Nothing's Shocking

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..."

It's alright, nothing special.

Nothing's Shocking is Nothing Spectacular. It's just an average alternative rock album, crudely recorded, although very original as for their times. Bass line and guitar solos were definitely the stars of this album, consistently providing a great foundation for songs across the record. Unfortunately, I didn't find any other positives, and quickly got bored of the album. Vocal was very irritating, so it's no surprise that the only instrumental song was my favourite here. I've heard of Jane's Addiction for a long time, but I had a feeling they play music that is not in my style. Today I realised that it's true. It wasn't bad, but I can't give anything more than 3 stars.

I felt like I knew this album from somewhere but after listening to it, I definitely haven't heard it anywhere except for jane says. This toes the line between hard rock and metal and it was alright; nothing I would listen to regularly but it was well made and not a chore to listen to. I enjoyed the thank you boys track that was a mellow ambient intermission that sounded like an outro track only for there to be another heavy track right after it. Also nice album cover.

Iets te veel geschreeuw/zeikerige stem. 3*

A lot of this album slaps—it’s heavy, groovy and self-assured. On the other hand, the singer’s voice will grate your ears a bit, and there’s a few spots where it doesn’t all click. I like it, but you’ll hear better.

Love the guitar tone on this album. The two album entries of theirs demonstrate how ahead of the grunge and alternative wave they were. I enjoyed it but not quite enough to push it to a 4.

Decent rock album that has a few nice songs but otherwise bang average

An enjoyable hard rock album that I could never quite sink into. Feels a little caught between a more epic, full-bodied vibe and shaggier rock n roll, in both the instrumentals and lyrics. Can see why it hit, just not going to stick in the mind for me. Fave track: Jane Says

Personally wasn't a huge fan, though I know there are a lot of uncles out there that love this album.

A fine album of fine music

MITÄÄH!!! RITUAL DE LO HABITUALIN OLEN KUULLUT!! Viimeks lipsahti 4 arvostuksesta.. hyvä niin.. mutta tämä oli parempi albumi... kuin se... hankala sanoa.. kolmoselta tuntu...

fun grunge!!

Megalolz

Nothing really significant for me to note here . I'd only really heard "Jane Says" and the rest of the album actually lined up with the expectation set by that song.

- Hard rock - Lots of energy - Kinda mushy though mixing is weird - Fun sound design out of nowhere - Samey and not really catchy - 5.8/10

geras, nelabai mano skonio, bet all good, klausyciau kaip fone muzika

Unlike Jane says and Been caught stealing, the majority of this leads far toward very old school Soundgarden. Which is surprising. They don't typically follow a verse chorus verse format, and there's some psychedelia involved with Navarro, but overall this didn't hit like I expected it to.

I love Jane Says. The live version is one of my favourite songs ever. This album does not contain the live version… It was ok but nothing really stayed with me but I imagine it sounded great in 1988 before there was a lot of grunge that sounded very similar

7/10

Not too shocking.

Solid album but only 2 or 3 standouts mean it just misses a 4*

Generous 3. Lifted up by Jane Says, which is a classic

Not bad

I know how monumental this record is. I still can not fathom that is was released 1988. This really paved the way for a lot of artists and genres throughout the 90’s and 00’s. Still; there’s something I’ve never been able to put my finger on. Something that just doesn’t sit right with me. Farrell’s vocal somehow works. Navarro is great. And there are some incredible stuff on this. As a whole I’m just not vibing as much as I would’ve hoped. It’s not you, Jane. It’s me.

December 13, 2022 HL: "Jane Says", "Summertime Rolls", "Mountain Song"

первая половина альбома довольно скучная, но чем дальше, тем альбом все больше разгоняется, своего пика он достигает на Jane Says. Но на момент 1988 года мне кажется уже было довольно много хороших альбомов в жанре, здесь безусловно есть замечательный заглавный трек, но как альбом - на троечку

Not bad, but not the best

Heard this band a lot. Was surprised this album was released when it was, always assumed they were more of a late nineties kind of band. Enjoyed the album overall but wasn’t blown away

Knowing Mountain Song I had some preconceived ideas of what this was going to be like, and it fell well short of those ideas. The rhythm section is fantastic, the rest is dubious at best. Perry Farrel may have been great live, but this recording reveals him to be more flair than content - the vocals are shouted quietly, probably to hide their incompetence. The lead guitar is fine technically, but lacks some fire or spirit, which leaves it lagging behind the bass and drums. Overall Meh

I wouldn't call it mind blowing. It's good.

Angry and electric. When it's good, its really great. Mountain Song and Jane Says stand out. There is a lot of other good songs, Pig's in Zen, Ocean Size, Up the Beach, but there are a lot of meh tracks that seem to blend together. Still pretty good.

