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The Chili Peppers light up the studio again on Californication. One of the few CD's I learn something new every time I listen.
A companion album to '91's "BloodSugarSexMagik", effectively wiping out their mid-90's album "One Hot Minute", which tanked commercially and critically. Certainly John Frusciante's return is a major factor in this album's success, as is Rick Rubin's consistent production. My one reservation is that the record is front-loaded: all the singles and strongest tracks appear at the beginning of the disc. Still, a solid alterna-rock album and one of their best so far, although not quite the classic that "BloodSugar" was.
The band sound equally comfortable on everything from the most frantic rap/metal to the tenderest ballads. Most people credit the return of John Frusciante for the turnaround, and it's true he makes a big difference. There are literally no weak songs or awkward moments to be heard here. Frusciante displays a surpising range of influences, varying his playing from metallic shredding to tender, melodic solo work. 'Scar Tissue' was a deserved hit, and the other two songs are hidden gems of the album.4) While the band have basically airbrushed 'One Hot Minute' out of their history, hints of that album's sound are evident in the straightforward hard rock of 'Parallel Universe' and the vaguely prog-rock 'Saviour', with its shifting moods and tempos. Anthony Kiedis' singing is much stronger, and there are some surprisingly strong backup vocals and harmonies on many tracks. Reflecting the band's increased maturity, these songs are much more melodic than similar tracks from 'Blood, Sugar.'.2) Mellow ballads ('Otherside', 'Porcelain', 'Road Trippin', 'Californication'): these are all strong songs, and work much better than 'My Friends', for example.
Also, Kiedis' lyrics are a bit more thoughtful and emotional than before. However, the remainder of the band have improved their approach as well. And the band in general have re-thought their whole approach, clearly realising that the rather ham-fisted experimentation of 'One Hot Minute' was a dead end. The album also looks forward to the more sophisticated direction of 'By The Way'.
After the lacklustre 'One Hot Minute', the Chili Peppers got their mojo back in the best possible way with 'Californication'; their best and most consistent album. Again, there are different feels to each of these; compare the intensity of 'Otherside' versus the very restrained 'Procelain'. 3) The mid-tempo songs with a more pop/rock influence ('Scar Tissue', 'Easily', 'This Velvet Glove'): really strong hooks and melodies in these songs. And everything works. Basically there are four different styles on the album:1) The old-school rap/funk/rock Peppers sound ('Around The World', 'Get On Top', 'Emit Remmus', 'I Like Dirt', 'Purple Stain', and 'Ride On Time'): A clear return to their early sound, but these songs are all given slightly different moods and feels. With 'Californication', the Chili Peppers reminded everyone why they were one of the best rock bands of the 90's. His diversity comes as a welcome change from the rather stiff Dave Navarro, whose style just wasn't suited to the band. If you wanted to be really picky, you could argue that 'Porcelain' is a bit under-developed, and 'Ride On Time' something of a throwaway, but that's all.
On the surface, they seem to return to the sound of 'Blood, Sugar.', but there is a clear development and maturity on display here, and some subtle twists and turns that work surprisingly well. The frenetic 'Ride On Time' is different from the rock-oriented 'Emit Remmus', which is different again from the sexy/funky 'Purple Stain'. It's pretty much the perfect album, and it fits together well considering the diversity of the individual tracks. This is simply one of the best albums of the decade, and is an essential purchase.
Everything that's worth listening to again and again is on their greatest hits, 4 or 5 great tracks on this album but others aren't worth listening to again.
Songs like Easily, Get on Top, This Velvet Glove, Parallel Universe, Right on Time, and Purple Stain, were not singles off of this album, but only God knows why. Then again, so are Freaky Styley (RUN OUT and buy it if you don't already own it, the most forgotten and therefore underrated Chili Peppers album), Mother's Milk, Blood Sugar (although the most frequently over-hyped, over-rated RHCP), and I have to say, the blistering 28-track Stadium Arcadium.
It quickly became my favorite album of that time. I immediatly went out to discover the rest of their back catalogue.
1999's Californication was the first Chili Peppers album I ever owned. It's certainly a classic.
Is it their best. I don't know.
Sentimentally, Californication would have to be my favorite, though. They are hard-rock treasures, and if all you've heard from this album is the singles (ie:scar tissue), you are committing a musical felony against yourself.
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