Jane's Addiction
The Great Escape Artist

Oook! I know I'm a bit late with this album to present it as something new, but in the end, not even a month has passed since its release. And honestly, it's an insignificant period when you think about the eight years of waiting by millions of eager fans.

Was the wait ultimately rewarded? Probably not. And frankly, I can't say for sure because I only discovered Jane's Addiction two years ago, but I have all their albums, and now I will describe this latest effort of theirs to you (go ahead and laugh, it's meant to be ironic). When I first held the album in my hands, I thought about how the cover was a tame version of their previous bold and daring artwork. Believe me, even if the music inside was a self-parody, it wouldn't have been too bad.

But no. They basically paved the way for Alternative and the last generation of good rock in the nineties, and what do they do? They churn out barely forty minutes of what seems like a super-cliché version of U2! Honestly, I expected more.

Despite this, I don't think this is either a step back or forward compared to "Strays," but more a lateral movement on the same level. Trends change and in 2003 they did the same thing they’re doing today, adapting to a sort of lysergic Nu Metal.

But perhaps these are just the slightly too angry thoughts of a disappointed fan. In reality, for those discovering Jane's with this album, it might not be so traumatic. On second thought, there are a few catchy tracks (but nothing more), and I'm referring to "Underground," "Curiosity Kills," "Twisted Tales," and the two singles "End To The Lies" and "Irresistible Force." All of them feature powerful Power-Pop and Radio-Friendly choruses, two terms often used abroad when dealing with crap.

Special mention for the final track "Words Right Out My Mouth". This seems to be the one old fans like the most, and I have to admit it's quite engaging. But the idea that it recalls their old style is a huge lie! They've never done a piece like this, and it actually resembles more the flow of some Velvet Revolver song. Could it be because it was written with their bassist Duff McKagan?

Conclusion: the album is mediocre, it's unlikely to win over old fans or attract new ones, but still, they are songs I'd rather see on MTV than Coldplay. And to stay on the theme of recently released albums, I'll tell you it even beats "Lulu" by Metallica & Lou Reed. I don't know what to say, give it to your grandma so she can dance a bit. My rating is 5. Goodbye, Perry.