They were surely ahead of their times, foretelling how alt-rock would take over the mainstream in the next decade. But being ahead of your time doesn't necessarily mean your music will age well, ironically. The fault here mostly lies in the songwriting. I've just liked a 5/5 well-written review about this record because of the admirable passion a Jane's Addiction fan expressed in it. But as much as I can *get* what that fan is saying, I'm certainly not feeling the same thing as I listen to this record myself. Interestingly, that fan explains in precise musical terms why they love the track "Jane Says", even giving the precise harmonies and chords used (near-dissonant ones). Yet it's mind-boggling to me that this fan is unable to *hear* what's obvious about this song: there is absolutely no "resolution" in the chord sequence. The same chords go on and on with no sense of direction, and the rhythms behind them don't make them hypnotic either. It's just pretty mundane, even if all of this was done *on purpose*. Given what the lyrics are all about--junkie's promises--it makes sense that there's no "musical" resolution in that song, somehow. But the biggest problem for me is that this track, just like any other one on the album, is too much constricted by Farrell's lack of imagination in his vocal lines, too mundane as well to truly be memorable. It's one thing to sound *discordant*. It's another to make it really *matter* somehow. Add to this the most clichéed hard rock guitar solos found this side of 1990, and you have... a dated thing. Just listen to the lame hackneyed funk-rock laden with those cheesy solo antics at the beginning of "Idiots Rule"--quite idiotic indeed--and maybe you'll get the idea... That being said, I can still sense why some of those tracks would be iconic for some listeners ("Jane Says" and its lyrics about, well, addiction, "Ocean Size" and its maritime scope, "Ted, Just Admit It..." and its sheer violence, "Summertime Rolls" and its sweeping moods... The list goes on). But because of the flaws I still can't help seeing in Jane's Addiction, and as original, groundbreaking and interesting as their proposal was at the time, this very subjective jury is still out on this one... Number of albums left to review: 743 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 126 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 65 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 67

The most solid of their output.

not addicted

Jane's Addiction has always been a conflicting band to me. One minute I think they're a decent rock band that I should listen to more, then the next they're suddenly irritating like flies to a face. Nothing's Shocking reflects this as there are some classics like Jane Says, Mountain Song or even Summertime Rolls along with the enjoyable opening two songs, but while the rest are itching to skip. There's also moments were Perry Farrell's vocals become too much and ruins the music which is actually played really well.

Probably the best Jane’s Addiction album, but certainly not great. The first half is pretty solid, though.

I can see why people would get into this... I just couldn't!

Tolerable but we have heard it before

Found this just OK really. I know their hits and like them but never really got into their albums. This one didn't really grab me this time either. It is an interesting turning point from 80s rock to 90s rock and you can see how the early 90s bands were influenced by them though.

I was not at all familiar with this album and I kept hoping for more like the other album that we heard. It was not quite there for me this time, but the album did have it moments.

It sounds a bit like a less interesting Ritual de lo habitual. But I did really enjoy that album, so this is still alright

Favourite song: Mountain Song One for the Karaoke: Jane Says One for the Car: Summertime Rolls - felt like I was Rudy searching for the new sound on The Mighty Boosh This album had a song about pissing in the shower.

Interesting bridge between 80s hair metal, punk funk and grunge. Needed a second listen to get into it.

Feel the 1-5 system doesn't really work with this album. It definitely caught my attention, it's not my usual thing, but its different from everything else on this list. Could give this anything really. moments that are 5's moments that are 1s.

Not as good as I expectez

Was cool

I REALLY liked the guitar work/solos The singer’s got a great unique voice. This album does grunge better than a ton of grunge bands. And BEFORE all those grunge bands. The album does feel a bit juvenile at times but I still liked it

Interesting and important album in history. Some good guitar work, was the first alternative rock coming out of the 80's before nirvana. Not my favourite. I found the songs lacking a bit. Maybe a few more listens will be better but seems like it would be really fun live

Lot of nostalgia for some of the songs. It’s was pretty good overall but nothing amazing

Decent but not amazing

Meh. Mountain song and Jane Says were highlights.

Ok

LP

it was okay

Solid rock album

Rock

Perry took a bath and left a grungy ring in the tub that is this album. It's the grime that collects on you going out into the world, sweating on the streets. This album isn't an opportunity to cleanse. It this the reminder of the shit you've slogged through.

Nothing's Shocking was really nothing shocking. I suppose the only shocking thing was really the album cover - thankfully those ladies are just sculptures. With the obvious undertones and not so "under" tones of addiction and all its struggles, it was a totally ok album that left me feeling a little flat. Best: Jane Says Worst: Ted, Just Admit It 2.5 Stars

This was oddly sort of boring.

Okay, I think it’s even very good, but Jans don't told me in my feelings, I want to listen to this album somehow later

In my youth Jane’s Addiction were just-another-band I was vaguely aware of, but I didn’t appreciate how old, and therefore ahead of their time, they were (I’d also never heard Jane Says before now, which apparently is comfortably their biggest hit). This album seems a darn sight quirkier than I previously gave them credit for, too, though I actually reckon they’re at their best doing Big Rock Tunes, like Mountain Song. Conclusion: a list-worthy album, which is all you can ask for really.

Fine

I know that they got better than this not long after, but damn, Mountain Song is still killer!

Sounds good. Just not for me.

Krijg er een beetje Tool vibes van, maar dan niet zo goed.

It’s hard to deny the talent behind this album, I’m just not really a fan of Jane’s Addiction.

Actually their choppy funky rock is growing on me, sort of like the Red hot Chilli Peppers but complicated and arty. Didn't mind this at all.

I love the song Jane Says, but the rest is kind of noisy for me.

Some good bits but it sounds dated.

Based on the music that I love I was supposed to really like this one, but unfortunately it didn't happen. I can hear how Jane's addiction influenced a bunch of bands in the 90s and can see why it has a cult following. The record mixes elements of glam rock with raw punk energy and some proggy weirdness at times, sometimes even surprising with a brass section out of nowhere or some clear jazz influences. The rhythm section reminded me a lot of what Faith no More would do later on with Angel Dust. Very tight grooves and a great connection between drums and bass. The guitar playing on this one surprised me quite a bit with some slick guitar licks and fun riffs. And the jazz guitar chops sounded very convincing on Thank You Boys too, so big props to Dave Navarro. With all respect given when it's due, the vocals just weren't for me. Some parts could have really benefited from a better take or a double track or harmony. It is clear that the singer has a great range and can cut through the mix, but the vocal delivery just turned me off. It was a great shame because I loved all the other elements of this record.

