Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Not bad
It was good, just not good enough for me to add anything to a playlist
Heading into this blind, not sure exactly what to expect, reading "Up the Beach" and... what an intense, slow moving mind-fuck to start a project off with. Afterwards I was able to check myself and understand the vibe, of course I've heard Jane's Addiction before. Perry's vocals are carved into the back of my mind. We're gonna be listening to low-key angst. Slightly funky, definitely on the produced-hardcore side. It's a flavor and if you're feeling like sticking it to the man but not really, this would be the soundtrack I'd put on. I was real happy for the intro to Ted, Just Admit It, and then it turned into the mood again. Maybe I'm too into jazz. It's not a bad album, just not something I'd typically feel like putting on. 2.9/5
Good-at least the cover
First listen at age 61. Had been put off by the offensive cover. Liked it. The bond rocks throughout.
First run standout tracks: Ted, Just Admit It..., Summertime Rolls, Jane Says Second run: don't feel like I want to listen to it again anytime soon Fun facts I've learned while listening to the album: pioneers of alternative music, those are nude sculptures created by Farrell and his girlfriend, and the only thing that stood in their way was themselves. I rest under the umbrella of alternative. I grew up watching Nirvana videos on MTV and have heard Jane says on the radio more than I can count. After reading some of these reviews, I, too, wish I could have been there to feel my mind melt upon hearing it for the first time. Although I didn't experience that, I can respect what this album represents. And honestly, "Jane Says" still hits as good now as it did back then.
Sounds like my brother’s room when I walked down the hallway in 1996. Great grunge, with some melodic elements that remind me of Led Zeppelin. Favorite track is “Up the Beach”.
Not really my thing, but lead to some good songs on spotify, "Jane Says" is a song that i've heard before. first time hearing any other of their songs
Good, slightly forgettable
The only thing that stands out about this is Dave Navarro's playing. Perry Farrell's voice is grating. It's good alternative hard rock but not special.
Favorite track: Jane Says Other picks: mountain song, summertime rolls, ocean size
The intro and the random song that spirit shuffled to were my favorites. Hmm. 3.
I was expecting to like this much more. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
Good alt rock
This sounds exactly like the bridge between 80s glam and 90s alternative. It was pretty nice.
Lemppari: Jane Says Vähiten lemppari: Had a Dad
This was a pretty decent album, Janes Addiction was never one of my favorite bands, I was always more of a hits guy, but this was pretty good!
There is signs of potential with this album but only a couple of songs stand out at all. 3 stars or C-.
Iconic sound and influence from this band. I remember first hearing them when I was young and thought it was such a taboo sound because of how grimy and grungy it was. This record continues that mood, and I'm all for it. Perry Farrell has such a distinct voice that will always resonate. I like this one.
5/10
I liked the music a lot more than the annoying vocals. 3 stars on the strength of the music
I knew a lot more of these songs than I expected to. I don't love Jane's Addiction but enjoyed revisiting this album after so many years. Standout tracks: Mountain Song
I’m very nostalgic for this album cause I was a kid when this album was huge. And I think it’s another one of those albums where it’s painfully of its time but that’s not always a negative thing. This is undoubtedly my favorite Jane’s Addiction album but that doesn’t say much cause I’d say as a whole I’m not really a fan of theirs. And I’m not really fond of the lead singers vocals. But despite that I do enjoy this album. The only other negative thing I’ll say is that the only half of the album I like is the second half. But that second half is pretty great.
3.3 I liked it but wasn't listening super closely. Heavier than what I was expecting. I will give it another go at some point,
Preferred the back half of the album
Mountain song & Jane Says are very fun songs, other than that it all kinda blends together.
Major props for this band putting out an album in 1988 that sounded like nothing else, merging metal and alternative. Mountain Song and Jane Says are five stars. That said, Perry Farrell is so annoying.
Pretty interesting songs. This is a rock album that I could tolerate.
3.5
Nothing bad, nothing spectacular. 3 stars
Jane's Addiction has always been one of those bands whose legacy sort of outweighs my actual enjoyment of their music. It's kind of easy to forget how much these guys shaped 90s alternative rock. They brought in a lot of the hard rock elements 80s alternative bands like R.E.M. and the Smiths deliberately avoided. They definitely walked so the big alt-rock bands of the 90s could run. That being said, I definitely don't think the songs are as great on this one. "Mountain Song" and "Jane Says" are both classics, but after that it gets a bit thin. There's some other relatively solid tunes, but also a few clunkers, which isn't great for a relatively short album. I think they'd get better on their second album. 3.5 stars.
3.5
A bit uneven, but also samey. But some good stuff too.
It was fine. Stand out songs: Summertime Rolls Mountain Song Jane Says
Jane’s addiction was good but this wasn’t the album for here.
Great consistency. My first time listening to them properly. Shouldn't have waited this long. Onto my want list
Good instrumentals, it's a shame that Perry Farrell is the vocalist.
Quite liked it most of it except Perry Farrell's voice which grates on me.
Admit it, the highlight of this was seeing the animated ladies with the big boobies and fiery hair seated on a double rocking chair on Spotify. Anyone who says anything else is a big fat liar. Lots of the kind of shouty American alt-rock I generally have no time for and I particularly disliked the vocals. But….I rather enjoyed a few of the more laid back and experimental tracks (summertime rolls being the best of the bunch) and I’m always partial to a brass section so it was thumbs up for the energetic idiots rule. It’s an intersting enough album, it’s alright of a listen, it’s just not my thing. Glad I’ve heard it, but won’t be exploring further.
