Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
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Free Music Notes for Stadium Arcadium
Free Music Review: A Symphony of Euphoria
Hit: 5 Stars
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are growing up, and, like fine wine, they have only approved with age. There is a maturity about this album that was touched in Californication, experimented with in By the Way, and brought fully to fruition in Stadium Arcadium. There is also funk, something that many complained was lacking from their previous two releases. No, it isn't the "rocking the socks" funk-punk of the late 80s and early nineties; it is a fuller sound that pulls you into a groove and supplements your mood with elation. John Frusciante shows what years of practice and learning can do to a musician. We've always known him as an amazing guitarist, but he really outdoes himself on this CD. There are solos enough to satiate the hunger of those harking back to the 1960s revered psychedelia, but they never go on to long and are always in good taste (they are not there just to say, "look at me, I'm a guitar solo" - the have a point and drive the song somewhere). In fact, the solos should leave you feeling satisfied and yet wishing you could have more - much like a good dinner where you eat your fill and know that one more bite will be too much, but you still want that extra bite because of how tasty the meal was. What is more amazing, however, is John's development as a vocalist. He adds a warmth and depth that perfectly compliments Anthony's voice, and his harmonies verge on being symphonic to epic extremes. You will at times be knocked over with a barrage of sound, and at other times stroked with the faintest quiver. On that note, Anthony Kiedis is amazing. His voice has really grown and his words are beautiful and inspiring. No, you aren't going to here anything as blatant as "Sir Psycho Sexy" or "Special Secret Song Inside" (although, if you listen carefully, he does use some metaphors that are definitely referring to actions that are usually done in private in a bedroom), but his poetry is full of wisdom and hope. Flea is flea. His bass is solid, his groove is steady, and his blend with Chad and John is like a tight stitch. He is a master of his instrument. He is always tasteful: the perfect lick, the exact right amount of notes. He shows on occasion that he hasn't forgotten how to slap; he would just prefer express himself using the idea of "why use a thousand notes when one is enough." Chad is solid. He locks into the bass guitar with his kick drum, accenting the beat so that it is hard not to move your body. He has an understanding of the music and is not seeking to stand out as much as he is seeking to make the music fit together like a well made lock. This CD should be listened to in its entirely and it should not be used for background music until you are familiar with it. There is so much to hear. Listen with good speakers or good headphones. Don't use 128kbps mp3s. It is beautifully recorded (all analog tape) - unlike many CDs that are quickly thrown together and the fastest recording/mixing techniques are used, this one was obviously crafted like a sculptor works his or her clay. Stadium Arcadium takes the best attributes of the previous Chili Pepper's CDs, matures the sound, adds new lessons learned to it, and ultimately leaves the listener feeling elated and fulfilled. This CD is worth buying. It is worth having for your very own. It is the best the Chili Peppers have done to date.Free Music Review: Frantic,Freaky,And Funky After All These Years.
Hit: 5 Stars
Red Hot Chili Peppers a band unreconized in the 80's and adored by the early 90's.A band of Funk and amazing melodies and ever changing music."Blood Sugar Sex Magik" was their greatest achievment many will tell you, and in some sence it was, but that doesn't mean they can't wop out a new album and still make it marvelous.2002's "By The Way" caught the band in a mellowed out predicament very layed back featuring great melodies, this too follows that recipe with a few innovative twists worth relistining too for years to come.
Opening with the catchy radio friendly "Dani California" The Chili's find them selves at the top of their game again.Featuring some of John's most amazing guitar work to date.Listen to "Dani California's" outro/solo or the breath taking solo to "Turn It Again" and be reminded of RHCP's earlier works.Oh don't forget Flea, tumbling out more quirky basslines like the intro to "Charlie" and the Tom Petty like bassline to "Dani California"(listen to "Mary Janes Last Dance" very similar)powerful basslines.Anthony too throws out catchy phrases and lines like "Born in the state of Mississippi/Pappa was a Copper/Mamma was a hippy".Even Chad who is often forgotten is at the top of his game banging his drum set like crazy with his own brilliant solo in "Hump de Bump".
The albums comes in three doses,(the first) a slow as can possibly be tempo, or a funky all over the place good to be back tempo.The third is a weird surreal hard to describe sound.As if they wanted to make a follow up to "Venice Queen"(off of "By The Way, last track) for an otherwordly moving sound."Animal Bar" catches the best of all three of these attributes starting off with a bizzar intro seasoned with effects, thus leading to a slowish mid tempo arrival then sharply cuts to a rockish section.Many of these songs weren't derived to be hits like the funkafied "Storm In A Teacup" (my favorite so far).Yet they still manage to have radio play, because they are so good!Some songs have some residue from the past on them like "Snow ((Hey Oh))" and a "Scar Tissue"(on 1999's award winning achievment "Californication")like "She's Only Eighteen".It's truly not a bad thing but will be taken into consideration."So Much I" could pose as a "Californacation" era hit.All these songs in many ways feel like a sum up of the bands career, holding true to each of their many albums by grabbing thier potentials and shoving them into these songs.