Some original stuff in here, but nothing amazing.

I do remember this album from way back when. I might have had it, not sure. I like some of the tracks still. I don't love this album overall -- kind of grates on me at times -- but, dang, they can play. Perry Farrell can be fun and his voice is definitely his own, but I don't always love it. Dave Navarro is a KILLER guitarist, but, again, just on a pure personal subjective aesthetic level, his playing doesn't always click with me. Anyway, you get the idea. I do remember this album standing out in the late 80s as a bit original, but that could also be due to my not listening to enough "alternative" rock at the time.

After getting 'British Steel' by Judas Priest on here, the bar is set pretty high for me when it comes to metal, and unfortunately this just didn't live up to expectations even though it was more metal/rock. It was hard at times to understand what the artists were saying, and at other times it was just... boring, which is a bad thing to say about a metal/rock album. Nothing in this was terrible, but it just didn't stand out as anything special in comparison with better metal bands.

Bom.

5/10. This was pretty meh

Incredibly influential, of course, but kind of suffers from "Seinfeld is unfunny" syndrome. Just seems like average alt rock by today's standards and I found the guy's voice a bit annoying after a while. "Mountain Song" was good, "Jane Says" and "Pigs in Zen" as well. Not a huge fan of "Ted, Just Admit it.." which is 7 minutes long but doesn't do anything special with the time it's given. The album art is absolute nightmare fuel and the boobs don't help.

"Had a Dad" was a big song for me back in high school. One of the rockingest songs that ever rocked. There are other great songs on this record, and I can appreciate it as a pivot point in rock history, but it doesn't hit me the same way now... it's been many years since I listened to it in full, and will probably be many years until I do it again.

This guitar rips. Dig the singer's voice. Why is Jane says the only song I knew off this album? It sounds very little like the rest.

Janes addiction are one of those bands Iv heard of but never got round to listening too. This album does sound like a cross over between 80’s hair metal to the 90’s alternative rock that was to follow. Clearly a hugely influential album for 90’s rock music.

Mixed feelings. Sommige nummers klinken lekker disco-achtig, maar andere nummers weer iets te wilde rock of soms zelfs ska-achtig. Niet meteen mijn favoriete muziek. Leuk nummer is "Idiots Rule". ***

Des moments pas mal, mais ça a mal vieilli

I actually REALLY like this and wasn't expecting to. I don't know if I could listen to the whole album at one time, but it's fun and the lyrics are strong. Jane Says is great

This is a little hit and miss. "Ted Just Admit It" is awfully self-indulgent and 7 plodding minutes that don't really go anywhere. Maybe I should just listen a few more times. Mountain Song and Jane Says are such perfect songs tho {prior rated}

The vocals grate after awhile, but this was more enjoyable than I expected. Also: boobs. Best track: Jane Says

Enjoyed more then I thought I would!

Rock alternativo un tanto rollo. Ni fu ni fa.

Esperaba más

Certainly an important step in the evolution of alternative music but I found this to be a little too unfocused. The vocals don't bother me too much but I can see why they could turn people off. Some individual tracks are okay but I can't take it for a while album. Grew inpatient towards the end.

Thought I'd hate it more, but it turned out to be just OK. Not a huge fan of the voice but the instrumentation is... fine.

Not bad not great

3.3 - solid rock album, but won't be returning anytime soon. Came in knowing and liking Mountain Song and Jane Says, left pretty much with the same.

No me enganchó. Jane says me gusta mucho pero el resto no sé. Quizá no estaba el mood para disfrutarlo más. Partes me gustaron, de repente perdió mi atención y así hasta el final. Su estilo es muy extraño, quizá por eso no me fluyen y los disfruto intermitentemente.

Better than I expected.

Enjoyable enough - a bit like a milder Guns N Roses.

I listen to a lot of 90's alt rock and grunge, so Jane's Addiction comes up frequently in the playlists. I don't mind them, but I'm never enthused when their songs come on either. Sometimes I skip their tracks, sometimes I don't. I'm more likely to skip Jane Says than Been Caught Stealing, take from that what you will. Giving a full Jane's Addiction album a listen hasn't really changed my perspective. I appreciate what they bring to the table, but it doesn't resonate with me in the same way Pixies or Sonic Youth do.

Some sweet drums and vocals

Yeah so not so bad really, I can see where the 90s came from

I started out really enjoying Nothing's Shocking, but it eventually loses a lot of momentum. Not all of it, certainly, and the flatness of the recording doesn't help, but two or three of the deeper cuts are pretty substanceless. That's a shame: There's a germ of a really fun sound, bass-led but lighter than the typical alt-metal fare.

Unique and interesting - time has proven that nothing has quite Perry’s voice and sound - Jane Says is iconic whole Ocean Size and Mountain Song stand out. It’s not entirely my cup of tea but enjoyed its sound.

Enjoyed on the whole but didn’t blow me out the water

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would, but would I listen to it again? I would not.

3.4 - Aggressively generic. Squarely “acceptable” as “rock” made by “rockers.” Also I hadn’t listened to Navarro after his collab with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on “One Hot Minute” and was expecting more from his guitar work. But it was just standard pentatonic scales with predictable string bends - pretty boring. Not a terrible record, it just sounds like filler music you might hear at a concert as the main act is getting ready to take stage.

