Reviews (page 2 of 16)
Classic, ik heb ervan genoten. Wel vooral door nostalgie, niet omdat het werkelijk superieur is.
Er waren al heel veel nummers die ik goed kende. Grappig om te merken dat de grootste hits de rustige en toegankelijke nummers zijn. Betekent het dat de minder bekende nummers dan ook niet de moeite waard zijn? Soms wel, soms niet. De albumcover vind ik vet. Iconische plaat dit wel hoor.
Ik ben het helemaal eens met Arie, we hebben het op dezelfde manier beleeft en geluisterd en kijken er op dezelfde manier op terug. Ik ga het gewoon copy-paste doen. Kan het niet beter verwoorden. Alleen Cees gedeelte en je had er bij moeten zijn haal ik even weg. Als je niet de vibe hoort van het album met bijv scar tissue de bas lijntjes waar cees nooit over op kan houden dan moet je wel dingen kunnen waarderen. Misschien helpt de wimm amp en dali opticon een beetje. Wederom moeilijk te beoordelen. Nostalgisch gezien heeft dit album zoveel betekend voor mijn muzikale smaakontwikkeling, ik heb ‘ t grijsgedraaid en daar waar we eerder een wat ouder album hebben geluisterd, is dit wat mij betreft het piek-album van RHCP, met vooral weer Frusciante die maar eens bewijst dat hij een muzikaal genie is met zijn iconische backings, sound en smaakvolle, niet te ingewikkelde gitaarsolo's die iedereen mee kan zingen. Californication is het eerste nummer ooit wat ik van ze heb gehoord en alles was vet. Het rif, de solo en vooral ook niet te vergeten die videoclip. Het album heeft me dusdanig geïnspireerd dat ik vaker mijn gitaar pakte om nummers van dit album te spelen. Maar toch zijn er wederom dingen die ik niet zo tof vind. Kiedis heeft inhoudelijk zo weinig te melden dat hij soms maar geluiden maakt, en sommige nummers zijn best irritant. Kiedis is ook als persoon een debiel waar iedereen ver weg van moet blijven. Kiedis -1 sterren Flea 4 sterren Frusciante 6 sterren Totaal: 4 Sterretjes
Wederom moeilijk te beoordelen. Nostalgisch gezien heeft dit album zoveel betekend voor mijn muzikale smaakontwikkeling, ik heb ‘ t grijsgedraaid en daar waar we eerder een wat ouder album hebben geluisterd, is dit wat mij betreft het piek-album van RHCP, met vooral weer Frusciante die maar eens bewijst dat hij een muzikaal genie is met zijn iconische backings, sound en smaakvolle, niet te ingewikkelde gitaarsolo's die iedereen mee kan zingen. Californication is het eerste nummer ooit wat ik van ze heb gehoord en alles was vet. Het rif, de solo en vooral ook niet te vergeten die videoclip. Het album heeft me dusdanig geïnspireerd dat ik vaker mijn gitaar pakte om nummers van dit album te spelen. Maar toch zijn er wederom dingen die ik niet zo tof vind. Kiedis heeft inhoudelijk zo weinig te melden dat hij soms maar geluiden maakt, en sommige nummers zijn best irritant. Het is echt een "je-had-erbij-moeten-zijn album". Dus dat Cees dit niet echt voelt, kan ik wel begrijpen. Kiedis 2 sterren Flea 4 sterren Frusciante 6 sterren Totaal: 4 Sterretjes
Funk muy bueno Rick Rubín lo vuelve a hacer, gran producto y tiene momentos muy fuertes de forma consistente Honestamente no darle el 5 es casi irrespetuoso, hay algunas que no me encantan, pero en su gran mayoría se disfruta con mucha facilidad Flea consistente con su bajo, los solos de guitarra también on point, la batería también tiene protagonismo, acompañado de Anthony siempre con vocales animados Recomendado y bastante reescuchable
Definitely enjoyed this album! Stronger front half than back half
No once could ever make me a RHCP hater
Good, but not great! This was a fun listen though
C'est le Bob de Sophie qui serait content. Christie l'autre fois je le voyais aller sur le stage avec sa basse et l'aura de Flea transcendait son être.
un grand album de mon adolescence que j'avais un peu relégué aux oubliettes en me disant que c'était peut-être pas si hot que ça les RHCP... Donc je redécouvre presque 20 ans plus tard avec un nouveau regard, un peu plus de bagage musical, d'autres goûts. Voici mon verdict de redécouverte: Frusciante est un guitariste absolument UNDERRATED et c'est une BEAST. Je suis presque littéralement tombé à terre devant tant de groove, un tone unique et de versatilité (du clean finger-picking des ballades au gros shredding déjanté des pièces funk). Evidemment, Flea est aussi un grand bassiste rock, mais mettons qu'il est moins underrated. Kiedis est un lyriciste de merde, mais sa voix est correcte et blend bien dans le tout. Il semblait aussi jouer son rôle dans garder le band ensemble, ce qui n'est pas à négliger. D'ailleurs, je ne connaissais pas l'histoire de la prod avec l'histoire de drogues de Frusciante et sa rédemption, c'est bien intéressant.
J'ai jamais été le plus grand fan des RHCP, mais comme félix je dois dire que John Frusciante est en grande forme sur cet album. Et même sans être un grand fan, il y a de la grosse toune là dessus!
I can only dislike an album that sounds this good so much.
An enjoyable listen, particularly in the first half. Otherside and californication were highlights
3.5, piena di belle cose
Really only enjoyed the super popular songs. Everything else was meh
Not a fan of the Chili Peppers per se. I saw them before they were big and Ijust was never a fan. I do believe they are very talented, it's just that their music never moved me. However, this record is what I believe to be their opus. This record has songs that are moving and stir the heart and soul.
Much better than I remember! I was really rocking with this thing
I listened to this album on purpose sometime last year and I remembered liking it. Much of the album was already familiar to me anyway because of the popularity of the songs in mainstream culture. The Chili Peppers have such a distinct sound that you really can't mix them up with anyone else (a funky mix of alternative rock). One of each instrument (vocals, guitars, bass and drums) gives each element room to stand out. The guitar is dominant and busy; the bass is funky and groovy; the drums keep a fast beat; and the vocals are rapid fire. For those reasons, the songs are memorable and catchy. The front half of the album is amazing with no skips, and though the second half isn't as much so, it still holds its own. Memorable songs: "Californication" has such a lovely and longing-sounding guitar solo, "Otherside" is dark and moody; and "Porcelain" is just a beautiful song in general.
I really don't like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, one of the worst front-men to.ever be overplayed on the radio. Blegh.
Nice one
did you listen to Blood Sugar Sex Magik? yes? forget about that. whatever notion you got from that can be disregarded. these are two very different albums. every song feels masterfully crafted, and, unlike its sibling of the same year Enema of the State, can cover a whole class period. unpopular opinion: best songs are Porcelain, Emit Remmus, and Around the World
This would have been an easy 5 a couple of years ago, but I have grown out of the Chili Peppers. However, as I was relistening to it, I was thinkin: "Damn, this is a really strong album, maybe it still is a 5". But then the 2nd half is just such a strong drop off in quality. The first half is amazing, but the 2nd half is just okay at best, and ruins the flow of the album. High 4.
I kinda like it, it was my "style" and i like the voice of the singer
The beginning of the end for this once awesome band.
I really enjoyed this album. Rhcp are an awesome group and put together some amazing art. The three singles off of this album might be some of the best work out out by the band throughout their entire tenure as a group. It has the crashing metal moments, but I think it’s in the quieter more somber moments where this album really finds it soul.
Stoked a lot of memories. Overall a lot of similar sounding songs. RHC just never hit that sweet spot for me.
My fav rock fusion band. Funk funk and funk. Love them forever
Me gustó bastante, los red hot deporsi me gustaban. Ahora que escuché el álbum definitivamente estará en mi lista de vinilos.
4 stars just for having Californication on
Good album.