By this point you'll more or less think this is the ultimate album if so...not exactly, but close.Define the best album?High quality, a strong variety, no fillers, fantastic musicianship.Then yes this is the "ultimate album".When stacked up to classics like "Let It Be", and "Dark Side Of The Moon",this doesn't hold too well.It's amazing and in my opinion the best album of 2006 and possibly within the last few years, but will it hold up to the test of time?Peek at older RHCP material if you agree then more then likley you'll agree with this too.
The point is the Chili's are finally back after what felt like the four longest years of my life, and are in their prime.It's nice to see they are still together after all these years and still as strong as ever.A band like this will continue to grow and experiment wich today music needs more then ever.Long live the Chilis.
Free Music Review: Crowning masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
Thank God -- after 15 years, the Chili Peppers returned to Rick Rubin's Laurel Canyon house and recorded the stunning sequel to Blood Sugar Sex Magic -- Stadium Arcadium, a flat-out tour de force which ends up surpassing it to become the Chilis' defining musical achievement.
When I first heard BSSM, I didn't get it. Beyond a couple of cuts with easily accessible hooks, most of it sounded noisy, harsh, flat, tinny. Based largely on the rave reviews here at Amazon, I played BSSM twice a day, in its entirety, while commuting to a distant project. After perhaps 20 times, I finally perceived the musical genius, the thematic unity, the fierce beauty and complexity concealed beneath the simplistic surface. BSSM became one of my favorite albums of all time.
Likewise, Stadium Arcadium has more to it than meets the ear -- much more. It is an album that can keep growing on you through dozens of listenings. All of the signature Chili Peppers touches are here: the crosstalk between Flea's bass and John Frusciante's lead; the vocal lead of Anthony Kiedis backed by John Frusciante's high harmony; the deft exclamation points of Chad Smith's drums; and the almost preternatural entwining of John's guitar passages with Anthony's vocals, which deserves further comment.
What John Frusciante has done on Stadium Arcadium borders on miraculous. He paints soundscapes of negative aural space for Anthony to fill with vocals; his guitar returns after a line of verse to offer commentary on it -- ironic, mirthful, mournful, as the case may be. Other times, it joins in as a wordless vocal accompaniment. Quite simply, Stadium Arcadium establishes John Frusciante's status as a guitar superstar.
Perhaps four cuts on the double album -- Dani California, Snow and Stadium Arcadium (Tracks 1, 2 and 4 on Disc 1) and Animal Bar (Track 9 on Disc 2) might be described as lightweight -- pleasant enough, though perhaps not fully developed. What remains is 24 songs -- over 100 minutes -- of pure living water from the Chili Peppers. Fittingly, the summit occurs at dead center -- C'mon Girl, Wet Sand, Hey (the last three songs on Disc 1); plus Desecration Smile and Tell Me Baby (the first two tracks on Disc 2), are 25 minutes of the Chili Peppers at full cry, grooving in a white heat of aural perfection on a runaway train that won't stop. Yet, as always, in the midst of passages that may start out strident or bombastic, the Chilis will stop you in your tracks with a melodic interlude so sweet and unexpected as to bring tears to your eyes.
Jupiter and Mars, as names of the discs, invoke the sometimes otherworldly sound of the Chili Peppers. It's as if drawn from a distant corner of the galaxy, which has scales and chords unknown here, and wrought on instruments not made by hands.
I've spent more than half a lifetime searching for the essential music to be my companion for the remaining days. Stadium Arcadium, along with BSSM and the superb Off the Map live DVD, is most assuredly part of the canon. An incantatory triumph, resplendent with howls and hoedowns, elegies and anthems, Stadium Arcadium interposes verses of words with music that can't be expressed in words. It is most surely one of the finest things I have ever heard.
Free Music Review: Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a great album. Im going to keep this short and give my ratings of the songs that I have taken the time to listen to in depth more than some of the previous reviewers(meaning at least 7 or 8 times).
Dani California- 8.5/10 - Catchy Chili Peppers song. Made for radio and success nevertheless a very enjoyable song with a cool vibe.
Snow(Hey Oh)- 9.5/10- One of the most melodic on the CD. The chorus has a good hook but upon further listening the best part is the sound of Keidis singing/ almost rapping to the pace of the guitar part.
Charlie 6.5/10 - Pretty good song but not a classic. Probably appeals to the earlier fans more than the newer fans.
Stadium Arcadium 6.5/10 - Good song, straight forward rock song, nothing special.
Hump De Bump- 7/10 - Cool guitar, good feeling. Funky and fun to listen to but almost annoying
Shes Only 18 8/10 - With a title like that, how can it not be a great song. Good buildup to energetic chorus, good contrasting. The highlight is the guitar solo which I think is what makes the song and also ranks among the best solo on the cd if not the best.
