Borderline Latin is an exploration of the influence of Latin music in styles, places and rhythms beyond its traditional borders, and of different types of cross-pollination between Latin music and other musical creatures. Each week, we will feature a song or musical style whose rhythm, themes, melodic inflections or influences have earned it the name of Borderline Latin.
This band has been around for quite some time. They rocked the 1990s with their funky rhythms, and they were one of those mythical bands that formed in California during the ’80s fusing genres, pretty much creating alternative rock and mixing it with hip hop. They planted the seeds for a change of attitude in hair band infested Cali, together with other bands like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Cypress Hill (whom we’ve featured in this column). Funny: these three bands are still around — they don’t make them like they used to, I guess.
Our borderline Latin pick of this week did disintegrate a couple of times, but they’ve always managed to come back. I’m talking about Jane’s Addiction, people. You don’t have to like them, but they deserve some respect. Jane’s Addiction formed in 1985, featuring Perry Farrell’s high pitched and energetic vocals, and our very own Dave Navarro in guitar. While it’s fair to say that Farrell’s work as a frontman holds the band together, it is Navarro’s rifts and style that gives Jane’s Addiction its soul and flavor — its Latin flavor, I must say.
Last year, Jane’s Addiction released The Great Escape Artist, their newest album. That year they also performed at the Vive Latino festival in Mexico City. If you want to check out their new songs, download them below; or better yet: go see them live –they’re touring the US right now. But for the moment, here’s a little funky throwback from Ritual de lo Habitual, their 1990 hit album. Enjoy –it’s about stealing.
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Download Jane’s Addiction’s The Great Escape Artists below:
Click HERE to read more “Borderline Latin” profiles. For comments and tips, please contact me at: Salvador@remezcla.com, and for more info on my “Borderline” works, visit Borderline Projects.