Overplayed mush
Though I no longer seek out the peppers, this one still holds a special place. Comfortably giving this a 5 for nostalgia's sake. I still know every word to every song on this one, and they are all great.
For most of my life I said these guys were my favorite band. If I had to reevaluate now that may not be the case, but I’ll always love this music. This may be the album I’ve listened to the most in my life.
Very good album - a touch long, with some throw away songs, but this good songs are great! 4/5
Stand-out tracks: Around the World, Scar Tissue, Otherside, Californication, Emit Remmus, This Velvet Glove, Savior, Road Trippin' All around a pretty great album with a few duds in my opinion. They definitely have a certain constant sound/choice of melodies that I could see getting a bit repetitive for some people since the same sort of sounds appear on many tracks (with a few exceptions). It seems that I also prefer more of their mellow tracks as those are my favorite on the album, specifically Scar Tissue and Road Trippin'.
Talented musicians, tedious music.
What's the difference between a front man and a singer? There's only so much Anthony Kiedis one could take. This album would be a lot better if it were just instrumental.
Classic, love it, no notes.
well its rhcp lol
around the world: 5.7/10 beginning was promising, then it turned into a YouTube rap battle. but I like the guitar tbh parallel universe: 7.8/10 my type of music icl. the guitar at the end is everything scar tissue: 6.5/10 nice tbh nothing bad to say otherside: 6/10 also nice but a bit too repetitive and slightly too monotone for my personal taste get on top: 6.6/10 bass goes crazy, sounds very "funky" californication: 6.5/10 repetitive lines. really nice to listen to tho while driving or doing smth tho easily: 6.3/10 mixes groovy upbeat music with rock porcelain: 4.4/10 okay I guess, a little boring emit remmus: 6.7/10 I like the ongoing guitar note that's always playing in the background I like dirt: 5/10 ??? was he high? the guitar solo was so sexy tho oml this velvet glove: 6/10 meh, however, the solar eyes lyrics are so cute savior: 6.4/10 good but nothing extraordinary. the drowned guitar solo at the end tho wow purple stain: 6.75/10 very groovy, sounds like it belongs in a 2000s teen/young adult movie at the start. but omg the instrumentals towards the end were crazy good right on time: 5.75/10 good, I like his loud vocals in this. nothing really special other than that tho road trippin': 6.2/10 really good lyrics, very chill song. final rating (personal, not mathematical): 6.75/10 no bad song in the album literally, very groovy and upbeat. even if someone didnt necessarily listen to rock they'd like this album. they kinda played it safe with the rock aspect of it tho
great song surrounded by middling fare, just make the album shorter enxt time maybe
411/1089 love this cover. Meant to write more but didn’t get around to it. It lived up to what i expected from the singles i know and was consistently good throughout, could see it growing on me more with more listens faves: parallel universe, scar tissue, californication, savior 77/100
Ok ive listened to this album already but ill try and give thoughts anyways definition of a hard ass funky rock song. fleas bass on here is so groovy i love it one of my favorites on this album. the constant plucks of guitar and bass sound so good on here classic rhcp song, so fun to sing along to. just feels good to listen to another classic. no shortage of those on this album. one of my favorite chili pepper hooks hard punk-esque vives on this one, reminds me a lot of aeroplane. flea carries a lot of these kind of tracks its like every other song is a classic on here. quintessential california anthem here. dreaming of californication. underrated solo, does exactly what its supposed to love the way anthony extends his voice on here. hes saying some bullshit but when isnt he one of the slower chili pepper songs, borders on not doing enough to stay interesting but its not very long and anthonys voice sounds nice dude what are you even talking about. its got good energy tho so its cool. ive realized this is the formula for a lot of their songs but they sound good enough to get away with it idc ok ik what i just said, but this is a little too bullshit for me maybe my favorite song on this album. the bassline is just so smooth it makes my ears happy. and the little accents frusciante adds in just put it over the top lot of extended vocals on this one. i like the drum fills. wow complete change in vibes. are those jingle bells? ok were back now ig. the back and forth is a bit jarring but ive heard bigger switchups shoutout purple. but not vibing with johns staccato flow on this one. i like this instrumental breakdown towards the end tho. chads going offf i forgot how quickly they get right into it wow. easily the most energetic song on the album. funny how they put this right next to one of the softest songs you dont get fully acoustic songs like this all that often in their discog, but this is possibly the best rendition of it from them. top 3 on the album for me and a great outro this album can be a little messy at times but overall theres more good moments than bad. would probably be around a 7.5 if it werent for the sheer amount of classics on here, so i gotta bump it up to an 8 for that
Otherside is a really good song. Also liked Easily and Velvet Glove. Don't like: Around The Word, Scar Tissue, Get On Top, Californication, I Like Dirt, Road Trippin'. I know artists can feel a love/hate relationship with the city where they cut their teeth; for example, didn’t Sandburg and Sinclair write about Chicago with that same mix of awe and anger? And the Chilis really talk about LA and Hollywood in these grandiose apocalyptic terms on the title track. However, I feel they’re too hedonistic to pull this off. I don't want to judge Anthony Kiedis the musician for his personal flaws. But his lyrics are myopic, horny, and praising-with-faint-damnation. Ultimately, it’s too much California for me.
This sounds like music from another planet (complimentary). I noticed that many of the top negative reviews on this site comment on the production quality. What that says to me: "I can't admit that I like these songs." Give in. The Chilis are calling you. "Ding dang ding dang ding ding dang dang ding dang."
This is an album I used to be very, very positive about, for the rock/funk energies (principally the guitar/bass/drums interplay), and the variety and dynamic range of the songs. I thought it was much, much better than BSSM; maybe RHCP was my favourite band? (Later, I mildly liked By The Way, and lost interest by the time of Stadium Arcadium.) But now, I can't listen to any of this album without my listening being overshadowed by my awareness of Kiedis' unrepentant history of sexual exploitation, specifically statutory rape. I'm also aware of condoning of him, and other bad behaviour, by the other band members. This is in the general context of privileged/powerful men exploiting women and girls – not just rock musicians, but lots of popular musicians (playing in whole range of genres). The tainting of RHCP's music may be more prominent for me than that of some other musicians because I used to like them so much, there's suss content in quite a few RHCP lyrics, I also feel repugnance at the libertarian/exploitative shadow of their “free-wheeling brotherhood” vibe. Nonetheless, since the generator assigned the album to me, I've listened to the tracks again. Many of them do have features that still appeal to me. The guitar solo in Parallel Universe is still a benchmark for me. I like Scar Tissue, Porcelain, and Road Trippin', for the extended tonal range (despite weaknesses of lyrics). Title track: maybe the song works better than the lyrics 'deserve', because it taps into the wider world's uneasy fascination with the whole ghastly spectacle that is Hollywood / California / USA? The emotional tone seems well-judged, sombre without being ponderous, the guitar solo is simple but still works. All that said, I don't think I'd recommend this album to anyone, for the reasons cited higher up, I wouldn't want extra revenue to flow to the artists. More like, I could share with self-identified others a rueful memory – remember when we thought Californication was a really good album? Next challenge is how to rate the album – if I “separate the art from the artists”. I think more highly of this album than BSSM (which I rated Mix of Good and Bad, 5/10). There are definitely aspects of this album that could lead me to listen to it again in future, even though every foreseeable listen-through will be tainted. I'm going to say that as an album it's Very Good, 8/10. (It's not morally good music, so this is an uncomfortable rating, but I'll say that it's interesting, quality, listenable music – more impactful for me than albums I've rated Good.)
RHCP was my favorite band in highschool. And now, I can’t really listen to them. Between growing up, listening to the songs too many times, and finding their schtick a bit silly, I don’t really get into them now. It’s funny, this album felt old when I was in highschool in 2007, and it still feels old, but RHCP have kept making similar albums. I can recognize why this is an important album in their discography, and it’s fine, but I think it’s just fine.
RHCP are vibe
Nick Cave is a nut!
