REVIEW: Perry Farrell, Rev (Warner)
- Bob Gajarsky
Perry Farrell. Visionary. Somehow, those words seem to automatically gravitate towards each other.
Whether in Jane's Addiction, Porno For Pyros, or as the creator of Lollapalooza, Farrell has always stood out from the crowd - different not to attract attention, but as a man with one eye toward the future. Rev, a greatest hits project with two new tracks, highlights both his past and his present.
Modern rock classics litter Rev's roadway. Jane's hits such as "Been Caught Stealing", "Jane Says", "Stop" and "Mountain Song", couple with Porno's "Pets", are instantly recognizable to anyone who's turned into alternative music in the last ten years.
And, Farrell's present. "Rev" - with contributions from Rage's Tom Morello, the Chili Peppers' John Frusciante and longtime drummer Stephen Perkins - owes a debt to the Jane's classics with a modern twist. That twist shows up even more on a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love". Not content to merely sing the song, Farrell gives the rock classic a complete overhaul - into modern trip-hop. Having to be heard to be believed, this reworking - along with Rev - has Perry Farrell still way ahead of the rest of the world on the music curve.
