Reflecting on the album in a 2018 interview to '' Noisey '' , Cantrell said : Although not as successful as '' Dirt '' , the album debuted at number one on the '' Billboard '' 200 and went to stay on the chart for 46 weeks . It has since been certified double platinum . The band opted not to tour in support of '' Alice in Chains '' , adding to the rumors of drug abuse . When asked about the frustration of not touring to support the record , Cantrell provided some insight into how Staley 's addictions led to repercussive tensions within the band : " Very frustrating , but we stuck it out . We rode the good times together , and we stuck together through the hard times . We never stabbed each other in the back and spilled our guts and do that kind of bullshit that you see happen a lot . " It was noted for being a break away from the externally applied grunge label affixed to the group . '' Rolling Stone '' described the album as a " musical rebirth , " and '' The New York Times '' remarked that in contrast to the raw distortions associated with grunge , '' Alice in Chains ' '' sound was " cleanly delineated and meticulously layered . " Jon Wiederhorn of '' Rolling Stone '' called the album " liberating and enlightening , the songs achieve a startling , staggering and palpable impact . " Bill Adams of '' Ground Control Magazine '' , reviewing Alice in Chains discography wrote " If indeed '' Jar of Flies '' turned out to be the gateway that got so many more people hooked on Alice in Chains , it can only be said that the band 's self-titled album implies withdrawals or a sense of significant unease or discomfort . The signs that something is just not right appear everywhere both on and in Alice in Chains ; the front cover features a photo of a three-legged dog ( one too few ) while the back cover presents a picture of a three-legged mandolinist ( one too many ) . The album 's liner notes feature images of ghastly , contorted fairies with no flesh on their arms , sinister , personified bottles swimming through black oceans , cartoons of mutant animals standing on trial , synthetic limbs and more . They are images of turmoil , disease and discomfort , and it 's difficult to look at them . " '' Alice in Chains '' included the singles " Grind " , " Heaven Beside You " , and " Again " , all of which had accompanying music videos . " Grind " and " Again " were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1996 and 1997 , respectively . The music video for " Again " was nominated for Best Hard Rock Video at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards
1996 MTV Video Music Awards
1996 MTV Video Music Awards
Alice in Chains (album)