Three mates bought together by the common good of teenage hood and the need to make music. Hillel, Flea, Jack and Anthony became a band, 'a band with a plan-the Organic Anti Beat Box Band, Uplift Mofo Party Band'. They were to name the 1st band, 'Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem'. The Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s seventh album, Californication, is highlighted by the band's reunion with guitarist John Frusciante, who played on Mother's Milk and the brilliant album Blood Sugar Sex Magik.
The whole album is full of Under The Bridge type songs, fuzzy Hendrix guitar and depressing, dark lyrics. The general theme of it is that no matter how much the media glorifies Hollywood and California, people will still become soulfully lost there. A very desert, airy vibe flows through the music nicely. It combines the best elements of the Peppers wide range of funky sound, from healthy doses of power-funk on "Around The World" and the dirty "Get On Top," to more straightforward rock (the first single
"Scar Tissue"), revealing the band's increased strength as songwriters.
The first track Around The World opens up with one hell of a funky bass riff before mellowing out, just a bit, before going into heavier music again. Maybe I'm just misunderstanding the lyrics, but I think Mr Keidis is making some weird vocal noises in one part of the chorus.
Parallel Universe is another upbeat heavy/funk tune. This song appears to be about the different world of being high.
Is there a person alive who hasn't heard the first single off this album, Scar Tissue? This has to be one of the softest songs RHCP have ever released. It’s back to the feel of Under The Bridge. It was a surprising first single for the album.
Other side is another mellow song, but a little more upbeat. This song deals with Anthony Keidis' depression. 'Slitting my throat is all I...' The vocals seem much better than most RHCP songs, but I guess that is a matter of opinion.
Get On Top brings up the pace majorly here. This song is fast, funky and all you could ever ask for in a Red Hot Chilli Peppers song.
The title track of the album Californication is another slow acoustic track. 'Its understood that Hollywood sells Californication'. I believe that indicates that this is another track about the big marketing of Hollywood.
Easily is another rockin song. The lyrics in this track deal with the temptations of life. 'Easily, lets get carted away'.
I don’t even want to think about what Porcelain is about. This is the softest song I have ever heard f from RHCP. Very mellow and clocking in at 2:44.
Emmit Remmus slightly faster. It contains an interesting little bass line, and the guitars in the chorus actually sound quite heavy if you listen to them carefully. I think this is the 3rd song I have counted that contains the word "California" or something to that effect.
I Like Dirt, Anthony exclaims in the title of the next song. This is another funk filled upbeat rocking tune. It features Anthony Keidis' quickly spoken vocals. This Velvet Glove features a mystic intro with quiet but effective acoustic guitar in the background and a notably cool guitar riff over the top. When the chorus hits, so does the power, like a brick wall, before being dropped back down to the still pacer, but softer verse.
The next track didn't sound too familiar. Saviour sounds like something I have never heard from RHCP, until the vocals kick in that is. I'm not sure what it is, but something sounds very different about this song. I give up, you work it out.
Purple Stain begins with 6 cool sounding guitar notes, to be repeated throughout the song, accompanied by (you guessed it) a funky bass line. What the purple stain is I'll leave up to you to decide.
Right On Time is the shortest song featured on the album, clocking in at just 1:53. Its fast, catchy and rocking'. I did not catch one word throughout the whole song, so I can't comment on the lyrics, sorry.
The last track on the album, Road Tripping, features an incredibly intertwining acoustic guitar intro. I think for this album Anthony Keidis had been practicing his vocals and had them perfected just for the recording. This is a nice soft tune to end the album.
Front man Anthony Kiedis's voice sounds much more confident and melodic -- his poetic crooning on "Other side" and the dreamy acoustic "Road Trippin'" are really addictive. Having matured far beyond their drug-soaked sock-on-cock days, the band's surreal, dream-like verses on the title track and the great "Easily" reveal how peculiar and completely original the band's song writing style has become. Californication doesn't necessarily mark a redefinition of the band's sound, but it is defiantly worth listening to for any log-term peppers fans!
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I just had a look in the inlay booklet - strange vocal noises it is. Believe it or not I only first heard Scar Tissue a few weeks ago, although I've made up for it in the amount of times I listened to it since. Sharron xxx
rob_potter 30.11.2001 21:45
good detailed review, i like!
shanecahill 29.11.2001 19:56
Great album, although I prefer Blood Sugar Sex Magik. I saw thes guys live during the summer (-: They were outstanding. they had a great mix of old and new. It was at Slane in Ireland. They were supporting U2 along with Coldplay JJ72 Relish and Kelis. But I'm waffling, great review.
Shane
Following a string of unsatisfactory replacements (including former Jane's Addiction alum ... more
Dave Navarro),Californication--the band's seventh album--saw them reunited with both errant guitarist John Frusciante (hauled out of a long and debilitating heroi...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Following a string of unsatisfactory replacements (including former Jane's Addiction alum ... more
Dave Navarro), Californication--the band's seventh album--saw them reunited with both errant guitarist John Frusciante (hauled out of a long and debilitating hero...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Following a string of unsatisfactory replacements (including former Jane's Addiction alum ... more
Dave Navarro), this album--the band's seventh--saw them reunited with both errant guitarist John Frusciante (hauled out of a long and debilitating heroin addictio...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Contains some stunnning songs, great guitar riffs, thumping bass and drums combine excellently with great vocals and lyrics. Disadvantages: There are a couple of weak songs which mean only four stars not five
Nov 29th, 2001
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