10 More Perfect 1980s Hard Rock Albums With No Bad Songs
2. Nothing's Shocking - Jane's Addiction (1988)
The debut album from Jane's Addiction hailed an exciting time for alternative rock. The band was an odd assortment of sounds and influences. Frontman Perry Ferrell brought a mixture of David Bowie's weirdness and Iggy Pop's wild energy to the table. Dave Navarro's guitar playing, shared similarities with Slash's hard rock approach but his riff work was oozing with psychedelia.
The mainstream Los Angeles rock scene was awash with spandex leggings and the smell of hair spray. Hair metal was the reining fad, the music was as much about looking good as sounding good. Lurking around the alternative scene, were bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane's Addiction, however. Although musically they existed in different worlds, they shared an ethos. It was all about doing things the way they wanted to, no matter what the mainstream was into.
The debut studio album from Jane's Addiction was a variety of sound. Tracks like Ocean Size hit you with a wall of impenetrable grungy guitar, but every now and then, Perry Ferrel's screams have just enough power to break through. Had a Dream hears Dave Navarro rip through the wah wah pedal with the ferocity of Hendrix - giving your dose of psychedelia. And then there's, Jane Says. With a flower-power, hippy-dippy chord progression, and jaunty steel drums, it's an odd number, but, damn, are the good vibes infectious.