#286 Red Hot Chili Peppers, 'Californication' (1999)
Previously #401
In 1991, Red Hot Chili Peppers released ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik,’ an album that saw them reach dizzying heights of success. Following its release and promotion, guitarist, John Frusciante left the band to pursue a serious cocaine and heroin habit, which found him homeless and flirtating with death. In the intervening years, RHCP released ‘One Hot Minute’ with Dave Navarro from Jane’s Addiction on guitar. He didn’t quite gel with the band, quitting in 1998. Frusciante, meanwhile, committed to getting clean and spent some time in rehab. Following his stint, he was visited by bassist, Flea, who mentioned that his old position was vacant and asked if he’d rejoin the band. Frusciante agreed. Within a week they were playing together again and within a year, they had ‘Californication,’ Frusciante’s great comeback and the band’s most successful album in their career.
This album marked a shift in sound for the band, previously known for they funky punk sound with rapid fire rap-like vocals by Anthony Kiedis, they moved to a more commercial rock sound seeing Kiedis doing more melodic singing. Make no mistake, the rhythm section is still unmistakably RHCP. The guitar, however, is different. Uncomplicated and straight forward, yet still effective. ‘Around The World,’ the song that opens the record, remains one of my favourite Peppers songs. Just love Flea’s bass playing in this. ‘Scar Tissue’ was the lead single, a song featuring one of my favourite Kiedis lyrics: “Sarcastic mister know-it-all.” ‘Otherside’ is probably Flea’s most simplistic bassline. ‘Get On Top’ bears the classic RHCP sound, while ‘Californication’ has a riff reminiscent of breakthrough hit, ‘Under The Bridge.’ ‘Emit Remmus’ (Summer Time backwards, well done, Kiedis) is about his brief relationship with Mel C from Spice Girls. The jewel in the crown of this album is the last track and 5th and final single, ‘Road Trippin’.’ The song is about a surf trip that Kiedis, Flea and Frusciante took to Big Sur on the latter’s return to the band. Acoustic and sans drums, it’s unlike anything they’d done before. It’s a beautiful song about friendship with intricate finger picked guitar in stark contrast musically to the chaotic opening track, and the perfect song to close the album.
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