You better believe I used to have the television show “Ink Master” on pretty much round the clock. When I see Dave fuckin Navarro (also of random Tim & Eric cameo fame) on this band page, you know that’s all I could think about. Did he play on this album though? He did. Wow. Truly a dedication to living mas. Not a band I’ve heard a lot from, so this is a new world for me. Regarding this review, will I leave a large chasm of unfinished thoughts and horrible typos in this review? The anser is almost assuredly Up the Beach - Intro track. Nothing really happening in a good or bad way. Fine. Ocean Size - These vocals are very distinctive. I did know that about the band. Love how this song kicked in. Kind of lulled from there but there were cool moments here. Had a Dad - Grown men referring their father as “Daddy” has always been odd to me, but hey. Maybe it’s a punk thing. This is a nice alt-rock song. Sweet riff, and lots of variety. Great energy here and we’ll lay the responsibility for the dopey lyrics on the punk influence. Yeah let’s go with that. Ted, Just Admit It - Whoa. Saying the name of the album in a song that isn’t named after the album? These guys mean business. Honestly, this is pretty great. It almost sounds like what thrash bands were trying to do in the mid 90s. But they just sounded like washed up thrash bands. This sounds really fresh and urgent. Standing in the Shower…Thinking - I’m glad he ended that with thinking! I shudder to think that he wasn’t being productive. That should be every person’s worst nightmare. I need to be increasing shareholder value or I might as well just fade away. Dystopian propaganda aside, this song did suck. Summertime Rolls - This song refers to the weight I gain in the summer because I refuse to go outside in the sweltering heat. I wish I could refuse. Especially now that summers will continue to get hotter. This is uplifting! Anyway, the song is boring. Mountain Song - We’re so back. That is, we’ve been jolted back into a semi-alive state after the last song. Decent track. Idiots Rule - Boy howdy, they sure do. Did he say Cheetos have their way? Like the lame, lazy, millennial “insult” levied at the fascist sympathizing talking head to our south? Oh. Cheaters. Yeah idiots really are in charge, and unfortunately for a lot of people, idiots make up most of the voter base. I mean I think an idiot composed much of the weird horn section of this song. Jane Says - This band seems to have an inside track on the world of this “Jane” character. Who is she? Why is she so interested in this band? I’ve definitely heard this song. It’s repetitive and a little grating. Thank You, Boys - Well done lads. Pigs in Zen - Fat animals? We’ve got em. Silly, futuristic (for the time) funk metal riffs? Yup. I like it. Kind of insane, but I suppose the idea of enlightened hogs doesn’t lend itself to reason. This wasn’t half bad. Certainly wasn’t full bad either Pretty cool in spots and never really that unpleasant. After U2, it sounded like hearing music for the first time, but I am a professional unpaid and unread music reviewer, so I didn’t let that effect the listen. And hey, I didn’t even mention Ink Master. Oh well. Dave isn’t the funny one anyway. Get me an Oliver Peck album and we’ll really get some quotables. Lines that fit the GOD DAMN SHAPE. I love trash. 2.5-3 HIGHLIGHTS: Had a Dad, Ted, Just Admit It, Pigs in Zen.
I've never been a huge Jane's Addiction fan, but this album is undeniably good. It has a very big sound to it that places it firmly in the late 80's/early 90's alternative rock sound, and recordings of Perry Farrell barely do the raw power of his voice justice, but it all works together. 3.4/5
A real back and forth between well thought out songs and some real messes. A mix of hair metal and early 90’s alt rock, not a bad album, just a little too much at times. “Idiots Rule” is a good song, especially with the horns added in. 3/5 Might listen again
This was pretty good for the genre that it is.
it's fine. better than i thought itd be
I knew Dave Navarro from his stint with the Chilis and always meant to give Jane’s Addiction a proper listen. Very classic Alt-rock sound with some grunge and punk and funk to it.
Not a whole lot of variation in the sound, but that’s not any new thought I’ve had about Jane’s Addiction. Definitely enjoyable, the songs just blend together in places. Thank You Boys wasn’t a song I was expecting to be on the album, either.
The atrocious album cover confirms that 'nothing's shocking' - its blaring image of sexual violence no longer astonishes or appalls. But the music is, to an extent, shocking, not b/c of its content but b/c it weds heavy metal to a nascent alternative movement. True, other 80s acts like Dinosaur Jr. and the Pixies showcased similar dynamics, but not as forcefully or as plainly as Jane's Addiction: this isn't slacker intelligence or nerdish obscurantists treasuring the odd for odd's sack. This is, simply put, hard-hitting rock 'n' roll. Just listen to Perry Farrell's purpose: 'I want to be more like the ocean / no talking / all action.' The issue is, Farrell tends to talk too much, even if he's plain as muck, and there's only one eternal, superb track: 'Jane Says.'
Not bad, little hard and light rock.
Loved them back in my rock clubbing days but this hasn’t worn so well. Severely lacking in actual tunes and Perry’s voice is annoying
It sounds like some of the best and worst of the 90s rock sound they helped create. No doubt a creative album for its time but it does just sounds a bit... Uninteresting? It rocks but in a restrained way which I think may not have been intentional. I actually think Perry's vocal style fits / helps create their brand of music. I can see why it was such a stir but I can't say I was overly impressed.
A generous 3. Just an awful voice
Listenable.
Good
Gave it a few listens, nothing really sunk in immediately but I didn’t hate it and it was a decent listen. Didn’t hate, didn’t love it. Listening to this much rock in this project compared to usual (which is none) has definitely strengthened my prior opinion of it - I don’t really *hate* it, I enjoy and appreciate the strong guitar and drum presence, but I don’t find myself seeking it out.
"Jane Says" still hits the spot, but it’s doing all the heavy lifting. "Mountain Song" is catchy — if you don’t think too hard about what the hell Perry Farrell’s even saying. "Idiots Rule" feels like someone punched him in the face and he never recovered; who hurt him? Navarro’s guitar keeps things interesting, but "Summertime Rolls" is straight-up trash. A few gems, a lot of filler.
Some good stuff but nothing I found essential. My suspicion is they’d be great to see live. 3/5
2.75
Interessante, ma non particolarmente eccezionale.
Nothing shocking.
Nog een cool album. Ken Jane's Addiction niet zo goed, maar dit was wel de moeite om eens te beluisteren. 3.2
This album was good. The solos and guitar tones were really interesting. Overall I think this album was fine, but nothing insanely impressive or ground breaking here for me. However, the bass is a highlight for me. Super interesting bass lines. "Mountain Song" is obviously the highlight Liked Songs: "Had a Dad" , "Standing in the Shower...Thinking" , "Summertime Rolls" , "Mountain Song" , "Idiots Rule" , "Pigs in Zen"
liked songs: Up The Beach, Ocean Size, Idiots Rule I'm not a big fan of Perry Farrell's voice. The music is pretty good. 3.5
A classic case of we have one great song but we have to make a whole album
Cool
Somewhat familiar with Jane's Addiction. Perry Farrell's voice is hard to mistake after all (love his work in Porno for Pyros too). This was probably novel for the time, as alternative rock was sort of finding its mold around the mid to late 80's. Though I can only take Jane's Addiction is small doses, if that makes any sense. Good, hard alt rock that can get a little grating.
