Trust No One

This isn't due out until July, so it may change wildly before then. The Jane's Addiction/RHCP/Porno for Pyros guitarist has done some fine fine work here.

Solo albums by guitarists are often truly bad and lend themselves to self-gratifying pyrotechnics supported by rather weak songs. This is not the case here. Dave presents a set of solid songs with some great lyrics, and shows himself to be an accomplished (if somewhat twisted) songwriter. This sound like, say, Richard Thompson meets Wes Borland. Of course it rocks, it's good hard-edged alt-rock of the first caliber.

Starts off with the track Rexall (possibly a reference to the drug store), which is fairly mellow throughout the verses and then kicks it up a notch for the chorus. It deals with the falling apart of a relationship. I can't wait to see the liner notes, because he's got a great band on this, as well. Hungry uses a nice atonal guitar sequence in the backing that just gives it that perfect edge. The song is about confusion and being lost and is a little disturbing. Sunny Day is a great track about being fed up with people. Next up is Mourning Son, which is understandably a more morose piece, is about Dave himself. I will be truly amazed if Everything doesn't end up in heavy rotation, it's an awesome track. Not for Nothing has a Marilyn Manson-y intro that leads into a heavy dark track about losing someone. Another song about a relationship going sour (is this an epidemic?) - Avoiding the Angel. Dave has issues with self image. Very Little Daylight combines that pyschological damage with, wait for it... a failed relationship. I think the weakest, lyrically, is Venus in Furs, a droning ode. For the title alone, you have to like Slow Motion Sickness. A mellow song about.... a failed relationship.

This is one of the essential albums of the year. Trust me. When it comes out, go get it. It is well worth it.