Aaron, thank you for taking the time and effort to give these guys their due. FYI, my myopic view for last 25 years has been... three friends who got together, wrote/recorded some fantastic songs, dropped a masterpiece in our lap without any notoriety then called it a day. With that, I've needed someone to expand on my "simpleton" version of the band. Now here you come along, a fan of the band/album, interviews w/ Eric and Dave, et al, dropping all kinds of knowledge... you've made my millennium. Seriously, hats off to you!
Oh, and a big, oversized thumbs up to Eric and Dave for taking the time to giving us some special sauce into making this album. Now, who needs to be contacted to get this daggum album on the streaming services? I'm willing to make some collect calls if needed... Cheers
this. This record meant so much to Me and my inner circle. A group I play with covered Son. Here is the video we made for it if you care to check it out.
I can’t believe I stumbled upon this! My 16-year-old self was CONSUMED with this CD..I thought no one else would remember it! I’m telling my husband and kids about this now ❤️
So glad you found this book, then. Your 16-yr-old self will be happy, and I hope your family enjoys it, too. My daughter was like, "I'm glad you like this, but it's not for me." She's 6, lol.
That’s so cute! My daughter is 19 and she’s really into Failure and lots of ‘90’s grunge, and ‘80’s synth and new wave, which makes me so proud and hopeful for the generation lol
I still have TWO copies of the CD. One purchased in ‘95 or so. I don’t recall how I heard of the band but it was in writing, meaning I bought the CD having not heard anything from it. The second was purchased as a backup about a year later. CD burners were still $1,000 or more and mp3s were either not invented yet or nobody knew about them. So when I saw the album at Circuit City, I bought because I knew then that the album was different. It was important to me, even that soon, in a way that I still cannot fully quantify. I have a lot to say about this album, but I also have a lot to read here to LEARN about its creation and why in the hell they never played a show! There is a wishlist on the Record Store Day web site; go visit it and TELL THEM WE WANT DECONSTRUCTION ON VINYL!
I wasn’t even aware of the demos, and (therefore obviously, haha) the existence of ‘Jealous Song’. It never dawned on me to watch for them or perhaps I searched poorly. I suggested that the RSD folks look for demos or rehearsal recordings for the, presumably blank, 4th side.
I neglected to mention in the first comment that my backup copy is still in shrink wrap.
Twice this week I was up until 1am reading this fascinating history. I am genuinely twisted with the bittersweet anticipation of “WHY?!? Why did they never play live?” I want to know, especially given the, perhaps, rekindled friendship of the last many years. And I haven’t gotten far to know if the friendship even needed rekindling; maybe that wasn’t the issue. The revelation that (avoiding spoilers, just in case) one of my favorite musicians tried to convince them to play live plus “other details” was crushing.
There is no way to sufficiently thank you for this book. I’m about 1/3 of the way through and it has been excellent. The open recollection and reflection of Eric and Dave has been incredible. I paused reading last night just before the producer’s first video. So just now entering the 3rd-party stuff.
Thanks again, Aaron. This is something I never even thought to wish for because it was so wildly unlikely to happen.
You're very welcome. I'm glad you found it. I always wanted to read this, so I had to write it for me, for you. It's gratifying to see other listeners around the world enjoying the story. Eric and Dave were great for sharing their time.
There are a handful on YouTube. I just searched for “Deconstruction demos” and found “One” and “America”. There’s the official video for “LA Song” and other things lying around. Haha.
Coincidentally, I bought tickets THIS MORNING for the closest to a Deconstruction show I’ll ever get. ;) Eric Avery is touring with JA again and it’ll be only the 3rd time I’ve seen them but the *first* time with Eric. (I was such an idiot in the early ‘90s that I never saw them then…)
WOW. One chapter in and this is just fantastic. I've loved this record since it came out. Much Music in Canada played a brief snippet of LA Song in the Summer of 1994 (being a kid of the 80s, I captured it on VHS...you always had a tape ready in the player) and Dave's heavy Bo Diddley style riff has been lodged in my head ever since. My love for the record only deepened over the years. It's that rare piece of art that seems to get more mysterious the more time you spend with it.
