey his deep-felt lyrics: "Restitution Day all I have I give away to be with you." On top of that, Cantrell intelligently uses voice distortion and adds a bit of Staley-esque gruffness. Although it doesn't have "radio hit" written all over it, Cantrell succeeds with this seven-plus minute track by writing a quality song with a considerably different sound.

"Jesus Hands" and "My Song," both solid tracks, distinctly resemble the Alice In Chains sound. They are good examples of classic Cantrell with his smooth yet intense vocals joined with cutting guitar riffs coming in at the refrain.

None of the songs on the album are disastrous failures in music making, but "Boggy Depot" is shrouded in mediocrity, and Cantrell will fail to excite fans by writing too many songs that sound the same. Although the first half of the album includes some good tracks, "Boggy Depot" certainly is not a CD that you can pop in and listen to all the way through.

By doing a solo project, Cantrell is aiming to create a name for himself apart from the band. As one of the most famous names in a modern band not to be a lead singer, Cantrell undoubtedly has the potential to sell records. What this album highlights more than anything else, though, is his inconsistency and inability to make a collection of 12 tracks worth listening to.

With the success he has achieved throughout his career in modern rock, Jerry Cantrell's talent is undeniable. Cantrell can write, play guitar and he can even sing to an extent, but he cannot do these things successfully when he is on his own. Apart from Alice In Chains, Cantrell's ability to write good music is jaded. He needs the support of the band that made him famous and most notably, he needs Staley in front of the microphone. Fans who have been waiting all this time for Alice In Chains to come out with something new, or to go on tour, will have to rely on Jerry Cantrell's "Boggy Depot" and his summer tour with monsters of rock, Metallica. Although Cantrell's album certainly does not establish him as a solo performer, "Boggy Depot" should keep fans at bay for awhile, although they won't truly be pleased until Alice In Chains decides to release a new album.

04-14-98