Hmm, I’m not exactly sure where I come down on this one. I didn’t dislike it, and it’s pretty cool in some ways - it sounds ahead of its time - but also on the verge of being irritating. “Jane Says” was the only song I’d heard from this album, and it’s definitely the standout.
Nice. Solid guitar playing
Nice raw album
Very cool and psychedelic take on Alternative Rock that actually sounds very modern by 1988 standards. I honestly prefer their follow-up, also on this list, so I'm not so sure this is an essential listen for everyone. Key tracks: Ocean Size Jane Says
not as good as Ritual De Lo Habitual a generous 3 stars
Pretty fun rock album
Pretty iconic album cover and good music.
I quite liked the second half of the album.
Kolejny bardzo przeciętny album. Doceniam ballady z tej płyty, bo mają w sobie coś ciekawego, ale reszta kawałków to typowe szarpanie drutów. Ani to wyjątkowe ani poruszające. 5/10
Pretty good hard rock. Not much to say on this one.
This album was fine. A bit heavier than I prefer but not offensively so. I'm not a normal listener of Jane's Addiction but know they are a pretty big influence in their genre. Obviously highlighted by Jane Says. 5.25/10 (2.625/5)
No major complaints - expected it to be a bit grungier than this but overall pretty good rock album! Enjoyed the acoustic elements
Nothing Shocking here, just a decent debut album. Starts out a bit rough, but improves as it moves along. Last four songs make for a good lineup to the finish. Thank You Boys (best song)is a nice change of pacer followed by the obvious Jane Says. Who’s Jane? (2.7*s)
Always felt Jane's Addiction was one of the most overrated bands and after listening to "Nothing Shocking," I am not shocked that I still stand by that claim. It's a decent debut, title track stands out with a couple others making ripples like "Idiots Rule" and "Pigs in Zen." The rest is mediocre in my opinion and I think the only reason these guys made a splash in the late 80s is cause they featured a steel drum in an alternative song. Farrelly got an annoying voice no doubt but Navarro can pluck and the drummer is tight on the kit but the real shiner is the bassist. Props for debuts that are worthy enough for the list compared to an artist's 29th album or a live one so it ain't for nothing when I give this album a 2.57.
No strong feelings, good background music at work if I keep the volumn down.
3.09
While I can appreciate this album and the importance it had as a bridge between 80s rock and 90s funk and Rrock bands, I've just never really liked Jane's Addiction.
с каким же кайфом вспомнил игру Marc Ecko’s Getting Up когда услышал "Mountain Song"
I think went middle of the road for the last album of theirs I reviewed. Some good drums and guitar work, musically it’s pretty decent. Sadly, the vocals start getting a little hard to put up with. I realise they were pretty important for the alternative rock scene, but (although I like it generally speaking), it didn’t wow me.
JA has a few songs that really appeal to me, though overall something misses on the rest. I see the value of the band, but it just doesn't hit my music bone (I think yhats in tge limbic section of the brain).
Ok album, never really got into these guys
I liked this album better than expected, but the style of vocalization wore thin pretty quickly. This one is a low 3 for me.
Solid ass 3
Favorite Track: Jane Says
It was pretty different from what I expected, but i had fun. Don't think I'm gonna come back to this one, but still a strrooong 3
Nothing outstanding but nothing terrible either
The bridge between 80s rock excess and 90s alternative, what was and what would come. "Jane Says" gets all the attention, but "Mountain Song" is the real one here.
Was surprised to hear a little bit of TOOL here. Not a ton, and mostly the earlier stuff, but it was there. That was neat, but not neat enough to give this more than 3 stars. The dude's voice is super annoying. 3/5
I liked this a lot better than Ritual de lo Habitual. It felt more raw and genuine and was good solid rock music.
Good guitar work and energy. Didn't love the singing. Mellow tunes were good.
Music is ok, idc about the people in the slightest good for them for making history. 3 star
Jaaaaaaane saaaaaays, “I like a lot of the music, not so keen on the vocals”
Jane Says hits so hard, still to this day. This album was really ahead of it's time (it came out in '88! I mean, Faith by George Michael was no. 1 in '88 (I just looked it up)). Perry Ferrell is a freaky bohemian addict who made weird music that defied genre. Not sure I love it per se, but I love the spirit and how it felt slightly more like "outsider art" when it eventually got lumped into grunge. Not on this album, but Being Caught Stealing music video is a marvel and is burned into my brain as the most bizarre thing I could see as a child sneaking into watch MTV without my parents knowledge.
I feel like I liked this band more in the past. It may just be that I didn't really care for this album.
It’s raw and rough, with a sound that feels loose but intentional. The vocals are sharp and cutting, kind of like an edgier David Bowie, but I still loathe Perry's voice. Some of the basslines remind me of early Red Hot Chili Peppers, but everything here is darker and more moody. It’s messy noodling in a way that kinda works, especially for the time.
Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking Good album, I expected it to be really weird because of the album cover, but to be honest, there are bangers in this album, i'm not going back to listen to this though for obvious reasons, but i'll listen to that one than that fred neil album again, this sounds way more fun and cool (no wonder why MC Ride sampled this for his songs, this goes hard!!). Overall, this is good! 1.- Up the Beach = 9/10 2.- Ocean Size = 9/10 3.- Had a Dad = 8/10 4.- Ted, Just Admit It... = 8/10 5.- Standing in the Shower... Thinking = 7/10 6.- Summertime Rolls = 9/10 7.- Mountain Song = 7/10 8.- Idiots Rule = 8/10 9.- Jane Says = 9/10 10.- Thank You Boys = 6/10 11.- Pig's In Zen = 7/10 FINAL SCORE: 7.9/10
Whenever I hear a death grips sample in the wild I feel like I've just stuck a fork into an outlet. I liked this album. I'm probably not gonna go out of my way to listen to it again. The singer is kind of annoying.