Slow Cheetah 9.5/10 - That the Chili Peppers I fell in love with. Takes a few listens to fully appreciate. I really like the layering done with the guitars and vocals. Either you dont like these types of Chili Peppers songs or you love them.
Torture Me - 7.5/10 - Fun song to listen to. Not a whole lot to say
Strip My Mind 8.5/10 - Personally, one of my favorites. Its message is poignant and I think thats what draws me to it, along with its awesome chorus.
Especially in Michigan 9/10 - Addictive song. Its got the catchy funk and its got the melody. It is the chili peppers all wrapped up into one little song. Feels very emotional and although I have mentioned chorus about 10 times already, it is my favorite chorus of the cd.
6/10 - Not bad, but a filler track
C'mon Girl 7.5/10- Sounds like a party song, Solid track.
Wet Sand 8/10 - Good song, it seems to be popular but I do have some problems with the overall sound and its feeling of leading somewhere that it never really gets to. There are parts that just dont work for me in this song but it is still a pretty good song.
Hey 8.5/10 - Im feeling like this one is going to be an underrated song.
For the second CD im just going to point out my favorites, because I am tired.
Desecration Smile 8/10 - By the way style track.
Tell Me Baby 8.5/10 - Very funky, melodic at times and well done. Lyrics are catchy and rhyming.
Hard To Concentrate 9/10- a favorite from the cd. I cant explain it but it has a certain appeal. It sounds good but also seems to have a genuity to it that I like. And I love that he is able to use the word palpitate( you can tell that he has been saving that for a long time)
Made You Feel Better 7.5/10- Makes you feel better
We Believe 8/10 - It has the sound that Stadium will be remembered for. Its chorus reminds me of Aeroplane in some ways.
Hope This Helps Someone
Free Music Review: Awesome! Totally Awesome!
Hit: 5 Stars
I've never really liked the Red Hot Chili Peppers...I liked "Bloodsugarsexmagik" and I like the song "Californication" but that's about it. This double album is not only probably their best album, but it's also one of the best double albums I've ever listened too. Double albums always seemed to me to be a way for the artist to funnel all the crap they've written and a couple good songs just to get it out of the way. Here, RHCP has crafted an album with every track being good. This isn't an album you can just turn on and listen to one or two tracks...Every song you'll want to listen to again. The band is in top form, Anthony Kiedis's vocals are as good as they've ever been. Flea further proves he's one of the best bassists around right now. John Frusciante goes nuts on the guitar solos and Chad Smith fills out the rhythm section nicely. The following is a list of the tracks and a few (extremely undetailed) comments:
JUPITER (DISC 1)
1. Dani California-5/5-This song is awesome, the chorus is great.
2. Snow (Hey Oh)-5/5-Very funky song, but just as good as the first song.
3. Charlie-5/5-Very cool rhyming techniques in this song. Another really good song.
4. Stadium Arcadium-5/5-A little mellower than the last few songs, but good.
5. Hump de Bump-5/5-One of the best Chili Peppers songs. It's so great and so catchy, you can't not like it.
6. She's Only 18-5/5-An awesome guitar solo.
7. Slow Cheetah-5/5-It's slower, but it's catchy...So, it works.
8. Torture Me-5/5-This song is good, the guitar solo by John Frusciante is totally awesome. He goes off.
9. Strip My Mind-5/5-Lyrics are good, the song is one of the weaker tracks though.
10. Especially in Michigan-5/5-This songs pretty cool, but it's too simalar to "Strip My Mind"
11. Warlocks-5/5-Great basslines and guitars.
12. C'mon Girl-5/5-My favorite song on the album, up to this point.
13. Wet Sand-5/5-Smart lyricism.
14. Hey-5/5-It's mellow, but really cool and catchy.
MARS (DISC 2)
1. Desecreation Smile-5/5-Great song, one of the best on either discs.
2. Tell Me Baby-5/5-Really catchy and the basslines are terrific.
3. Hard to Concentrate-5/5-A little mellower, but it's good.
4. 21st Century-5/5-Awesome. Lyrics are kinda trippy, but that's not a bad thing.
5. She Looks to Me-5/5-One of the weaker tracks, but again...It's still a 5-star song.
6. Readymade-5/5-Great guitar solo, the song is catchy. Pure RHCP.
7. If-4/5-The weakest track on the album...RHCP should stick to the funky-kind of music they've been doing the entire album.
8. Make You Feel Better-5/5-The lyrics are great. Lots of sexual innuendo.
9. Animal Bar-5/5-Another great song.
10. So Much I-5/5-(No Comment)
11. Storm in a Teacup-5/5-One of my favorite songs on the CD.
12. We Believe-5/5-Good.
13. Turn it Again-5/5-This is one of those songs that really picks up when it gets to the chorus. The guitar solo is the best one on here.
14. Death of a Martian-5/5-Great song to end the album....Perfect.
There you have it. Fans should be impressed.
GRADE: A+