Trash
Insane album but unfortunately Keidis is a paedo.
didnt finish so boring omg. i like the song californication but the rest of it - the guys voice is irritating
Better than I expected for not having my favorites Kinda angsty
RHCP vaati iteltä monta vuotta ennenku aloin kypsymään niiden tuotantoon, mut kyllä nykyään menee yhtiin omista suosikeista. Silti välillä jos liikaa kuuntelee tulee tietynlainen RHCP ähky, mutta vahvaa tekemistä ja on tosi kova levy kaikin puolin
Noniin, munaa sukkaan ja lavalle. On tässä sen verran monta hittiä että on pakko vitskalla mennä.
Ajankuva täynnä hittiä.
Noniin, onhan tää ihan heittämällä Peppersin paras levy. Frusciante maalailee kitarallaan semmosen maiseman että harva levy ylipäätään pystyy tämmöiseen tunnelmaan. Edelleen tulee säännöllisesti kuunneltua koko levy läpi.
Definitely have great memories of this album. And while I still really enjoy it, it does unfortunately start petering out a bit around halfway through. Still enjoyable overall though
teveel van californication genoten voor een 1 ster recensie maar mijn god wat een kutalbum
Quality vocals., decent music.
Chad Smith, Flea
RHCP are one of the quintessential rock bands aren't they. One of those bands where you're surprised by how many tracks you know, but these are two words that struck me when listening: classic and formulaic. There's almost an air of smugness, like "we know we've found something which you (the unsuspecting public) are gonna struggle to resist". Fair play to 'em. But the ick is strong.
meh. not a huge fan of the lyrics and sounds on this album. Favorite songs: californication, porcelain, savior
I sadly hate Red hot chilli peppers so not anything for me
The only reason it's not 1 star is because of Snow
Enjoyed this-varied range and some great songs.
A band with whom I'm not especially familiar, although I recognised Scar Tissue, Otherside and Californication. Generally this album didn't grab my attention.
Scar tissue is a stand out track for me on an otherwise samey album. I felt no desire to listen twice.
This sounded better to me back in the day. Maybe the rock/white blokes rapping crossover thing was more novel. But I've been largely numbed to the innovation by hearing it played in hundreds of shops since then. Has its moments but it's getting a very average score today. 3*
Really like this album, but there were a good amount of songs that just don't stick with me. Favorites: Scar Tissue, Otherside, Californication, and Road Trippin'
I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers and there music has meant a lot to me throughout my life. But I'm not sure they've ever had a complete album. Each of their best albums have really high highs... like multiple incredible bangers, and then some real stinkers. And this album is no exception.
fricken tuff
RHCP:tä tuli kuunneltua tähän levyyn asti, tämä ei enää resonoinut samanlailla kuin edelliset. Meni liian stadionrockiksi ja radioystävälliseksi, vaikka soitto on mahtavaa. Mun mielestä biisit tasapaksuja ja levyn hittejä tuli kuultua liikaa radiosta.
I definitely feel like the hate for RHCP in recent years has gotten really performative, similar to the hate for Nickelback, Coldplay, Kesha, and Imagine Dragons (not saying any of those are good, although Coldplay is pretty solid, and Kesha has some banger tunes. Glad she got a bit of a reappraisal). I understand not liking them (and this album does have some stuff I won't defend), but the way people talk about them, you'd think Keidis personally stole their puppy and killed their car. But yeah, this is a pretty good album, held up massively by the singles. Some decent deep cuts like This Velvet Glove and Road Trippin' (although mostly for the instrumentals). But then you got some unforgivably bad lyrics from Keidis on songs like Get On Top, I Like Dirt, Purple Stain, and Right On Time. Also just terrible singing from him on Porcelain. No defending that shit. But yeah, with Around the World, Parallel Universe, Californication, Otherside, and Scar Tissue, a lot can be forgiven on this album. Just a murderer's row of some of RHCPs best songs. Feel like if you cut this album down to a trim 38 to 42ish minutes, this could be a particularly great album. As it stands, its just pretty good, even with some atrocious songs on it. Lastly, I get Rick Rubin is great with getting amazing performances out of bands, but at some point that man needs to answer for his crimes against listeners ears for constantly brickwalling every album he produces.
Californication was an inescapable juggernaut of a record that became the sound of the summer in 1999. Along with Santana's Supernatural, the Red Hot Chili Peppers put a coda on the decade of the 90s and reinvented themselves at the same time. Feeling revitalized by the return of guitarist John Frusciante, the Chili Peppers settled into the studio with Rick Rubin and laid down the record in four days. None of the drug fueled hedonism of the past, just a band focused on the music for maybe the first time in their careers. Despite its massive success, Californication left long-time fans feeling left out of the fun...free form funk jam sessions were replaced with harmonies and radio friendly hooks. I was split on my opinion then, though I did purchase the record. I've mellowed on the album since, though I prefer the harder edge of the band's earlier work. Californication is radio single heavy, and I'm loathe to give it a pass for half a record filled with so-so to good tracks. However, there's no denying the lasting power it provided RHCP, catapulting them into stadium tours well through the next decade and connecting with new audiences all the way into the 2020s. As I frequently say, context matters, and you don't sell over 17 million copies of a single record without a groundswell of universal support.
Just can't really get into the RHCP.
My stance on RHCP's remain unchanged: They stand out in a crowd of groups/artists all vying for the same piece of the California Grunge pie. However, nothing that ever takes it from good, or "above average", to great. Translation: Pretty much always worthy of a 3 but the buck stops there. We'll see if that changes by the next RHCP album to show up on this list.
There's a couple cool songs on here but god, these guys are so annoying.
Kiedis' vocals still grate but this has the band in a rare form - exhausted - which I like.
Only listened to it once. Did not get a perfect listen so I'm not suited for a review. Know some of the songs and liked them.
I mean, they’re a classic band. I feel glad I got to listen to a full album of theirs, something I’ve been meaning to do for a while
John Frusciante spent the years between Blood Sugar Sex Magik and this album in a Hollywood house with no running water, no electricity, and a heroin habit that nearly killed him. His teeth fell out. He recorded albums in his bedroom that Rolling Stone described as some of the most unlistenable music ever committed to tape, which he released anyway because he had stopped caring about anything except survival. Then he got clean, called Anthony Kiedis, walked back into a studio, hit his first chord, and everyone in the room reportedly felt something shift back into place. Rick Rubin booked Cello Studios on Sunset Boulevard and arrived to find four Red Hot Chili Peppers on time, sober, and professional every single day, with three Harley Davidsons parked neatly outside. The day long pot sessions and various indulgences that had defined previous recording were gone. They recorded everything in three weeks. The sobriety shows in the music, which is either a compliment or the honest explanation for why Californication sounds like a band being careful rather than a band being dangerous. It sold more copies worldwide than Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which is the kind of fact that tells you everything about commercial success and nothing useful about greatness. Blood Sugar was a band on fire. Californication is a band that survived the fire and made something genuinely beautiful from the aftermath. Both things are true and they are not the same thing. Scar Tissue, Otherside, and the title track are three great songs. The rest of the album is good in a way that Blood Sugar never settled for being merely good, which is the honest reason this is a 3 while that one is waiting in the wings for its 5. 3 out of 5. One star for Scar Tissue. One for Frusciante hitting that first chord and everyone feeling it. One for showing up sober with a Harley and meaning it. The remaining two stars are on Sunset Boulevard, waiting for Blood Sugar Sex Magik to arrive and claim them.