Not really my cup of tea but not unpleasant.
I have to admit, I’m pretty burnt out on a lot of these songs, but I still have to give Jane’s Addiction respect for standing the test of time. When they first came out, they were played alongside glam rock and hair metal bands. As that era faded, they seamlessly blended into the grunge movement. Even beyond that, as music continued to evolve, they always stayed relevant with whatever was happening at the time. That’s probably why I’m burnt out on them, these songs have been played for as long as I can remember.
Pretty good. More metallic than alternative. Jane Says is a classic. Too bad Perry Farrell is such a prick. Not totally consistent but a decent listen.
Another great Perry album from the days he had a slight clue of what was going on.
Only thing I knew about them was Perry farrells recent on stage breakdown. Felt later songs better, but probably wouldn’t go back
P indifferent to this
6/10 - It was screamy but somehow I liked it more idk. The voice was more gravely and the backing track was so much better. I liked Idiots Rule a lot and thank you boys was an interesting change of pace.
A bit too heavy for me to really get into it, but I think I almost liked it
A little underwhelmed tbh. Loved some of the songs though but for aw highly as people regard it I wasn’t too blown away.
a little tired at the end of this album
Wanting to know more about the cover art I fell down a rabbit hole about Casey Niccoli. Oof. Anyway, my college boyfriend absolutely loved Jane's Addiction back in the day, I didn't as much. Listening again he was right. Unlike with Sonic Youth. Still, minus a star for the Casey situation.
Impressive guitar, but a bit like 80's rock. The vocals ... not so good.
Pretty good 90s electic hard rock. Diverse pallete of subgenres.
I was familiar with the hits from this album. Giving it a full listen- it was about what I expected. Jane's Addiction has a distinct sound but still captures a lot of thr alternative sound that I enjoy in 90s rock. Not much stood out- just a solid album with a clear sound and vision
i could give this a higher score but i had a bad day
Not a huge fan of the mix, too much dist/fuzz
I like this album more now than I did when I had to listen to it overandoverandover in the early 90s. I like the guitar best. I still don't like Jane Says. It reminds me of angsty grunge boys smoking cigarettes. I liked them, I never liked the song.
It’s not fair at all, but listening to this after Ritual De Lo Habitual made that album seem a little worse by association. I’m not sure what changed between their first and second albums, but Nothing’s Shocking feels like it doesn’t have that spark, that restlessness, and that variety that made me enjoy Ritual so much, while also highlighting the elements that work against the band, most notably Perry Farrell’s vocals, which sound incredibly adolescent on this album. It’s a shame, what with the explicit Velvet Underground influence, and how much I’ve liked their other work, I wanted to like this better
I remember disliking this band as a child listening to the radio but as an adult I thought it wasn't so bad!
never knew this band but enjoyed this enough
Wow, this very 90's album came out in the 90's. This is the first time hearing most of this. Other than surprising me at work with the cover art nothing here really stood out. Jane Says was always an unzippable song on the radio but a little too much of the whiney singing made me a little relieved when the album was over.
It's okay. It strikes me as something that was probably radical at the time, a trend-setter, but now it is most relegated to background sound. It was cool, but not really cool enough to be something I'll likely ever return to.
This was fine. I don't think I'd heard anything beyond "Jane Says" before, and I don't think I'll be seeking out any more Jane's Addiction. 3.0
A strong three; I enjoyed this quite a lot, though maybe not quite as much as Ritual de lo Habitual. Only song I was familiar with was Jane Says; that's the strongest on the album.
great hard rock with a solid amount of alternative influence
This is pretty good. A bit inconsistent.
I love how grudge this sounds. A little too heavy for my liking.
My fave was Jane Says
Their top hits r good, but only 1 on this album
Jane's Addiction's debut album and a fine introduction to their alt-rock stylings. Stand out is of course Jane Says, but listen out for Summertime Rolls too.
It's strange how something released in 1988 can sound much more outdated than other albums on the list that are more than 60 years old, but that is what happened with Jane's Addiction for me. I can see the qualities, and 1 or 2 songs are still great, but the album as a whole is a product of the 80s and should be kept there.
Honestly kind of boring beyond a few tracks
It's not my type of music but I respect it. They also sound like they gave the red hot chili peppers some inspiration. The best tracks here are the slower ones.
Having received this album after Farrell and Navarro’s now-infamous onstage scuffle that resulted in the cancellation of their tour, I suppose nothing IS shocking. And that goes for these songs too: perfectly fine in 2024, but probably more hard-hitting in the 90s.
3 stars. They okay. Jane says is a overplayed song
Glad this came up a week after Jane's addiction got in a fight on stage and cancelled their tour. Would have been quite the scene at a concert to witness. Always found the singer to not really fit with the band or something like that, can't really explain it but his voice is just a bit off putting. The songs themselves though were pretty standard but good 90s rock. Thank you Boys was a funny little jazz number that I didn't expect.
I have to admit, I’m pretty burnt out on a lot of these songs, but I still have to give Jane’s Addiction respect for standing the test of time. When they first came out, they were played alongside glam rock and hair metal bands. As that era faded, they seamlessly blended into the grunge movement. Even beyond that, as music continued to evolve, they always stayed relevant with whatever was happening at the time. That’s probably why I’m burnt out on them, these songs have been played for as long as I can remember.
Can't really tell one song from another.
eh better than the other rock albums I had, but would not relitsten to any of these pieces
It was ok. I used to like this album, but I found it more annoying than likable.
Kind of wacky punk rock album. I enjoyed some of the songs, but for me, the vibe didn’t quite match what I like. I think I knew the song Jane Say’s from Rockband or Guitar Hero. I liked the jazz song near the end. Funny. Standouts: Ocean Size, Ted, Just Admit It…, and Jane Says.
Classic, again wasn’t really into them when they were out was only 2 when this hit. But I appreciate what they were doing and have done.
Solid record Al the way through.
too screamy but still alright
I wish every song could've been as good as Jane Says.
