Classic 80's Album Review: Nothing's Shocking by Jane's Addiction

Often, when people mention the '80s and music, the first things that come to mind are "Madonna" or "Tears For Fears". For those who didn't play pop, however, there was something else. Jane's Addiction.

Fronted by the eccentric and charismatic Perry Farrell (b. Peretz Bernstein), Jane's Addiction made superstars out of its four members, and fueled future alternative rock careers. With an explosive chemistry the likes of which audiences and critics had not yet heard or seen, the band hit the road with Nothing's Shocking in 1988.

The title, in retrospect, seems ironic. After all, the album's cover is famous for its naked, sensual Siamese twins aflame in a rocking chair. Its lyrics, too, have been the subject of controversy. Farrell often wrote about personal experiences with drugs, sexuality, and violence, but with a poetic sensibility that some of his '80s peers lacked.

Take a closer listen to the album, and it may be clear. Its fourth track, "Ted, Just Admit It," starts as a haze of feedback mixed with what sound like TV news clips:

Camera's got them images
Camera's got them all
Nothing's shocking

Show me everybody, naked and disfigured
Nothing's shocking

In the background, one can hear ominous voices saying such things as "There's going to be people turning up in canyons; there are going to be people being shot in Salt Lake City." The instrumentation slowly builds in intensity, leading up to a full-on rock assault.

Nothing's Shocking was also responsible for introducing guitar hero Dave Navarro to the world, with his screaming solos and punching chords. Less well known, perhaps, is bass player Eric Avery, who was every bit as essential to the band as Farrell and Navarro. His throbbing bass lines stand out in songs such as the above mentioned "Ted," and the opening of "Mountain Song," with their simplicity and aural power. After his stint with Jane's Addiction, he went on to less high-profile work, but his contributions to the band are still recognized.

Arguably, the best known song on Shocking is "Jane Says," which Farrell once claimed was about a former roommate with a heroin addiction and an abusive boyfriend named Sergio, according to the December 2006 issue of Blender magazine. Musically, the song consists of only three chords, and prominently features steel drums in the background. However, a number of fans have stated that its simplicity and touching lyrics are the reason for its popularity.

Some have interpreted this particular lyric as a reference to Jane's drug addiction and her relationship with the dealer:

Jane says "I'm done with Sergio
"He treats me like a ragdoll"
She hides the television
Says "I don't owe him nothin'"

I'm gonna kick tomorrow
I'm gonna kick tomorrow

The album also features a guest appearance by Flea, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' notorious bassist, on "Idiots Rule." In this instance, however, he is heard playing trumpet, according to the liner notes.

Nothing's Shocking ends with a bang, on the track "Pigs In Zen," in which you'll hear some of Navarro's signature shrieking guitar riffs, backed by a tight rhythm from Avery's bass and Stephen Perkins' dynamic drumming.

Jane's Addiction followed Shocking with their only other studio album, Ritual De Lo Habitual, in 1990. Though it sold better than their debut (reaching #19 on Billboard's Top 200 of that year), Nothing's Shocking will always be remembered as the album that introduced these incredible musicians to the stage, and to the world.

Resources:

Blender Magazine, August 2006
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia: "Nothing's Shocking"