What’s your favorite song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers that mentions California in the title?? “Dani California” or “Californication”?? I’ll be honest, I love both, but I like the former more. Stadium Arcadium is my favorite album by the Peppers, followed very closely by Californication. Overall, this is the second and final album by the Peppers that I’ll have the pleasure of listening to on my journey through the list, following Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which I also gave a 5, obviously. Rolling so many good albums that are genuinely important to me when I’m only about 1/3rd through the list is a big monkey’s paw moment. I wanted to start hearing some better albums than I’ve been getting recently, but I feel like they’re front loading all the good stuff right now, and there won’t be anything left to look forward to soon. I don’t know, just a bit of a fear I have with this project. Back to the review, I also won’t lie, I really do wish Stadium Arcadium made the list. Both this and that album are important to me, but I just think Stadium Arcadium is better. All that being said, this album has bangers like the titular “Californication”, “Around the World”, “Scar Tissue”, “Get on Top”, “Right on Time”, and my favorite song on the album, “Otherside”. That’s still 6 bangers I can pull directly from the dome, and it’s still going to get a 5 easily. This band is extraordinarily important to me growing up, and still is now. Pearl Jam and Metallica were instilled in me as a baby, I’ve been listening to them since the day I was born and are my favorite bands of all time. The Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Gorillaz are also my favorite bands of all time, and round out the Top 4, as I found them all by myself as a kid, and have never stopped loving them since. Through all my various phases spanning through the edgy Early 2000’s Alternative Rock, the Dubstep craze of the mid 2010’s, and whatever the hell type of Progressive Rock I’m listening to on loop these days, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are a band I’m always going to have on loop as well, no matter what. Some bands faded out of my rotation over time, but not them. And this album is a large part of it. Easily my second favorite album of theirs, and still a 5. It’s one of those bands that’s got an unmistakably unique sounding tone, where you’ll know it’s a RHCP song by the very first note. They’re not always the most complicated or unique, they may be a tad or even extremely goofy, but every single one of these songs goes hard as hell, and I’ve been stimming multiple lines from a handful of these songs all weekend, as I was also blessed to have this as my weekend album. The more stims on an album, the likelier I am to give it a 5, and this album is a stim factory!! Specifically, I’ve been saying “Get on top” and various other lyrics from that same song all weekend long. “How long, how looooong” is another good one from my favorite song on the album, as is the titular lyric in “I Like Dirt”. All of these songs either rock, are very pretty, are very goofy, or are a mix of all of those things. It’s an album I’ve specifically been waiting to hear, and now that I’m done with the RHCP, I’m pretty sad. I love this album, and I’m glad I got to jam out to it this weekend. An iconic band with a unique and iconic sound that I love wholeheartedly with every fiber of my being enough to rank them in my Top 5. Californication gets an easy 5 out of 5.
Well well welly well. Really just hitting all my of my mom’s childhood faves. Now, this album is what I consider a return to form after the victory lap of One Hot Minute, which followed the triumph of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, one of the best alt-rock albums ever made, and one of my favorite albums of the 90s. And this album does something pretty interesting, it just has all these absolutely beautiful riffs and guitar sounds, and Anthony Kiedis is actually much less of an obvious idiot a lot of the time. Because everyone knows Kiedis is an idiot, that’s part of the point of RHCP. But everyone’s also heard him at his best, in “Scar Tissue,” “Under The Bridge,” “Can’t Stop,” songs that have actually incredibly pleasant presence. The thing about the Peppers that I can’t say I feel about any other band is I’ve never heard a song of theirs that I didn’t want to like. You know, sometimes you hear a good song but it has an attitude that makes you dislike, but never with these guys. Sometimes their songs just aren’t great. I never want them to be though, and strangely I never expect them to be either. Anyway. This album is incredible for the first half, and then it’s like… not as incredible. Passable. I will say though, it’s much more consistent than BSSM, and much more obviously oriented toward a summery sound. I listened to this the second to last day of my summer break, and I felt every bit of it. Also, Rick Rubin did a crazy good job on this album. Maybe even the best produced Peppers album. There also aren’t really any songs that I really dislike here, even if some don’t really blow me away. Really really love this album, beautiful, energetic, and vaguely melancholic. 9.8/10 DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: YES REASON: Quality, cultural relevance, influence
I enjoyed this. Probably more my mind if thing then their earlier stuff. The singles are a lot better than most of the other tracks.
The guitar is def the highlight throughout the album. Last song was one of my favorites. Some weird ones, Emit Remmus is definitely a skip for me. Rest of the tracks are pretty good
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
This was pretty good. The melodies in this record kept me interested. Favourite Track(s): Californication, Road Trippin' Least Favourite Track(s): Around the World
good
Classic RHCP album that displays the breadth of their talent.
I wish I hadn't read the reviews before listening to this album in its entirely because now that I had, I cant stop thinking about how stupid the lyrics are. This is my first "1001 albums" of the day so I will be sure not to read reviews first moving forward. This album is what you thought was "cool music" before you discovered cool music. I never looked at the cover art that closely and thought the pool was filled with lava. Scar Tissue is insanely catchy. I learned Otherside's guitar riff in 2021 because my guitar lesson teacher made me. That is all.
Groovy
I've heard half of this album so many times that I barely processed the rest.
The stuff I like I like. The stuff I don’t like, I like ironically. And then there’s the magical mix of both! Up to my ass in alligators Let’s get it in with the alligator haters.
Blood Sugar Sex Magic is probably a little better. Nothing is better than Abracadabralifornia though.
No thank you.
концептуально и по звуку очень интересно. себе добавила otherside, californication, easily, scar tissue, savior
Don't enjoy it half as much as I did back then. And I did not particularly love it outside of the hits.
They were mostly around age 36 recording this. I was hoping they might back off the creepy lyrics... and they have to some degree... But still a lot of creepy stuff. The instrumentation is phenomenal but the album sounds compressed.
I like the most popular songs a lot, and the general groove and vibe of the album. It's good.
i kind of understand why red hot chili peppers is so popular but this is not my taste of music at all. all the songs on this album just sounded the same to me it all blurred together. it’s Okay.
i didnt like rhcp before going into this and with this i can confirm i still really do not care for them or their style at all
I'm sure there's some universe out there where Red Hot Chili Peppers is actually fun to listen to, but in our reality, this album is bloated with the blandest margarine-tasting FM rock ever produced. Even the hits all sound the same. The song "Californication" is nice to listen to once in a while, but a whole album of "Californication" wannabes is too much. Some songs try to be different, like the ones incorporating rap elements, and some even manage to be fun and groovy, but the annoying whiny-ass voice ruins it all. The very last song, with its folk roots, is actually the nicest of the bunch. Can't even say this album is bad, it's just the epitome of mid.
Flea is worth 4 stars. I think other RHCP is better and more influential.
Red Hot Chili Peppers. Funk for your boomer mom.
This was huge when it came out and I was amongst it at Warner. However is has not aged well. Anthony Kiedis singing and lyrics are insufferable. The only redeeming factors are Fruscanti’s guitar playing and the tight rhythm section.
The thought of listening to this gives me the boak. The soundtrack to mtv2 and every crap gathering for about 5 years, this is one of the go to albums for people that don't like music. The safe option with some catchy sing along hits. Kind of like the grandfather of Kings of Leon or the Killers. As much as they annoy me, at least the early albums had some grit.
creo que es el único álbum de rhcp que he escuchado completo y también en vivo. me quedo con que es un clásico, buenas canciones y un tono que siempre ha destacado a la banda.
Teenage drivel, sehr sehr wütend, anstrengend, alles sehr ähnlich
i know this song already
Alright
I guess it’s fine if you can get past the doucheyness.
Way more tolerable than their other trash… but full of duds, the hits hit tho
Plus points: The album starts with 4 absolutely bangers, then the title track in 6. Ends well too. And Right on Time (the best bits being John's bits) I realise sounds exactly like Alexei Sayle as Jerzei Balowski as Mussolini doing "Stupid Voices" on the Young Ones. That amused me. Cons: It's quite long and not all magic, and the mixing/track listing seemed to have no thought. I could have ordered it better. Still, hard not to give it a 5.
not quite as good as i remembered it but the hits are still hitting
I never got heavily into the peppers, having said that I've seen them a couple of times and they do have some incredible songs and they are great musicians. This album is quite good, there are certainly some good things on it,but like so many on this list it's just too long. they reduced it to 15 songs. They should have aimed for 10. The other issue with the chilis, especially the era with frusciante is that musically they are brilliant and a lot of he vocal lines are catchy and fun, if a little naff... But you're always 5 lines away from him just giving up and going blahdiblahdiblah, boopie boop bop, Weller in a cellar with a heller bad fella or some absolutely nonsense that he clearly couldn't be bothered to put any thought into. It's so jarring and ruins a few tracks. Especially when you think this is the guy who wrote under the bridge, so it's not like he can't do it. He just seems to get really lazy. I dunno, I enjoy it having heard it a lot, and some of it is lovely and some of it isn't. I'll be generous.