Big props to you, Aaron. This is so beautifully written and researched and your love for the music shines through. It's not just the story of a record but a portrait of that specific moment in time before the digital revolution and the way we consumed everything changed so profoundly and also the story of a beautiful friendship: two remarkable musicians who seem as committed to personal evolution as they did to the act of creating music. The information on the record was obviously so scant...until now...so what a blessing it is to have this. Going to savour it!
Oh and as others have said, we need a vinyl reissue asap!
Found your substack after reading the Spin article. I’d never heard of Deconstruction. I never followed any post-Jane’s projects. But wow this record is really good. Love the vibe. And it rocks hard. It’s not social music. It’s solo music when driving or working on projects. What happened to Mike Murphy the drummer?
This is one of my favourite albums of all time, and I was there back in the Nothing’s Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual tours. I’ve been petitioning to get someone to release this on vinyl. Hopefully Music on Vinyl who do weird things like that. I could use the help though if Dave, Eric, or Aaron ever read this. Please, please get this album out to the people.
glad you found this story, then. let me just say that i talked with the members and an awesome enthusiastic label about getting it pressed to vinyl, but it didn't happen. it's a mystery why, there was a lot of interest, the label wanted it, but there is some mysterious final piece of the puzzle that just couldn't lock in, and i won't understand why. that's likely how it will always be.
Thanks for this! Subscribed.... Had this back when released... then it disappeared on the early 00's :/ But happily tracked it down again 2nd hand a couple o' years ago. Tried to hunt down some info on it, but as you say there wasn't much. Sat down and listened to it tonight, and thought i'd tried googling for info again - and voila!
Awesome, I'm glad you found this story, Simon. You're the listener I wrote it for, and myself. So much love for the music and so many questions. I hope you enjoy it and it deepens your appreciation of the art they made.
Many years ago, when I was 17 or 18, I found that one Deconstruction album in a used record store in Tel-Aviv. They sold it to me for 18 shekels (~6 bucks), because the booklet was missing. I always loved Jane’s Addiction and their musical sense of humor, but Deconstruction was something else. There aren’t many albums that got to me the same way this one did (maybe Car Seat Headrest came close). And it was always frustrating to try and find any info about it online. It’s like it barely existed. And no one I know in real life heard of it. So glad to have found this substack, this is awesome. This brilliant music is finally getting the attention it deserves.
I’m one of the lucky ones to have a pristine CD copy of this record. The guitar playing from Dave Navarro is both ferocious (L.A. Song, Get at ‘em, Dirge, Kilo), and delicate and affecting (Iris, Son). Eric Avery’s vocals suit the music just fine, and his base playing as always is the secret ingredient that makes the sauce what it is. His base playing was such an important part of Jane’s Addiction. So much of their best material revolves around an Avery bass riff, much the same as Jay Wobble was crucial to the early PIL sound. This is still one of my favorite records, and always goes with me whether it’s on my phone, iPod, or iPad. The cd sits well preserved on a shelf and will remain one of my prized collectibles among many. It would be amazing if they did a live show of this album here in L.A.
Aaron, thank you for taking the time and effort to give these guys their due. FYI, my myopic view for last 25 years has been... three friends who got together, wrote/recorded some fantastic songs, dropped a masterpiece in our lap without any notoriety then called it a day. With that, I've needed someone to expand on my "simpleton" version of the band. Now here you come along, a fan of the band/album, interviews w/ Eric and Dave, et al, dropping all kinds of knowledge... you've made my millennium. Seriously, hats off to you!
Oh, and a big, oversized thumbs up to Eric and Dave for taking the time to giving us some special sauce into making this album. Now, who needs to be contacted to get this daggum album on the streaming services? I'm willing to make some collect calls if needed... Cheers
Glad this adds new info to it all! It def did me. Wish any calls would get it on streaming services. Tried!
