Mad Season - Above: “A Supergroup’s Dark, Dreamlike Descent into Emotion

 

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Mad Season – Above: The Haunting, Soul‑Drenched Masterpiece Your Collection Needs

If you want an album that feels like stepping into a dimly lit room where every emotion hangs thick in the air — raw, vulnerable, bluesy, and beautifully haunted — Mad Season’s Above is essential. This is one of the most powerful and emotionally charged records to come out of the ’90s Seattle scene, created by a supergroup of musicians who poured every ounce of their struggle, brilliance, and humanity into it.

Released in 1995, Above stands apart from grunge’s louder, heavier moments. It’s slower, moodier, more introspective — a fusion of blues, jazz, rock, and atmospheric melancholy that hits with devastating honesty.

This is Layne Staley at his most exposed, Mike McCready at his most expressive, and a band capturing lightning in a bottle.

Why this album still feels timeless, emotional, and utterly gripping

• Layne Staley delivers one of his greatest vocal performances. Fragile, soulful, aching — his voice carries the weight of every lyric.

• Mike McCready’s guitar work is stunning. Blues‑soaked leads, atmospheric textures, and emotional phrasing that feels almost cinematic.

• “River of Deceit” is a masterpiece. A somber, reflective anthem that remains one of the most beautiful songs of the era.

• “Wake Up” is haunting and hypnotic. Slow, heavy, and emotionally devastating — a seven‑minute journey into vulnerability.

• The deep cuts are rich and immersive. “Long Gone Day” blends jazz and blues with guest saxophone. “I’m Above” and “Lifeless Dead” show the band’s darker edge.

• It’s a rare supergroup that actually created something unique. Not a side project — a fully realized artistic statement.

Why you should buy it today

Because Above is one of the most emotionally powerful and musically rich albums of the ’90s. It’s a record that rewards deep listening — a late‑night, lights‑low, soul‑searching masterpiece. If you love grunge, blues‑rock, or any music that feels honest, human, and beautifully imperfect, this album deserves a permanent spot in your rotation.