The Panic Channel - ON(e) (Parlophone)
1/5
By: Keri Kennedy
Supergroups. Who needs 'em? That dreaded curse of a few members of some fairly decent bands getting together to make something which, in theory, should be amazing. However, in most cases the result is drivel that would never see a release, let alone a record deal, were it not for the contacts the already established musicians held in their little black books.
So welcome The Panic Channel, featuring three former members of Jane's Addiction and new 'talent', Steve Isaacs, who's best known for the lead role in Pete Townsend's stage production of Tommy. Guitarist Dave Navarro will too be remembered as a former Chili Pepper, and is the inspiration for the painfully awful Bloody Mary - said to be about Navarro's drug addiction (Mary being his dealer). Full of cheesy lyrics and Nickelback-like vocal straining, it's typical radio friendly AOR, and it's sad to say this makes up 99% of 'ON(e)', despite the fact that there's really no need for any more of this kind of music in the world.
Elsewhere, The Panic Channel sound like a bad Foo Fighters cover band, 'Teahouse of the Spirits' being the perfect example - David Grohl should start suing for melodic plagiarism. 'Said You'd Be' is as close to Jane's Addiction as the LP gets, vocalist Isaacs trying hard to emulate Perry Farrell, but never quite pulling it off. Tough task.
The Panic Channel are a fine specimen of a bad supergroup, cheesy, noodling and self-indulgent. Even though they're talented musicians elsewhere, nothing can excuse the fact that 'ON(e)' is a collection of terrible songs that would be better left for those back of the tour bus jam sessions.
Artists in this article: The Panic Channel
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