Next to "Facelift" it's a complete 180 turn. The tunes are soft, melodic and soothing. Still there is the bleakness, but not depressingly so...this whole album has a dreamy overtone that shows their psychedelic influences. Everything here is perfectly structured, the lyrics are wonderful, and even more impressing is the acoustic fill-ins by guitarist/co-songwriter Jerry Cantrell.

Let's go with the songs. "Brother" is very special to me, for various personal reasons, and the lyrics can be interpreted in almost any way to give a sense of hope. "Got Me Wrong," with it's groovy verses and unmistakable chorus, turned out to be one of AIC's biggest radio hits ever, and it's success pushed SAP to gold (and recently platinum) satus. I don't like to pick best songs, espescially with a group as good as Alice In Chains, but if I had to pick one song they did as their best, "Got Me Wrong" would likely be the one. From there is "Right Turn" which features some of the leaders of the Seattle movement...Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Mark Arm of Mudhoney. The track is as good as any acoustic song AIC has done. And finally, there is "Am I Inside?" written by vocalist Layne Staley, and Cantrell. It's dreamy and coaxing, and must be one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.

The material here is dark, like I said, but not depressing. The best frame to listen to this is after a hard day, just sit down and enjoy it from start to finish, it really helps you unwind. There aren't as many obvious drug referances as their other albums, and Staley's voice is better than ever. The goofy hidden track is quite funny, but I'm not sure if it belongs here...

I can't really say if this is their best album, maybe it isn't...but I listen to this more than any of the others, because it's easier to listen to. One thing is for sure...if you are a huge AIC fan (like me) or are thinking of becoming one, this album is an absolute must have. It is well worth the price of a regular CD.


Utter perfection....   October 7, 1999
12 out of 15 found this review helpful

Alice In Chains accidently outdid themselves here.... SAP, although only having 4 songs, is MUCH better than Jar Of Flies, Tripod, and ranks near Dirt's level..... each song is nearly perfect.... Brother is chilling, and one of my favorite Alice songs ever.... Got Me Wrong IS the greatest AIC song ever..... Right Turn is awe inspiring, and features Chriss Cornell and Mark Arm... Am I Inside is the most creepy song on this album, but it still rocks. Even Love Song (the most annoying song Chains has, only because after I finish listening to SAP for the sixtieth time, an array of belching, sniffing, and flatulence starts playing....Heeeheeeheeee) is great (because it is HILARIOUS!). I've listened to this FOUR SONG EP pretty close to 1,000 times.... more than I've spinned the rest of ALice In Chains' CDs combined (even Dirt). I don't know WHAT attracts me to SAP, but it's one of the masterpieces of music, and it's worth your 9 dollars! BUY IT OR YOU ARE CRAZY!


Indeed, Less is more   February 17, 2003
fleepue detoro (Wilbraham, MA USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

The first of two Ep's by alice in chains being 1994's "jar of flies" and 1992's "sap." Both are exceptionaly good, but the crisp/muddy sometimes riffs of there studio meterial is of an absence on here. Except for track 2, "got me wrong" which may very well possibly be one of the most underrated alice in chains tunes in there carrer. The only problem with this is the recording quality, they could of turned up the guitars and the vocals just a tab bit more, but oh well I find that more to be part of the experience.

Only 4 songs, but 5 star tunes. Sap starts off with "brother" with it's highly rythmyic yet sorta erie type vocals from stayley. The only main base electic tune, "got me wrong" is one of the main reason why I bought this, almost as if a b-side to facelift. "right turn" is definetly a treat for grunge fans and AIC fans alike, features chris cornell of soundgarden and mark arm of mudhoney and hearing them all going on the vocals is pretty much musical bliss. The soft and somber "am I inside" is a apt closeing for sap, dark but good. While hidden track #5 is a little out of place, but I find it houmourous.


Amazing talent   December 4, 2002
phoenix flanagan (New Zealand)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Sap is a 5 song EP that Alice in Chains recorded on some down time after touring for Facelift, and i must say it truly is excellent.
Everything is perfect about this album, Layne's(RIP) vocals, Jerry's guitar work is true perfection and the rhythm section is truly awesome, not to mention guest appearances on track 3 'Right Turn' by Mark Arm of Mudhoney and THE singer, Chris Cornell are perfect additions
However despite the four absolutely awe-inspiring main tracks, somehow they took acid and recorded a really bad song for a bonus track which is basically the band mucking around, it really is out of place on this album
But this album is worth getting for the four tracks alone, it was the first alice in chains album i had ever heard, which was about 3 or 4 months ago and now they are my favourite band.
Also i'd recommend getting this version of SAP instead of the one that i got, it's Jar Of Flies with SAP as a bonus disc, which sucks because you don't get the sap booklet


great alice in chains   August 12, 2002
Neel Aroon (Lexington, KY United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Sap is the last of the Alice in Chains collection I got. Though sap is short, it is defintely an EP worth listening to. It goes well with the early alice in chains sound of dirt and facelift. Chris Cornell guest vocals on right turn add a lot. Something good for all alice in chains albums.