Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
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Free Music Notes for Stadium Arcadium
Free Music Review: WARNING: Long, analytical review ahead..
Hit: 5 Stars
The truth about this album is that it's extremely deep. In fact, I'd say besides being this band's deepest album I'd say it's the deepest album I can think of right now off the top of my head. By deep, I mean there are 28 songs, mostly all of which are very strong tracks, and standout tracks in their own respective ways. I'll try to say something insightful about each track...
Note that I think theres a lot more going on on the second Disc (Mars). I would describe the first disc as good and the second as nearly mind-blowing, and extremely solid.
Dani California: The Mary Jane's Last Dance parallel is uncanny. When I first heard this song on the radio before the album dropped I remember turning to a friend in the car and saying this sounds a lot like Mary Jane's Last Dance. Not sure what the deal is here. I'd say that Frusciante probably heard the Tom Petty song shortly before coming up with the riff and that it was the work of the unconcsious, IF the lyrics and drum beat werent so similar too. Not sure what else to say about this one. Its a simple almost folky song with a simple drum beat that sets its tone. I like the section in the middle where anthony and John sing in unison in real high pitch.
Snow: This might be the catchiest song on the album and it definately was one of the first and easiest songs to grab me. Now it sounds to me like one of the poppiest songs on the album. Sounds to me like it could have easily fit into By The Way.
Charlie: Strong song, not one of my faves, but I could see this one growing on me over the course of years.
Stadium Arcadium: Very nice, one of the darker songs on the album, sung in a sad tone. One of the cooler guitar solos on the album. They use a cool, echoey, almost western-like effect for it. Everytime I hear it I picture a western saloon for some reason (think Desperado) To me theres nothing super cool about this strack other than that solo.
Hump De Bump: Fun song, don't listen to this one often, nothing i absolutely love about it right now.
She's Only 18: This one's the standout of the first disc for me. One of the best songs on the album. Arguably the best chorus on the album. So heavy, a little slow but urgent. This guitar solo works the best of any track because the segue into the last chorus is seemless and amazing. Amazing transition there, listen for it, it makes the whole song. Also love Keidis' playful bird-sounding "haha" in the middle of the solo.
Slow Cheetah: Acoustic ballad, not crazy about the chorus, kind of sounds cheesy to me. I wish they would have done soemthing more with it.
Torure Me: Fast drum beat, decent song, nothing really stands out for me to make me love it.
Strip My Mind: One of the slowest paced songs on the album. Nice chorus. The song works. What cool is this is a track where the whole band sings in unison for parts of it. Kinda cool, theres a couple like that i think. Cant imagine hearing this live though.
Especially In Michigan: I've heard people say that this album's lyrics are pointless and meaningless. I completely disagree with this and love the poetry thru the whole thing but this song is probably a testamate for those reviews. Other than making a reference to the Detroit Lions and Tigers (kinda cool), the lyrics dont mean much...but they work, and to me they are just random observations about the state where Kiedis and Chad Smith grew up. As far as the song goes, to me this is another stand out of the disc. I love the chorus here. Its very interesting, distorted and sounds like there might be 2 or 3 voices chanting the distortion, but it might also just be frusciante. Who knows. Very cool.
Warlocks: I dont care much for this one. Theres just not enough going on with it. One thing thats cool though is theres a verse in the middle that stands out because it sounds so different ("Make a deal with...") Its very cool and sounds to me like something off of Dark Side of the Moon.
C'Mon Girl: Arghhhh. This songs not bad at all, nice guitar riff and a cool baseline, BUT the chorus absolutely bludgeons this one for me. It just doesnt fit the song, and I'd say it even ruins it for me, making the song almost intolerable. Wish they would have done something with the Chorus.
Wet Sand: Heres a song that really evolves and has an energy that slowly builds throughout the whole song. This is an example of one of many very creative tracks on this album that shows lots of versatility by containing sections that sound somewhat different, or extrapalate on eachother. The Chorus is amazing. Theres a point about 2/3 the way through the song right when the second chorus kicks in that is the absolute climax of this song. Theres a swooshy, space-like sound effect and then the chorus kicks in, but unlike the first chorus, this one has another sound effect thats really cool and continues throughout the entire chorus, underlying everything and changing tone all along. Its very discreet and you have to listen for it. Not sure why I love this so much but, just adds energy I think. Probably something Rubin threw in to add character. Nice ending too.
Hey: Not much to say about this one. Kind of a lame chorus. Good placement of this song because its successor is one of the stars of the album...
