Blogs N' Roses: Jane's Addiction The Great Escape Artist Album Review

Jane's Addiction The Great Escape Artist Album Review

I have been VERY behind on my album reviews and I can't help it. I had to get a real job in this shit economy and now I stock groceries at Wegman's. If more of you would have advertised on the site, I would have been able to get to these reviews faster...so ultimately, this is your fault.

Jane's Addiction's newest album, The Great Escape Artist, is the band's fourth studio album and the first time we have heard new music from them in eight years. Legendary Duff McKagen (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver) helped out early in the song writing process, but after nine months left the band over electronica styles. Only three of Duff's tracks make The Great Escape Artist (Ultimate Reason, Broken People, and Words Right Out of My Mouth). These tracks are so solid and I almost find them to be the best Jane's tracks ever recorded.

Broken People is a diverse departure for the band, but the slow plodding build is rewarded with some of the most ethereal, soft and sleepy brilliance you haven't heard from the band yet. It still has Duff's almost patented ear for Pop. It is definitely my favorite track on the record and pays for the record easily.

Ultimate Reason you can immediately tell Duff's touches as the song sounds like a gypsy version of a Loaded song.

Strays, I felt, STRAYED (HA — puns, yes!) from what Jane's Addiction was about, but The Great Escape Artist brings Jane's back to the era where I fell in love with them. The daring eroticism and dreamy intoxication is back. The band has continued to push forward and learn/hone their craft. Perkins is rolling around the drum kit in ways unheard by him. Dave Navarro is out to prove he is still the rock guitar icon that made him THE guy in the 90's. He still wants the hot groupies to pull toward his cock than Perry's. Perry's subtle use of the piano, electronica, and layered vocal choruses, continue to weave a deep sonic tapestry.

I believe the band has been reinvigorated by their producer, and session bassist, Dave Sitek from TV on the Radio. He brings a history of dealing with synthesizers, MIDI tracks and electronica music that Perry wanted to incorporate and what sent Duff packing.

Perry has been heard in interviews looking to create a Pink Floyd like album, I don't think they quite pull off that feat. But songs like Irresistible Force get the band as close to that Floyd-esque sound they are looking for. Soaring keyboards, layered looping sound effects, a humble drum beat, and lofty vocals timed with a perfectly crafted guitar solo by Navarro lift this song from the plebeian level to the demi-God stature.

Jane's Addiction has been a band about change and pushing the musical landscape. While I don't think they are quite pushing far enough, The Great Escape Artist is the band's first foray into the 21st Century infusing Muse-like electronics and I love it. This record is top notch and stands right at the acme with Jane's Addiction's other records.

Buy it and support good music. You will enjoy unraveling the many layers of this release for the rest of the year. I have listened to it solid for two weeks and I continue to hear things I missed on the first hundred play throughs.

You can hear the album right now because it is streaming from iTunes. You can also preorder from the same page. The album comes out next Tuesday (October 18, 2011).

Four Wet Pussies out of Five