Panic Channel :: One

Supergroups are a staple of rock music. They sometimes skip generations, but it's inevitable that a group of friends will get together to jam and record. The Panic Channel is such a group, featuring three former Jane's Addiction members guitarist Dave Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins, who went on to play with Jane's front man Perry Farrell in Porno for Pyros and bassist Chris Chaney, who recently toured with Alanis Morrisette and featuring a relative newcomer, vocalist Steve Isaacs, who has a great set of vocal pipes. One would think the Jane's influence would be all over this album, but that's hardly the case. In what sounds like a bid for commercial acceptance, Panic Channel produces very clean, very melodic but rather standard rock songs that make you shrug your shoulders rather than inspiring you to mosh. There are exactly three swingin' rock workouts s on this album - "Teahouse of the Spirits," "Left to Lose," and "Said You'd Be" - in which Navarro can unleash his heavy mindfunk riffage and Perkins can groove to the best of his polyrhythmic abilities. Supergroups sometimes fall under their own weight and it's possible that One was hatched pre-maturely. It shows tremendous potential, but as a debut it doesn't deliver the kick fans of Navarro and company will expect. Still, I hope Panic Channel continues to record between the myriad commitments of its members. The standout numbers on One show the group has a number of successes ahead of them. Panic Channel's debut is definitely a cut above a rather drab rock scene these days.