Desecration Smile: Ohhhh yea, this song is a total emotional rollercoaster. Its a somber, its joyous, its reflective. All around just an extemely versatile and well composed piece. It starts out sounding like it's going to be a fluid ballad but about 20 seconds in it takes a drastic turn and the mood is set. Kiedis vocals here are like nothing we've heard from him before (sung in such high pitch) He sounds a lot like Neil Young from CSNY times. Keidis' volcals here are a major and crucial component of this song, but I'd say everything else is as important. Everyone comes to play here. Nice picking guitar work by fruciante.
Tell Me Baby: Another gem on the album. Totally cool track. Lots of personality, great representation of this band. Cool theme about the motives of 20-somethings that move out to LA searching for something they cant even put their finger on. Nice rapping section in the middle. Very versatile track, very nice chorus. Overall extremely solid and I hope this DOES NOT become a single because I would hate for this to be overplayed and I generally steer away from songs designated for radio play (maybe for no reason at all, but I do)
Hard to Concentrate: I think a lot of people really like this one, and personally I dont get it at all. Probably one of the 4 or 5 tracks I might dump if I were forced to cut the album down some. Nice poem, too schmoozy though.
21st Century: An absolute standout for me. Keidis' vocals dominate the whole song, and Fruciante brings the A-game. Very dancable song with lots of energy. Amazing chorus, amazing basework, Chad is solid on the drums, nice guitar solo closing it out.
She Looks to Me: Another stand out track for me. This just works, dont know why i like it, kind of reminds me of early 90's rock. Contains maybe my favorite verse on the album ("down in the south seas...") So different than the rest of the track. Cool lyrics here too. I mean really, how much better can the album get from here??? LOTS...
Readymade: Ohhhhhh man, I mean they keep bringing it track after track on this disc. One of a handful of total gems on the album. Hard rocking song from the start, a serious rocker, love the backround "ahhhhhh" vocals from the rest of the band behind Keidis' voice in the chorus.
If: sounds like a slower phish song to me. kind of a reflective song. Cool electric sound effect underlying the entire song. I'd consider this the breather of the second disc. Some might say its a refreshing brake from the insanity and strength of the songs preceding and before they close the album out with another bundle of solid brilliance, others might consider this a break in the momentum.
Make You Feel Better: Cool song about, well... I'll leave that one up to you. Love Keidis' periodic "oh yea" high-pitch scream here. If he didnt scream it I probably would.
Animal Bar: One of the most complex songs on the album. It does different things. It moves, it changes. Grew on me the most. Love the chorus ("rain on my...") and the "babadaba" in the background. Crazy twist at the end and fizzles out...
So Much I: how solid can this disc possibly be??? They are still bringing it with variance and full force here. Like about 20 other songs on the album, this one has its own unique charater and sound thats nothing like the others. Srong track.
Storm in a Teacup: One of the gems, love the verse building up to both choruses "little lady love youre gonna make some" brilliant structure of words and just well written. This is almost beastie-boys meets RHCP. You can hear the Rubin element here. Energetic all the way through, but certain parts ooze enery, particularly when it gets real quiet before the last chorus section and to me this sounds a lot like something off Check Your Head (an album i think rubin produced; not sure of this though) Its got an extraordinary quality to it, great song.
We Beleive: Not sure what he deal is with this one, its definately the message of the album though. I think its the band speaking directly to the album, almost a refleection from them. I could be dead wrong. Nice santana-ish guitar effect. Cool lyrics. "The risk is, it worth it, The disc is, it perfect?" I'll let you answer that one. Very cool distortion over Keidis' words to fade the track out.
Turn it Again: Huge rocker, very loud, led by somewhat distorted heavy electric guitar. This one is reminiscent of GunsnRoses for me, particularly toward the end. Very heavy, very distrorted, similar sound.
Death of a Martian: Def a gem of the album, perfect closer, like nothing theyve ever done before. Kind of trippy sound. The song kind of trickles downward the whole time. Some of the best lyrics on the album. Very cool ending poem with some of the coolest lyrics I've ever heard in song. Keidis ends the album on a somewhat screaming "AWAAAAAAAAY" love it. Great song to listen to while you reflect on what you just heard and its sad only because the album has come to an end. Oh well, time to Turn it Again...
In closing I'd say there is definitely enough here to keep someone busy for a while and this is a truly expansive album.
Thanks.
Free Music Review: WARNING: Long, analytical review ahead...
