10 Most Underrated Grunge Albums

The thought of a supergroup in grunge seems a bit silly when you look at the Seattle community. Since everyone knew each other, it wasn't out of the question for acts to exchange band members left and right until they hit upon the lineup that actually felt right. On the other hand, Mad Season is probably the closest thing to a genuine supergroup this side of Temple of the Dog.

Starting life just as Layne Staley was coming back from a stint in rehab, the Alice in Chains frontman decided to cut an album of cathartic songs with Pearl Jam's Mike McCready as well as Mark Lanegan from the Screaming Trees. Considering each of these respective men were at their musical prime around this time, the results are absolutely glistening, albeit with a little bit of restraint. Given that most of these are written as laments about the mistakes Staley has made, the songs never really rise outside of midtempo.

However, that's by no means a slight against these tunes. If anything, the slow parts of these tracks end up having some of the most beautiful moments, as Staley sounds like a disembodied spirit desperately trying to make peace with his old ways. Though this lineup was never meant to last with Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam taking off, Above is still a great little slice of rock to soothe the more mellow side of the grunge camp.