Customer Reviews

Perverse

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Don't buy this CD expecting to hear "Doubt, Part 2". And if you're looking to experience Jesus Jones for the first time, go buy "Doubt" instead, as it holds a wider appeal than this album will. But if you like a harder edge to your electronica, "Perverse" will be the better starting point.

As others have mentioned, this is not the NIN Lite sound that Jesus Jones brought to bear on the "Doubt" album. The music is loud, abrasive, and when you listen closely and analyze it, it's entertaining and clever. This album's packaging was perfect in so many ways, in that the title and the cover image truly represented the hard sound contained within. Missing are the catchy tunes that made "Doubt" so infectious, but "Perverse" works on its own in several ways. It's a good album to pull out when you're in a cynical mood, the hard-hitting music will feed into your angst. "Magazine" is probably my favorite song on the album, but there are other very strong tracks that help fill this album out and make it an overall enjoyable collection. And if you can figure out "Yellow Brown", then send me a note and clue me in!

There are a few albums I've pulled out from my late 80's and early 90's collection, and like many others, this was one I was fully prepared to listen to again and realize that time had not been kind to it. However, I found myself falling for it all over again, and it took a few months for the effects to wear off. It's a solid effort. And as long as you don't expect it to be in the same vein as "Doubt" (as so many have, as evidenced by the 170+ copies for sale used here, or perhaps they made the same mistaken assumption I did after years of gathering dust), then you won't be disappointed.

When Jesus Jones first hit the airwaves in 1991 with Right Here, Right Now I thought they had an interesting sone with a cool hook. I bought the album and thought it was ok at best. When Perverse came out in 93 I bought it to see if they had anything else worth listening to. I was floored!! In a time when electronica was just starting to do something interesting Jesus Jones blew everything away with Perverse. This album was at least 5 years ahead of it's time. In my opinion it could be released today and still kick ass. Too bad most of the listening public didn't give them a chance after Doubt. Everyone missed out.

This album includes at least one track (if not more) that stands above Right Here, Right Now, Jesus' best known (if not only) song. There's enough hooks to satisfy Right Here fans, and tracks like Get a Good Thing, The Right Decision, and Don't Believe It, easily prove Jesus Jones was more than (or at least should've been) a one hit wonder. Mike Edwards' vocals (especially on 'Get'), the songwriting, and the production is easily Jesus Jones' best work to date.

This is, by far, Jesus Jones' best CD. It's more techno oriented than their other releases, and really rocks too. I like Doubt, but if all their CDs were retreads of that then they'd be called the Fixx. And like the Fixx their songs would be instantly recognizable and just as quickly forgettable.

The reviewer here who believes that Jesus Jones peaked with Doubt is also probably of the opinion that Pearl Jam should stop ripping off Creed's style. This is the best JJ album. They manage to pull off what so many have tried and failed at, melding genres from techno to metal, and in doing so, sound like they've invented a new form of rock and roll. Buy this - it kicks arse.

"I don't need someone like you/expecting me to share your view."

This CD is ground breaking, and so far ahead of it's time. Mike Edwards is the uncrowned musical genius of the 90's, and this CD is his crowning achievement. Doubt pales in comparison, and the fact that this band is mostly known for their hit "Right Here Right Now" is truly a shame. Huge melodies, brilliant song writing, fantastic programming, the album is a "must have" for any real fan.

I bought this CD when it first came out back in 1992 and I loved it almost instantly. That CD got lost at some point over the years and I kind of forgot about it; but after buying another copy and listening to it again, nearly 2 decades later, it still feels as fresh and energetic as it did back then. In fact, listening to some of the lyrics today, in 2011, you have to wonder if these guys were looking into a crystal ball when they were recording this album. Especially songs like "Zeroes and Ones" and "Magazine" which feel even more relevant today in the internet age, than they did back in the early-1990s. It's probably the very fact that this CD was so ahead of it's time that it never really achieved any critical or popular success back in '92. It's been totally overlooked and almost completely lost over the years (the songs aren't even available as MP3 downloads here on Amazon or on iTunes); but it deserves so much more than to be lost to the annals of music history. Pick it up today, you won't be disappointed!

It's unfortunate that there isn't a solid, radio-friendly single on "Perverse" from Jesus Jones. This is an excellent example of early 1990's techno-pop. Every beat on every track of Perverse is tighter, more creative, and just more fun to listen to than their much more famous album, Doubt.

Once in a while a band will take no notice of managers, record companies or sales figures and produce something absolutely breathtaking which the market just isn't ready for. Perverse is a quintessential example. The overall quality of the album make favourite tracks ultimately down to the listener, but find somewhere where you can give your system some serious revs without fear of complaints and stick "Your Crusade" on repeat.Who needs drugs?

I'm not a huge JJ fan - Doubt is a but fluffy for me, but this is a pretty awesome record. Maybe it's just me, but I think The Devil You Know is one of the standout 3.5 minutes of electronica in the 90s: every now and then a band got it just right (Enjoy the Silence, Depeche Mode; Crystal, New Order; My Heart Will Go On, Celine ... only kidding)... There's five or six other very good songs, and if there is a small problem here it may just be the lyrics ('yellow brown', indeed - although 'Right Decision' is kinda funny). If only they'd put an emblem on the cover and called it something sleek, this would have been massive. Unfortunately, Violator got there first.

In short, very very good + strongly recommended.