Hit: 5 Stars
The truth about this album is that it's extremely deep. In fact, I'd say besides being this band's deepest album I'd say it's the deepest album I can think of right now off the top of my head. By deep, I mean there are 28 songs, mostly all of which are very strong tracks, and standout tracks in their own respective ways. I'll try to say something insightful about each track...
Note that I think theres a lot more going on on the second Disc (Mars). I would describe the first disc as good and the second as nearly mind-blowing, and extremely solid.
Dani California: The Mary Jane's Last Dance parallel is uncanny. When I first heard this song on the radio before the album dropped I remember turning to a friend in the car and saying this sounds a lot like Mary Jane's Last Dance. Not sure what the deal is here. I'd say that Frusciante probably heard the Tom Petty song shortly before coming up with the riff and that it was the work of the unconcsious, IF the lyrics and drum beat werent so similar too. Not sure what else to say about this one. Its a simple almost folky song with a simple drum beat that sets its tone. I like the section in the middle where anthony and John sing in unison in real high pitch.
Snow: This might be the catchiest song on the album and it definately was one of the first and easiest songs to grab me. Now it sounds to me like one of the poppiest songs on the album. Sounds to me like it could have easily fit into By The Way.
Charlie: Strong song, not one of my faves, but I could see this one growing on me over the course of years.
Stadium Arcadium: Very nice, one of the darker songs on the album, sung in a sad tone. One of the cooler guitar solos on the album. They use a cool, echoey, almost western-like effect for it. Everytime I hear it I picture a western saloon for some reason (think Desperado) To me theres nothing super cool about this strack other than that solo.
Hump De Bump: Fun song, don't listen to this one often, nothing i absolutely love about it right now.
She's Only 18: This one's the standout of the first disc for me. One of the best songs on the album. Arguably the best chorus on the album. So heavy, a little slow but urgent. This guitar solo works the best of any track because the segue into the last chorus is seemless and amazing. Amazing transition there, listen for it, it makes the whole song. Also love Keidis' playful bird-sounding "haha" in the middle of the solo.
Slow Cheetah: Acoustic ballad, not crazy about the chorus, kind of sounds cheesy to me. I wish they would have done soemthing more with it.
Torure Me: Fast drum beat, decent song, nothing really stands out for me to make me love it.
Strip My Mind: One of the slowest paced songs on the album. Nice chorus. The song works. What cool is this is a track where the whole band sings in unison for parts of it. Kinda cool, theres a couple like that i think. Cant imagine hearing this live though.
Especially In Michigan: I've read reviews on here criticizing this album for it's pointless and meaningless lyrics. I completely disagree with this and love the poetry thru the whole thing but this song is probably a testamate for those reviews. Other than making a reference to the Detroit Lions and Tigers (kinda cool), the lyrics dont mean much...but they work, and to me they are just random observations about the state where Kiedis and Chad Smith grew up. As far as the song goes, to me this is another stand out of the disc. I love the chorus here. Its very interesting, distorted and sounds like there might be 2 or 3 voices chanting the distortion, but it might also just be frusciante. Who knows. Very cool.
Warlocks: I dont care much for this one. Theres just not enough going on with it. One thing thats cool though is theres a verse in the middle that stands out because it sounds so different ("Make a deal with...") Its very cool and sounds to me like something off of Dark Side of the Moon.
C'Mon Girl: Arghhhh. This songs not bad at all, nice guitar riff and a cool baseline, BUT the chorus absolutely ruinsthis one for me. It just doesnt fit the song, and I'd say it even makes the song almost intolerable. Wish they would have done something with the Chorus.
Wet Sand: Heres a song that really evolves and has an energy that slowly builds throughout the whole song. This is an example of one of many very creative tracks on this album that shows lots of versatility by containing sections that sound somewhat different, or extrapalate on eachother. The Chorus is amazing. Theres a point about 2/3 the way through the song right when the second chorus kicks in that is the absolute climax of this song. Theres a swooshy, space-like sound effect and then the chorus kicks in, but unlike the first chorus, this one has another sound effect thats really cool and continues throughout the entire chorus, underlying everything and changing tone all along. Its very discreet and you have to listen for it. Not sure why I love this so much but, just adds energy I think. Probably something Rubin threw in to add character. Nice ending too.
Hey: Not much to say about this one. Kind of a lame chorus. Good placement of this song because its successor is one of the stars of the album...
