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Panic Channel debut nothing special |
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Written by ALANA GRELYAK
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Friday, 11 August 2006 |
The Panic Channel, a new band comprised of the former members of Jane's Addiction, including Dave Navarro, Chris Chaney, Stephen Perkins, and new singer Steve Isaacs, have put together their first CD as a band, called "ONe", due out on August 15th. Isaacs has a clear voice, in tune, and unobtrusive. It isn't "ONe" you'll necessarily remember after "ONe" listen, but it does what it needs to do.
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Panic Channel
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 Entertainment
Art
“ONe”
(Capitol)
Released August 15, 2006
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Some of the highlights of "ONe" include “Blue Bruises,” a can't-hold-me-down sort of tune where the singer refuses to allow "ONe" more abuse to his body. “Bloody Mary,” a song that is about a semi-fictional drug dealer from guitarist Dave Navarro's past, is a strong point of the CD musically, and the lyrics give us a terrifyingly truthful look at who drug dealers really are. Lines like “Plastic bags for plastic friends” and “Bloody Mary will save the night” are an all too real account of what goes on in the life of an addict.
Also a strong point of the CD is the track “Said You'd Be,” a caustic review of President Bush's inability to lead our country. Isaacs sings “You'd make a perfect candidate for excommunication,” directly to our leader. Bush supporters may have trouble swallowing that part of the CD. The album falls into a lull somewhere around the fourth track and doesn't pick itself up until the aforementioned jab at Bush. After that, though, the CD gets into a bit more trouble with the nigh eight minute long track “Night "ONe",” which is ridiculously hard to follow, strangely constructed, and has far too many musical ideas to allow it to be a cohesive song. The band makes up for it, thought, with the tunes “Outsider,” an angst-filled, anger driven song that highlights the mood swings a young outsider might feel, and “Listen,” a track held together by the slow, crawling notes of a guitar that truly makes "ONe" want to pay attention and listen. The album finishes with a rather unexpected track, seemingly a capella (though I suspect some synthesizer can be found in there somewhere), with a medieval feel and frequent changes to major and minor throughout.
Having seen The Panic Channel live, I know they are capable of great things, such as audience captivation. This CD, titled "ONe", is good, but they have a difficult time capturing in the recorded version the energy that they presented on stage. However, had I never witness a live performance, I would still appreciate this CD for its many high points, and I expect a lot from them on any subsequent works they might produce. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
