Jane's Addiction

• Nothing's Shocking [Warner Bros., 1988] B-
• Ritual de lo Habitual [Warner Bros., 1990]
• Kettle Whistle [Warner Bros., 1997] C+

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Nothing's Shocking [Warner Bros., 1988]
The Dream Syndicate in the age of metal worship, a/k/a Alice Cooper revisited. Of course, Alice didn't get this good until album three. Then again, album three had "I'm Eighteen" on it, and the new guys aren't humble enough to try for one of those. Or lucky enough to get one--as Alice has spent his life proving, talent didn't have much to do with it. But if they stick at it like the pros they'll be, they might land an "Only Women Bleed." B-

Ritual de lo Habitual [Warner Bros., 1990]

Kettle Whistle [Warner Bros., 1997]
As its current projects crumble from irrelevance to negative cash flow, a band that never made music or money commensurate with its myth bestows upon a shock-sated marketplace outtakes, demos, live tracks, and four proofs of physical reunion. Chutzpah has never been Perry Bernstein's problem. C+