The video for this song used to show on Kerrang! all the time back in the day. I’d be flicking through my usual circuit of music channels (MTV2 to Kerrang to The Amp (anyone remember The Amp?) to Scuzz and then back to MTV2 – this was how it was before YouTube) and there it was. It came to a time when I convinced myself to watch the whole thing from front to back just to see why it was always in circulation.

Turned out to be worth the few minutes. ‘Just Because’ was Jane’s Addiction’s big comeback single (I didn’t know that at the time, and I’m sure few years had passed since its release when I first watched it anyway) in 2003 for their big comeback album Strays, their first LP after a initial 12-year breakup. The track is drastically different to anything the band made in the 90s. Whether fans were receptive of the change or not I’m not sure. They were capable of making some far out stuff in those times. So when the first song after a twelve year wait was this really streamlined arena-rock U2-ish rocker I have a feeling that some people were divisive on the single.

I’m all for it. I’ve never followed Jane’s Addiction that closely so my opinion might not matter too much. But that guitar riff by Dave Navarro gets the anticipation rolling every time. His playing really drives the song forward, especially with those small guitar solos in each instrumental break. Always appreciated that high note he reaches to close it all out too. Perry Farrell laps it up on the vocals and additionally so in the music video. Is it right to say that the chorus on here is a monster too?

Maybe I should listen to more Jane’s Addiction. I did listen to Ritual de lo Habitual one time. Might need to listen to it again. Otherwise all I know is this song and ‘Been Caught Stealing’. Basic, am I right?