Published on Dec 31, 1998
Try as I have, I’ve never quite understood the draw that Perry
Farrell has. His stints with Jane’s Addiction and Porno For Pyros
have left him as one of the leading figures in alternative rock in
the early ’90s, but I’ve never found a lot of his music that
accessible.
Case in point:
Ritual De Lo Habitual, Jane’s Addiction’s 1990 album that
would be the band’s “last” album (until a recent reunion). While
there is some great material on this album, there also is a lot of
self-indulgent material, results that occur when one takes
themselves too seriously.
The album’s opener, “Stop,” is a great way to kick things off,
featuring Dave Navarro’s kinetic guitar work. As a frustrated
guitar player, I used to slap this tape into my cheesy stereo in
college, strap on my Gibson SG, turn both up to eleven, and attempt
to shred along with Jane’s Addiction. (I was able to fake it pretty
good, until the solo kicked in.) The energy on this song is
infectious, and seems to hold the promise of great things to
come.
Unfortunately, things really don’t catch on until “Been Caught
Stealing,” the song that will probably define Jane’s Addiction for
the remainder of time. Tracks like “Ain’t No Right” and “No One’s
Leaving” just don’t hold the same kind of creative fire that the
two “bookend” tracks on side one have. They still are listenable,
though they’re nothing worth writing home about.
The second half of
Ritual De Lo Habitual contains the least rock-oriented
material, but it also contains the more enjoyable, cerebral
material from Jane’s Addiction. “Three Days” might scare some
people off with its length, but it’s so enjoyable that, before you
know it, the track is over. “Of Course” locks into an Indian
rhythmic pattern (something that seems to fit Farrell’s voice the
best) and is one that you’ll find yourself grooving to. The album’s
closer, “Classic Girl,” is also very enjoyable.
The biggest problem I have with
Ritual De Lo Habitual is that if you don’t get Farrell and
crew’s message and meaning early on, you feel lost throughout the
rest of the album. Sure, tracks like “Stop” and “Been Caught
Stealing” have garnered radio airplay, and they seem approachable
enough. But by the time you hit tracks like “Obvious,” don’t be
surprised if you’re left scratching your head. (Cripes, I’ve owned
this album for eight years, and I still don’t get it.)
Of course, some people wanted to make a bigger deal out of the
cover (which feature papier-mache dolls of Farrell and two women in
various states of undress) than the music. And maybe people did buy
this for a cover photo of Farrell’s doll character with his johnson
partially dangling from behind a sheet. (I dunno, I don’t find
papier-mache erotic.) For the critics, four words: It’s the music,
stupid.
Ritual De Lo Habitual might have been the swan song for
Jane’s Addiction, but there are times that this bird sang some
tunes that were confusing to my ears. This album is very much
hit-or-miss; just be careful walking through the landmined
fields.