Not a big fan of alternative rock, but I see the potential

Very nice album! I enjoyed it more than I thought, but I honestly don't know if it is really one of the best 1000 albums of all time?

2.5/5. This was not enjoyable. All the songs sounded the same. Would not reccommend.

Enjoyably rawky

Not my favourite Jane's Addiction album. It is good

Clearly this album is a precursor to the alt-rock/grunge movement that would appear a few years later- there is this typical 90s bleakness and agression that is inherent in most of these songs. For me, this lacks variation. 3/5

I liked it. I think it was pretty good. Definitely weird and original and probably lead to years of Grunge. Which is kind of a bummer. But hey it's decent.

I love the pioneering work Jane's Addiction did for alternative rock; amazing that they came and went before things really caught on. While I always knew about and enjoyed Dave Navarro's guitar work, it's Eric Avery's bass work that I discovered and love when listening to this album (Up the Beach, Pigs in Zen). Mountain Song is really awesome for bass (it's also got nice complexity). So while Jane Says is the song I gravitate toward for these guys (great lyrics and a good beat), Mountain Song is the real winner. This album seems to epitomize grunge - so much sludge to the sound (like half-buried, fighting to get out). But I just don't know - beyond the songs I highlighted is it anything to write home about? I don't know if it was too much of the same (except Idiots Rule, at least that was different) or too much hard to hear singing from too much abrasive distortion in the instruments. It's solid and I liked it, but that might be it.

Pretty good, but for some reason I didn't really connect with this one.

Was ok

This is the group's most notable album and really cemented their sound and influence on the rock / punk / alternative genre as a whole. Despite it's unique sound the staying power of the group and their continued influence is up for debate. The longest-lasting result from this was the Lollapalooza Festivals.

I liked it, but occasionally found that the music and vocals had maybe a slightly too harsh edge to it that I found off putting, feels like this style was one of many competing strains pre Grunge that could have become the next big thing but lost out in the end to grunge.

hmmm. i cant really decide what to give it. some songs were fun while others were jus too much. overall it was just average, i’d listen to it again but it would never be my first choice.

This was a tough one to judge. I really didn't like Jane's Addiction when this came out, but decades later and now after a few listens this weekend I'm definitely more intrigued. I'd say the hardest barrier is Perry Ferrell's voice...yet there are times it fits perfectly. My highlights would be "Standing In the Shower...Thinking" - weird heavy/funky beat, the hypnotic metal "Mountain Song" and "Idiots Rule" - the added horns make it funky and different. Lowlight: "Ted, Just Admit It..." I like the idea of the weirdness but it's droning and irritating. Which ... when I'm not in the right mood, droning/caustic/irritating is how I feel about this album maybe half the time I hear it. Would like to have heard more sonic variety... sometimes the wall of sound is a bit much. 7/10 3 stars. Not sure if it's a keeper but points for a unique sound and spin on heavy late 80s guitar rock. I feel like I'll come back to this one on occasion.

They have a pretty standard grunge alternative sound that is neither outstanding nor terrible. I’d listen to them again just probably not the whole album all at once

I thought some of the songs were good, but many didn't fit or belong in the album. Very strange compilation of songs.

Alt rock, 90ndad. Päris okei

Ég hefði ekki sett þessa plötu að eigin frumkvæði, og fyrsta upplifun af hljóðheiminum var ekki að gera mikið fyrr mig, en viti menn hún vann á. Ekki nauðsynleg hlustun í mínum huga, en ég myndi hlusta í þriðja sinn og fjórða.

Thest best of this album IMO: - Ocean Size - Jane Says - Thank You Boys Okay rock. 3.0/5

Rock guitarrero, reminiscencias de los años 80-90. Si no fuese por la voz, me hubiese gustado más

Navarro is underrated on the guitar.

Not bad

I went into this expecting to really dislike it. Retroactively billed as a missing link from the hair-metal and hard rock excess of the 80s to the alternative rock and grunge of the early 90s, Jane’s Addiction didn’t do anything for me on paper. Things began predictably enough (though not unlistenable) with sludgy power chords, atomic drums and flashy lead guitar a-plenty on “Up the Beach”. My interest dropped further with “Had a Dad”- mostly built around an uninspired riff that felt flat and tired- and “Ted, Just Admit It…” - a stand-out bass part, but didn’t justify its length with, like, really profound musings on Ted Bundy and society and stuff. (Note to self: Quoting serial killers does not an edgy band make.) What turned me round? Mostly when the band strayed from the formula- there were a couple of things I didn’t expect to hear. “Standing in the Shower… Thinking” had a good hook and showcased a lighter, more tongue-in-cheek side to Jane’s Addiction than I expected, but “Summertime Rolls” was the first real curveball. A dreamy foray into psychedelia mostly paid off, with a lilting heartbeat bassline holding it all together. From there we had horns and funk in “Idiots Rule”, the lounge interlude “Thank You Boys”, and the centrepiece “Jane Says”. Structured around a simple ascending progression on acoustic guitar, this track is the pinnacle of the record and what made me want to hear it again. Poignant lyrics and narrative, emphasis on melody, and there are steel drum sounds in it, for god’s sake! “Pigs in Zen” returned to more standard hard-rock fare, and didn’t feel like anything special to close proceedings. Overall I was surprised by how much of the album I found myself enjoying and appreciated the teasing of different genres, but there’s just as much on there that’s not for me. I’m happy to acknowledge it as a “missing link” but unlikely to ever call it a favourite.

