Jane's Addiction "The Great Escape Artist" - personal review

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Shaohao
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Jane's Addiction "The Great Escape Artist" - personal review

#1 Post by Shaohao » Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:45 am

The album begins with a monumental declaration in the form of "Underground" in which Perry Farrell, despite his age, is convinced that "I am a hustler and I have never sold out the Underground", Dave Navarro charms with his twisted virtuosity and Steven Perkins drums with the charisma of the invincible Lewis Lennox. The alien element in the form of David Sitek perfectly fits into this formula, adding a dark and tarry groove. The singular "Irresistible Force (Met the Immovable Object)" is a candidate for the flagship song on the album, not only thanks to Farrell's characteristic vocal line, but above all thanks to Navarro, who can turn psychedelic in one song, but also present weathered gothic and heavymetal (this solo!) plays, which only thanks to his fantasy do not sound cherry. The following compositions can be written about in a similar way: only the charisma, uniqueness and brilliance of Jane's Addiction's musicians makes things that are not really relevant to the compositions from years ago, even hooked on mediocrity (there are a few of them on "The Great Escape Artist"...) sound remarkable. And the nostalgic "Broken People" sounds very peculiar, which can easily be placed next to "Then She Did..." or "Summertime Rolls". It is also the best song on the album.

The only thing this album lacks is a sense of artistic adventure or even some danger, evil, meanness and corruption, which were so magnetized and tempted by the band's first albums. You know, the gentlemen are old and instead of three days of drug-sexual orgies (the memorable "Three Days" from "Ritual De Lo Habitual"), today they are only able to "drink and smoke until five or six in the morning". ("Splash A Little Water On It" from "The Great Escape Artist").

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Re: Jane's Addiction "The Great Escape Artist" - personal review

#2 Post by Hokahey » Tue Jan 05, 2021 9:19 am

:lol:

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Pandemonium
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Re: Jane's Addiction "The Great Escape Artist" - personal review

#3 Post by Pandemonium » Tue Jan 05, 2021 12:23 pm

This should be fun.

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Artemis
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Re: Jane's Addiction "The Great Escape Artist" - personal review

#4 Post by Artemis » Tue Jan 05, 2021 1:26 pm

The Great Escape Artist is going to be 10 years old this year! No doubt a special, remixed box set will be released to commemorate. :lol:

I thought the album was okay when it came out...don't remember the songs now as it's been years since I listened to it.

"You were the foreskin.I was the real head" :lol:


I think the last I saw JA was the tour for this album- 2012.

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Re: Jane's Addiction "The Great Escape Artist" - personal review

#5 Post by Bandit72 » Wed Jan 06, 2021 1:29 am

I'm not sure any post Janes 1.0 song can be placed against Then She Did (or SR even), but that's just me!

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Re: Jane's Addiction "The Great Escape Artist" - personal review

#6 Post by Mescal » Wed Jan 06, 2021 2:20 pm

Shaohao wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:45 am
The album begins with a monumental declaration in the form of "Underground" in which Perry Farrell, despite his age, is convinced that "I am a hustler and I have never sold out the Underground", Dave Navarro charms with his twisted virtuosity and Steven Perkins drums with the charisma of the invincible Lewis Lennox. The alien element in the form of David Sitek perfectly fits into this formula, adding a dark and tarry groove. The singular "Irresistible Force (Met the Immovable Object)" is a candidate for the flagship song on the album, not only thanks to Farrell's characteristic vocal line, but above all thanks to Navarro, who can turn psychedelic in one song, but also present weathered gothic and heavymetal (this solo!) plays, which only thanks to his fantasy do not sound cherry. The following compositions can be written about in a similar way: only the charisma, uniqueness and brilliance of Jane's Addiction's musicians makes things that are not really relevant to the compositions from years ago, even hooked on mediocrity (there are a few of them on "The Great Escape Artist"...) sound remarkable. And the nostalgic "Broken People" sounds very peculiar, which can easily be placed next to "Then She Did..." or "Summertime Rolls". It is also the best song on the album.

The only thing this album lacks is a sense of artistic adventure or even some danger, evil, meanness and corruption, which were so magnetized and tempted by the band's first albums. You know, the gentlemen are old and instead of three days of drug-sexual orgies (the memorable "Three Days" from "Ritual De Lo Habitual"), today they are only able to "drink and smoke until five or six in the morning". ("Splash A Little Water On It" from "The Great Escape Artist").
Good review.

Almost makes me want to give TGEA another chance

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Re: Jane's Addiction "The Great Escape Artist" - personal review

#7 Post by cabangbangq » Thu Jan 07, 2021 10:31 am

TGEA has a few interesting moments. Underground sounds like Jane's 1.0 to me. The lyrics are a bit corny, sure, but the groove is there. The bassline sounds like something EA would stomp the ground to. Dave's guitar solos are genuinely inspired.

Curiosity Kills has moments I like. It actually reminds me a bit of GGU Porno for Pyros, particularly Tonight. There's a nice atmosphere to it, just very by-the-books drumming from Perk.

End to the Lies isn't bad either. It is more of a TV on the Radio song than a Jane's song, but that makes total sense because Dave Sitek from TVOTR was in the studio with them. Twisted Tales also isn't bad. A bit different from typical Jane's, but I was totally ok with it live.

Beyond that, it's mostly meh. Irresistible Force is a bad Muse song. Broken People is boring. Splash a Little Water on It sounds like GNR and Dave's solos are so painfully contrived. I will say this though, it was pretty decent live! Ultimate Reason isn't terrible, but I wish it were part of a longer song. Words Right Out of Mouth is Panic Channel.

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