Thank you so much for compiling all of
this. This record meant so much to Me and my inner circle. A group I play with covered Son. Here is the video we made for it if you care to check it out.
https://youtu.be/Y5qh8nXETtM
I can’t believe I stumbled upon this! My 16-year-old self was CONSUMED with this CD..I thought no one else would remember it! I’m telling my husband and kids about this now ❤️
So glad you found this book, then. Your 16-yr-old self will be happy, and I hope your family enjoys it, too. My daughter was like, "I'm glad you like this, but it's not for me." She's 6, lol.
That’s so cute! My daughter is 19 and she’s really into Failure and lots of ‘90’s grunge, and ‘80’s synth and new wave, which makes me so proud and hopeful for the generation lol
nice, very hopeful. you might dig this other music series i have, called alive in the 90s https://aarongilbreath.substack.com/archive
I still have TWO copies of the CD. One purchased in ‘95 or so. I don’t recall how I heard of the band but it was in writing, meaning I bought the CD having not heard anything from it. The second was purchased as a backup about a year later. CD burners were still $1,000 or more and mp3s were either not invented yet or nobody knew about them. So when I saw the album at Circuit City, I bought because I knew then that the album was different. It was important to me, even that soon, in a way that I still cannot fully quantify. I have a lot to say about this album, but I also have a lot to read here to LEARN about its creation and why in the hell they never played a show! There is a wishlist on the Record Store Day web site; go visit it and TELL THEM WE WANT DECONSTRUCTION ON VINYL!
vinyl! if only they'd do it. i tried
I wasn’t even aware of the demos, and (therefore obviously, haha) the existence of ‘Jealous Song’. It never dawned on me to watch for them or perhaps I searched poorly. I suggested that the RSD folks look for demos or rehearsal recordings for the, presumably blank, 4th side.
I neglected to mention in the first comment that my backup copy is still in shrink wrap.
Twice this week I was up until 1am reading this fascinating history. I am genuinely twisted with the bittersweet anticipation of “WHY?!? Why did they never play live?” I want to know, especially given the, perhaps, rekindled friendship of the last many years. And I haven’t gotten far to know if the friendship even needed rekindling; maybe that wasn’t the issue. The revelation that (avoiding spoilers, just in case) one of my favorite musicians tried to convince them to play live plus “other details” was crushing.
There is no way to sufficiently thank you for this book. I’m about 1/3 of the way through and it has been excellent. The open recollection and reflection of Eric and Dave has been incredible. I paused reading last night just before the producer’s first video. So just now entering the 3rd-party stuff.
Thanks again, Aaron. This is something I never even thought to wish for because it was so wildly unlikely to happen.
You're very welcome. I'm glad you found it. I always wanted to read this, so I had to write it for me, for you. It's gratifying to see other listeners around the world enjoying the story. Eric and Dave were great for sharing their time.
Where can I get the demos?
There are a handful on YouTube. I just searched for “Deconstruction demos” and found “One” and “America”. There’s the official video for “LA Song” and other things lying around. Haha.
Coincidentally, I bought tickets THIS MORNING for the closest to a Deconstruction show I’ll ever get. ;) Eric Avery is touring with JA again and it’ll be only the 3rd time I’ve seen them but the *first* time with Eric. (I was such an idiot in the early ‘90s that I never saw them then…)
WOW. One chapter in and this is just fantastic. I've loved this record since it came out. Much Music in Canada played a brief snippet of LA Song in the Summer of 1994 (being a kid of the 80s, I captured it on VHS...you always had a tape ready in the player) and Dave's heavy Bo Diddley style riff has been lodged in my head ever since. My love for the record only deepened over the years. It's that rare piece of art that seems to get more mysterious the more time you spend with it.
Big props to you, Aaron. This is so beautifully written and researched and your love for the music shines through. It's not just the story of a record but a portrait of that specific moment in time before the digital revolution and the way we consumed everything changed so profoundly and also the story of a beautiful friendship: two remarkable musicians who seem as committed to personal evolution as they did to the act of creating music. The information on the record was obviously so scant...until now...so what a blessing it is to have this. Going to savour it!