6.5/10

Nicht so meins…

Second Listen. Good Stuff. 3/5 still getting to know this album.

It's Janes Addiction, if you like em, you'll love this and if not this won't change your mind, it's always been about their sound.

I was a little bored, but they have a lot of passion and that counts for a lot.

Very nice.

Pretty aight, give another listen

Rating: 6/10

Sold album…enjoyed it a lot

This is a solid transition album, sitting right in between 80s hair-metal and 90s grunge/emo stuff. I like angry sounding guitars and angsty lyrics. Great listen - not sure it's really all that special, but Jane's Addiction had a unique sound and were clearly influential.

was okay

Jane's Addiction heb ik nooit goed gevonden. Klote sound, irritante stem, maar dit vond ik eigenlijk best tof. Jammer van die belachelijk slechte teksten hier en daar: 'Standing in the shower thinking, It beats upon my neck and I'm pissing myself' Hou nou op zeg!

Ik ken vooral de latere platen van Jane's Addiction, maar dit debuutalbum vond ik eigenlijk ook erg ok.

“Nothing’s Shocking” by Jane’s Addiction (1988) Well, of course nothing’s shocking on an album that’s almost fully intended to shock. Check your scruples at the door. That’s the conceptual point by lead singer/songwriter Perry Ferrell, who in this debut outing is good, but has not yet hit his lyrical stride. Now this exercise in non-shock is performed with shocking brilliance. There was something deep within rock aficionados in 1988 that realized this was where it was heading all along. From the opening track, the listener is treated to symphonic sounds from only three instruments. Expansively arranged, with echo, sustain, reverb and chorus effects. This is great studio work. Very heavy and very cool, with occasional interruptions of acoustic purity. Dave Navarro’s lead guitar riffs are intricate and compelling, and his power rhythm is variegated and energizing. Bass by Eric Avery and drums by Stephen Perkins are outstanding. Listen to the first thirty seconds of “Ted, Just Admit It”, then listen to the rest of the album with a new appreciation of how a ‘rhythm section’ can do much more that just ‘keep the beat’. The compositions and arrangements excel even when they slow down (e.g., “Summertime Rolls”). When they drop the energy, they flower. It’s beautiful—reminiscent of Pink Floyd. The song “Jane Says” is a rough explanation of the meaning of the band’s name, depicting the hopelessness and painful baggage of an untranscendable bondage to fleeting pleasure—in this case, the real life heroin addiction of the real life Jane Bainter. Melodies are underdeveloped and lazily repetitious—stuck on the fifth (‘sol’). This results in stunted lead vocals. One senses that Ferrell has the talent, but isn’t using it. Since he wrote the songs, there is no one else to blame. While this album is not quite as good as the follow up “Ritual de lo Habitual” (1990), it still excels. It’s not suitable for philosophers, theologians, political theorists, or schoolmarms, but for mere mortals, it sings. (And please don’t be shocked that the chair on the cover rocks sideways.) 3/5

The album was alright. It wasn't really memorable.

Nothing's Shocking strikes a decent balance between a loud, abrasive, edgy, and a more mellow, mysterious and subtle sound. Absolute highlights are the guitar solo on Ocean Size, the energetic vocals on Had a Dad and Mountain Song, and the funky sounds on Jane Says. I do think that Standing in the Shower sounds too uninspired and unoriginal, Summertime is excessively slow, and Ted overstays its welcome by a couple of minutes. 3/5.

Nice album.

I'm not much of a fan of Jane's addiction. The lead singer's voice doesn't work for me. The music itself is mostly great if played loud. Enjoyable, but not great for me. I'm sure other's love it and and I have no problem with that. I'm sure if I listen again sometime in the future maybe it will capture me more than it did this listen.

Eh.. to punky

Good start, liking the intro. Out of this album I knew only of Jane Says. Pretty good album. 3of5 for me.

Probably trailblazing when it came out. The success of alt-rock makes it sound like everything that came after.

With a full listen, I liked this album more than I thought it would, though there are still things about it that grate on me. The overall musicianship is solid, the sound is tight, and the production is first rate, but much of it has a sound that just doesn't trip my receptors. Let's start with the obvious track: I think someone played Jane Says on the juke box every single time I was in Atomic Billiards in the 90s (and that was a LOT), and with such repetition, the song lost some of it's impact for me. Hearing it afresh, in context of the album, it is the absolute stand out on the album, the one place where Ferrell's voice absolutely fits with the sonic landscape around him. Unfortunately, none of other tracks quite rise to Jane's level, with the possible exception of Summertime Rolls. Otherwise, I'm not crazy about Perry's wailing - it's ok when it's providing texture, almost like another instrument, but it's tough for me as the lead vocal line. I imagine it's like Geddy Lee's voice for some listeners of Rush. I loved the opening instrumental and the intro to track 2, but then the grunge guitars kicked in - that aggressive, fuzzy sound was so overused in the 90s and wears on me pretty quickly. Ditto the machine gun drum sounds like are used on Mountain Song. But I love the heavy bass lines used throughout the album, and the playfulness of the brass hits in Mountain Song and the steel drums in Jane Says, genre-bending musicality that says they're more than just grunge rockers. I only wished they pushed against that even more.

