In extreme anticipation for the touring unification of two immensely influential bands from the 1990s, the powers that be have released an EP to give the populace a taste test. Encompassing the six tracks are two selections from the three bands on the tour, which includes the aforementioned, as well as Tom Morello’s (of Rage Against The Machine / Audioslave) new project, Street Sweeper.
Jane’s Addiction contributes a pair of dustups on fan favorites, “Whores” and “Chip Away.” The latter is probably the most stellar studio retake by an artist of his or her own material since David Bowie revisited “Rebel Rebel” in 2003. Trent Reznor, while helping to hatch the battle plan for Jane’s to reunite again with its complete original lineup, had the band collaborate on these revisitations, in the studio under his supervision, and the results are fantastic. “Chip Away” retains the primal, animalistic percussion, along with the banshee scream of Perry Ferrell in tow with production quality to complement the exercise. Even though “Whores” isn’t as remolded, Navarro shows a slight variation in certain guitar parts to remind listeners he can still make classic tracks purr. Already with six short minutes, Jane’s Addiction foreshadows many show-stealing performances from their host, Nine Inch Nails, without a single gig played on the tour as of yet.
Speaking of Nine Inch Nails, they do their bit of dusting as well for this sampler of so-called new material. “Non-Entity” is with the trademark NIN industrial rock sound, but a reworking of what was once a somber piano B-side rarity in 2005. Now it finds itself as a mid-tempo selection that somehow might’ve been a welcomed addition to the sour lemon of an album, With Teeth. After looking back to the past, “Not So Pretty Now” possibly forecasts the ever-changing modern impression NIN leaves on popular dark electronic rock ’n’ roll. This composition treads in very familiar territory, but feels a bit more fluid, and unfortunately the only modern NIN I can compare it to is With Teeth, where it was probably on the same shelf of leftovers from this era.
The third musketeer is, of course, Street Sweeper, and hopefully they will be the first sacrifice after the first bit of touring and the many battles they will have to fight to win fans of Rage and Audioslave (if any) who may attend this show. Having never left Rage Against The Machine every time Morello picks up the guitar, as it would seem, he pounds out a very familiar, but embarrassingly watered-down guitar presence with some stock MC on the mic. The only thing holding up this tent in the windstorm of shit that is Street Sweeper is, ironically, Morello’s signature sound of old, but the other elements in the equation will make it very easy to stay in the parking lot tailgating for whichever stop on the tour you may find yourself at this summer.
Despite a few weak first steps from a funneled view, which is a sampler compilation, the tour should prove to be a highly enjoyable experience where many things can and will happen, but one things for sure: when the lights go down, the true colors of bands are on display for all to see, and that’s where the real magic happens.
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