Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium

Submitted by Underdog Man - May 9, 2006

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Stadium Arcadium

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Holy crap. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been playing for 23 friggin’ years. Does this blow anyone else’s mind as much as it does mine? I suppose the really mind-blowing thing for me is what this band has become right before our very eyes.

If you were around in 1986 or you have gone back and bought Freaky Styley or other early records, you may recall, as I do, that RHCP were sort of the band that you couldn’t really take that seriously. Yeah, George Clinton produced their second record, and their third (Uplift Mofo Party Plan) broke the Billboard Top 200, but this was still a band that did a lot of heroin, played shows with socks on their units and had a singer who couldn’t do much more than rap-sing ridiculous lyrics over the always mind-blowing bass work of Flea.

They were a good band. And fun as hell to see live. But did I ever think they’d still be around and making the best music of their careers in 2006? No way. Did anyone?

The absolute transformation of this band that I think began with Mother’s MMilk (1989) and really came to fruition on Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991) has been on a whole new trajectory since John Frusciante rejoined the band before 1999’s Californication. Suddenly RHCP are making some of the best alternative pop music ever recorded. Their latest release, Stadium Arcadium, is an outstanding record (a double record, at that).

Once again, Anthony Kiedis is really singing (a talent that he has developed over the years), Flea is as solid as ever and Frusciante is the ace in the hole. I really can’t say how much better I think this band is with him on guitar and, especially, on backing vocals.

You’ve probably already heard “Slow Cheetah” (track 7 on the first disk) about 1,000 times on the radio (and with good reason), right? Why is that song so good? It’s Frusciante, man! His falsetto backgrounds on the chorus just make the song. And it’s his overall contributions that really make this band so damn good and… well… EASY to take seriously.

The early band was like a novelty act (“Hey, look, high naked white boys playing rap-funk!”) - and during the years with Dave Navarro on guitar it was like watching a cartoon, really. Frusciante saved this band in 1998. And he’ll be the reason they get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008. Anyway, the point was to review Stadium Arcadium. Look, if you already like the band, you’ll love the record (and probably already own it).

If you’ve never been into RHCP, this is the record to buy. It’s two full disks of truly outstanding material. Kiedis still has moments when he isn’t really saying much (a lot of “Snow ((Hey-oh))” is him repeating the line “Heeeeey-oh, Listen what I saaaay-oh”). But there is also a lot of depth in his words throughout.

The guy (and the band) has been through hell and back and there is something about his delivery that can make even the most jaded of listeners feel like he’s singing to and for them. It’s the magic that Kiedis first captured on Blood Sugar, an album that many critics consider to be a classic.

I say put Stadium Arcadium in the same category. I’d put them next to each other in the same trophy case – and then I’d hang a big picture of John Frusciante between them.