Ted, Just Admit It… “sex is violent” reminds me of the Bush lyric in Everything Zen “there’s no sex in your violence.” Was the Bush lyric a call back to this song? I wonder. Speaking of Bush, an aside because they are not on the 1001 list. Bush is a strange band for me. None of their albums stand out on their own, a bunch of 2 & 3 stars. However, a compilation of their 10 best songs is really fucking good. Back to Jane’s Addiction. Jane Says is the perfect song for Perry Fewell’s voice and is a great song. I love the bass opening to Mountain Song. Thank You Boys is nice little interlude. Summertime Rolls is a snoozer for me, and the brass section in Idiots Rule threw me off from the sound of the rest of the album. Second aside: Perry Fewell’s voice reminds me of raspier version of the backing vocalist from Sunny Day Real Estate. Specifically I’m reminded of In Circles off The Diary album. I ended up going down the Sunny Day Real Estate rabbit hole, which was refreshing. Perry Fewell does stretch his voice too far sometimes, crossing over the line where it is annoying, but not often. Third aside: While trying to figure out this voice similarity, I found out that Perry Fewell founded Lollapalooza, and he still produces it today. This is interesting. The second year the second stage had such acts as Tool, Rage Against The Machine, and Stone Temple Pilots at various tour stops. What a line up! Asides aside: I like this album. I don’t love it. I probably won’t seek it out again, but I would enthusiastically listen again if someone puts it on.

This is a little hit and miss. "Ted Just Admit It" is awfully self-indulgent and 7 plodding minutes that don't really go anywhere. Maybe I should just listen a few more times. Mountain Song and Jane Says are such perfect songs tho

Not a big Jane's Addiction fan but the album was worth a listen. Perry's vocals are a bit harsh.

i dont like rock im sorry

3/5 so far

Punk parchao.

Yeah I dunno.

Interesting sounds, could do with some better material

A solid album, great guitar playing and a great sound but really lacks standout tracks

Super playing but Perry Farrells vocal style still grates and stops this being anymore than ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Eh...

Really enjoyed it. ***

Oki

Better and way more avant than their later stuff.

I kind of can’t believe this came out in 1988. I wasn’t cool enough to listen to it then, but I definitely spent some time with it in the 90s. Oddly, it’s the only Jane’s album I’ve ever listened to in its entirety. I don’t even really have a good reason for why that is, but now I think there’s a clear divide between the songs they take seriously and the ones where they sound like they’re goofing around with horns and shit. I like the serious ones. “Ocean Size,” “Summertime Rolls,” and “Mountain Song” would have been a hell of an EP.

I don't care for that perry ferrel

Not bad. I like their music, but not really a fan of Perry Farrell's voice.

Classic punk. Lacks strong melodies, but entertaining.

Good shit

Not bad. Jane Says and The Mountain Song are still great.

Tienen un no se que, que que se yo.

Solid rock album that doesn't sound dated despite being from 1988. 3.5

I think it was some decent older heavy rock.

Fun listen. Solid 3

Not bad alt-rock. Not the biggest 90s alt fan, but I appreciate it. Some heavy hitters in there

I've heard the album after this and it's good, so this should be ok. Sounds a bit like warrior soul, it's up my street. 3/5.

false

Nothing's interesting.

Poeh. Dit is niet perse muziek waar ik zin in heb op zondag ochtend. Krijg hier ook meteen heel sterk Beastie Boys vibes van, en ik vind dat dus helemaal niets. Het schreeuwerige 'zingen' met de scheurende gitaren, ik krijg echt spontaan hoofdpijn van deze band. Echt, de rest van de band haalt de zanger zo erg uit de schijt, want wat is de band verder strak. Drums zijn clean, maar jezus mensen wat is dit toch een verschrikkelijke frontman. Nee het andere album van Jane's Addiction trok ik verrassend goed; want de muziek was echt goed. Dat is hier totaal niet het geval... De gitaren zijn ook veel meer distorted en er zijn een aantal momenten waar er echt gewoon een gigantische bak herrie geproduceerd word. Mountain Song is daar echt een dieptepunt in. Ook voelt dit album veel langer dan dat het is, 'slechts' drie kwartier maar ik tel de minuten af tot het einde. FAVO:

Beg to disagree, there are actually a lot of things that are shocking, starting with the level of annoyance of this album.

Big fat meh

eh... not bad at times but just didn't grab me, and the vocals are a tad too annoying to let them off with a 3

"Jane Says" makes this a solid 2

Felt like a gangly spandex sporting Justin Hawkins was needed to ramp up the cheese. Nothing’s Shocking? Yep, they got that right.

Sits well among my 2s

album #132 the instrumentals on this album are great, but the vocals are grating lol. ಄ favourite track(s): ocean size ಄ least favourite track(s): standing in the shower ಄ album rating: ★★⯪☆☆ ಄ number of albums left to review: 957 ಄ number of albums i agree with being on the list: 57 ಄ albums from the list that i would consider for my list: 25 ಄ albums i would not include on my list: 107

Jane's Addiction is the perfect example of a band where the sum of the parts is worth more than the whole. The drumming is incredible, I love the tribal sounds. The guitar is fantastic, and the solos are top notch. The bass is so thick and consistent. The singer has a really cool, unique voice. Bring it all together, and the music for whatever reason is almost unlistenable to me. I don't get it, I just don't like it, really at all. I think it's the production, the songwriting, and the guys voice for this style of music.

I spent many a year thinking another band was Jane’s Addiction..

47

A late 80s alt rock group, big influence on groups to follow (like RHCP). it's okay. 2.5.

Inoffensive but also easily forgettable.

Perry's voice is very annoying to me. The music is ok. This band more or less blends into that late 80s, early 90s alt-rock slog that includes grunge and the RHCP. A bit of everything but really nothing.

