NINJA 2009 Tour Sampler

It may be a labeled a “sampler” but attention must be paid as an immediate sign of the times to come. The NINJA 2009 Tour Sampler, recently released March 20 on-line, is a taste of what is to be a juggernaut of a tour this summer across North America by the triumvirate of Jane’s Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, and the newly formed Street Sweeper. No the world didn't time warped back to 1991’s Lollapalooza when Nine Inch Nails’ Pretty Hate Machine was a tiny little dot on the radar of the few. When Ritual de lo Habitual hoisted Jane’s Addiction to the forefront of the alternative nation while proving to be the original line up’s swan song. Or when an unknown band called Rage Against the Machine was just starting to make noise in Los Angeles. There is a form of poetic irony then that in 2009 a tour featuring members of these three bands will appear on the same card while Trent Reznor contemplates stepping away from Nine Inch Nails, a reformed original Jane’s Addiction is recording (with Reznor producing), in addition to being supported by Street Sweeper, a new collaboration featuring Rage’s Tom Morello and Boots Riley of The Coup.

The sampler features two unreleased tracks from each band but is stylistically universal in its aggression, attitude, and angst. The funk and groove of Street Sweeper’s “Clap for the Killers” and “The Oath” features Morello’s guitar licks slashing in a voodoo child like waves against the confident and righteous vocals of Boots Riley. The break-neck wail of processed guitars and thumping bass driven romp of “Not So Pretty Now” and the heavy crunge of “Non-Entity” (Both B-sides from With Teeth) showcase Nine Inch Nails with a diversity of vehement, fatalistic, and delicate tones (reminiscent of 1999’s The Fragile) that could be extremely powerful (and effectively playable) live.

Most interesting, however, is the presence two “new” studio tracks from Jane’s Addiction, originally released on their 1987 live album debut Jane’s Addiction (widely referred to for years as “The Triple X Album” or “Live at the Roxy”). It’s a bold risk to attempt to make new two non-single tracks that fans have coveted for over twenty years (George Lucas, anyone?) Amazingly, the gamble is validated. The thundering rampages of toms that launch “Chip Away” are guttural, sharp, and fierce. Perry Farrell’s voice soars into a rave as the primal sound swarms under the nuanced hand of Reznor. The weight of Eric Avery’s thumping intro to “Whores” primes a burst of swagger from a band which hasn’t conveyed that essential grit and attack of sound in a recording since Avery left the group in 1991. Which leads the listener to curiously ask: Is it the connection to the classic material or is it the reconciled energy between the four original players that have provided the spark on these tracks?

Considering the energy, musicianship, and mutual admiration of the artists in these prolific bands, it leads one to wonder if any collaboration will occur on any given night on stage. Dave Navarro played on NIN’s Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now) on 1995’s Further Down the Spiral and NIN’s 1989’s Pretty Hate Machine’s “Ringfinger” lifts a sample from Jane’s Addiction’s “Had A Dad.” Perhaps fans could see a rendition of Jane’s “Pigs in Zen” featuring Reznor on vocals and Morello on lead guitar?

Looking ahead to the future, after the show is over, fans can look to hold on to the night by looking for Street Sweeper’s debut this year featuring the currently released first single "Fight! Smash! Win!" as well as a retrospective box-set from Jane’s Addiction titled A Cabinet of Curiosities is to be released April 21, 2009. As prolific as Trent Reznor has been over the last few years, it is hard to determine if Nine Inch Nails will release more material or are to go gracefully into the void.

Aaron Simms

http://www.ninja2009.com