There is some good music on this album, but I remain intractable on Perry Farrell's singing style. Simply not for me, but I do love Navarro's guitar and Eric Avery's bass lines. Pigs of Zen, Mountain Song, and Jane Says are the tracks worth listening again. 3/5.
HARD ROCK!!! GOD PLEASE NO!!!
i guess i sollt des mögen aber iwie bleibt nit viel hängen
Not bad but not good either.
Never given a full listen to one of their albums. Some decent songs but nothing special.
Täähän on tällästä vihasempaa rhco:tä. Ei huono muttei superhyväkään 3/5
I've never really felt drawn towards getting into Jane's Addiction but I enjoyed this a lot today. Very solid record.
Good compositions but the singing is irritating. Music festival music. 3.4
3.5 Grungy, sounds great, classic songs
Sounds like early 90s grunge, but still from the 80s, sounds ahead of its time. Clean, different (for its time), I didn't not enjoy it.. 3* Not higher because not a sound I super enjoy and was a little repetitive. Vocals sound whiny after a while. Idiots rule had some brass, which was cool. Thank you boys seemed random, but then I remembered albums used to do this, have this off track toward the end that didn't match anything else. Highlights: mountain song, jane says
Decent album. The lead singer has a unique voice that definitely helps add to the charm but I wouldn't call the music groundbreaking. Jane Says is the only song I knew coming in and probably the only one I would put on by myself.
Two very cursory listens. Sounded good based on those, but no song jumped out as exceptional. Will definitely revisit... someday.
I tried to get into this album for years shortly after it came out. I've always found his voice to be grating and jarring. It's just not for me.
Was going back and forth between enjoying the variety and thinking they had *range*, and enjoying the variety and thinking they were just throwing spaghetti at a wall to see what would stick. It's a lot of music packed into one album. The rare album where I liked the back half better than the front. Cannot believe they manahed to ride this and their follow up album to relevance into the 2000s.
they were always peripherally available and interesting, but i never got into them. there's some very fun things here, but i think all of it was better done on their second album and in their other bands
For some reason I always thought Jane's Addiction was a precursor to Maroon 5?! I don't know where I got that misconception. This was alright. I wouldn't listen again.
having not listened to them before this project, i think i like jane's addition. i disliked the one song that i knew, but into the rest. 2.5
In my opinion, truly nothing is shocking about this if you're looking back at it and are someone who's been involved at all in an 'alternative' subculture. It made me think about how Jane's Addiction played at a music festival I attended and most of their press coverage after the fact was about how they'd had people perform a suspension act (so like, hooks pierced into their flesh and lifted up on a wire) which is certainly A Thing To Do but just didn't strike me as the most boundary-pushing concept to do in the 2010s. Maybe I'm missing the context. It's fine!
Good one
Surprised by this album. Best tracks are Had a Dad, Standing in the Shower Thinking and Jane Says 3/5
I think it was a decent album. I understand the dislike towards his voice but overall a bit surprising and unexpected because I probably was expecting hard rock
still hate the cover art & Farrell's voice I find whiny after about 3 or 4 tracks. great guitar & sound-especially considering this was 1988 & hair metal was still in play. 3.5 stars
Wild for 88. Kinda starting to bring in a new sound to rock. The vocals get annoying, but not enough to turn away.
- interesting cover art that’s for sure - great as music for work/readings - some superb guitar - personally disagree with ‘sex is violent’ but yknow that doesn’t take away from the music - vibe of ‘Jane Says’ is far more acoustic than the rest of the album; I suppose it makes sense that it’s their top song? - solid rock album i would say, good variation through it - 3/5
"Nothing's Shocking" is the debut studio album by Jane's Addiction, originally released in 1988. Funny, I just got another influential album yesterday coincidentally also released in 1988 in Mudhoney's "Superfuzz Bigmuff". I mentioned in my review of that album that by the late 1980s, rock music was in need of a change from the hair metal and synthpop that dominated the charts. Superfuzz Bigmuff was a catalyst for what was to come with grunge in the 90s. That's also the case here, but for more alternative styles of rock. In fact, I feel as though Jane's Addiction was even more of a perfect catalyst for change in this era of music. Mudhoney really stuck to their punk roots and returned a project that was not as digestible to, say, most hair metal or pop fans. What Jane's Addiction did very well with this album was blend alternative, pop, funk, and a few other genres to generate a (somehow) more marketable record. The obvious standout on here is the pop gem "Jane Says" but other tracks also carry their weight such as the dub-influenced "Ted, Just Admit It..." or the funky "Standing in the Shower...Thinking". That being said, I think this record falls short in some areas where their follow-up picks up on. The production on here is not the best. The drums are overly boomy and give off a Phil Collins vibe at times. Dave Navarro's guitar tone also sounds a bit...dry? IDK but the production is a bit distracting. I also feel like some of the lyrical content on here isn't as strong as on their follow-up. Still an enjoyable listen that absolutely deserves a spot on this list.
This is what I signed up for
Don't like the voice, otherwise ok
Probably at least a 3.5. Interesting time capsule - almost hair metal meets grunge. A real transition time in music.
This album is OK but nowhere near as good as "Ritual". It has the right sound (vocals / guitar), but the songs just don't hook me nearly as much.
Even with how groundbreaking this still sounds, I don't know that it personally rises to the level of listening to anything besides the familiar hits.
Ágætis rokk og ról.
Lots of good stuff, and energy
Could never really get into JA. I think I just don’t like Perry Farrell’s vocal style.
just okay, nothing shocking.
Enjoyed it more than expected. Probably won't listen again as not really to our taste, though.
I had two Jane’s Addiction songs from Napster circa 1999. Jane Says and Caught Stealing. Listing to this album now made confirmed that I was okay just having those two songs. It’s not really my jam. But I get that these guys were big in getting alternative music established. IMO, Lollapolooza was the best thing to come out of James Addiction.
