Californication

by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea, John Frusciante

Overview

To commemorate hitting the 15-year mark, the Red Hot Chili Peppers reunited with guitarist John Frusciante and producer Rick Rubin (from 1991's triumphant Blood Sugar Sex Magik) and headed for the studio. With the band having matured at least a little in those years, Californication contains more sun-baked slow ones than your usual RHCP disc, but that doesn't mean the fire's gone out. Frontman Anthony Kiedis seems comfortable in his mellower "Under the Bridge" mode, singing about home and relationships instead of spieling out hard-partying raps. Frusciante is back in form, unraveling cheerful, tricky Hendrix homages, while bassist Flea and drummer Chad Smith remain a nonpareil funk-rock rhythm section, locking in and grooving whenever they get the chance. All fronts come together on the breathless new wave of "Parallel Universe," the taut and snappy "I Like Dirt," and "Right on Time," an ultra high-energy snatch of disco. It's on songs like these, when the Chili Peppers hit that perfect beat, that you can almost hear the grins spreading on the band's faces.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/08/1999
Label:	Warner Records
UPC:	0093624738626
catalogNumber:	47386
Rank:	1909

Tracks

1. Around the World
2. Parallel Universe
3. Scar Tissue
4. Otherside
5. Get on Top
6. Californication
7. Easily
8. Porcelain
9. Emit Remmus
10. I Like Dirt
11. This Velvet Glove
12. Savior
13. Purple Stain
14. Right on Time
15. Road Trippin'

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Red Hot Chili Peppers   Primary Artist
Flea   Guitar
John Frusciante   Guitar
Anthony Kiedis   Vocals
Greg Kurstin   Keyboards
Chad Smith   Drums
Patrick Warren   Organ

Technical Credits

Red Hot Chili Peppers   Art Direction
Flea   Composer
John Frusciante   Composer
Anthony Kiedis   Composer
Rick Rubin   Producer,Engineer
David Schiffman   Engineer
Jim Scott   Engineer
Chad Smith   Composer
Greg Fidelman   Engineer
Lawrence Azerrad   Art Direction
Tony Woolliscroft   Back Cover
John Sorenson   Engineer
Eric Greenspan   Advisor
Greg Collins   Engineer

Editorial Reviews

Many figured that the Red Hot Chili Peppers' days as undisputed alternative kings were numbered after their lackluster 1995 release One Hot Minute, but like the great phoenix rising from the ashes, this legendary and influential outfit returned back to greatness with 1999's Californication. An obvious reason for their rebirth is the reappearance of guitarist John Frusciante (replacing Dave Navarro), who left the Peppers in 1992 and disappeared into a haze of hard drugs before cleaning up and returning to the fold in 1998. Frusciante was a main reason for such past band classics as 1989's Mother's Milk and 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and proves once and for all to be the quintessential RHCP guitarist. Anthony Kiedis' vocals have improved dramatically as well, while the rhythm section of bassist Flea and drummer Chad Smith remains one of rock's best. The quartet's trademark punk-funk can be sampled on such tracks as "Around the World," "I Like Dirt," and "Parallel Universe," but the more pop-oriented material proves to be a pleasant surprise -- "Scar Tissue," "Otherside," "Easily," and "Purple Stain" all contain strong melodies and instantly memorable choruses. And like their 1992 introspective hit "Under the Bridge," there are even a few mellow moments -- "Porcelain," "Road Trippin'," and the title track. With the instrumentalists' interplay at an all-time telepathic high and Kiedis peaking as a vocalist, Californication is a bona fide Chili Peppers classic.

All Music Guide - Greg Prato