Jane's Addiction - The Great Escape Artist (Capitol)

Eight years after their last studio album, the very disappointing Strays, Jane’s Addiction returns with, surprisingly, my favorite effort of theirs to date. Sacrilege? Maybe. Mostly gone is the flamboyance that is sure to piss off more than a few diehards. The argument can be made that the band has been neutered by technology and the slick production of Rich Costey. The raw, dangerous, funk element is missing, save for album closer, “Words Right Out Of My Mouth,” (co-written by former Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan). One could even say that this is Jane’s trying to fit in with today’s garbage mainstream music landscape. Admittedly, this doesn’t sound promising. But even with all that is lost, there are pleasant substitutions.

The main thing that sticks out on The Great Escape Artist is the evolution of Perry Farrell’s voice. It comes through more melodic than at any time in the quarter century history of the band, most notably on the excellent “The Irresistible Force (Met The Immovable Object),”. It serves the songs instead of caterwauling over them. The band as a whole plays within themselves and show proper restraint. Much maligned among serious musicians, guitarist Dave Navarro’s play is, for the first time, not flashy but perfectly serviceable. Even the running order is well done as there is no great lull between the superior tracks. There is no “Jane Says,” or “Been Caught Stealing,” but this is a different band. There may not be that moment of genius but there are no head scratchers either. With The Great Escape Artist, Jane’s Addiction proved that they can age gracefully and still be relevant.