Album Review: Rev by Perry Farrell

There are two kinds of greatest hits albums. The first sort come from acts that have been so big for so long that selecting tracks is more a choice of which hits to leave out than which to include. Rev is from the other end of the spectrum; Perry Farrell's two former bands Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros had only a handful of hits between them despite heavy cult followings. The hits are here, of course, including a refreshing remix of "Been Caught Stealing" that makes "Jane Says" and "Pets" sound downright canned by comparison. The remaining Jane's songs are a good summary of the band, with hard rockers like "Stop" and the psychedelic meanderings of "Summertime Rolls." P4P is also represented at its best, though the selection of two clones like "Cursed Male" and "Hard Charger" is questionable. Also included are Jane's Addiction's Beatles-esque take on The Dead's "Ripple" and Porno for Pyros' Cable Guy soundtrack version of Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love," which sounds eerily like the Dead with Farrell on vocals. Of the two new tracks, "Rev" is a respectable collaboration between Farrell and Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, while "Whole Lotta Love" would even be excellent drum 'n' bass if Farrell wasn't moaning Led Zeppelin's lyrics over it. B