Ook deze band komt heel graag over alsof het hen allemaal niet zo uitmaakt. Dat blijkt ook uit de verklaring over de hond in hun latere hit. Zij blafte per ongeluk en dat hebben ze maar laten zitten. Jaja, in een booth in een studio. Ehuh. Maar prima dat ze een imago willen creëren. Imago is onderdeel van het product muziek en dat doet iedereen wel natuurlijk. Op dit album uit hun aangemeten imago zich doordat er soms wat valse uitschieters niet zijn overgedaan of wellicht expres zo zijn ingezongen (in Ocean Size bijvoorbeeld de uithaal 'In the Skyyyyy"). En toch heeft dit meer dan albums van anderen die zo graag ongeïnteresseerd over willen komen. De meeste seconden van de plaat hebben die gekkigheid niet. Denk je het weg, dan staat er best een kwaliteitsband. Ook al mist het album wel een goede uitschieter.
Not generally my cup of tea but I appreciate the effort. Sounds like Zeppelin meets Rob Zombie I guess?
Jane's Addiction was not a regular listen when they first hit the scene as it was a little early for me. But after absorbing this album today, I really enjoyed it - the overall sound was very nostalgic. I never leaned into what they had to offer when they were popular, but upon this revisit, Jane's Addiction is like the dirty cousin of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, different but still having the same sort of vibe. If you can get past Perry Farrell's voice, you just might like them.
Same vocals, same style syncopated drum parts, very similar guitar riffs on every track, but .... An ok listen somehow.
Jane's Addiction was that band that I would listen to endlessly at night and drift off to sleep while Perry Ferrel's lyrics lulled me. Nothing's Shocking carves out a lane in the Alt/Grunge genre that could only belong to Jane's. While I'm a bigger fan of Ritual de lo Habitual, this album strikes some memories of a-way-back-when. 3.5/5
i like the music, the voice. im curious how its sounds, if the music was a bit slower. overall i think its pretty decent!
The album is a wash of good sounds and dumb lyrics, more tone poem than anything actually poetic, especially in the first half of the album. Then you close, essentially, with Mountain Song, Jane Says, and Pigs in Zen and you go "oh, so these weirdos do have some legit range"
Perry Farrell's voice uniquely cuts through the power trio rock. Navaro somehow gets a mean but somewhat thin sounding guitar tone and the drums sound like they were recorded in a warehouse - huge but not Phil Collins' 80 sound. toys with some psychedelic, metal, and grungy hard rock without fully encapsulating any of them.
Gear: Focal Clear Mix : arg dünn und zurückhaltend Musik: historisch beeindruckend für 1988 - musikalisch nur eingeschränkt in 2024. Nicht spektakulär, aber gut allemal. Wertung: 💉💉(💉)/5 (inkl. +1 für "Jane Says")
Rockalbummit ordentlich power aber leider keinem erkennbaren stilistischen Konzept . Es hat gute Stellen aber auch einige Längen und misslungene Klangexperimente. Irgendwie klingt alles noch unausgereift … keine Wunder das Album prägte später Grunge und Hardrock, was aber 1989 noch niemand ahnen konnte. Solide Stücke sind „Had A Dad“ & „Jane Says“
How did the voice and the guitar work so insanely well together??
Decent album, I hat Dave Nabarro though
I knew the name, but never cared to listen to them (too many things to listen to and it's already hard to catch up with new releases to lose too much time in oldies). I was expecting... more? better? They have a stellar reputation, I guess I can understand what makes them interesting when it came out but... Farell's voice is pretty annoying, Navarro is shredding too much for the genre, and it sometimes lacks coherence. The slower/quieter songs are better. This is OK, but far for memorable.
Meh, it was okay. The single was the only song I knew, and was the highlight of the album. Best part though was, when it finished, Apple Music assumed I then wanted to listen to Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam, which I did.
"Jane Says" is a pretty solid track, but I didn't find the rest of the music very compelling, mostly due to the fact I find Perry Farrell's voice pretty annoying. But they were an influential band, so getting some exposure to them through this list is fine.
I CLOSE MY EYES AND SEIZE IT I CLENCH MY FISTS AND BEAT IT I LIGHT MY TORCH AND BURN IT I AM THE BEAST I WORSHIP
Taba bien, es el tipo del reality de tatuajes Omg
I wanted to love it more but I didn't quite vibe with the sound. I like Pixies and REM so why not this? Perhaps there's a lack of melody and story; more mood over substance. Fair play to them.
Never listens ti this band before but the guitarist is really good and there's something about the sing structure and production that caught my ear. Will explore more.
I don't like the vocal effects placed on the lead singer's voice. The guitarist is too talented for this band. It's a really loud album and sometimes the lyrics are quite ironic. "Standing in the Shower...Thinking" was really funny to me. Overall, didn't really enjoy this album much.
First track is excellent and then the rest are decent. Not bad, but I would have preferred something more in line with the intro!
Tråkigt på många sätt. Gilla låten om att älska sin flickvän o jane says
- Pure early grunge, though also early enough to have a whole lot of diversity of sound. - "Ted, Just Admit It..." is a bit more interesting and has some interesting thematic qualities. And "Jane Says" is fairly iconic.
I did not mind this album. I thought I would have gotten tired of the whiney voice but I didn't. The lyrics were dark in a silly way... like sex is violent is obviously so straight forward dark but then they talked about being a toothpick in a meatball. Some of the songs could drone in an unpleasant way but nothing unbearable at all. Wieners: Standing in the Shower...Thinking. Title and lyrics are silly but relatable.
It took a while to be in the mood to listen to this album, but it was good once I got there.
Good rock album.
It seems like I’m finishing up some artist’s catalogs on this list. I feel slightly fortunate that this is the last I’ll be hearing of Jane's Addiction. I admire some of what they do, but there hasn’t been one song that has really clicked with me. Before I ever heard Ritual de lo habitual, I only knew of this band from the first song on this record. It was sample by Death Grips in such an effective way that they made it sound like their own sound. But I’m not here to talk about Exmilitary. The first couple of songs gave me the impression this would be heading in a darker direction than their sophomore album. That’s not really the case though. This record feels hard stuck in the sound of “late 80’s pre-grunge heaviness”, mostly with the guitars and vocals. And yet the vocalist rarely feels like he matches the music he is singing over. It’s just too high pitched for me. I thought what made the first album I heard from them sort of off putting was this mildly experimental edge it had to it. And I thought them doing away with that would be the thing that makes it more interesting. But it just made it sound more stale. I can respect a band and not love their music. And this is a debut record. So it doesn’t have to be perfect. At least they improved slightly with their next release. Rating: 6/10
The artwork put me off initially but this was decent enough to get through with no real complaints but nothing that I'd come back for either.