Very tight and some catchy singles, but Anthony really lets the team down. Blood Sugar Sex Magik was great, but this is not anywhere near that level.
great, but the sound gets somewhat monotous quite quickly
it was an okay album was a few songs i enjoyed properly. The rest i guess i enjoyed but it was like there good enough to have in the background not like i must play this on loop kinda good
Great songs, I just can't listen to a whole album of Anthony's vocals and his weird vowels.
Starke 3. Musikalisch Super aber Vocals von der Präsentation bis zum Inhalt eher meh.
I don't think I realised before the lyrics in the opening song literally include "ding ding, dong dong, ding ding, dong dong, ding ding". It's then more horny funk. Lots of putting things in other things. Didn't dislike it as much as Blood Sugar Sex Magic, though.
awful mix
Decent musically but his voice has been over played to the point I can’t stand it.
Hard for me to be unbiased on this one- I have long been a RHCP fan, Otherside is my favorite song. This album was everywhere when I was a kid- so many hits from my formative years. Probably RHCP at their most popular globally. Fast forwarding to today- I think it still holds up. I love the difference in styles, tone, and subject among songs. The singing and instrumentation is so emotional and moving. I will say- the nonsense of the lyrics is a sticking point and I can definitely see it being an issue for some people. Still- I think the album holds up as one of the greats
Trotz Anthony Kiedis ein passabeles Album.
Close to a 5, second half isn't my favorite
Ding ding, dong dong, ding ding, dong dong, ding ding
6/10, it’s whatever
First half is gold, despite the horrible mixing/mastering. Even the vinyl pressing can't save how this sounds. The second half is nowhere near as good as the first, which makes this album just solid instead of amazing. 7/10
Parallel Universe Scar Tissue Otherside Californication
Parallel Universe Scar Tissue Californication Easily
I really like the lead singers voice. Road Trippin is the song I liked the best, more melodic, the harmony was smooth and the swell of additional instruments was a nice and different choice from the other songs on the album.
Just classic
The hits are good, but the rest just didn't lure me in.
Nostalgia factor bumping my rating up a bit
Thought I’d lIke this a bit more. Still, 3.5 rounded down.
It’s a canonical experience: you like the singles so you buy the album and realize you hate the rest of the album. 27 years later, I’m still wondering who let Anthony Kiedis write these lyrics. (Okay I did like “savior,” too.)
Bajo y guitarra flipantes Around the World Parallel Universe Scar Tissue Otherside Californication Easily Road Trippin'
Reviewed Blood Sugar Sex Magik not too far back, and copying and pasting the statements would save time. The formula used almost matches that album with a tinge more of the introspective selections and a few less of the Peppers’ original rap-funk-metal. Blood Sugar Sex Magik’s big hits are better as “Scar Tissue”, “Californication” and “Otherside” lack the emotional punch of “Under the Bridge.” I found the latter song outright boring. The musical trio of the band match prog-rock and fusion bands in terms of talent and overplaying. Even on the mellower songs, John Frusciante and Flea noodle too much for my liking. The more “traditional” Peppers’ songs “Purple Stain”, “Around the World” and “Parallel Universe” would not send me into a mosh pit. Anthony Kiedis dials his persona up and down. He comes to the edge of Limp Bizkit frat boy rap-rock and self-pitying reformed sinner. He avoids being objectionable in a style that usually annoys me. Is there one more Red Hot Chili Peppers album to come? A supposedly late career, overlooked gem? The “groundbreaking” early album, Freaky Styley? I utter a deep sigh, then reluctantly listen.
I have a soft spot for the band, Mothers Milk and BSSM were instrumental to my adolescence and the development of my musical taste. This one feels a little like they overstayed their welcome a tad. Seems to lack a little of the funky madness I liked so much in the early work. Now that y'all mention it the sound quality is a little brutal, what's up with that?
𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 is an album I like more for what Flea and John Frusciante are doing than for the songs themselves. Their playing gives the record most of its personality, especially when the band slows down and lets the bass and guitar create some atmosphere. Anthony Kiedis is the part that wears me down. On several of the singles, his nasal delivery, phrasing, and vocal melodies start to feel almost interchangeable, which makes the album more repetitive than it should be. Some of the later tracks break away from that formula and are more interesting because of it. Even then, 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 feels oddly ordinary for an alternative-rock album from 1999. There were plenty of records around that time taking bigger risks or developing more distinctive sounds. Flea and Frusciante keep this one afloat, but not enough to make me want to return to it.
Minus one star due to the runtime
What to say about this album? There are some songs that I truly love. We've got the "classics": Californication, Otherside, Scar Tissue etc. They might not necessarily be considered musical masterpieces, but one has got to hand it to them the fact that they're incredibly crazy catchy! I've always fallen straight flat down on my face smash-hard for the poetic, clever lyrics in Californication. Also kinda for the pun in the title itself, find it corny or not. The wild amount of references and sharp stabs on the dirty world that is showbiz in this song... *chef's kiss*! If you don't know what I'm talking about, go explore, you won't be disappointed. There's tons to unpack here. My personal second favorite's gotta be Otherside. The perfect beat that starts pulsing 33 seconds into and then throughout the rest of the song, the sad, bittersweet melodies of the guitar and the singing that somehow clash together into one swirly unit, the waves in Kiedis' voice and the harmonies added one by one as the song goes on. Actually, I changed my mind on these songs not being musical masterpieces. Just play this on my funeral already! Now, the reason I'm not rating this album higher is of course due to some tracks that happen to be either really boring or downright off-putting (they know who they are), and much like the way I skip those songs while listening to the album, I choose to skip them in this review as well. Yup. That's all, folks!
This was actually a really good album. The first half of it gave it a 4/5 star. But the second half dragged it down to 3/5. Overall its a perfect album for a long ride.
Okay I fell asleep during the last few songs but genuinely liked what I listened to so SOLID 4 (And would relisten it)
It might be unfair, but I can't get over how bad the production sounds with its compression and distortion. Otherwise, I think the RHCP did an ok job here: the music and lyrics are catchy enough, even if they lack any real depths (then again, it's the RHCP).
Starts strong, but sort off drifts off
You're evil.
Not my favourite band or genre, but this was a good listen
Favorites: Porcelain, The Velvet Glove Least Favorite: Parallel Universe An album that I knew, with songs I was very familiar, but had never listened in full. Really cohesive, such a distinct sound.
Reallt surprised that I didn't love this. This album really out wore its welcome. It was like 5 songs too long. After the title track every song just made me want the album over more and more.
Nonce
Good in parts (particularly the first half) but got bored as the album progressed. Sounds very much of its time now.
The first half I enjoyed, but got a bit bored by the second half.
Really like an 8.5/10, but classic for me
3.5
I hate these guys but this album was great. I begrudge this score.
Flea and Frusciante are good enough musicians that not even Kiedis can fully drag them down by himself… unfortunately he’s getting help from some of the shittiest mixing known to mankind
Not my favourite but enough on here that I enjoyed it more than a lot of stuff on this list
5/5
Decent album
ew
cuando arranco la primera canción me dieron ganas de aprender a andar en skate, disco copado, muy del verano y la tarde.
Some truly nice alt-rock songs severely outnumbered by more RHCP unlistenable white boy funk rap bumpers. Still I can’t hate them.
This is quite the strange album. I truly enjoy RHCP and this is no exception, however, there are some really weird lyrics. It strange because these lyrics honestly get lost with the quality of their music. The guitar, the bass, the drums, the vocals, they all soar in this album and show how good of a band RHCP is.
8/10
Back in 2020, Scott Aukerman and Adam Scott made one episode of a podcast to discuss RHCP's discography before switching to a different band. They chose Talking Heads, but really any band would do.