Desecration Smile: Ohhhh yea, this song is a total emotional rollercoaster. Its a somber, its joyous, its reflective. All around just an extemely versatile and well-composed piece. It starts out sounding like it's going to be a fluid ballad but about 20 seconds in it takes a drastic turn and the mood is set. Kiedis vocals here are like nothing we've heard from him before (sung in such high pitch) He sounds a lot like Neil Young from CSNY times. Keidis' volcals here are a major and crucial component of this song, but I'd say everything else is as important. Everyone comes to play here. Nice picking guitar work by fruciante.
Tell Me Baby: Another gem on the album. Totally cool track. Lots of personality, great representation of this band. Cool theme about the motives of 20-somethings that move out to LA searching for something they cant even put their finger on. Nice rapping section in the middle. Very versatile track, very nice chorus. Overall extremely solid and I hope this DOES NOT become a single because I would'nt want this to be overplayed and lose its unique quality.
Hard to Concentrate: I think a lot of people really like this one, and personally I dont get it at all. Probably one of the 4 or 5 tracks I might dump if I were forced to cut the album down some. Nice poem, too schmoozy though.
21st Century: An absolute standout for me. Keidis' vocals dominate the whole song, and Fruciante brings the A-game. Very dancable song with lots of energy. Amazing chorus, amazing basework, Chad is solid on the drums, nice guitar solo closing it out.
She Looks to Me: Another stand out track for me. This just works, dont know why i like it, kind of reminds me of early 90's rock. Contains maybe my favorite verse on the album ("down in the south seas...") So different than the rest of the track. Cool lyrics here too. I mean really, how much better can the album get from here??? LOTS...
Readymade: Ohhhhhh man, I mean they keep bringing it track after track on this disc. One of a handful of total gems on the album. Hard rocking song from the start, a serious rocker, love the backround "ahhhhhh" vocals from the rest of the band behind Keidis' voice in the chorus.
If: sounds like a slower phish song to me. kind of a reflective song. Cool electric sound effect underlying the entire song. I'd consider this the breather of the second disc. Some might say its a refreshing break from the insanity and strength of the songs preceding and before they close the album out with another bundle of solid brilliance, others might consider this a break in the momentum.
Make You Feel Better: Cool song about, well... I'll leave that one up to you. Love Keidis' periodic "oh yea" high-pitch scream here. If he didnt scream it I probably would.
Animal Bar: One of the most complex songs on the album. It does different things. It moves, it changes. Grew on me the most. Love the chorus ("rain on my...") and the "babadaba" in the background. Crazy twist at the end and fizzles out...
So Much I: Oh man, how solid can this disc possibly be??? They are still bringing it with variance and full force here. Like about 20 other songs on the album, this one has its own unique charater and sound thats nothing like the others. Srong track.
Storm in a Teacup: One of the gems, love the verse building up to both choruses "little lady love youre gonna make some" brilliant structure of words and just well written. This is almost beastie-boys meets RHCP. You can hear the Rubin element here. Energetic all the way through, but certain parts ooze enery, particularly when it gets real quiet before the last chorus section and to me this sounds a lot like something off Check Your Head (an album i think rubin produced; not sure of this though) Its got an extraordinary quality to it, great song.
We Beleive: Not sure what he deal is with this one, its definately the message of the album though. I think its the band speaking directly to the album, almost a refleection from them. I could be dead wrong. Nice santana-ish guitar effect. Cool lyrics. "The risk is, it worth it, The disc is, it perfect?" I'll let you answer that one. Very cool distortion over Keidis' words to fade the track out.
Turn it Again: Huge rocker, very loud, led by somewhat distorted heavy electric guitar. This one is reminiscent of GunsnRoses for me, particularly toward the end. Very heavy, very distrorted, similar sound.
Death of a Martian: Def a gem of the album, perfect closer, like nothing theyve ever done before. Kind of trippy sound. The song kind of trickles downward the whole time. Some of the best lyrics on the album. Very cool ending poem with some of the coolest lyrics I've ever heard in song. Keidis ends the album on a somewhat screaming "AWAAAAAAAAY" love it. Great song to listen to while you reflect on what you just heard and its sad only because the album has come to an end. Oh well, time to turn it again...
In closing I'd say there is definately enough here to keep someone busy for a while and the depth is amazing. Let me know if this review was helpful and/or if you guys agree with my commentary.
Thanks.
Free Music Review: Double Stadium Filler
Hit: 5 Stars
In the four years since the release of their last album "By The Way," the Red Hot Chili Peppers went from an international rock band to one the biggest musical forces in the world. With that album they built a solid European fanbase that they had already established in America with 1999's phenomenally-successful "Californication." Indeed, their last album was the one that made me really appreciate their music and led me to purchase nearly every album in their back catalogue. I own more albums by the Chili Peppers than any other band, so it was with great anticipation that I awaited their new album.