Another meaningless rock album.
Okaye 90s feels
Pretty solid rock, sound really 90s, so I guess its ahead of its time being from 1988. Not sure how best to describe it though.
It’s good. Really good. The singers voice always grated on me but there are moments on this album where his voice is beautiful. Songs like Summertime Rolls are nice and psychedelic. A little timeless. So much of the late 80s, early 90s sound across the rest of the album.
Enjoyed the listen, such a unique sounding band. Mountain Song and Jane Says almost brought it up to a 4, but overall the album was just ok.
Other than the popular songs, I already knew, this wasn’t for me. Period
Bought this when it came out, based on Jane Says. Was disappointed with the rest of the album. Actually enjoyed it more this time.
Loud, raucous and frenetic - also surprisingly musical here and there. Enjoyed JANE SAYS and HAD A DAD. Wouldn't buy it.
Decent, it has its moments but as a whole something is missing for me.
"Jane Says" is still good. Other than that just kind of meh.
I feel like this isn't an album for me. I listened to it in the background and nothing really stood out to me. The songs feel kinda same-y to me and don't really accomplish anything new with each song. Guitar riffs and solos feel pretty lackluster, and overall the vocals are very draining. Will go for a 2nd listen if necessary. 3/5 for me.
Unique group. Great listen.
Demasiado punkarra pa mi gusto
I enjoyed this quite a bit more than I thought I was going to. Jane Says is the obvious classic, an upbeat tune about a sad story but there are plenty of other strong tracks to fill this out. Oceanside was great Ted Just Admit it…. just so weird, druggy and great, covers lots of ground over the 7 minutes.
Best Songs: Ocean Size, Mountain Song Listen Again: Yes
I dug this album. Not too familiar with Jane's Addiction overall but liked the album. The singer's voice is unique but not quite my style, so I dont think listening to this album will lead to me listening to JA more.
A good band with a unique sound. The album rocks hard, and the music is tight. Such a shame about the vocals. It’s not just that Perry Farrell has a bad singing voice. He peels paint. He breaks glass. He makes dogs howl and baby’s cry. I wish the band would reissue this album using different vocals. Maybe AI? Then I’d give it a solid 4.
Nice when I am alone
Pretty good album of rock/verging on what the UK would have as metal. Nothing spectacular but it's a thing.
Excellent!
This album reminds me of my friend Avrum who just loved this band. There are 2-3 songs on this album that I quite like (Jane Says, Mountain Song and Ocean Size) but the rest are take it or leave it. I was never a fan of Perry Ferrel but I do like the sound of the band and playing.
Gutes Album, 2-3 Hits aber auch Längen. Teilweise sehr gut aufgenommen. Tolle Drums.
This was significantly better than the other Jane’s addiction album. This one had some great hardcore guitar and drum work that was between punk and grunge. There were a few songs I recognized that I thought were still pretty solid. Overall this is a good album that blended the 80s rock into the 90s alternative. 6.6/10
I don’t listen to Jane’s Addiction much but they have a distinct, funky, punky sometimes psychedelic style. Good stuff and keeps you guessing.
I haven’t listened to much Jane’s addiction other than their big couple of songs. This album didn’t really move the needle for me.
Tingles of led zeppelin
expected more
Good
Ok, good enough. Rocky thing.
I had put off listening to JA because Spotify kept recommending them to me - shut up Spotify, you don’t know me and can’t tell me what to do!! In the end Spotify was right and I quite enjoyed this album. I was really interested to hear the mishmash of punk and glam rock, and the beginnings of grunge in this album Most addictive track: … Ocean Size
At the time, it was big, loud, different. Not sure if whole album ages well but the 'hits' are still good.
OK viihdyttävä ja voisi helposti soittaa pari kertaa läpi.
Perushyvä levy. Ei jäänyt yksittäisiä biisejä mieleen, mut viihdytti läpi levyn ja tyylihän bändillä on jotenkin siisti ja kolahtaa
Almost 4
Maybe if I listened to it more then I’d like it more, but for now, eh
A really progressive album considering when it was released (at the end of hair metal and just before grunge emerged). It's fun, high energy and Perry Farrell's voice just brings such a unique sound, tone and timbre to their music. I really enjoyed this, it won't be a frequent listen but I appreciate it.
Grunge at its peak
Up The Beach really gives me the chills, at least the part before the singing starts. Had some fun with some of the songs. + Up The Beach (God is watching) + Ted, Just Admit It... + Standing In The Shower, Thinking... (Pissing) + Summertime Rolls + Thank You Boys
eh. Like the 90s all over again .I expected to hate it more!
I had higher hopes for this album given what I had already heard from Jane's Addiction. The positive side is it's hard to imagine this was recorded in the late 80s. It has a very 90s feel to it and would have been on the edge of the new wave of what was to come. Lots of great vibes here but all the songs started to sound the same after a while. Great playing and overall musicianship, but it never really got there for me. Standout tracks: Jane Says, Mountain Song
Some interesting songs, but not really my jam. Mountain Song was a throwback to Rock Band 2 - a song that we always skipped!
3.0
Never knowingly listened to this band, but their style of alt-hard-rock definitely has more variety and dynamism than lots of the rock canon. The whole thing is pretty listenable and not boring - but there's a kind of sleazy posturing feel to it that I dislike, along with the singer's voice. I've listened to it three times and I don't hate it, but I probably won't be coming back. 3*
Decent album.
Like it, I think with a few more listens I might love it.
No really my style but I did enjoy Summertime Rolls and Jane Says.
Yep, pretty classic album.
