FDF Volume 3 Issue 214- Deconstruction - Self Titled

By: March

Album - Deconstruction
Artist - Deconstruction
Key Players - Michael Murphy - drums. Dave Navarro - guitars and vocals. Eric Avery - Bass, vocals.
Produced By - Ron Champagne, Deconstruction and Rick Rubin

Release Date - July 12, 1994

What caused me to blow off the dust? - Come on..do you need to ask. Has anyone really ever even heard of this band? I am pretty sure they only
got this record deal due to Navarro/Avery. This is what we do, we dust em off..so here goes.

Overview - Navarro and Avery formed the band from the dust of Jane's Addiction (FDF looked at "Nothings Shocking"). Original Jane's drummer Stephen Perkins was going to join the band, but went on to join Porno for Pyros (we looked at "Good God's Urge" here with Perry Farrell. The album was recorded and released to little fanfare. After the album was released Navarro would go on to join the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

FDF Comments (aka the songs) - The album opens with the long single released to radio called "L.A. Song". Navarro chimes guitar over a spoken intro. He is the lead vocalist on the track and the canned drums begin to click in. The vocals are compressed but Navarro is comfortable sounding, not pushing himself too hard. Avery and Murphy sit back, but then all of a sudden it gets rolling. Avery gets the funk out on the bass and the chops of Navarro are recognizable with the fuzzy riffs. The vocals remain semi distorted but the trio seems to be firing off one another on the opening track. "Single" also starts with spoken lyrics and a single guitar as Avery does some swooping bass fills. Murphy hits the china cymbal from time to time for the "sploosh" sound and the track slowly seems to plod along. There is no real bust out moments. After a few verses the band seems to hunker down a little more and get musically focused but it feels almost too late. On "Get At Em'" the band is more in that rock feel right from the start. The drums are heavy and Navarro once again slices over the top. Avery is wonderfully high in the mix with this cannon bass fills that at times have a much chime to them as a cymbal crash. The vocals are so muffled on the track the band should have considered leaving this as an instrumental though. Navarro has a great guitar solo on the back end of the track. First time on the record he gets to spread his wings and it is welcome. "Iris" is another real strong track musically. Navarro is able to layer his guitar work. One has high chorus effects the other more of the crunch, but Avery and Murphy fill out the intro wonderfully. The track is instrumental and it really is the perfect direction for this band. The vocals are back on "Dirge" as is the big guitar sound. After the prior song it feels less focused with the growly vocal and machine like tempo of the drum. We get the guitar solo later in the track that seems to bring it back for me personally, but at the same time it is just that "little too long" version of a solo. "Fire In The Hole" is really big sounding after a quiet intro. Once again, the band seems to negate what they are trying to do with the muffled vocals. If they'd sing, without compression it might have been better. The track has great tempo changes and dynamics, but the muffled vocal tricks are starting to wear thin. Musically, per the norm, it is very strong. "Son" is the first time we hear the acoustic guitar come out. It remains just acoustic and vocal track. Return to the quicker pace on "Big Sur" with Avery hitting the bass hard. Murphy has decent, heavy chops on the drums as Navarro puts in the quick and short guitar notes. "Hope" is a quirky, funk sounding track. As the track begins it is just the drums with a simple tempo and the guitar ringing out a few notes. "One" works to get itself moving as Navarro seems to find a place with one guitar part but Avery shoves a few bass fills that don't really move the song in to a set direction. The track feels more focused in a verse/chorus/verse setting and Navarro sounds in fine form on the guitar. There are times where he knows his limitations and on this track he holds back just that right amount. The guitar part is still really great, he just is in the zone on this. "America" starts off on a quieter note, each band member slowly finding their way before the vocals begin. This track goes up and down in musical style. Sometimes heavy, sometimes somber, but always "full" if that is a good word to use. Navarro gets to solo again while Avery and Murphy continue to remain on task holding the bottom hard and tight. "Sleepyhead" has that slow climb and yes..sleepy feel to it. The vocals continue to be the weakest aspect of the album, not that they guys can't sing, its just so effect filled it is hard to tell. This is a seemingly quick song that actually felt like it could have gone on longer. "Wait For History" has the band back on the mellower side of things and it slowly builds through the verse. Again, Avery gets much love from the mix as his bass is really prominent on the track. A good stand out track. "That is All" is a quick vocal and guitar track. Nothing too crazy. The album concludes with "Kilo", a track that swells with a big guitar sound and makes me extra happy as it remains "vocal free".

Where are they now? - This was a "one and done" affair for the band. Avery was reluctant to tour but played bass in the band Garbage, with Alanis Morissette and he even auditioned for the vacant spot in Metallica. He'd re-join Jane's Addiction for a reunion tour but would leave the band again. Murphy I haven't found much on. Navarro as noted went on to Red Hot Chili Peppers (we looked at Uplift Mofo Party Plan here) and then released a solo record. He is working with Jane's Addiction once more and the band as a new album slated for a 2011 release.

FDF Personal Comments (aka the Live experience) - The band never toured so there was no chance for me to see them.

FDF Overall Take - Musically there is a lot of really great stuff on here. The vocals are not the greatest but after a bit of re-listening decided that it was okay, if the band has a focused vocalist it may have taken from the output. Not terrible, but not worth paying off the chart prices for. You can probably find it in a cut out bin easy enough.


Curious? Check out some MUSIC!

Here is the video for "L.A. Song".

Iris
Kilo
Wait for History

The album is out of print but you can buy it
here for short money.

Disclaimer - For the most part songs listed you can find on iTunes or your local cd shop. The idea is to give you a little taste of the music. Please support the artist buy purchasing some of their work. Songs are posted for about 1 week but can and will be removed at the request of the artist, band, band management etc. If you are one of those persons contact me via the email link in the profile and they will be removed as soon as we are made aware of the request.