Oh and as others have said, we need a vinyl reissue asap!
Nick, that means a lot to hear. Such fantastic analysis and high praise! Thanks so much. And that vinyl is getting pressed aparently, first time.
Found your substack after reading the Spin article. I’d never heard of Deconstruction. I never followed any post-Jane’s projects. But wow this record is really good. Love the vibe. And it rocks hard. It’s not social music. It’s solo music when driving or working on projects. What happened to Mike Murphy the drummer?
So glad you found it, Tim! And I love how you put that about solo music -- so true. Murphy is around just not sure where. Couldn't get him to surface.
The middle section of "Big Sur" remains one of my all time favorite pieces of music ever.
Finding an article (or book) about this album is almost as exciting as discovering the album. Long LONG overdue. Thanks, Aaron!
I'm just glad you found my book about this album! Thanks for letting me know. Hope you dig it!
This is one of my favourite albums of all time, and I was there back in the Nothing’s Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual tours. I’ve been petitioning to get someone to release this on vinyl. Hopefully Music on Vinyl who do weird things like that. I could use the help though if Dave, Eric, or Aaron ever read this. Please, please get this album out to the people.
glad you found this story, then. let me just say that i talked with the members and an awesome enthusiastic label about getting it pressed to vinyl, but it didn't happen. it's a mystery why, there was a lot of interest, the label wanted it, but there is some mysterious final piece of the puzzle that just couldn't lock in, and i won't understand why. that's likely how it will always be.
Thank you so much for creating this!! Just found it and absolutely stoked.
Huge fan from the early days. I would love a vinyl pressing. What a shame!!
Ah dang!!! I will still leave hope, now that they are back together, for it to maybe see the light of day sometime.
Thanks.
Nick, tell me your email address so I can get you access to this book. Thanks
Thanks for this! Subscribed.... Had this back when released... then it disappeared on the early 00's :/ But happily tracked it down again 2nd hand a couple o' years ago. Tried to hunt down some info on it, but as you say there wasn't much. Sat down and listened to it tonight, and thought i'd tried googling for info again - and voila!
Awesome, I'm glad you found this story, Simon. You're the listener I wrote it for, and myself. So much love for the music and so many questions. I hope you enjoy it and it deepens your appreciation of the art they made.
This is awesome. Never knew about this album. Thanks for writing and sharing.
glad you like it!
So sad that Taylor Hawkins will never be able to play Deconstruction live with Eric Avery and Dave Navarro... He really was a man of good taste!
Amen, man. Hawkins was a beautiful soul.
Many years ago, when I was 17 or 18, I found that one Deconstruction album in a used record store in Tel-Aviv. They sold it to me for 18 shekels (~6 bucks), because the booklet was missing. I always loved Jane’s Addiction and their musical sense of humor, but Deconstruction was something else. There aren’t many albums that got to me the same way this one did (maybe Car Seat Headrest came close). And it was always frustrating to try and find any info about it online. It’s like it barely existed. And no one I know in real life heard of it. So glad to have found this substack, this is awesome. This brilliant music is finally getting the attention it deserves.
Wow, that's a great story, Hannah. I'm glad you found my Substack, too, and can get some deeper insight into this incredible music--finally! Cheers
I downloaded this album from a free app called mp3 juice
I’m one of the lucky ones to have a pristine CD copy of this record. The guitar playing from Dave Navarro is both ferocious (L.A. Song, Get at ‘em, Dirge, Kilo), and delicate and affecting (Iris, Son). Eric Avery’s vocals suit the music just fine, and his base playing as always is the secret ingredient that makes the sauce what it is. His base playing was such an important part of Jane’s Addiction. So much of their best material revolves around an Avery bass riff, much the same as Jay Wobble was crucial to the early PIL sound. This is still one of my favorite records, and always goes with me whether it’s on my phone, iPod, or iPad. The cd sits well preserved on a shelf and will remain one of my prized collectibles among many. It would be amazing if they did a live show of this album here in L.A.