Much better than most of their peers - they swing for a funky Zep type of sound and often make it work. I don't love it, but I did enjoy ot
Interesting album. “Jane Says” is the track that everyone has heard before but I found the rest of the album louder (in a good way) than I expected but a bit noisy at times. I enjoyed Dave Navarro’s guitar work. I am amazed by the album cover. My first thought was to wonder how the band got away with it in 1988 while the Black Crowes caused such a s-storm with their Amorica album cover in 1994. That said, I am pretty sure the twins had implants. In the end, I just can’t get into Jane's Addiction as a whole. I just don’t care for Farrell’s voice - to me, a little Perry Farrell goes a long way. Listening to this album left me wondering just who is Jane anyway that she had a song written for her by a band named after her and her neuropsychological disorder?
3.5/5
I had a cassette with The Pixies on one side and Jane's Addiction on the other. They were never up to bring measured by that standard, but they do have some good tracks.
Though I'd been more familiar with the Ritual De Lo Habitual album, I thought I hadn't heard this one before, but kept recognising the tracks, Mountain Song, Jane Says, Summertime Rolls and Pigs in Zen. 3.5
Yea pretty good.
Not bad. This seems like kind of an interesting not quite metal, not quite grunge kind of style. Very ridiculous lyrics.
Love Perry Farrell’s voice but not a big fan of the music itself.
I wasn't that fussed either. I liked the guitar playing. I think it might benefit from repeated listens though
Good
Stop👏using👏women's👏names👏in👏your👏band👏name👏if there ain't NO WOMEN in that band!!!👏👏👏 I'm TIRED of expecting to finally hear a woman but then bam, someone with a dick starts singing
For some reason I enjoy the rough edges of Jane's Addiction and this album.
i was surprised that nothing's shocking came out in 1988. a lot of genre precursors are not good at all, and while i didn't love this album by jane's addiction, it's incredibly listenable. jane's addiction was early for heavy metal, alternative rock, and grunge, but they have some punk roots, too. and then they decided to do an about turn for a bit of island time for "jane says" or jazz for "thank you boys." i admire their gumption. i definitely hear similarities with rhcp (no surprise considering dave navarro) but also rage against the machine, in regards to the music played but also for the fact their album's that level of unusual. they clearly did what they wanted to do. how else do you get a song referencing ted bundy? on a final note, perry farrell's vocals are unique. this is definitely part of the trend of this genre that they aren't stylistically great singers, and that's okay since there's a fair amount of screaming.
I love that in the late 80s when everyone was still obsessing over hair metal, Jane's Addiction was leading the way in 90s alternative rock sounds, especially grunge sounds. This is definitely a more chaotic, less focused alt/pre-grunge sound than would come around with bands in the 90s, but you know what? This style really seems to work for Jane's Addiction. You can tell that they were really pushing the alt angle as every song on the album is a little odd, but it all mashes together to make a fun little mess.
Was an ok album
It was ok. Not likely to return to it, but want bad.
I was actually a bit excited when I saw this album come up, as I vaguely liked Jane's Addiction and had never listened to a full album before. However, although I did enjoy this listen, it wasn't enough to change my vague appreciation to anything stronger. I've never liked the funk-metal genre, so a number of songs here grated slightly. I did like the more Led Zepplin inspired tracks and an album of just this material would have been great. So I ended up with something I enjoyed listening to, but would probably never make an effort to listen to again. Even the "Jane Says" track did little for me I'm afraid. Definitely a 3-star, probably the most 3-star album I've heard so far, not awful (and quite consistent), but nothing special. "Mountain Song" was by far my favourite track.
This is what we used to call Hard Rock, isn't it? Happy days...
I liked it. Some classics and other listenable songs.
Instrumentals were 🔥. Some of the lyrics were 🤔.
Didn't mind this. Was a bit repetitive within the songs but general wasn't bad
Youre laughing. Hes pissing on himself in the shower and youre laughing
I have never listened to Jane's Addiction--though I recognized that song "Jane Says"--and my expectations were pretty low. This band is wild for sure, and the album was better than I thought. It's loud and bombastic and just kind of straight up rocks. Perry Farrell seems to be a great vocalist and front person. I can't imagine I'll get in to this band at this point in my life, but that wasn't bad at all.
This was alright, not something I'd usually listen to
At first I didn't like it but then by the end I was more appreciative of the album, still a 3 though. A good 3.
Surprised this was from 1988, it sounds ahead of its time.
Solid Rock album, but nothing special
Un peu trop de «scream» à mon goût, mais un bon son hard rock tout de même.
Bof, pas un énorme fan mais c’est écouta le vite fait
I liked it better then Ritual de lo Habitual. Jane Says was overplayed to the point of being annoying. Ok overall but not something i'd return to.
Proto-grunge party time. I hear heroin.
Good stuff
This was pretty good rock and roll! Enjoyable album from start to end, not something I’ll rush out to buy and I recently got rid of my only Jane’s Addiction album (can’t even remember the name of it it was so forgettable) so make of that what you will. Solid 3 though
I've never been the biggest fan of Jane's Addiction. Familiar with all their radio and MTV hits, remember when Lolapalooza was formed, but never listened to an album by them. Not terrible overall. Perry Ferell's vocals are unique but can be grating, but Dave Navarro's guitar work is pretty impressive despite him supposedly being a garbage human being and partly responsible for that Ink masters nonsense. Liked Songs: Mountain Song Jane Says
Ok 6/10
it's not a bad album, i just don't like Jane's Addiction that much
Interesting album. If I'd have heard this 15 years I'd have been in love. I can hear the effect it had on so many bands/albums I loved in my late teens... Manson's Portrait of an American Family, Offsprings's Smash, bit of Faith No More, early chilli peppers etc. Albums that I still love to this day but probably wouldn't grip me the same way if I heard them afresh. Like this one. Which is a shame. 3* purely because the tunes are actually really great. Can't dig the vocals though, although I definitely would be if I was 17 again. Something inside of me is screaming out to rate it higher, so maybe I'll revise after a few more listens.
Perry Farrell rocking the late 80s. The video for Jane Says is a core memory.
Rock alternativo un tanto rollo. Ni fu ni fa.
Eh, it's alright
Pretty solid rock record but I didn’t feel like there was anything super unique about it. There’s so much great rock out there I probably wouldn’t revisit this one. Dave Navarro has some cool moments.
I thought I was going to enjoy this more than I did. My favorite was Idiots Rule. Also, I am obsessed with the title "Ted, Just Admit It..."