Jane's Addiction

On the band's major label debut, Jane's Addiction show the world why they were so relentlessly pursued by A&R types, as their thunderous, Metal-meets-Funk explodes from the speakers right from the get-go. Nothing's Shocking established Jane's Addiction ability to set the pace musically, and it remains one of best representations of the band to date.

Randy Newman and the members of Jane's Addiction would probably be the first to tell you
that they don't have anything in common, that they don't listen to each other's music, that
they shouldn't be in the same record review. And that's probably true: Newman, forty-four
and unprolific, makes immaculate pop music, with a lushness borrowed from movie
soundtracks; Jane's Addiction, young and restless, makes music that scrapes ag... More >

The Dream Syndicate in the age of metal worship, a/k/a Alice Cooper revisited. Of course, Alice didn't get this good until album three. Then again, album three had "I'm Eighteen" on it, and the new guys aren't humble enough to try for one of those. Or lucky enough to get one--as Alice has spent his life proving, talent didn't have much to do with it. But if they stick at it like the pros they'll be, they might land an "Only Women Bleed." (Grade - B-)