Review 1 of 1

jrm274 writes:

4of 5 Stars

Jane's Addiction's debut album, recorded live at LA's Roxy in 1987, is an eponymous one, and with damn good reason, showing a boiled-down Perry and company at their absolute rawest and wildest.

The album is split roughly in two, with the first half as an electric set. The funky opener, "Trip Away" kicks things off with a showcase of Jane's eccentricity only possible with a fusion of disco and metal. Next comes "Whores," showing Jane's at their Zeppelin-esque best, and showcasing a 19 year old Dave Navarro's prodigious skill with the guitar. "Pigs in Zen" offers something a little more psychedellic, with a harshly grounding bridge. "One Percent" shows the band's versatility very well, combining funk, metal, reggae and hardcore punk into one socially comentative whole. "I Would For You" the album's quietest song, ends the electric set with a bare, droning bass line and Perry's delay-drenched vocals.

After a soft end to a stellar electric set, the band makes an offering of acoustic guitars (and the occasional harmonica and ice chest). "My Time" is an epic yet folky ode to the open outdoors, even if Perry's harmonica solos aren't that great. "Jane Says," the band's staple, makes an appearance in a slightly faster and more energetic form than it's "Nothing's Shocking" counterpart. "Rock N Roll" and "Sympathy" ("Sympathy for the Devil"), bring some decent blues-infected work into the picture, and "Chip Away," a wild, percussive song reportedly played on coolers, brings the album to a pumping close.

All in all, the album isn't anything terribly special unless you're already a fan of the band; the sheer nakedness of the Jane's sound here isn't exactly ear-friendly to the uninitiated. But it's definitely a good sign of things to come.

Oct 26, 2006 02:00:56