Jane's Addiction - A Cabinet Of Curiosities (2009) 3CD+DVD5 Box Set

Few bands in the history of rock 'n' roll have been so resolutely enigmatic as Jane's Addiction. With its esoteric approach and punkish delivery, many have cited the band as harbingers of the burgeoning alternative scene that swept the early '90s. But its stadium swagger and strutting bravado are decidedly rock—especially when you factor in the axe-master antics of guitarist Dave Navarro. In essence, Jane's Addiction was the true alternative to both the leftover hard rock scene of the excessive '80s and the irony-laden hipster set that dominated the next decade. Now the band gets duly honored with a killer new box. Rhino's stunning set eschews the greatest-hits-anthology format in favor of mining the canon for rare tracks and lost gems. And for fans, it's a must-have.

The audio portion of the set includes 43 tracks on three discs. The tracks kick off with a few numbers from an early studio session in 1986, including a primordial version of "Jane Says," that's never seen the light of day until now. Rare demos from '87 offer glimpses of what might've been with different takes on classics like "Mountain Song" with its subtle piano bits and "Stop!," which boasts a wah-wah intro.

There are also live rehearsals that give further insight into the primal aspect of the band's sound, 12-inch versions and a few stray numbers from various comps. The audio portion rounds out with a roaring set of covers including Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," The Doors' "L.A. Woman," "Nausea," by X and The Stooges' "1970", plus a full concert from 1990.

The fourth disc is a DVD that includes the original 1989 VHS release: Soul Kiss: The Fan's Video. Now you can see stuff like Perry Farrell lighting firecrackers in bed with girlfriend in tow, a young Dave Navarro manhandling his pet eel, session drumming with pots and pans courtesy of drummer Stephen Perkins, plus an intimate toilet moment with bassist Eric Avery—all in sharp hi-def. There are also promo videos including "The Mountain Song"—which was initially banned by MTV—and a riveting live show shot in Milan in 1990.

Cabinet of Curiosities unlocks a treasure trove of rarities that honors the legacy while offering a host of new aural possibilities. But aside from the audio/visual components, the packaging itself must be seen to be believed. Replicating a wooden curio cabinet, the doors open up to mini facsimiles of flyers, pics and memorabilia, plus an insightful book. In all, this is one sweet little box, whether you're already enamored, a casual fan…or just curious.

Review by Jim Kaz, IGN.com

One of the most lavish box sets ever devoted to an alternative rock act, A Cabinet of Curiosities is packaged in a wooden cabinet with a metal clasp, and includes a thick book, tarot cards, and tiny voodoo dolls. The packaging alone makes it an obvious necessity for fans, but the music inside the cabinet is problematic. Including three CDs of mostly unreleased demo or live material, plus a DVD of live footage and video clips, A Cabinet of Curiosities illustrates that, for Jane's Addiction, the finished product was by far the best possible way to hear the band's recordings – no surprise, given that Nothing's Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual are two of the best LPs of the alternative era. Jane's Addiction was powerful but also very eccentric, which makes minor variations in their songs – which is what listeners hear on the majority of the studio demos here – sound oddly diminished in comparison. It's not just that the band picked the right version for release; from the evidence here, they entered the studio with virtually every song laid out and arranged very close to its finished version, leaving little intriguing about their demos. An example is "Up the Beach," unchanged in form, just lacking the punch and clarity that a first-rate production gave it to make it the powerhouse it is on Nothing's Shocking. Vocally, Perry Farrell's attempts at summoning the spirit of the frontman worked much better in the studio and on-stage after he grasped the most effective way to deliver each song. And though they were a powerful live force, the live tracks here (which comprise all of the third disc) make it clear that the band's appeal was visual as well as aural. As could be expected, the songs that never got an airing on their studio albums are the most interesting. Although it's clear why "Suffer Some" languished in the vaults, it's a more intriguing listen (and says more about the band) than any of the demos of released songs. The DVD is unsurprisingly the most interesting disc, including Soul Kiss (featuring the full version of the video for "Mountain Song," which MTV had banned), six of their video clips, and three tracks recorded live in 1990 for MTV Italy.

Review by John Bush, Allmusic.com