The Panic Channel
(ONe)
Having followed the making of this album through the online blogs of Dave Navarro and Steve Isaacs I was looking forward to its release. Straight off I would like to make a point that although I have awarded the album a score of 3.5 (just over average) I am only basing that on the fact that I wouldn’t quite want to push it up into the ranks of Excellent.
I am a huge fan of Jane's Addiction and as I felt that Perry Farrell was the main alternative influence on the band's sound I was expecting a slightly more conventional rock album. I DO think this is what we have, in comparison with say "Ritual de lo Habitual" but to me the feel of the album is similar to that of Jane's' most recent studio album, "Hypersonic".
I know very little of what Steve Isaacs did before TPC but somehow he seems to fit straight into a band, which with the slight exception of Chris Chaney, has been a solid unit for years.
1. "Teahouse of the Spirits" - 3:18
The album kicks off with this fast tempo rocker full of catchy hooks and moments of sing-a-long greatness. This song reeks of live-favourite and sets the tone perfectly for the album. Navarro's lead guitar tone and soaring leads are reminiscent of those heard in "Up The Beach". Chaney and Perkins are the solid rhythm section you would expect and Isaacs' voice cuts though the mix with the emotion necessary to carry the song through each section seamlessly
2. "Left to Lose" - 3:56
Another catchy rocker. The rhythm section reminds me of that of "Been Caught Stealing". A middle section arrives at 1.44 that is seemingly borrowed directly from "Three Days". Navarro slashing away at distorted harmonics while Chaney and Perkins keep the section tribal. The song is faded out with a Led Zeppelin style jam.
3. "Bloody Mary" - 4:07
One of my favourite songs from the album. It has a beautifully haunting quality and a double tracked ghostly vocal part that adds to the mood. A waterfall of guitar drips on the pre-chorus before Isaacs launches into the chorus. At 2.16 Navarro plays a nicely crafted solo to lead the song to its final chapter.
4. "Why Cry" - 3.24
The first single to be released and a pop/rock song with nice lilting vocals and a rising guitar part. As with many of the songs on the album, it is very sing able. Isaacs has a nice ear for a pop hook and a memorable melody. I really like the acoustic break at 2.31 followed by the feedback as Isaacs' voice really takes centre stage, albeit a brief one.
5. "Awake" - 3.48
Nice instrumental intro full of disruptive cadence. Something to appreciate on this track is the subtle bass work from Chris Chaney. It sits nicely along side the guitar and is at its best in the verses.
6. "She Won't Last" - 4.46
Isaacs manages to pull another great melody out of the bag over what sounds like a difficult chord sequence to fit one over. Strong choruses that build each time round gaining more crunch each time. My favourite part of the song arrives at 2.13 when an interesting bridge section (with brilliant inter-play between guitar and bass) develops into one of the finest moments on the album. If you have a good guitar player, let him/her play....
7. "Said You'd Be" - 2.35
This song struck me straight away as it reminds me of a mixture of "Stop!", "Been Caught Stealing" and "Ain't No Right". The guitar solo especially could have been ripped from an out take from "Stop!". It's not too hard to imagine Perry screaming this short sharp kick to the balls of a song.
8. "Outsider" - 4.46
I am sure this review sounds like I am desperately clinging onto the memory of JA but there are so many moments from TPC that are easy to appreciate in the same way. As in this song, there is a pretty rhythm part no to dissimilar in idea from the beginning of “Then She Did". "Then She Did" is one of my favourite JA songs if not THE favourite and so this song immediately became one of my favourites from this album.
At 2.51 Navarro plays a guitar part with a similar sound to Led Zeppelin’s "Whole Lotta Love" that carries the song across into another pseudo-acoustic/crescendo ending.
For me, this song highlights Dave Navarro's ability as a rhythm player. A side I often wish I could hear more from as the results are normally stunning.
9. "Blue Bruises" - 3.57
Another pop-rocker in the same mould as "Why Cry". I really don't care for this song too much. It's not a bad song, it just doesn’t strike anything inside of me. I guess my only gripe is that unlike the other songs, I don't feel like this song goes anywhere.
10. "Night One (from Planchette)" - 7.58
Alternative and interesting. I think this song takes at least 5 listens before you can fully appreciate it. Like past JA songs it can appear to be a bit much at first and the length of the song and none-pop structure compound this. There is an almost Rage Against The Machine style jam at 3.36 with the whole band focused on one idea.
At 4.58 the song takes another direction in a prog-rock kind of way. I got a sense of the calm after the storm and Isaacs' vocals are great here. The storm makes a sudden return and sets off into an outro that sounds like a hurricane swallowing everything in its path.
11. "Listen" - 5.30
An effect on intro guitar makes it sounds hollow and desolate as Isaacs invites us in to the beginning of this track. The rest of the band enters at 1.41. Perkins bringing his usual brand of drumming with a slight tribal edge and Chaney following his drummer with a similarly rhythmic bass part. I again have to say that "Listen" is another song that doesn't do a lot for me but I still appreciate it and never skip past it.
12. "Lie Next to Me" - 3.44
To me this sounds like the sort of song I would expect to find on a Moby album. The whole song is a vocal arrangement with Isaacs singing an almost sinister sounding love poem over a three part harmony that sound like a druid choir. I think it is really worth a listen just for the simple fact that it is unusual to find a song such as this on a rock album
13. - 1.22
This sounds like it was recorded live from a TPC show. It is the sound of a swirling windy guitar/synth added to by Isaacs' dreamy vocals, then suddenly cut off by a crowd counting to 13 in unison. Another one worth a listen purely for curiosities sake.
I found this album instantly enjoyable and at 13 tracks it felt just the right size for a debut release. I look forward to hearing more music from TPC and am interested to hear how their sound develops through the writing of more music.
If you have the opportunity it’s definitely worth a listen
