It doesn't matter if your into metal, rock, jazz, soul or funk, this has the lot & should be owned by all.
Two parts meet to create the most awe-inspiring, inspirational music ever recorded. The first part of the album presents the faster funkier stuff such as the hearfelt 'Stop!', the angry 'Ain't no right' & the indie dancefloor classic 'Been Caught Stealing'. It was this track that made me get the album to find out more about the band & it really was the most defining moment in the history of my music apprecation to date. I compare this album to everything & it still keeps my interest after first hearing it 15 years ago.
The first tracks are all brillant, but it is the second part of the collection that really sets the band apart from everything. With a progressive, experimental feel hinted at by the earlier 'Obvious', the second half is born by the initially slow-burning 'Three Days' which builds over the course of it's 13 minute's to a searing rally on nature & religion. Only someone with a true apprecation of this track can tell you how utterly mesmerising it is. It has as much character & intent then any number of whole albums I could mention from other bands & is a superb way to usher in the remainder of the tracks. 'Then She Did' is another monumental example of amazing song construction & will be stuck in your head for days. 'Of Course' is a bizarre violin lead fable that neatly seperates the slow build-up flow of the previous two tracks before ending on the frankly beautiful 'Classic Girl' with it's surreal lyrical meditation on love & affection. Yeah, I love this album.
Perry himself said that Jane's were like a cross between Bad Brains & Duke Ellington & this is a pretty accurate statement, although it could probably better describe the also brillant 'Nothing's Shocking'. It does however indicate how much perserverance this may take with some, but really though it just needs to be heard to be believed. Truly timeless. Buy it.