I don’t have a whole lot to say about this album It’s Californication Super easy listening album So many fire songs Favorites: around the world, emit remmus, scar tissue 4/5
Not a fan of the any song besides Californication.
The lyrics on this album are so lazy. Rhymes porn with unicorn. At one point he just starts saying ding ding dong instead of actual words. I bought this album for my high school boyfriend as a joke when I was 16 because he loved it and I thought it was trash. Knowing I bought it on a CD means it's likely actual trash now and that makes me kinda happy. All that being said, I love the Chili Peppers and have seen them live twice and it was a great time. I just don't like any of the songs from Californication.
I like it, my favourites songs are: Parallel Universe, Otherside and Easily
By coincidence I just listened to this all the way through for the first time like a week ago. Pretty enjoyable, bursting with that characteristic RHCP scraggly funkiness, with some tracks that suffer from being overplayed. Back half certainly weaker than the front. Not bad!
wait actually rly good i should check them out more - around the world is one of the best songs ive heard recently, love the bass
ashamed to say I enjoy this album Would I listen again: yes Deserves to be on this list: most definitely 3.8
I was really surprised to find out there is only one album between bloodsexsugarmagic and this one. The peppers really took their time between albums, probably drug related I assume. They are an interesting band as they kind of created their sound pre-grunge and alternative but then they kind of skip through that to this album which does sound in many ways like a natural progression from BSSM and it’s like grunge never happened and they almost became the pre-eminent early 2000s band. Overheard scar tissue and californicstion so many times now it’s hard not to just feel tired of them. It’s on Ok, pretty uneven album in my opinion but they have their moments (around the world is the strongest song in my opinion)
3.5 As a 15 year old trying to learn bass, this record got a fair bit of play and going through this listen reminds me on how much stuff I have forgotten over the years. Anyway for this review, the album sounds horrible; idk if the levels are cranked and it distorts everything, but I found it annoying to listen to (Kiedis doesnt help either). My bro and I went to a show from the Arcadium tour, got tickets from a scalper and did a poor job of negotiating a price. Floor seats, pretty cool when the band gets into a jam live. Im giving this another listen as I write the review and bumping up the score for a bit, just for nostalgia's sake.
Album #1 The singles stand out, the other songs not so much. But it might be that I've heard most of the singles before.
Dull
obviously
Too bad they turned out to be rapists.
i like this album way more than the other rhcp album i had before
Solid
I listened to this album while on a road trip across California. This album encapsulates the landscapes and the people that breathe life into the scenery. The most moving moments are when the band quiets down and allows for some introspective moments, such as Californication and Otherside. Incredibly moving album, and undoubtedly the best in RHCP's discography.
I think I heard this once upon a time, but I'm more familiar with his third album, Pink Moon. I'm sure Pink Moon will pop up later. I think I'm going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment, not least because I'm quite ill. I can't see out of my right eye at the moment, and I think I'm getting depressed again. When I'm depressed, the phrase "Black Dog" always jumps into my head, which is what Drake used to refer to his bouts with depression as. As I take my paroxetine every morning, I think of him. There's only so much heavy lifting a little pill can do, when everything else seems to bring you do that much. ────────────────── Nick Drake with full orchestration is kind of magical. That's the first thing I noticed. I'm so used to hearing him with just his acoustic guitar behind him, invariably in some tuning I haven't tried out myself. The strings and the horns work perfectly with his voice, it's like listening to a more mature Van Morrison. It's odd to hear such a young voice with such a fully realised project (Nick Drake was 22 years old when Bryter Layter was released), but it's fantastic to hear something so enrapturing from such an old soul. The flute parts dotted about this album in particular are wonderful - it's almost a call back to the parochial songs that Molly Drake would have raised him on. ────────────────── When I was 22 years old, I had recorded an album called Action Figures, and I had been waiting for years to release it. Mixing takes time, but not as much time as I was expecting. It was 2020, the year everything was covered in a thick film of fear and the stench of alcohol. I was working in a supermarket, I was going running four times a week, I was moving away from the coast to a sad little town in the Midlands. We thought it would save us money, but with nothing to spend money on, we still managed to waste it. I thought it would have happened to me by then, and it still hasn't happened to me now. I was scared of dying, and reticent to download TikTok. Crucially, I was away from everyone I had spent the past four years playing music with, and no venues were open, not even an open mic night. I felt stuck. I am stuck. ────────────────── I wonder who Hazey Jane was. Who inspired these two wonderful songs? Was she real? Did Nick read about her? Was she him? One of my favourite things musicians do is write to themselves, or a part of themselves - epistolaries especially. A card or a letter to a fraction of their brain, awaiting a response. One wonders if Jane ever wrote Nick back. Maybe that's what the rest of the album is. One Of These Things First is a true stand out on this album; it allows his acoustic guitar to shine through everything, even with a truly miraculous piano part going wild in the background. And it's bristling with possibilities. I wish Nick Drake had had the time to be anything he wanted to be. ────────────────── I wish I had found the time. ────────────────── 8/10 Stand Out Tracks One Of These Things First Hazey Jane II Sunday
Tremendo disco. Gran regreso de John Frusciante
It's 3.5
Hit the motherfucking jackpot with this one, I LOVE THE CHILIS. Such a good listennnn, have added some new songs to my collection - 'Purple Stain' (which has some crazy lyrics, but the guitar riffs are just too good), 'Around the World', and 'This Velvet Glove.' I could go on and just list the whole album as additions to my collection but that would be folly, just know that I loved this album.
Just superb
I didn’t realize how many hits this thing is stacked with right from the beginning. Solid drumming. The vocals aren’t saying much, but good closing track. 3.2/5.0
Yes, it is a sin: I don't like the RHCP
Love the Chili Peppers but they make every damn album with too many tracks. Cut it down to 9 that flow into each other. Dump the rest.
kennt man natürlich, stabile californian vibes, aber die band gibt mir irgendwie einen bösen vibe...
Licht wel lekker in het gehoor
I felt so conflicted about this album. It starts extremely strong with some of RHCPs best songs with the first 6 tracks (minus track 5). It then dives off a cliff and because absolutely nothing till the last song which might be the best RHCP song there is. Feast and Famine. 3.5, also because they have one of the most annoying singers there is.
Otherwise is one of my favorites. Second half of the album isn't as strong.
A beautiful album, a soundtrack to my teen years and beyond. Love it so much.
4/10
Stopped listening at track called ‘I like dirt’. Title track will always be good though
Four men take their shirts off and speak nonsense for an hour
Hilarious a bunch of men approaching their 40's made this album. Still baffles me that John Frusciante continues to be in the Red Hot Chili Peppers when he is clearly so much more talented than anyone else in the band. In a perfect world, he would have gone ahead and actually joined the Meat Puppets. Anthony Kiedis should be in prison.
I’m not the biggest Chili’s fan. Overall a solid album. Some really good songs and some I wouldn’t think of again after listening to.
The first half of the album is iconic. And while the second half definitely isn’t as well known, it’s definitely still great. One of the only albums on this list that I already own on vinyl Favorite songs: otherside, californication
A part of me really wants to give this a 5 since I love the chili peppers and this is probably my favorite individual album by them, but this album has the same issue as all their other ones - it's too long and half of it is not very good. There are some incredible bangers, especially on the first half, but none of the songs between Californication and Road Trippin are memorable at all. Cut out some of the fluff and this would be 10/10.
A lot of these songs have been big since I was aware of music. I remember a classmate discussing the merits of this album in fourth grade. The songs that a great are great the songs that aren't are kind of silly.
Great, forward moving album. There are the big hits on here, "Scar Tissue", "Otherside", and "Californication". The rest of the album is pretty good, but even in 1999 I would have recoiled at the cheap joke of Chinese made in "Around The World". The rest of the album is a marked soulful deviation from the normal funk-hop we hear from RHCP. Maybe they should just stay funky and agressive and not pull the racist stuff. My Rating: 4/5
yeah you know what this is, it rules
To finger paint is not a sin...
