Published on Jun 11, 1999
It can be debated that musical audiences have become less
forgiving of a band in the ’90s. We’ve seen sure-bet,
multi-platinum artists like Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins and U2
release albums that received a cold shoulder from the public. The
result? Their next album barely cracks a million in the sales mark.
It can be an intimidating time for a band preparing for a
comeback.
Enter the Red Hot Chili Peppers. After reaching superstardom
status with their 1992 release
Blood Sugar Sex Magik, the band released
One Hot Minute in 1996. Though that album featured some of
the band’s finest musicianship, it netted only a quarter of the
sales of
Blood Sugar. Worries that the band was headed for washout
status was confirmed when VH-1 featured them on their “Behind The
Music” series.
Still, don’t expect the band to be playing at State Fairs just
yet. It’s summertime and the charts are crawling with party-heavy
releases by Sugar Ray, Ricky Martin and Eminem. And when it comes
to get down, party, ass shaking grooves, the Chili Peppers can
still kick out some potent jams to lure new fans into their funky
domain.
That all said, the Chili Peppers new album,
Californication, breaks out with the furious, groove heavy
“Around The World.” Guitarist John Frusciante’s return to the band
is immediately apparant. Frusciante left the band just as
Blood Sugar Sex Magik was taking off on the charts. He was
eventually replaced by Jane’s Addiction axe-wiz Dave Navarro.
Though Navarro provided a mystic, third-world style to the Peppers
arsenal, it too often collided with Flea’s distinct bass style of
play. Navarro did leave his mark on
Californication, however. On the song “Savior,” the rhythm
of the drums and guitar seem oddly akin to Jane’s Addiction opus
“Three Days.”
Scores of other funky, dirty ditties decorate
Californication. “I Like Dirt,” “Purple Stain” and “Get On
Top” are all high energy ditties that we’ve come to expect from the
Chili Peppers. Thr strongest of the three, “Get On Top,” could even
make funk master George Clinton bob his head.
While these songs do give
Californication a care free, party vibe, the band has also
endured its share of pain. Recurring drug problems in the band,
rumors of break-ups and the looming fear that that band has
overstayed its welcome give yield to a good share of somber
ballads. While none of these ballads attempt to duplicate their
1992 hit, “Under The Bridge” (thank God), they show the band is
capable of writing something with more depth than “Suck My
Kiss.”
Musically, there’s not much to gripe about on
Californication. Anthony Kiedis’ vocals have never sounded
more mature or sustained. And Flea shows why he is still one of the
best bassists in rock. Unfortunately,
Californication never feels unified. For every intense,
funk-rock throb like “Right On Time,” you expect a sleepy, hushed
ballad to follow. Only on “Otherside” do the two styles intersect.
It is probably without coincidence that it is the best song on the
CD.
Producer Rick Rubin has given everyone from Slayer to Tom Petty
some of their best moments on tape. But he has yet to capture the
energy the Peppers displayed on earlier works such as
Mother’s Milk.
With
Californication, we get a sense that the band is renewed and
energized. But far too many times,
Californication seems like it could have used one or two
definitive break out hits to make it a classic. Instead of being
the CD to jump start your Friday or Saturday night this summer,
Californication all too often feels like background music: a
green bell pepper when you’re expecting to bite into an atomic red
hot one.