Wilson Library Bulletin
June 1995
p.112

What would you expect from a group made up of members of Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Screaming Trees? Odds are, it isn't what you'll hear on Mad Season's Above. This project began with Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, Trees drummer Barrett Martin, and bassist Baker fooling around informally. With the addition of Alice's lead singer Layne Staley, the foursome decided to play a few club dates in their native Seattle. This is the sort of effort that would never have seen the light of day without that potent combination of known performers and record-label greed. Above has a bluesy sound that's more mellow than hard, and makes passable background musin. Staley's lyrics are of no great consequence, but the music is nice enough, if prone to self- indulgent meandering. In the end, though, there's really nothing there. The album may be of interest to those who follow the Seattle scene from whence it springs, but no collection will suffer by omitting it. No profanity.

-Helga Borck