When it was announced earlier this year that the project was to be a double-disc titled "Stadium Arcadium," I knew it was going to be huge. And it has been: the album has hit No.1 in 27 countries to date, selling more than 1 million copies worldwide in its first week of release. I was intimidated to begin with about the prospect of a double-album: more than two hours of music is a lot to get through, and sometimes bands sacrifice quality for quantity. This is definitely not the case here though. I was initially disappointed with the album, but that didn't last long. Now, I am frequently baffled by the consistency and quality of the songs on "Jupiter," and how they are all very strong and flow so well. "Mars" is excellent, too, but slightly less excellent than the other.
STADIUM ARCADIUM: DISC 1, "JUPITER."
This disc opens with the massive first single "Dani California," which has become a huge radio hit and will be played for many years to come. "Snow ((Hey Oh))" is a potential single, and was one of those songs that stuck out upon first listening to this disc. It's quite long, but never gets boring. The melody is strong and driving, Kiedis' vocals stronger than ever, and the guitar work incredibly atmospheric. "Charlie" is quite bizarre and unusual, but it does grow on you. I'm not too fond of the vocals on this song, and the lyrics are quite throwaway. It seems to me like this was an attempt to return to BSSM days, but it's still too soft-core and melody-driven to be anything but what it is. The album's title track, "Stadium Arcadium," is a brilliant song and evokes a melancholy sadness that is surprisingly emotional. Of course I'm not sure what the song's about, but the tone just seems very gloomy. "Hump De Bump" is a more funk-orientated song that just makes you want to nod your head to the chorus. "She's Only 18" has become one of my favourite songs on the album, as it builds up to its mammoth chorus in a brilliant way with the verses. Kiedis' whips the rest of the band up into a flurry for the chorus, which rises and falls with the lines, "Knock the world, right off its feet and straight onto its head!" This song deserves a single release.
"Slow Cheetah" is a slower, more ballad-like song. The chorus is a bit of an anti-climax, but the verses are very well constructed and the breakdown part at 2:53 is very evocative of some deserted landscape. "Torture Me" is an incredible song and easily one of my favourites the Chili Peppers have ever come out with. It's perhaps the heaviest, most riff-orientated song on this disc, very loud and fast. Kiedis' vocal delivery is amazing, the chorus is a powerhouse, and the trumpet after the first chorus drives me wild every time I hear it! Amazing, amazing song. "Strip My Mind" is the only song that could follow that, and it does it well because there's a tension and strain here that works with the madness of that previous song. The background vocals in this song work well in just the right moments with Kiedis' verses. "Especially In Michigan" is another of my favourites, I love how it builds up and by the time the first verse starts, it's like Kiedis' has enough ammo to go on forever. The melody of "Life is my friend, rake it up to take it in, wrap me in your cinnamon, especially in Michigan," is one of the strongest aspects of the entire album in my opinion. The lyrics in the background are absolutely amazing, I've never heard such intelligence from this band. The guitar work is amazing: Frusciante has truly excelled himself on songs like this.
"Warlocks," although not confirmed, appears to be about drug abuse, as Kiedis uses many of his old lingo for drugs that he used in his autobiography Scar Tissue. "C'mon Girl" is another highlight, mainly because of the rocking chorus where Kiedis sings, "C'mon girl, let's get it right!" over and over. "Wet Sand" intrigued me simply by its title. I love beach songs, but this song appears to be anything but. However, it was still nice listening to this as I relaxed on the beach in Zakynthos a few weeks ago. The guitar work is brilliant in the verses and opens up this song to very expansive proportions. The song peaks towards the end where the band all sing, "You don't form in the wet sand. You don't form at all." The first disc ends with the fantastic "Hey." This is the longest song on the first disc, and is really an amazing piece of work. It has a very 'desert island' feel to it, especially with the incredibly guitar solo at around 4:14.
STADIUM ARCADIUM: DISC 2, "MARS."
