Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Predator Always Returns To The Scene, 14 Sep 2003
As quite a few people will know who are reading this who have heard, or own Ritual De Lo Habitual and/or Nothing's Shocking, and to a lesser extent their debut self-titled, Jane's Addiction really are rock royalty. From their infectious power-riffing, right up to Dave Navarro's feather and diamond clustered stage wear, Jane's really are monarchs in their own field. Thanks to addictions, and other problems their reign had to come to an unfortunate end, and they abdicated just as they were making a difference. And now they're back with a terrific claim to the throne...With the jury in they kick into their re-induction with one of Navarro's hardest riff, and Farrell screaming "Here We Go!" (Ring any bells?), on the opening smash of, 'True Nature', which while is a pretty straight-forward rocker, with virtually no ups and downs, it doesn't truly sound like a Jane's Addiction song, but at the same time, you can't help but think, 'They're Back!' with a great big smile on your face. And that will be the only hold-back for Jane's Addiction on 'Strays', knowing that many of their more seasoned fans will probably not appreciate this as much as the likes of 'Ritual..' and '...Shocking'. Long, drawn out masterpieces have been replaced by adequately lengthed beauties, that do and don't sound like Jane's and they are, dare I say it, more radio-friendly. The only tracks that may offer themselves more happily to past fans who want more of what's already gone by, would be the likes of the album's title track, 'Hypersonic', one of the album highlights, 'The Riches' and maybe even the final track, 'To Match The Sun' which has an almost 'Three Days' feel about it. But for those who can accept the changed Jane's have made on 'Strays', there's plenty to dive right into and indulge for a good while. Single, 'Just Because' is surely one of the tracks of the year, and is just a pure out and out rocker that you won't hear anything else like, with a stunning riff to boot. 'Wrong Girl' has a greasy, dirty riff in the style of the past Red Hot Chilli Peppers (Sorry Dave), 'Everybody's Friend' is a nice enough, acoustic ballad, and 'Suffer Some' is bruising to say the least. So Jane's are older, and more equipt, but maybe not wiser. And thank God for that in a way. It's nice to hear them trying this new style out while indulging in some past glories, just to enjoy themselves as they always have, not because they've run out of ideas. And they do sound like they're enjoying themselves. The verdict is in... Strays to some will be a great application to regain the throne for Jane's, and for others, mostly those who've lived under the powers of them before, this may just be treason. Some of my fellow reviewers are not impressed by the former leaders new approach, but you tell me a better monarch out there to take the job. Never mind one that wears silver trousers and pink tops. 4 Stars.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not a comeback. A Re-Creation., 25 Jul 2003
It's strange. Ever since Jane's originally broke up in 1992, there's been a few bands who have been tagged as sounding "like Jane's Addiction". Whether it be Cyclefly, or Anyone, or Placebo even. Now, these bands might have had elements of the classic Jane's sound - the high vocals, the rolling bass, the HUGE guitar sound - but they really didn't have the scope and ambition that you hear on 'Nothing's Shocking' and 'Ritual de lo Habitual'. They could write a song along the same lines as 'Stop' or 'Been Caught Stealing', but nothing that could rival 'Three Days' or 'Ted, Just Admit it'.
The odd thing is, 'Strays' sounds more like an album by one of those bands who "sound like Jane's Addiction" than it sounds like a Jane's Addiction album. Strange.
It's a lot more accessible than any of their previous work, and would actually be a good starting point for anyone who had not heard the classic second and third albums. But the longest song on there is 5:44 - and none of them really have the dynamic build and the sweeping mood shifts that characterised the original Jane’s musical style. There are nods in the direction, but the headlong abandonment of old has been reined in and polished (Hope you don’t mind mixed metaphors). It’s as if they decided that the first half of ‘Ritual...’ was the better one all along, and decided to write more accessible pop songs and fewer trance-state mind expansion freak-outs.
Not that it is a bad album by any means; It is good, maybe even very good. But it isn’t Godlike.
Opener ‘True Nature’ is a statement of intent for the whole album - a heavy riff, multitracked vocals, a lush middle section and some guitar wizardry from Mr Navarro.
The Title track is a paean to the road.. opening with a Beatles-y Indian sounding section, then breaking into a stripped down verse - heavy chorus structure.
You’ve probably heard ‘Just Because’ already. I’d just like to take this time to say I like it.
‘Price I Pay’ is the first real quiet, reflective moment, but then unexpectedly and abruptly turns into a completely different song. A song with a rolling, bubbling bass line, funky drums, stabby guitars and a big chorus.
‘The Riches’ is the longest song on the album, and it builds from a quiet intro up into a huge chorus, then goes back down again.
‘Superhero’ is a faster tune. It’s almost a poppification of nu-Metal song structures - an unmelodic verse with almost rap-like vocals burbles along behind a simple riff, then bursts out into a melodic chorus, but the tune is strong and the production is clean, meaning it doesn’t actually sound anything like a nu-Metal song. It’s more Stadium Rock than anything really.
‘Wrong Girl’ is carried by Dave Navarro’s awesome funky riff. It’s a bit Chili Peppers-esque, all syncopated and musicianly. Good solo too.
‘Everybody’s Friend’ is a proper ballad, with acoustic guitars and harmonised vocals and everything. It’s dreamy. It’s reminiscent of Tahitian Moon by Porno for Pyros in the bit where the bass really gets going, but it doesn’t last that long. The finish is a bit abrupt as well.
‘Suffer Some’ is a rocker. Kind of a reversal of ‘Jane Says’ in it’s sentiment, being as rather than sympathising with a junkies’ self delusion, they are now condemning it. “She got problems?/ Come on name me one / She makes problems”. Maybe I’m reading it wrong though.
‘Hypersonic’ flies by on a rapid-fire drumbeat. This is the only song that shows any real influence from dance music, which is odd considering how dance-tinged Perry Farrell’s ‘Song Yet to be Sung’ album was. It’s another one with a sudden ending as well.
‘To Match the Sun’ is the last song. This album isn’t very long - only 48 and a half minutes. But quality over quantity and all that. Another good one, the mood of the song shifts from a grabbing, thrusting need to a subdued, distant yearning.
Overall, this album is good, but it doesn’t sound like Jane’s used to. But if you liked ‘Just Because’, you’ll like the album. Thinking about it, the single really encapsulates the album perfectly. If you buy this album, and I do wholeheartedly recommend it, do the decent thing and buy ‘Ritual...’ and ‘Nothing’s Shocking’ as well. Thank you.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Long awaited return of the alterno-rock godfathers!, 25 Jul 2003
Its been 13 years since the last release by Jane's Addiction (not counting 1997's "Kettle Whistle" mixed-bag) and the band are still going strong. Overall, "Strays" picks up just where Ritual de lo Habitual left off. 11 powerful tracks that show that Jane's Addiction were, and still are the band that sets the standards for all alternative rock bands.
Strays starts out with the power-rock of True Nature, a song that shifts from hard rock to melodic meandering in a matter of moments. Title track "Strays" sounds like a track that could fit in well to the band's second release, "Nothing's Shocking". "Just Because", the first single from this album is a powerful rock song highlighting everything I used to (and still do) love about this band, Perry Farrell's melodic vocals over multi layered guitars.
The only difference from the "old" Janes Addiction is the abscence of original bass player, Eric Avery. New bass player, Chris Chaney, delivers basslines that perfectly suit the band and that Avery would be proud of. To summarise, this is a top album and I recommend it to anyone who wants to hear some great guitar rock.
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