The Great Escape Artist
The Great Escape Artist | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 18, 2011[1] | |||
Recorded | 2010–2011 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 39:54 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | Rich Costey | |||
Jane's Addiction chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Great Escape Artist | ||||
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The Great Escape Artist is the fourth studio album by American
Describing the album's overall aesthetic, Farrell noted: "it's a strange mixture of that post-punk goth darkness that Jane's had, with what's going on today with groups like Muse and Radiohead. As much as I want to appease fans and make old Jane's fans love me, I just can't help myself from moving forward."[8] Following the album's completion, producer Rich Costey stated, "This was a real Jane's Addiction record."[9]
Background and recording
Jane's Addiction began writing The Great Escape Artist shortly after founding bassist Eric Avery's departure in 2010, with vocalist Perry Farrell stating, "Eric did not want to record. So we took him out of the equation. We couldn't live with not recording."[8] Commenting on the relationship between the remaining three members of the band, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and himself, Farrell stated: "Dave and Steve and I are like brothers. I've got children, and my kid smacked my other kid in the head this morning, but at the same time they hate being separated. On a plane one will say, 'I want to sit with my brother.' That's how I feel about Dave and Steve. I hope they'd tell you the same thing."[8]
In January 2010,
Despite describing the songs as "really cool," "really heavy" and "Pink Floydish".[10] McKagan departed from Jane's Addiction in September 2010, with Farrell noting, "He didn't like the idea of electronics at all. That was his complaint."[8] Following McKagan's departure, Farrell commented on the band's morale, stating "there was a moment of silence. Everyone had gripes, but at the same time, it was a sad time because we were building something together. It's like a sports team, then one guy gets traded, or retires, or gets injured. But your team has to go on. That's the state we were in."[12] Navarro remarked, "whether he stayed in the band for 10 years or five minutes, he kept us in the direction of being productive. At the end of the day, that's really all I can ask for."[11]
After considering a number of producers, including
Perry Farrell recorded his vocal parts at his home studio, sending audio files by email to Navarro, Perkins and Sitek. Regarding this method, Farrell stated: "I am enjoying it. I'm not sure if it's because I've finally gotten old enough to calm down, and just let things kind of unfold or what. In the past, there was a lot more friction."[12]
During recording, former bassist Chris Chaney re-joined the band for its live performances, and subsequently began recording bass guitar parts, alongside Sitek, for the forthcoming album. In May 2011, Farrell commented on Chaney's involvement: "I have to keep [Chris] away from Queen, who want him and they're not going to get him unless we're not doing anything. Then they can have him. I'm getting him on the record and then he's going to come out with us for eight months."[6] According to Navarro, "There are a few moments on songs that I'm playing bass parts, but overall the bass duties are split between Dave Sitek and Chris Chaney, both creative and talented players. Chaney will be touring with us when the tour to support the album begins. He's the only bassist that's recorded a full-length album with us, and is truly a member of the Jane's Addiction family, besides Avery, especially on the road. We are certainly lucky to have him."[14]
Writing and composition
Regarding the various line-up changes which preceded the album's recording and eventual release, guitarist
Vocalist Perry Farrell commented on the writing process, stating that it was "very different" to how the material on their previous albums had been conceived: "We have options now to make music through technology and we're taking advantage of it; we're not afraid of it. [...] We'll write some tracks and send them back and forth, and we'll deconstruct a demo. Everybody's ears need to be excited with fresh sounds, interesting chord structures, arrangements, and compositions. And it's not easy to come up with something original and fresh. What can help you are electronics."[12] During recording, Farrell elaborated further, noting that "Now that we're working with these modern things, our attitude has had to change. Where you're not playing on this part, and that's OK; it's for the greater good of the song. This is what we're doing today. That's what I look forward to, and what I like about writing this record."[15] Drummer Stephen Perkins stated, "When it's the first record that we've made in ten years, it’s got to be perfect, but then again perfect means also having some rough edges. You got to be dangerous with the sound. Me and Dave Navarro played without Perry for two or three months and just blew-up and found a new sound and then to innovate the record we just recorded demos and sent everything to Perry."[16]