This disc opens with "Desecration Smile," a brilliant song that sees the band become more laid-back in their pop approach, which begin with Californication and took hold with By The Way. It's not bland, despite what some people say, it's very clever and throbs gently. The chorus is brilliant and the section of, "We could all go down to Malibu and make some noise..." made me realise just how far this band have come. "Tell Me Baby" is the album's second single, and opens beautifully with this distant chiming that almost puts you in a trance. However, this is broken, unfortunately, by the guitars and drums that come in to form this funky bulk of the song. It's not a bad thing, it's a very good song: I just wish that intro was longer. "Hard To Concentrate" is another amazing song, one of my favourites, purely because it has a creepy, eerie quality to it. Kiedis' vocal work is ominous and foreboding, especially just before the second verse when he sings, "...Here we go." The guitar that kicks in after this is sunlit and as bright as the yellow page that the lyrics inside the booklet are printed on. "21st Century" is funkier and has a very catchy verse/chorus/verse segue. "She Looks To Me" is more softer rock-pop, not a standout, but good nevertheless with a chorus that stands out amongst most others on this second disc.
"Readymade" was hailed as soft ballad mush, when it's anything but. It's quite heavy rock infact, it just doesn't always appear that way due to the vocal arrangement and progression of those vocals. This song has a rolling, rollicking rhythm to it that is emphasised by the syllables in the lyrics. Very good song. "If" is incredible in my opinion. It's the shortest song on the album, but it's this album's "Porcelain," if you like. The guitar work is like a wolf howling at a full moon in the middle of the night up in the mountains - incredibly evocative. Kiedis sings beautiful lyrics, serenading even the most cold-hearted listener. "Make You Feel Better" is a bit of a disappointment, I can't quite get into this song and I feel it could've been left off. The chorus is good, but that's not enough for me, I have to enjoy the entire song. "Animal Bar" is a brilliant song, that has this anthem-like section of chanting in unison. I find it rather amusing. The build-up to the chorus is brilliant, it takes quite a while, but its very unique. Never quite heard anything like it. "So Much I" is another amazing song, very fast and quite repetitive. It works well, though. The guitar work builds more and more with each verse, like a steam train chugging faster, before the chorus kicks in. "Storm In A Teacup" has background vocals that remind me of "Love Rollercoaster," which is fine by me. The guitar work here, again, is amazing, and the chorus harks back to the band's early years. The vocal delivery is outrageous in the way "Love Rollercoaster" was, too.
"We Believe" doesn't quite impress me like some of the earlier songs do. The way the song ends is brilliant, and the guitar work is strong, but this doesn't stand out to me. "Turn It Again" has some really amazing guitar work. It's the longest song on the album and builds beautifully. The chorus is so simple and is typical of the type of song on this album that you could easily ignore and think there's nothing special about it. This is not the case; you have to listen and concentrate hard to this music, then the beauty is revealed. Frusciante's solo in this song is incredible, easily some of the best work I think he's ever done. The album ends with "Death Of A Martian," a song I was very determined to like since it's the album-closer. It hasn't clicked with me yet, but I'm hoping it will do with repeated listens.
"JUPITER" - OVERALL GRADE: 10/10
"MARS" - OVERALL GRADE: 9/10
The entire album is a mammoth listening experience. There's so much to take in from both discs, at more than two hours long, it's like a movie, and they could definitely turn this into one, like Green Day with "American Idiot," but I don't think that will happen any time soon. The Chili Peppers plan to release a total of seven singles from this album, according to reports, which I think is pretty crazy, but it will see this album sell about 10 million copies by this time next year, mark my words. In time this could well become my favourite Chili Peppers album, but I think it will take maybe a year or two of solid listening and reflection for me to realise this. "Blood Sugar Sex Magik," "Californication," and "By The Way" are the band's top three albums in my opinion, but Stadium Arcadium will sit somewhere in that top three in due course. Overall, an incredible album that will bring in new fans to their ever-expanding fanbase and solidify their place in rock history.
Free Music Review: Knock the world right off its feet and straight onto to its head...
Hit: 5 Stars
First off, Nobody, and I mean NOBODY should be reviewing this album if you havent listened to it at least 4 times through. Pick any one of the last 8 albums they've put out and think back to when you first purchased it or started listening to it. I know for me I generally like a few songs on the album at first, then a handful, and sometime later I love the whole thing in its entirety. Furthermore, my favorite songs on a fresh RHCP album when i first start listening to it are the ones I most rarely listen to a year, a month, and even a week down the line. By that point, I have evolved, if you will, with the album.