Very surprised there was such a lot of the annoying metal guitar noodling. When they give that a rest and play a song it's good but then along he comes with his hammering the strings and ruins it. Drummer is too metal too. The next album is much better.

Enjoyed the songs I knew and a few others but still not really my jam.

Robert. just admit it... Slayer's South of Heaven belongs here.

I guess I don't really like Jane's Addiction.

I don't think this is my thing unforch! A bit too much shouting but that's lokey the genre so it's just an issue with my taste, not necessarily the album.

It’s a bit too loud, and I wouldn’t be in a hurry to buy the LP. Two stars…

Jane’s Addiction is one of those bands I should like on paper: they followed the romantic path of underground respect to commercial success, they have power minguses, and they have a completely mental lead singer. But for reasons I cannot articulate, the music has never quite clicked with me beyond a few singles. Maybe that’s just how it is. You’re not meant to like everything.

I liked it more than I was expecting. Not the style I thought this band was known for. I was surprised

80s hard rock that did nothing for me.

- Oh yay, more assault and Zionists. Another band to boycott. - Don't like the whiny vocals, especially on multiple tracks in a row. - I get bored of noodling, but the guitar definitely is the most interesting part of this whole thing to me. - Some nice grooves throughout, too, but Jane Said is the definite standout on here - the other songs don't hit melodically like it does. - The second half of the album (minus the single) was kind of a chore. - Hate the misogynistic cover and lyrics. - I'd never choose to listen to this again.

Too heavy for for my taste.

The album cover is gross. The guy's voice is terrible. The only thing redeeming about them is the song on the radio from the 90's...and also the Summertime song was kinda nice.

I thought I would enjoy it more Tits tho

I gave this a few goes. There was something drawing me back or making me think I wasn't giving it a fair chance. On the third listen I think there's great energy at the start and continues on through a few songs but sort of gets tiring and the songs start to sound similar. The continuous break/loop of "sex is violent" on Ted ... Just Admit It drags quite a lot for me and that energy doesn't let up until Summertime Rolls, which I thought was a great turn of pace finally and chilled out. Picked up again with Idiots Rule but I lost interest in Jane Says. Weird but enjoyable minute of soft jazz on Thank You Boys and ending with the same as the rest sounding Pigs in Zen. Mixed feelings but wouldn't listen again. 2/5.

There really isn't anything that appeals to my ears in this album. His voice feels quite whiny, like he is trying to be this incredible glam rock when he doesn't have that in him. Otherwise, there isn't much here that hasn't been done before, and it doesn't feel refined or particularly compelling. One of those albums I will forget in a week and for the rest of my life; apart from that album cover, what a weird choice.

It’s ok, 2.5-ish

First impressions, yeah rock music with enough rhythm, grunt, but without compromising melody and enough variation, great rock solos. Big sound. However, that was a first impression. As the album wore on, I got more and more irritated. Or perhaps could not keep up?

In the song Ted, Just Admit it the lyric: “ Sex is violent “ , he ain’t wrong there when it’s an adult non con manga, Manhwa etc.

Noise. Terrible voice. Bleh.

The music is great. All 90's alt rock nostalgia. Obviously Jane Says is a huge hit for that era, but an entire album of those vocals are a bit much. But still - music shreds for 90's alt rock

I just dont get it, his voice is irritating as hell

Some great guitar stuff but like a lot of artists of the time the vocals are just annoying. Kinda just happens. 2.5

mto meia boca, pqp essa é uma banda que eu nunca consegui achar boa

Juste mid. Quelques sons sympa mais dans l'ensemble très mid

One of those bands I feel like I should like, but can't get into it. Porno for Pyros on the other hand....

Det blæste mig ikke bagover. Overhovedet.

Det er virkelig ikke mig. Synes teksterne er rigtig dårlige Egentlig er nogle af instrumenteringer fede nok, men lyrikken (og sangeren) kan jeg ikke så godt have 1.8

Not a bad album, I suppose. But it’s all - the cover, vocals, lyrics, guitars - a bit juvenile.

Eh. Mid.

me pudo haber gustado mas si la voz del chaval no hiciera q me diera comezón en el cerebro

2.5, bastante raro

Boring af

I'm not very familiar with Jane's Addiction, but have heard of them. Overall kinda meh. Not really that special, but listenable. I think I'd enjoy them more listening to single songs instead of a full album.

Quite obnoxious glam rock. Whiney singer

I was in seventh grade when Been Caught Stealing came out -- that song and Jane Says got quite a bit of radio play that year. But try as I might, I just couldn't get into these songs and I remember changing the station or putting on a cassette when they came on. I welcomed the opportunity to listen to Jane's Addiction with fresh ears and a hope of discovering something that I had not appreciated previously. What I discovered is that I can't get past Perry Farrell's terrible voice. So much of his singing is monotone with a whiny nasally quality. There was one song in which his voice was triple or quadruple tracked; and he was so out of tune with himself that it reminded me of sounds that come from catfights that I have seen out on the street. On the flipside, Dave Navarro's guitar playing is very strong. I appreciate the wide variety of sounds that he is able to get out of his instrument. Jane Says is probably the strongest song -- (how did I never notice the Caribbean steel drums before?) Though I enjoy the guitar playing, the vocals make this album virtually unlistenable for me. I understand that Lollapalooza was originally conceived as a farewell tour for Jane's Addiction, so I guess they at least have that.

