Jane's Addiction - The Great Escape Artist (Album Review)
Monday, 17 October 2011
Written by Ben Bland
People often credit Nirvana for bringing alternative guitar music into the mainstream. Earlier this year Tom Morello, he of Rage Against the Machine, caused a minor stir in the music press when he proclaimed that Jane’s Addiction were actually the band that led to alt-rock breaking out of the underground. In many ways, no matter what you may think of the band, Morello was right. Whilst the Californians never reached worldwide superstar status like Nirvana did with 'Nevermind', their albums 'Nothing’s Shocking' and 'Ritual de lo Habitual' were both hugely influential and the latter did bring the band into the mainstream consciousness a year or so before 'Smells like Teen Spirit' did the same for Kurt and co. Maybe, in a funny sort of way, it is the fact that Jane’s Addiction are still around today that has dented the amount of credit that they have received. They have, of course, been missing for most of the twenty-one years between 'Ritual de lo Habitual' and this, the long awaited 'The Great Escape Artist'. 2003’s brief comeback was marked by the disappointing 'Strays'. Thankfully there is no disappointment this time round.
'The Great Escape Artist' sees a new Jane’s Addiction, but one that have made themselves as contemporary as they possibly could. With diversions into electronic music melding beautifully with chiming alt-rock riffs, and the odd brilliant Dave Navarro solo, this is an album that is both a delightful listen and an intriguing artistic statement.
With a sub-forty minute running time this is never in danger of overstaying its welcome either. The songs are catchy as well as interesting, with Perry Farrell’s knack for writing catchy chorus lyrics in good form on the likes of 'End to the Lies' and 'Curiosity Kills'.
Help from TV on the Radio man Dave Sitek on bass during the album recording sessions appears to have had an impact. There is certainly a fair dollop of that band’s delightful experimental rock apparent on this record, although Jane’s Addiction are defiantly still their own beast at the same time.
Jane’s Addiction released 'Nothing’s Shocking' in 1988, twenty-three years ago. Something is shocking about this record…just how contemporary and brilliant it is. This is a band that are well and truly back, after an absence far too long. 'The Great Escape Artist' can therefore be said to be one of the year’s major success stories…to the delight of alt-rock aficionados everywhere.
'The Great Escape Artist' is out now via Capitol Records.
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