Those of you who have purchased even their last 3 albums know this feeling. This is what makes this group so f*cking good, and particularly what makes their albums so good, respectively. If you think about it, the songs that you like instantly (regardless of the band) are the songs that don't stand the test of time for you. The songs that you always used to skip over or the ones that took you as many as 50 listens to like are the ones you end up loving the most down the line. This goes for albums too. My point is that, like every other one of their 7 PLATINUM ALBUMS, you evolve with the album. A lot of these negative reviews are speaking in the moment, and lack the proper hinesight needed to see that they too will LOVE this album in as soon as a couple weeks if they continue to listen. Great bands and great albums do not strike you as amazing at first. To me, what makes a great album is one that you can listen to 5, 10, 20 years after you first heard it. IF an album is good enough to keep getting played, then you get to the sentimentality part of it, a point that some of these reviewers have unknowingly hit on and that I'd like to address...
BSSM and Mother's Milk, amongst other past favorites are amazing to those of us who have been listening to them for so long, NOT ONLY because they are amazing albums, but because the music is so good that we have continued to listen to the album--many of us frequently--for so many years. The level of sentimentality an album such as Blood Sugar Sex Magik has to us simply cannot be attained in even as many as 3 or 4 years, in my opinion. Perhaps that is why Californication, By The Way, One Hot Minute don't strike as much of a fancy for me than does BSSM. But in my case I also don't listen to these 3 as much as BSSM (I've been listening to that album quite frequently for 15 years). This still amazes me. Is it the music I love so much or what was happening while it was played? Probably both.
The reviews of this album are going to look a lot different in a year from now than they look today. I think they'll keep getting better (if at all possible). Will we still be reviewing this album in 15 years? I think so. I just went to the BSSM page on Amazon and it continues to get reviews by those who bought it 15 years ago (there were 5 reviews this week alone). Amazing.
I have been listening to Stadium Arcadium continuously for the past 3 days, for an average of 5 or 6 hours a day, so I 've heard it now probably 7 times through. My favorite songs 3 days ago are not my favorites now. I'm hearing things in songs I didn't hear 3 days ago. AND THIS IS JUST AFTER 3 DAYS!!! I can't seem to stop listening to it because each day I'm finding 3 or 4 more songs that I like a lot, and everything else in between continues to get better. You get my point. Based on what is happening so far I'd guess that in a month I will love the entire album song for song.
Regarding the actual content, I've read a lot of reviews that interpreted many of the songs on this album as "ballads". THERE ARE ONLY 4 BALLADS ON THIS ALBUM. The album seemed a lot softer and melodic to me as well at first, but let me attempt to provide one explanation for this...
AK's voice has gotten BETTER and BETTER over the years, and is best on this album. It has always been good, but now I think it carries many of these songs more so than it did before. I'm not sure of the degree to which the production has influenced this (no doubt some). The production alone emphasizes his voice (volume in proportion to other inputs, etc...) on a lot of this album. I think this is why many of us are getting the ballad effect. Some of these songs come across more as ballads because his voice has more range and tone now, as opposed to the more monotonish, almost rapping that was prevalent on many of the earlier albums, but also because of the production emphasis on his voice now.
Don't get me wrong, there are songs on here that rock just as hard as The Greeting Song and Naked in the Rain, they are just fewer in ratio to the total amount of songs. And there is SOOOOO much material here. I dont think we realize this either. I'm starting to realize the depth of this album more and more now. They could have made an album that rocked a lot harder and louder by picking a certain 10 songs on here and making an album with just those songs. On the other hand, they could have taken a different 10 songs and made a completely different sounding album. It's too early for me to even comment on the variance of style here, but I think it is substantial. There's quite a range of different sounding stuff on here, and I believe this will become more and more apparent with time and more listens.
On a final note I'd like to comment on the lyrics, which I believe regardless of the musical group, often take a backseat to the music itself. Will you all please take a little time and listen particularly to the lyrics? If you cant hear them, go to a site and read some. The poetry is fantastic, and the content and message screams Red Hot Chili Peppers. I have'nt heard enough to even comment on any particular themes, but theres interesting stuff being said here.
PS- "She's only 18" might be the best name for a song I've ever heard.
Be patient, don't jump to conclusions, and keep listening...
Free Music Review: Brilliant Stuff From A Brilliant Band
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a great album from a band that deserves to make this kind of album. No album (with American Idiot also) in the last 10 years or so has given such a risk and a classic that no one does anymore. How many double albums have been released in the last 10 years? 3. Mellon Collie and the Infinate Sadness, In Your Honour and this album. But this album took more work and time and is a revolutionary, important album that gets better the more you listen to it.