Guitarist Dave Navarro stated: "We're utilizing other instrumentation and new technologies, but our mental approach has remained wide open."[11]
Describing his guitar contributions to The Great Escape Artist, Navarro noted that his "approach has become more melodic and simplistic. I'm not doing tons and tons of overdriven rhythm guitar tracks, and not a whole hell of lot of soloing that doesn't add to the melodic nature of a track. I've really been enjoying exploring different guitar textures in the studio."[11] During recording, Navarro also stated: "My favorite guitar players from the '80s are probably the simplest players around, and I’m pretty inspired by them right now."[17]
In an interview with Rolling Stone Farrell noted that the band has "enough material for three albums" and that he wants the tracks to "have a groove impact and hit you like an atom bomb. We've been doing that, so I feel like I'll die happy after this record."[8]
Three of Duff McKagan's collaborations with the band appeared on the album ("Broken People," "Words Right Out of My Mouth" and "Ultimate Reason").[18] McKagan commented on his writing contributions stating: "My biggest concern was that if I was going to be involved, it had be darker, and heavier, and more vicious than they've ever been before. I can't be seen as the bass player who came in and made them light, or made these really crappy songs. [...] We've got some really, really cool songs, some really heavy stuff. Really Pink Floyd'ish type stuff that meanders and goes out. I think with the right producer, these songs could be really, really special."[10]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 55/100[19] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
The A.V. Club | F[20] |
AllMusic | [21] |
The Guardian | [2] |
Los Angeles Times | [22] |
NME | 8/10[23] |
Pitchfork | 5.0/10[3] |
PopMatters | 3/10[24] |
Rolling Stone | [25] |
Slant Magazine | [26] |
Spin | 6/10[27] |
The Great Escape Artist received "mixed or average" reviews based on 26 critics, according to
The album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 chart. It dropped to number 67 during the second week.
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins, and David Sitek, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Underground" | 3:07 | |
2. | " End to the Lies" | 3:31 | |
3. | "Curiosity Kills" | 4:29 | |
4. | "Irresistible Force (Met the Immovable Object)" | 4:00 | |
5. | "I'll Hit You Back" | 3:48 | |
6. | "Twisted Tales" | 4:29 | |
7. | "Ultimate Reason" | Farrell, Navarro, Perkins, Duff McKagan | 3:49 |
8. | "Splash a Little Water on It" | 5:13 | |
9. | "Broken People" | Farrell, Navarro, Perkins, McKagan | 3:39 |
10. | "Words Right Out of My Mouth" | Farrell, Navarro, Perkins, McKagan | 3:49 |
Total length: | 39:54 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Whores" | |
2. | "Ain't No Right" | |
3. | "Ted, Just Admit It..." | |
4. | "Superhero" | |
5. | "End to the Lies" | |
6. | "Three Days" | |
7. | "Mountain Song" | |
8. | "Been Caught Stealing" | |
9. | "Ocean Size" | |
10. | "Jane Says" | |
11. | "Stop!" |
Personnel
Jane's Addiction
- Perry Farrell – lead vocals
- Dave Navarro – guitar, keyboards (1, 3, 5–10), bass
- Stephen Perkins – drums, percussion
Additional musicians
- David Andrew Sitek – bass (1–6, 8–10), keyboards (1, 3, 5–9), programming (1, 3, 5–10), additional rhythm guitar (2–4, 6, 8, 9)
- Chris Chaney – bass
- Master Musicians of Joujouka – rhaitaand additional percussion (2)
- John Hill – additional keyboards (4–6)
- Jamie Muhoberac – additional keyboards (8)
Recording
- Rich Costey – producer, recording, mixing
- Perry Farrell – co-producer
- David Andrew Sitek – additional production
- Chris Kascyh – recording
- Charlie Stavish – recording
- Dustin Mosley – recording
- Chris Steffen – recording assistant
- Vlado Meller – mastering
- Mark Santangelo – mastering assistant
Artwork
- Matthew Goldman – album art direction
- Perry Farrell – cover art, character design, fabrication
- Adam Lawrence – miniature set design, fabrication
- Jedediah Cowyn Voltz – miniature props, art
- Jed Hathaway – on-set artist
- Tom Hester – additional character fabrication
- Brian Capati – additional character fabrication
- Bela Temesvary – cover photography
- Eliot Lee Hazel – band photography
Charts
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[28] | 71 |
Finnish Albums ( Suomen virallinen lista)[29]
|
48 |
Irish Albums (IRMA)[30] | 74 |
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[31] | 42 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[32] | 56 |
UK Albums (OCC)[33] | 52 |
US Billboard 200[34] | 12 |
US | 2 |
US | 3 |
References
- ^ "Timeline". Jane's Addiction (official website). Retrieved April 26, 2013.
