Nothing's Shocking Jane's Addiction Artist

Although {|Jane's Addiction|}'s 1987 self-titled debut was an intriguing release (few {|alternative|} bands at the time had the courage to mix modern {|rock|}, {|prog rock|}, and {|heavy metal|} together), it paled in comparison to their now classic major-label release one year later, {|Nothing's Shocking|}. Produced by {|Dave Jerden|} and {|Jane's Addiction|} vocalist {|Perry Farrell|}, the album was more focused and packed more of a sonic wallop than its predecessor; the fiery performances often create an amazing sense that it could all fall apart at any second, creating a fantastic musical tension. Such tracks as {|Up the Beach,|} {|Ocean Size,|} and one of {|alt-rock|}'s greatest anthems, {|Mountain Song,|} contain the spaciousness created by the band's two biggest influences, {|Led Zeppelin|} and {|the Cure|}. Elsewhere, {|Ted, Just Admit It...|} (about serial killer {|Ted Bundy|}) and the haunting yet gorgeous {|Summertime Rolls|} stretched to epic proportions, making great use of changing moods and dynamics (something most {|alt-rock|} bands of the time were oblivious to). An incredibly consistent and challenging album, other highlights included the rockers {|Had a Dad|} and {|Pigs in Zen,|} the horn-driven {|Idiots Rule,|} the {|jazz|} instrumental {|Thank You Boys,|} and the up-tempo {|Standing in the Shower...Thinking.|} Like most great bands, it was not a single member whose contribution was greater: {|Perry Farrell|}'s unique voice and lyrics, {|Dave Navarro|}'s guitar riffs and wailing leads, {|Eric Avery|}'s sturdy basslines, and one of rock's greatest and most powerful drummers, {|Stephen Perkins|}. {|Nothing's Shocking|} is a must-have for lovers of cutting-edge, influential, and timeless {|hard rock|}. ~ Greg Prato