Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers > Reviews > No sign of cooling down

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	A great mix of genres and good value  -  fifteen tracks
Disadvantages:	Too much place names and stuff, plus often very similar songs

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Flea, Anthony, John and Chad have enjoyed a hugely successful last two years as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. With a sell-out world tour, the headlining act at V2001 in recent months, many established awards and their latest (and rumoured to be last) album, Californication, going platinum in 30 countries worldwide, the band can't have that much to complain about. And if that wasn't enough, in 1993 they had the honour of being turned into yellow-skinned cartoons as guests on 'The Simpsons'. There aren't many people who can say they've been on the Krusty the Klown Show.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers (RCHP) are one of those great bands that can't be filed into a specific rock genre; they aren't indie (too loud), they aren't heavy metal (too quiet), they aren't punk (too nice hairstyles) and - thank god - they aren't nu-metal (too much music that sounds good). No, RCHP are just a rock band, and a rock band they shall (hopefully) stay.

Californication is a fine example of the band's talent. However, one thing, one single thing that annoys me intensely about this CD is the lyrics. Although often very inspired and thought-provoking, most of them have something to do with places, and place names. Yep, nearly every track has a mention of a country, or a US State, or a continent… I'm not sure why, but it does get irritating. I advise you don’t let it get in the way of an excellent album.

The album gets off to an explosive start with Around the World. A lovely twangy guitar riff continuously plays to what seems to be a daring venture into hip-hop…we've got a loud, shouty kind of rapping in the verse, followed by a more flowing, and frankly easier on the ear, chorus of high singing. Track no. 1 is catchy, exciting, and after listening to it, you'll find the word 'more!' escaping your mouth. Lucky you, there's another fourteen tracks to come…like number 2. Parallel Universe is typical track for the album: lots of guitar, lots of strong vocals and lots of referring to US States. " I'm a California King!" is wailed in the chorus. Ignore all the geographical references and enjoy some very nice rock indeed.

Scar Tissue is something else. A pleasant ringing and sort of guitar riff begins it, the lead singer changes his voice slightly higher and softer, they don't overdo it on the place names (the lyrics are really lovely - "With the birds I'll share this lonely view") and the result is an absolutely beautiful song; the kind that would really touch you if it was featured on a film. Possibly the best on the album. Not as good is the following one. Next to the title track, Other side is likely to be the single that everyone will recognise. A fairly average track - there isn't anything too memorable or interesting - but still good listening.

The band's first attempt at punk rock on the album is a truly satisfying ordeal. Rather than having carefully thought out lyrics and complicated guitar riffs, Get on Top is no-nonsense, not taking life too seriously fun. With the tracks title being shouted behind the humorous lyrics - "the life of a/wife swapper…" - you can't help but love this.

The next track, Californication, is the single that rocketed its album to the huge success it has reached. The impressive video of the band members featuring in a computer game and the famous riff played throughout that novice guitarists everywhere tried to play (myself included) will remain in people's minds, but it is the song itself that is the most impressive. This is RCHP at their best; the lyrics are a kind of outcry against the glamour of Hollywood and the sparkled up world. There's a good contrast between quiet and loud, too. Very good indeed.

Loud, non-stop and highly enjoyable - that's how we like our RCHP songs, and no.7, Easily, is great. More protest against the wrongs of the world (on war: "remind me if you would exactly what we're fighting for?"), plenty of twangy guitar playing and all round good music. So in a complete reversal, the next track, Porcelain, is slow, relaxing, definitely NOT loud, and, as the song says, "drifting and floating and fading away". It's maybe a bit boring at times, and hardly in yer face rockin', but nice to chill to.

Emit Remmus, the next track, really takes the whole geographical thing a bit too far - to the point where it's actually quite annoying. "The California Animal is a bear", "London in the summer time", "We could walk through Leicester Square", it all gets out of hand slightly. It's an okay tune - when the song reaches its climax it's great - but spoilt by lyrics. Then follows another stab at the punk genre, and this is probably the best. I Like Dirt isn't really trying to get a message across (he can't really like dirt, can he?), it's just making good music. It's very good indeed. Thumbs up.

Both This Velvet Glove and Savior (damn those yanks and their spelling) are similar in structure. They're typical RCHP songs: plenty of guitar, plenty of drums, and then a bit more of both… Although both are fine tracks they do tend to go on a bit - particularly Savior (the longest track on the album) - and with tracks like Other side similarly, erm, the same, they're a bit tiresome really.

Purple Stain is a great track. A bit like Around the World in that it has a bit of rapping-style singing. Here, they get the right contrast in making decent music and good lyrics, which are often hilarious ("Up to my ass in the alligators/ Let's get it on with the alligator haters") and there's a great finish to it with a huge collision of loud guitars and seemingly everlasting drums. Good stuff.

Right on Time, the final punk attempt, is the shortest track on the album, which will probably be accounted for by the very fast, very loud shouting/singing. There's no messing about at the beginning - straight into it. Sometimes it feels a bit rushed but its, but its all basically good fun, and a nice finish with a cry of "Oh Lord!"

The final track and most recent single, Road Trippin', is unlike any other tacks on the album. If you heard it for the first time, there's a chance you wouldn't recognise it as an RCHP song - there's soft singing, acoustic guitar playing and even a strings ensemble in the background. That's not to say it ain't good (cos it is). It's great to chill to, and although maybe a rockier tune would have been nice to finish the album off, you are certainly left with a satisfied taste in your mouth and an undying love for the music of RCHP.

So, the album as a whole. Any good? I'll say. Californication is one of the best purchases I've made in ages. It's the perfect album for new RCHP fans, or even those who have escaped HearSay in the pop world and aren't familiar with modern rock. This is one of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's best albums yet, and fan or not, I seriously recommend you buy it.