The last time that
Jane's Addiction headlined Lollapalooza behind a high-profile album was, of course, 1991. Much changed in 12 years, though, and the declining fortunes of
Perry Farrell's breakthrough festival during the summer of 2003 were matched by a return from three-fourths of the original
Jane's Addiction lineup on its third full album,
Strays.
Farrell, guitarist
Dave Navarro, drummer
Stephen Perkins, and bassist
Eric Avery (who declined his reunion invitation) had been a vision of '80s musical heaven since their studio debut, 1988's
Nothing's Shocking.
Farrell's art-school intelligence and originality made the band interesting, while
Navarro's and
Perkins' background in heavy metal (they're both significantly younger than
Farrell) gave the band punch, adding the melodicism of power pop and the constant riffing of thrash.
Strays is undeniably a
Jane's Addiction record, and a powerful one at that.
Farrell's regal, echo-laden vocals are intact (and out in front like never before), as are
Navarro's ragged, lyrical guitar solos. This set of majestic jams is influenced by
Farrell's second
Porno for Pyros LP,
Good God's Urge, a mystical mishmash of musical feelings and textures. The allure of
Jane's Addiction is undiminished by
Strays; this is still a band creating music unlike any other group on earth. ~ John Bush