“Nutshell” (from the English - “Nutshell” ) is the song of the American grunge group Alice in Chains , released on the mini-album Jar of Flies . It was this composition that opened the cult acoustic concert MTV Unplugged , played by the group in 1996. Subsequently, the concert performance of the song was included in the collections: Music Bank (1999) and The Essential Alice in Chains (2006).
| Nutshell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Executor | Alice in chains |
| Album | Jar of flies |
| Date of issue | January 25, 1994 |
| Genre | Acoustic rock, alternative rock , grunge |
| Duration | 4:19 |
| Label | Columbia records |
| The authors | Lane Staley (words); Jerry Cantrell , Mike Ainez and Sean Kinney (music) |
| Composer | |
| Producers | Toby Wright , Alice in Chains |
 Nutshell (live) | |
History
Despite the fact that the song was never released as a single , it still remains one of the most famous works of Alice in Chains [1] . The composition is notable for its emotional acoustic instrumental part and electric guitar solo , as well as a gloomy text regarding loneliness, despair [2] and death [3] . Many regard the song’s content as a veiled statement by its author, Lane Staley , of his disappointment at the lack of privacy (due to media attention to his life). Nutshell is considered one of the key records of the 1990s alternative rock , despite the fact that it did not hit any of the Billboard charts or any other international hit parade.
Concert Performances
Alice in Chains first performed a song in the Kansas City Memorial Hall on September 22, 1993 [4] . One of the most famous concert versions of the song is the acoustic version of "Nutshell" performed by the group during the MTV Unplugged show on April 10, 1996. The composition opened the concert, later it was published on the official CD and DVD of this event [5] . At this concert, the group last performed this song with Lane Staley [4] .
At Alice in Chains concerts, guitarist Jerry Cantrell always dedicates Nutshell to the memory of Lane Staley and Mike Starr (the band’s first bass player) [6] [7] . June 24, 2018, during a performance at the Hellfest Open Air Festival in Klison , Alice in Chains dedicated the song to their longtime friend and drummer Pantera, Vinnie Paul , who died two days before the concert. [8]
Cover versions
The song was sung by many rock bands, including alternative metallers Staind [9] , who released a live version of Nutshell on the collection of their best songs, The Singles: 1996-2006 . In 2002, the American team Adema quailed this song for their mini-album Insomniac's Dream . In 2006, Shinedown and Seether recorded a joint version of the song [10] . Vocalist Slipknot and Stone Sour Cory Taylor performed the acoustic version of this song at concerts several times [11] . In 2008, Hurt performed a cover version of the song at a concert dedicated to the memory of Lane Steyliu [12] .
Sally Erna from Godsmack repeatedly performed the song during his solo concert tour in 2013, devoting it to a number of famous musicians whose names were displayed on the screen during its performance. Among them were: Jim Morrison , Kurt Cobain , Dimbag Darrell , Freddie Mercury , Jimi Hendrix , Amy Winehouse , Elvis Presley , John Lennon , Frank Sinatra , Michael Jackson , Bon Scott and Lane Staley.
In 2011, musician Ryan Adams , a member of the Alt Country genre, released a limited version of the single with this song. In 2013, a cover version of the song was performed by musician Dallas Green [13] .
In popular culture
Nutshell appears as downloadable content for the Rocksmith video game. The pack, entitled “Alice In Chains Song Pack II,” also includes other songs by the group: “ Rooster ”, “ No Excuses ”, “ Down in a Hole ” and “ Heaven Beside You ” [14] .
Record Members
- Lane Staley - lead vocals
- Jerry Cantrell - Acoustic Guitar , Electric Guitar
- Mike Ainez - Bass
- Sean Kinney - Percussion , Percussion
Notes
- ↑ Greene, Andy. The 10 Saddest Songs of All Time (Neopr.) . Rolling stone . Date of treatment August 4, 2014.
- ↑ Albano, Ric. Jar of Flies by Alice in Chains . Classic Rock . Date of treatment August 3, 2014.
- ↑ Greene, Andy. The 10 Saddest Songs of All Time (Neopr.) . Rolling stone . Date of treatment August 4, 2014.
- ↑ 1 2 Nutshell by Alice in Chains . Setlist.fm Date of treatment August 22, 2017.
- ↑ 20 Years Ago: Alice In Chains Perform for MTV's 'Unplugged' . Diffuser.fm (April 10, 2016). Date of treatment August 22, 2017.
- ↑ Alice In Chains - Nutshell - Live SWU 2011 Brasil . Date of treatment August 22, 2017.
- ↑ Alice in Chains Kick Off Tour in Boston: Photos, Set List, Review . Loudwire (April 30, 2018). Date of treatment June 25, 2018.
- ↑ See Alice in Chains Dedicate Emotional "Nutshell" Performance to Vinnie Paul . Revolver Magazine (June 25, 2018). Date of treatment June 25, 2018.
- ↑ Staind - Nutshell (Cover) . YouTube
- ↑ Nutshell - Seether & Shinedown (Alice In Chains Cover) . YouTube
- ↑ Corey Taylor does AIC Nutshell at KOMP Studios . YouTube
- ↑ HURT Cover's Nutshell during Layne Staley Tribute in 2008 . YouTube
- ↑ City and Color - Nutshell (cover) by Alice in Chains . YouTube
- ↑ Rocksmith Remastered DLC 12/12/2017 - Alice in Chains II . The Riff Repeater (December 11, 2017). Date of treatment January 23, 2018.