It's been a long thirteen years for JANE's ADDICTION fans. Thirteen years of side projects, half-assed attempts at artistic merit (let's face it - Who liked Porno for Pyro's?)
and fill-in gigs for other bands (Red Jane's Hot Addiction to Peppers), and really bad B-Sides (Kettlewistle). But the wait is over, and Jane's Addiction has returned with not only THEIR finest offering, but what I think is one of the best damn rock records of the year.
This disc is perfect from all points: Songwriting, production, arrangements, dynamics, sound. It seems that a long hiatus is something these guys might have needed in order to come back full circle
and deliver on the promises made with Ritual De Habitual.
Guitar fans will eat this disc up; Dave Navarro has never sounded better and his
playing is on fire. Creatively he has hit that "zone" that John Frusciante entered during the recording of the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS disc,Blood Sugar Sex Magic (If you're a guitarist, imagine the ghost
of Jimi Hendrix shining on your shoulder). Navarro's perpensive playing, sonic shifts, raging guitar tones, and overall vibe are pure magic and I think this may indeed bring lead-guitar back into the mainstream (IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!!).
Perry Farrell sounds like....well Perry. Nasly and whiney at times, but overall he is
and always will be the voice and image of Jane's and god bless him for it.
The rhythm section, Stephen Perkins and new bassist Chris Chaney (from Alanis Morrisette's band)
are a lock down tight unit, meshing fluid rhythmic accents and intensity without cluttering the mix or overplaying.
Each song on this disc is very well written,
from the slamming, almost metal-sounding 'True Nature', which at times reminds me of A PERFECT CIRCLE, to the lead-off single 'Just Because' (which, if you haven't heard it by now, you're not listening to the RIGHT stations), this disc is simply a winner. You'll be hard pressed to find a better arena rock CD this year, though there is hope.
