awesome import from L.A.'s best eccentric band
Written: May 14 '04 (Updated May 14 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Jane's Addiction at their best
Cons: "Three Days" comes off sounding a bit odd
The Bottom Line: This album is for the true fan of alternative rock. Buy it and your friends will be jealous.
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| joenormal's Full Review: Live and Rare - Jane's Addiction Movies |
Why this album was never released here in the United States will always be a mystery to me. This is a collection of remixes, demos, live versions and a medley of covers. Oddly enough, this is a Japanese import from Warner Brothers Records complete with the inside booklet written in both Japanese and English. Yes, you can find this album in the United States, but it's going to cost you a pretty penny.
For those unfamiliar with Jane's Addiction, let me briefly describe their sound. With a wall of feedback and odd melody emerges the guitar sound that is Dave Navarro. Eric A provides straight forward bass lines to complement Stephen Perkins' tribal drum beats. Perry Farrell is the vocal genius with his sounds of torment, emotion and high pitch. Simply put, Jane's addiction is a little punk mixed with modern rock and alternative rock. In other words, it is extremely impossible to lock them into a genre, so I won't waste your time trying to do so.
Been Caught Stealing (remix):
an off-time remix of one of Jane's Addiction's biggest hits. The band adds a bit more acoustic guitar with this version and the style of this track comes off as more a club number with its emphasis on the beat versus the music.
Had A Dad (demo):
this is the demo version of one of the classic tracks off of Jane's Addiction's 2nd album, "Nothing's Shocking". Oddly enough, while the production on this track is a little less than par, it still sounds like something that should go on a studio album as is. For those familiar with this song, the tempo is a wee bit slower than the original version.
L.A. Medley (live)
L.A. Woman, Nausea, Lexicon Devil:
This medley version of three covers shows just how awesome Jane's Addiction was live. The covers are not as the original artists intended. Rather, they are the versions with Jane's Addiction unique style formatted all other them.
Had A Dad (live):
the live version of Had A Dad further showing the brilliance of Jane's Addiction. This version shows how the band loves to build up into a song in their live setting.
It takes over a minute for Jane's Addiction to actually start the song.
Three Days (Part 1):
Three Days (Part 2): This version does not change much from the original version found on "Ritual De Lo Habitual". It's a little bit longer, but otherwise is very much the same music epic that you've heard before. These two tracks are actually one track and the split between them disrupts the flow of the song. This is the one letdown off of this album.
I Would For You (demo):
The synthesizer demo version of their classic ballad off of their 1st album. This version is very raw, but still, as always, a great song. This is Jane's Addiction at their most raw with only a bass line, synthesizer and vocals leading the way.
Jane Says (demo): Oh, the classic track "Jane Says". How is this a demo version? It sounds identical to the version on "Nothing's Shocking".
No One's Leaving (live):
This is another live track and shows Dave Navarro and his perpetual 'wall of feedback' at its best.
Ain't No Right (live): Classic track off of "Ritual De Lo Habitual" that really shows the energy of Jane's Addiction live. You can really hear the crowd get into this one.
If you're a true Jane's Addiction fan than this is your album. Even if you're only a passing fan, I would recommend sinking your teeth into this album if you can afford it. I think I paid $17 for it, but I don't regret it. It was money worth spending and I think you might agree with me on that after you've bought this album.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID: joenormal
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Member: Dustin Reed
Location: San Diego, CA
Reviews written: 35
Trusted by: 13 members
About Me: writer, poet, music geek
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