Pedophilia is bad
Great guitar playing. Kiedis is annoying. Very frontloaded. Think this is better than BSSM as a whole.
Väldigt långt album, många låtar väldigt lika och jag blir less på sångarens röst efter tag vilket inte riktigt är bra betyg. Topplåtarna "Californiacation" och "Scar tissue" tycker jag håller måttet och är riktigt bra, men allt annat känns lite samma. Overall bra producerat men nej inte för mig, idag blir det en tvåa på detta album
un solido 4, buen album, canciones muy emblemáticas, y otras que nunca escuche en mi vida, pero muy bueno de principio a fin
I listened to this album all the time as a kid. It holds up to today’s ears, mostly. Their behaviors as humans is another story.
The first half or so is actually pretty strong, but the second half gets a bit repetitive and boring. Still probably their best album
A very good album, a pretty clear improvement from their other album on this list, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, imo. The first handful of songs is especially strong, blending a rock sound with some great hooks and other genre influences including funk and rap. Around the World and Scar Tissue probably my highlights. It’s held back from 5 by a weaker back half and some weak lyricism in places, but still a good one.
This album has some good moments on it, particularly the title track, but for whatever reason it didn't blow me away. I think part of the reason is I don't enjoy Anthony Kiedis' vocals that much. Still worth a listen though, and there's some tracks I'll come back to. I like this band more than Nick Cave apparently does.
Another really solid album from the Chilis, slightly stronger than their previous entry on this list, 1991’s ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’. There are some funk-rock tracks, but they’ve largely moved away from that genre towards a mellower, more melodic sound. ‘Scar Tissue’, ‘Otherside’ and ‘Californication’ are the highlights in that vein, with ‘Around the World’ the best of the funkier numbers. These are all earlier tracks, and as this suggests the quality does dip later on, but only slightly. The lyrics are still pretty daft and the vocals merely okay, but the band sounds great, particularly Flea’s bass playing. Excellent.
Iconic album, but i dont really care anymore about them
Great album.
what's this a racist caricature of chinese? "ding dong" (sung with a lilted accent) they know how to run a bassline. scar tissue and otherside are bops. they have a formula for a song, and it works. the strong bassline and drums. rhythm guitar. the vocals, it's all musically well balanced and the album is cohesive. it's just so freaking cheesy tho. deduction for having an album over 47 minutes. savior should be the last song. the electronica / disco beat from right on time is nice nice acoustics on road trippin' it makes sense that the bassist and singer are the only constant members of the band because the vocals and the bass are the most distinct parts of their music. i think i gotta deduct one for how corny it is and one for being too long EDIT actually this deserves a 2/5. kudos to them for figuring out their formula, but their music ain't that good.
one of my all time fav and nostalgia from early teens. own this CD and it bangs
голос поколения
Never much cared for this band. Too overplayed in my youth
Some absolutely insane songs, mixed in with some that are kinda meh.
RHCP is not for me.
Nice
What I feel is their best work is going to depend on the day. They've got so many good albums, and all four (shoutout John Frusciante) are so talented individually. My only gripe is that there is probably some filler songs near the end, but this is such a great album to have on this list from a musical aspect and cultural aspect.
I'm old enough to remember when the Red Hots weren't a complete joke of a band. *Blood Sugar Sex Magic* was HUGE back in 91, and the record on offer today is considered their end-of-decade comeback. I'll be honest- I was ready to dunk on this thing, but overall, it's a great rock record! The general vibe here is much more mature, less punk; less obnoxious teen, more aimless mid-20s. "Scar Tissue" can take a long walk off a short peer, but the rest of the songs here are pretty excellent. "Porcelain," "Parallel Universe," "Otherside," the title track, "Easily," "Savior"..... all great. But then - why doesn't it end? It really should be over after that song, but no - you've got three more tracks to go. Yeesh. But listening to one of those - "Purple Stain," reminds me of the Peppers' secret weapon: Chad Smith. Absolutely incredible rock drummer. His feel and chops are perfect. Love that guy. Ok. Maybe I'm crazy, but this is absolutely a record people should hear before they die, if only so they can get sloshed playing the "take a shot every time he says California" drinking game. FOUR STARS
Favourite Chili’s album for sure. Strays away from the classic punk funk rock sound, but I think they do pop rock even better! Around the World is a fantastic opener, the distorted bass kicks you straight in the nads. Parallel Universe could be one of their best album tracks they’ve ever done, then again so could be This Velvet Glove. The 5 singles are all top notch. Kiedis takes a lot of stick but the lyrics in Californication are genuinely brilliant. Even the more fun, throw away type songs like I Like Dirt, Purple Stain and Right on Time are still great. Then you’ve got the lovely mellow Porcelain and the outro Road Trippin’. Perfect album 🌶️❤️
00:15 into around the world - WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Its a shame it only lasts 10 seconds cos it just gets worse from then on.
Classic chilli's innit! Great album
... And Tidal Waves couldnt save the world from Californication. last 3 songs are B sides, not sure why theyre on here
great album
Erinomainen albumi
Hoge nostalgie waarde
A decent start with some heavy bass and catchy tracks however.. My god the second half of the album felt so generic and bland, like a band going through the motions but putting out a safe easy album. I listened twice thinking I was missing something what with the band being global megastars but this wasn’t a global megastar album at all. Decent first half bumps up to just above average 6/10 Best track- ‘scar tissue’ Worst track- ‘purple stain’
RHCP Plastic vacuous rubbish with hilariously laugh-out-loud lyrics that an 8 year would be ashamed of. 1/10
Listened
My favorite album from one of my favorite bands, what else is there to say? This is an album packed with my favorite songs, the reasons why I fell in love with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the first place, and the reasons that I keep coming back. Signature songs like Around the World, Otherside and Californication were and are absolutely everywhere, for good reason. The explosion of Around the World is immediately followed by the slow burn of Parallel Universe leading up to another big bang of its own. Easily and This Velvet Glove and Savior and Purple Stain all have the makings of massive hits without ever seeing the success of the other hits on here. Road Trippin' is right up there with my favorite album closers. The album moves through dynamics like a breezy wave on the California coast, it manages to be fun, funky, thought-provoking and awe-inspiring. I find it hard to describe how perfect the album is for me, but the feeling that it gives me is beyond description. And Scar Tissue, damn. Put my life on the line and ask me to pick a favorite song of all time, and it's Scar Tissue. The song that first made me realize the massive impact that great music can have. Hits every time. *Record Collection
Kind of a guilty pleasure for me. 3.5
Something something, California. Don't say I didn't warn ya. Ding-dang-dong-dang-dong California. Just a good examine of Chili Peppers.
"Californication" may be one of their best album. This album includes their hit songs "Otherside", "Californication", and "Scar Tissue". I feel first half of the album has good track but I feel some second half track filler and it makes album feel longer. I feel the production level of this album is very bad. Overall, good album of Red hot chili peppers but some track feel out of place and also bad production with sh*t audio quality
First, let me make something very clear. These guys are not a funk band. They wouldn't know funk if James Brown put his Good Foot up their ass. This is plastic funk for people who either haven't heard the real thing or can't handle the real thing. I hate this band.
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I still enjoyed this album. Loved it as a teen but when I revisited Blood Sugar by RHCP I found it to be a very tough listen. Californication keeps the lame rolling but they balance it out nicely, it’s not laid on thick. The first half of this album especially is pretty great, it could be nostalgia but I don’t know, I think this is still pretty great to return to every once in awhile. 4 stars
Not my thing unfortunately, though liked the odd bit.
I’ve seen them live and yeah it was fun. But the infatuation with these guys, to me, is just way over the top.
Cover geil, Gitarre geil, Bass geil, Schlagzeug geil, Gesang... passt Einfach iconic und von Banger bis Ballade einfach stark
Always best with Frusciante.
I didn't think this album was better than Blood Sugar... until listening to it for this. I don't like any of these individual songs more than "Under the Bridge" or "Give it Away." But taken as a whole album, the songs feel so polished and mature compared to much of the silliness on BSSM. Maybe Californication will live on as RHCP's masterwork.