- ^ a b Mongredien, Phil (October 16, 2011). "Jane's Addiction: The Great Escape Artist – review". The Observer.
- ^ a b c Berman, Stuart (October 17, 2011). "Jane's Addiction: The Great Escape Artist". Pitchfork.
- ^ "Jane's Addiction Eyes Summer Comeback". FMQB. March 18, 2011.
- ^ "Jane's Addiction Singer Admits They 'Annoyed' Duff McKagan". Blabbermouth.net. March 21, 2011.
- ^ a b Baltin, Steve (May 20, 2011). "Perry Farrell Battles Queen for a Bassist, Plots Dream Lineup for Lollapalooza 2012". Spinner.
- ^ "Jane's Addiction: New Song Available For Free Download". Blabbermouth.net. April 8, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Greene, Andy (January 12, 2011). "Exclusive: Perry Farrell Opens Up About Dave Sitek Joining Jane's Addiction In The Studio". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Florino, Rick (September 9, 2011). "Jane's Addiction 'The Great Escape Artist' — A Preview Peek Behind the Curtain". Artist Direct.
- ^ a b c d e f "Velvet Revolver: Jane's Addiction 'Songs Could Be Really Special'". Ultimate Guitar. July 21, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Bosso, Joe (January 21, 2011). "Interview: Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro on new album, Duff, Dave Sitek". MusicRadar.
- ^ a b c d e Goodman, William (February 4, 2011). "Perry Farrell Talks New Jane's Addiction LP". Spin.
- ^ a b c d e Graff, Gary (January 13, 2011). "Jane's Addiction Headed in 'Completely Different Direction,' Says Dave Navarro". Billboard.
- ^ Hill, Cole Garner (April 27, 2011). "Farrell gets set for Edgefest action". QuickDFW.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011.
- ^ Rachel, T. Cole (September 15, 2011). "Progress Report: Jane's Addiction". Stereogum.
- ^ "Dave Navarro: 'The Acoustic Guitar To Me Is An Entire Band Within Itself'". Ultimate Guitar. December 3, 2010.
- ^ Gallo, Phil (September 9, 2011). "Inside the Listening Party: Jane's Addiction's 'The Great Escape Artist'". Billboard.
- ^ "The Great Escape Artist - Jane's Addiction". Metacritic. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
- ^ a b Heller, Jason (October 18, 2011). "Jane's Addiction - The Great Escape Artist". The A.V. Club.
- ^ a b Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "The Great Escape Artist". AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
- ^ Diehl, Matt (October 18, 2011). "Album review: Jane's Addiction's 'The Great Escape Artist'". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Allen, Jeremy (October 21, 2011). "Album Review: Jane's Addiction - 'The Great Escape Artist'". NME.
- ^ Ramirez, AJ (October 28, 2011). "Jane's Addiction: The Great Escape Artist". PopMatters. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
- ^ Dolan, Jon (October 18, 2011). "Jane's Addiction - The Great Escape Artist". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Cole, Matthew (October 16, 2011). "Jane's Addiction: The Great Escape Artist". Slant Magazine.
- ^ Walters, Barry (October 18, 2011). "Jane's Addiction 'The Great Escape Artist'". Spin.
- Pandora Archive.
- Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Jane's Addiction". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- . Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ "Jane's Addiction Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ "Jane's Addiction Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ "Jane's Addiction Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2020.