Rev

'Best of' compilations which throw in a few new tracks to tempt the fans are commonplace, but it seems an unlikely project for an artist of Perry Farrell's ilk to get involved in, particularly as the album in question incorporates the finer moments from two separate incarnations, Jane's Addiction and Porno For Pyros.

Cynicism aside, there is obviously a lot of great music here. A selection of the best from both of these widely under-rated outfits flows seamlessly together. With no vast departures in style between the two, the compilation shows a steady development in sound, bound by Farrell's voice with its pleasantly irritating, fingernails scraping the blackboard edge.

'Jane Says' from 1988's Jane's Addiction album Nothing Shocking is a heartbreaking elegy to the girl who inspired the bands name, painting an incredibly tragic portrait of an addict, helplessly trapped; "She takes a swing and she can't hit/ She don't mean no harm, she just dont know what else to do about it."

'Been Caught Stealing' from Ritual de lo Habitual is here, of course, albeit an unfortunately polished 12 inch remix which lacks the punch of the classic version. 'Pets' represents the pinnacle of Porno For Pyros repetoire, while songs from the Good God's Urge album underline the intense romanticism of Farrell's work; there's a tender fascination to '100 Ways' and 'Kimberly Austin' (which echoes 'Jane Says' as a paean to the twisted object of his affections).

The new material consists of two tracks; the fast and frantic 'Rev' and a drum 'n' bass treatment of Led Zepellin's 'Whole Lotta Love' - nothing to get excited about, but presentable enough.

The album also contains a number of oddities that might appeal to the completists, including the unremarkable noise-out of 'Hard Charger', taken from the soundtrack to the Howard Stern movie Private Parts, as well as the far more palatable Grateful Dead cover 'Ripple' and an almost lounge version of Lou Reeds' 'Satellite of Love', which has a definite curiosity value.