Belter of an album. Second half goes a little downhill but brought back up again by Road Trippin.
Difficult one to rate. Strong nostalgia factor, but if I'm being honest the sound is rather tired. Still, Californication is a banger
Pretty strong throughout. The hits are pretty big in here and there is a good level of funk. Tempted for a 5 but I think a 4 is probably a fair reflection. I think something like By The Way would get a 5.
I can't fault Flea's funky base, and there are some obvious big hitters on here, but I like a bit more chaos in my RHCP
Surprisingly catchy, surprisingly more… laid-back?… than I expect the Chilis to sound. The lyrics are all inane dip-my-wick business, but Pepper music has always been about the energy of the moment. I don’t follow the Reds. I can only tell you that Flea is in the band but not what instrument he plays. Is Dave Navarro part of the band? I don’t know. Anyway, decent album, too long, goodnight.
Probably their best album. Still just a four.
So many of the songs on here sound exactly like all the rest. As many others have commented, the first half is really good, but the album begins to get tedious after Californication, and I can only take so much of Anthony Kiedis' voice. Otherside is easily my favorite on this album.
The only good Chili Peppers album is Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which this album is not.
Introlåt kan man säga att den var ”tramsig i stunder” men ändå bra Obv har man hört scar tissue, otherside,californiacation, Men en standout som jag tyckte var bra var parallell universe. Några få bra låtar
I grew up with this album and band. I had every CD. This album in particular gets some hate for the production, and I have to say I agree somewhat. The mix could have used a lot of improvement at bare minimum. At the same time though I kind of like when it goes over the threshold a bit. Gives it a homegrown vibe that I don't mind. The nostalgia factor makes me want to give this an automatic 5, but honestly there are some songs I could live without. However, Around the World, Scar Tissue, Otherside, and Californication are all timers in this house. I've also always been fond of Road Trippin'. Still, Stadium Arcadium would be my pick for this list if it's not already on here.
A super mixed album that was overplayed in my teenage years. Some songs are great, but some are terrible and it's a super random jumble.
everything after this album lost me
“I’ve never been, like, running to Kiedis to answer life’s questions.” – Pat Finnerty
It's the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I've heard this album in my sleep.
White boys unite!
I don’t know why I haven’t given RHCP’s a serious listen before. Maybe I’ve heard too many parodies of their sound. They really rock. The bass grooves especially stand out. The lyrics felt like they came from lived experiences of California living including the darker sides of crushed dreams.
Not my jam.
Sweet, sweet nonsense with a side of tinnitus. There is very little there here. Not to say I don't enjoy this (ninth-grade me REALLY enjoyed it)! Why does it feel like RHCP never lived up to their collective potential? Why is Ethan Risser selling home security systems in a Ponzi scheme? Well, some very talented people are destined to accidentally make a ridiculous side quest their main adventure. If you think about this as funding for John's solo albums, it gets a thousand times better, lol.
This band is growing on me. Road trippin' had always been my favorite since I found it.
Solid stuff, had heard the hits but not the rest. Nothing too gripping for me but not hard to listen to.
Sometimes i think they are so cringeworthy and then you hear this masterpiece.
A classic, but the non-classic songs are not my speed. 3 feels fair
One of their best albums. Amazing opening with the bass line in Around the World. Otherside - first RHCP song I heard! This album has some of my first forays into slap bass. I somehow forgot about Purple Stain, loved playing that.
Nothing crazy about it
more weird al music that isn't funny huh...
Офигенная Классика
Classic
In case of career emergency, call Rick Rubin.
The album is ridiculously front loaded with the hits and catchy songs. The second half of the album (anything after “Porcelain”) drags a bit. “Road Trippin” is one of the singles, but it’s a saccharine sweet cringe fest. In fact, on the back nine, “This Velvet Glove” is all that’s worth listening to. Kiedis is a creepy man. He’s arrogant too. A true prima donna. Also, the idea that they associate themselves with California shows how fake the band is because precisely none of them were born there. It’s all so performative. Having said that, some of the better songs are pretty good. I’m feeling positive today, so let’s round that 3.5 up to a 4.
yeahhh.... stand outs: could have cut the album down by at least 15 songs imo didn't even listen to half of it it's just not my cup of tea
Culte
Oui
Un classique, mais pas trop trop ma came 3/5
Good album, lead singer kinda stinks a little
Porcelain is one of the best songs of all time, as is Californication! Around the world has an epic bass line too
The musicians in this band are all extremely talented. However, I do not like the "funk rock made for radio hits" style. The guitarist, bassist, and drummer have all done different projects I like, but I just don't think this style of music is great, especially when distilled down to the lowest common denominator for radio hits. Also, I have never been able to stand the singing, even if he was saying intelligent or actually good lyrics (which isn't always a deal-breaker for me). That all being said, the production is obviously very good, especially with the remaster, and there are some parts of the music I do like, but it's just parts of songs, and it always goes back to the main parts of the song being the stuff I don't like.
Would I listen again: yes High 3, I like the guys voice and the less rocky songs were actually my favourite
Enjoyed the first half - it opens with a great run. After the title track it meanders a bit after for me and never really makes it all the way back with the exception of This Velvet Glove and Purple Stain, which are highlights on the back half and it does end on quite a nice, mellow note. You could probably chop a fair few songs of this album and improve it. Still, not bad overall imo. An acquired taste but I think it's quite good fun, particularly the rhythm section
Might be a 5 if I hadn’t heard the hits more time than my own voice. It’s also little long - but damn does Fleas bass flow.
I detest this album
Everyones heard this
This got rid of a lot of what I liked about Blood Sugar Sex Magik (the funky drums and guitar) while keeping a lot of the stuff I hated (goofy lyrics). Oh well, at least a lot of the white-boy rapping was dropped too. BSSM was weird and sometimes annoying, but at least it was never bland like Californication often got. I can't really rate this a one; I have too much nostalgia for the singles on here since my older cousin would play them all the time in the car, but overall not an album I was gripped by.
I loved this listen. I knew so many songs from this album but had never listened to them all in order. The seamless genre blending of rock, rap, and funk is more cathartic than any noise wars album deserves to be called. It stood out to me for the first time how much "Around the World" sounds like "Gangsta Gangsta" by NWA. I haven't seen this connection made in any other commentary.
Good music! I like them more than I realize.
Favorite songs: Around the world Otherside Californication
scar tissue fire. got bored after that…. sorry… boring vocals?
9/10 Super banger. This one's going to be in rotation for a while.
i know its a classic, but i dont have fun listening to this album Maybe these songs are a bit too well-known
3 days in a row of mediocre radio rock. I really paid 20 1999 dollars for this? The bass, guitar, and drums are all pretty good. There were also some memorable music videos that came from this album. Otherwise I just feel meh about it. Kiedis just ruins what could otherwise be a good, even great band. Judging from the other reviews on this I don’t think I’m letting my memories of being a cringey teenager bias me too much. It’s really an indictment of the recording industry that this was one of the biggest albums at the turn of the millennium.
This album is like having your parents buy you an apartment so you can leave home and chase your dreams, without being weighed down by the burden of responsibility. Your father is very wealthy, but as far as parenting goes, he is quite distant. Your mother loves you but sees you as immature. As an attempt to set you on the right path, they buy you a house in Los Angeles so you can grow into an adult and fulfil your life’s ambitions. The problem is you’re still an immature fool. Because all of your bills are covered, you just lounge around doing drugs and playing PlayStation all day. Your friends come around and subtly try to nudge you towards getting a job, but you suggest having a party instead. They want you to grow up, but at the same time your place is great for a house party.
The first half is great. John back with something to prove, Flea his usual self killing it on the bass. But what stands out os Chad's drumming. He really drives the band amd songs like californication would fall flat with anyone else drumming, but he has a way to pick it up. However, thw lyrics throughout are comically bad. This is the guy who wrote under the bridge, so you know he can do better. And the 2nd half was not as good. But when it was good, it was great.