“We’re all hustlers,” croons Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell on ‘Underground,’ the opening track to the aptly titled The Great Escape Artist and in so many ways, the singer succinctly sums up their musical endeavors better than anyone ever has during their on-again-off-again career, which has so far spanned over three decades. One of the most charming yet haphazard acts to ever grace a stage, the rule-breaking, drug-fueled alt. rock originators have been marching to the beat of their own drum since 1985 and this latest addition to their much storied career sees the band explore their space rock tendencies and is very much a (whisper it) more mature effort.
After experimenting with a number of different producers and bassists (which included former Guns N’ Roses member Duff McKagan) the long awaited The Great Escape Artist is the sound of a band that refuses to give up. Featuring those post-punk goth soundscapes that fans know and love spliced together with a more modern, Muse-esque nu-prog edge, their fourth album is a cosmic-flavoured colossus that showcases a group who are resolutely looking towards their future – and critics and cynics be-damned. ‘Broken People’ is a beautiful, sci-fi ballad that boasts a vintage vocal performance from Farrell, ‘Twisted Tales’ is a throbbing, electro-tinged gem, and album closer ‘Words Right Out Of My Mouth’ is a straight-up smash-mouth rocker that will appease the old-school fans who have stuck around since day one. Here’s hoping it doesn’t take them another eight years to release a follow up, eh?