Review of Californication
By Aaron Wilkens
Attempting to relax in a rancid smelling apartment room inhabited by four
male twenty-somethings is as possible as is finding comfort away from your
foxhole during a full-combat war. Outside your window the snow continues to
fall, covering the countryside. A sense of claustrophobia sets in, breathing
becomes difficult and the walls begin to close in amongst you. You feel trapped,
like a criminal who mistakenly broke into a prison and forgot the way in which
he entered. Just when you think there is no relief from this uncomfortable
predicament, you spot a walkman lying beneath a heap of week old pizza boxes.
You retrieve the walkman and press play. In luck, the smooth, flowing sounds of
the Red Hot Chili Peppers 1999 release Californication gracefully flow
from the headphones. Closing your eyes, you are immediately able to picture
yourself basking in the sun on a picturesque California beach, without any
disturbances…
I remember the day I picked up this album like it was yesterday. It had been
four years since the Chili Peppers last release and I had literally thought that
they had fallen off the face of the earth. I was driving in my Gremlin, when all
of the sudden the radio disc jockey announced that the Chili Peppers new release
was out in stores. Immediately I went as fast as I could, which is about 45
M.P.H. in a Gremlin, and headed to the local music store, where I stole, I mean,
purchased the album. That night at my casa I listened to the C.D. over and over
again.
Californication may be the Chili Peppers' best album to date. Many
thought that the bar had been set by their 1995 release, One Hot Minute, but I
believe Californication clears the bar like an Olympic high jump
champion. This enhancement in music may be due to the reacquisition of guitarist
John Frusciante. Frusciante is back after a battle with drug abuse, replacing
ex-Jane's Addiction axman Dave Navarro, giving the Chili Peppers a style of play
that is more of a relaxed, mood-type music, as opposed to the more up-tempo
rifts of Navarro.
While I have hardly any quarrels with this album, I did find at some points
the lyrics were simply disconnected commentary. It seems that at some points in
the C.D. Anthony Kiedis just throws together lines that he feels sound good
together, even though there is no rhyme or reason as to why the lyrics are
linked. For a good example, check out track ten, "I like Dirt." I
can't even begin to explain the ludicrousness of this track.
The entire Californication album is listen-able; there is no let down
from one song to the next. If you are a fan of any of their smash radio hits,
"Californication," "Otherside," etc., then you will love
this C.D. Virtually every track on this album is as tight as is the underwear
that Flea performs in onstage. If you are looking for a disk that you will never
have to be embarrassed to blare out your car window, then this is the one. The
Chili Peppers are the innovators of the rock/rap genera of music that is so
popular today. Many bands try to imitate, but it's just not happenin'.
Mood:
Chillin'
Hear it?:
Burn the CD
