Every Alice In Chains Song Featuring Layne Staley, Ranked

Alice In Chains have essentially had two distinct careers, with a notable division marked by the presence of their iconic frontman, Layne Staley. Here’s a look at every one of their songs with Staley, ranked from worst to best.

The truth is, there aren’t really any bad songs from that era at all. From their debut album Facelift to the final tracks with Staley, “Get Born Again” and “Died,” every track is powerful and unique in its own way.

Admittedly, the themes across much of their material are consistent—doom, gloom, despair, addiction, and depression—but Alice In Chains always found a way to keep things interesting. Whether through the introduction of a harmonica or experimenting with bongos, their music never felt repetitive.

Fans often express that Alice In Chains’ music provides a sense of comfort. There’s something deeply familiar when humans can share their pain with each other. For many, despite never meeting any of the band members, there’s a connection through the introspective lyrics and the quality of the music.

Layne Staley once told Rolling Stone in 1992, “We don’t stuff our personal demons inside us, we get them out. It’s therapeutic. I’m sure I’ll never be completely 100 percent at peace with myself and the world. I’ll always be bitching and moaning about something.”

Sonically, Alice In Chains has always balanced between rock and metal, largely due to Jerry Cantrell’s sludgy riffs. Among the “Big 4” of grunge (AIC, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden), they are arguably the most “metal,” giving them a unique appeal within both the rock and metal communities.

Scroll down to see the rankings of all Alice In Chains’ songs with Layne Staley. Note that we’ve omitted instrumentals, so “Iron Gland” from Dirt and “Whale & Wasp” from Jar of Flies aren’t included.