DISC 1-Jupiter
1.Dani California- Good/great song as the first single. John is the highlight of this song with the tube amp solo at the end of the song. 7.5/10
2.Snow ((Hey Oh))- This is a really sweet song with great skills by Anthony Kiedis. Probably the most catchy song on the album but it's talented catchy. 9/10
3.Charlie- Thought it was ok at first. I started to listen to this funk/disco/rock song more and more and this I think is now one of the top ten songs on the album. Probably at number 10 but.... 8.5/10
4.Stadium Arcadium-This is a simple ballad with a quarter note pace but it's really good and a song that you'd be glad to have stuck in your head. 8/10
5.Hump de Bump-Probably the best song Flea has ever done and that includes Around the World. Just a really fun, awesome funk song. Nothing more. 10/10
6.She's Only 18-Fans of Bob Seger, Deep Purple or any black blues would love this song. I think it's a good song. It's one of those songs you could play when your feeling cool like you just accomplished a mission. 7/10
7.Slow Cheetah-This is a fantastic piece of music writen on track 7. This has a singalong chorus with great vocals, acoustic and teamwork by the Chili Peppers. They should make this a single. 10/10
8.Torture Me-Good song. A little messy but a good chorus saves the song. I personally thought this was the worst song on disk 1 but it was still a pretty good song. 7/10
9. Strip My Mind-A close second best on this album. This is a very emotional song with an excellent performance by Anthony and John. I love this ballad with a complete full out effort by the band. 10/10
10.Especially In Michigan- This is a U2 like song with high pitched and weird guitar effects. A favourite by most for this album.I love it but don't rave it. It's still an awesome song. 8.5/10
11.Warlocks-Really good song. Good for Flea and John on this song with good arrangement and smart musical sense. 8.5/10
12.C'mon Girl- I love this song. A lot. The chorus is really catchy, the verse is well writen and the performance by Chad Smith is second to none on this song. 9/10
13.Wet Sand-A journey. By far the best song on the album. A three part song similar to Stairway. Maybe not as great as Stairway but this is the greatest song on the album lyricly, vocally, guitar, drums, arrangement and risk taking. Flea dosen't come with a breathtaking bass solo but this is the best song the Peppers have ever done. And I thought Californication was good. 10/10
14.Hey-Great way to close out disc 1. This would be a fun song live and it's a great song on this album. It's like Since I've Been Loving You by Led Zeppelin. 8/10
DISC 2-Mars
1.Descreation Smile-Starts of like High and Dry (Radiohead) and goes on to be completly original. This is brilliant what they do here and how they flow it is unbelievable. Great way to open the album. 10/10
2.Tell Me Baby-Going to be the second single. Great song with dreamy rhythems and simple lyrics. 9/10
3.Hard to Concentrate-Reggee style Chili Peppers. Done pretty well but it's not fantastic. I think it could've been more complex lyrically especially but it's still decent. 6/10
4.21st Century-True to the album. This fits the theme of the album amazingly. Futuristic pop and it's a pretty fun ride. 9/10
5.She Looks To Me- Fantastic, lovely song. John at his best and true emotion by Anthony. A true, honest work of art. 10/10
6.Readymade-This is a great hard rock song. The instruments rule the song. This is a fireworks song live. I love this song because it's completly different from all the other songs on the album and it's done musically very well. 10/10
7.If- Like this song alot. Ballad at it's best and good lyrics. Finger picking John now. The album is a journey and this is a great example of why. It's too short and that's why I give this song 9/10
8.Make You Feel Better- Rough arangement but nevertheless a very good song. Chad is the best in this song. This is probably the best song Chad does on this album. 8/10
9.Animal Bar-Flea's good the songs good. It just seems to be missing something very little. This is a good song though and it's not missing too much. 7.5/10
10.So Much I-Anthony goes nuts in this vocally powered rock song. Everyone else can just imagine though. Anthony completly blows away the other members. A very good vocal performance but the others could've done something too. 6.5/10
11.Storm In A Teacup- This is probably the only real flaw in the album. Just a really rough course song. The beginning is almost rap and the chorus is kind of nubby. 4/10
12.We Believe-This saves the album from the last track. I personally like this song. Is it the best, no, but it's good and it's what you'd expect from a closing. 8/10
13.Turn It Again-John is the one in this one. Vintige Peppers guitar with classic style playing. Like so much I with John. 6.5/10
14.Death Of A Martian-Very clever way to close the album. Good story in the lyrics and Anthony's performance is awesome. This is the Hotel California of the album. 8.5/10
Overall-10/10
This is a fantastic, important album and should win Album of the Year at the Grammys.