Expectation: -> I know them for their one big radio hit, which I really like, but odds of loving this don't seem high pre-listen. After listening: -> The disparity between Jane Says and everything else here is well…a canyon wide? Love that tune. Takes me back to mid-90s college every time. Nothing else here is salvageable. Track ranking: Jane TY Beach Summertime Idiots Ocean Mountain Pigs Shower Ted Dad

Sometimes it is interesting but the stand out track is Jane Says. It has a very odd tropical vibe to it, with some kalimba I suspect, and rather simple guitars that somehow Dave Navarro weaves in as if it was all meant to be that way. In the vocalists grating performance makes sense.

Terrible (that’s being nice).

Not bad but nothing too memorable imo. Also minus points because of the cover!!!!! Not appropriate to listen to in front of others!!

For an album with a title like 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨’𝘴 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, not much here really surprises me. The band clearly has energy and attitude, but most of the album just doesn’t leave much of an impression. A lot of it feels more concerned with sounding provocative than actually being memorable. 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴 is the big exception. That’s the one moment where everything clicks and the album finally sounds as intense as its reputation suggests. Outside of that track, though, I mostly struggle to stay interested.

I am not a fan of Perry Farrell's vocals. Though this record has some cool musicality at times, for the most part I find it uneventful and kind of blah.

Ugh. The guitars on this are disgusting.

Still no, sorry

The star system is failing me here. I don't really care for this; there is only one song I thought was good. But I don't know if this is truly as bad as all of the albums I have rated two stars. I get why people would like this— but it's a crime to throw it in with some albums that I thought were actually good.

c'est pas trop mon kiff en terme de rock ig mais stylé tout de même je ne peux pas le cacher

Another "not really my thing" album. I was aware of the band, but only really through this site and the cross-references between the members of this band and other bands. I didn't ever really feel like I was enjoying the album, but it wasn't horrendous either. I've had a lot of albums like that recently. It's been very sterile - beats listening to an album by The Cramps though.

Maybe 3 good songs and the rest wasn't great. Not sure how it made the list, etc. etc. 2.5 Stars

I did not really like Ritual De Lo Habitual and I think I like this album less. Janes Says is good - but is very different to the rest of the album. Do not really care for sonic overload funk metal or cranked up vocals.

A fitting name, since this is one of those albums that tries too hard to be provocative. I’m sure Tipper Gore was horrified to see naked women on the cover, but it feels so tacky and cringe today. It fits the vibe of an unimpressive album, which is some derivative ‘hard rock’, with lots of over-the-top screeching guitar. A poundshop Led Zeppelin.

Nothing on this album is shocking, this is true, but there’s also not much that’s great or memorable either. Maybe with further listens it will grow on me, but for now it’s getting a 2.

Don't cry because it happened, smile because it's over

Not particularly taken by this one.

Not really for me

Definitely NOT my thing, way too much screaming and unnecessarily loud guitar, and yet the talent is clearly there underneath it all. Shame they didn’t go into real music.

ja, einfach rock aus den späten achtzigern.

Never a fan of Perrys voice, finding it more annoying than anything. Lots of 80s metal guitar over everything. Like the drums. Sounds pretty much like most of the stuff coming out of LA scene at that time, just a slight variation due to the slightly weird singer. Everyone was trying a different angle on the then all encompassing metal head scene, Jane’s Additions slight weird LA punkish take caught, others be it psychedelic, bubblegum or heavy blues or whatever didn’t. And yes it influenced a lot of what you heard out of American music that followed, on what alt rock became, that slight metal taint, good or bad is up to choice. Didn’t like it then and don’t now. 2 Star

2.5

find bis etz nöd dass das mega mues uf dere liste sii ich gseh sie sind de 90er sound scho ide 80er am mache aber böh. finds chli neeervig gad had a dad bruudi. bin bi idiots rule und ööööhm immerno kei bock. zum teil hends würkli cooli idee und so aber ich mag nöd wie er singt und bin glaub au afoch nööööd im mood für so angsty stuff. jane says au so cute afang mit de akustische gitarre aber wieso singt er soooo?? es isch chli butt rock? Ich weiss nöd gnau was isch mit spoote 80er alternativrock und dere liste aber ich bin nöd esoo fan. pixies findi recht geil, de rest chamer siiloh findi. het scho zum teil bitz groovy sache drunder aber herts 2.

Had such powerful lyrics as "I'm pissin' on myself" and honestly that was in one of the better songs. His voice is really really annoying and while there are good bits of music it would have to be a lot better to make up for the voice. Favourite song: Jane Says Least: Summertime Rolls

This unfortunately wasn’t my vibe, but I gave it a solid listen.

C'était ok mais pas trop mon truc

I’m not very impressed. None of the songs stand out a lot and the few that do are kind of ruined by the singer.

I just couldn’t get into it. I’m sure it’s fine but not my vibe right now.

Boring.

This album clicks with me when i’m grumpy at the gym. Otherwise it’s just noise.

Like all addictions, Jane's Addiction is bad for your health and should be avoided at all costs

So to be honest I've never been a fan of Jane's Addiction. I should be, the guitar is amazing, the bass is spot on and the drumming is great. I love Farrell's other band Porno for Pyros. So I should LOVE this album. I don't. No clue why I don't but listening to this was nails on the chalkboard for me. Like the pieces don't line up for me, at all. So yeah I know I'm the odd one out here but I just don't like Jane's Addiction.

Olipahan sekoilua. Olis ollu kiva jos sanoista olis ees saanu selvää.

Not interesting for me.

It didn’t resonate.

Bit shouty innit