Strays

Halfway into the fourth year of the century and not only is there talk of a Pixies reunion, but My Bloody Valentine are ensconced in a Berlin studio and Jane’s Addiction are back with a new album. The alt-gods of the late ’80s have unfinished business to attend to, but as Perry Farrell might remind us, nothing’s shocking.

After several live dalliances, L.A.’s loudest freak show return with Farrell, sometime Chilli Pepper Dave Navarro and Porno for Pyro Stephen Perkins kicking out the jams. ‘True Nature’ is a great firecracker up the ass opener. “Here we go!” squeals Farrell as an avalanche of power chords announces Strays. Current single ‘Just Because’ and ‘Price I Pay’ are as brilliant as anything on the groundbreaking Nothing’s Shocking or epochal Ritual De Lo Habitual, which boasted the best track featuring dogs barking of all time in ‘Been Caught Stealing’.

Strays sees a leaner and meaner Jane’s in a more selective editing mode. The sprawling mood pieces like ‘Three Days’ are eschewed in favour of shorter, punchier blasts that still sound every bit as epic. Interestingly, Bob Ezrin of Pink Floyd fame is at the sound-desk, but it’s as removed from prog rock as you can get. More than ever, Jane’s Addiction are a tripped out, psychedelic antidote to dodgy eighties poodle permed West Coast rock or 21st century nu-metal. ‘Superhero’ sees Navarro overdo the funk rock guitar solo songbook a little, but that aside it’s a kaleidoscopic Jane’s sound assault in glorious Technicolor.

The Jane’s comeback couldn’t be better timed. Just as they nailed it back in the day ages before ‘Teen Spirit’ was even written, Farrell and company sound totally psyched. Raw, raucous and perhaps this year’s candidate for Queens Of The Stone Age style deafening status. Just ‘cos Jane says.