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Rating: John Frusciante was a strange artist... Both in his mannerisms and musically. In the Red Hot Chili Peppers, our John was the offspring of the union between Hendrix and Slovak (the band's former guitarist, who died after the release of the third album), funk and classic rock united together, unleashing a unique energy. But if you look at his solo work, Frusciante reaches totally different musical levels, moving from Avant-Garde, electronic, Art Rock, psychedelia, and other genres, while always maintaining his "signature."
And it is precisely in "Curtains" that you find the simplest yet strangely one of the most complete works of the guitarist. Released in 2005, it is mainly an album of voice and acoustic guitar, with the addition of wind instruments and electric instruments at some points. After the simple "The Past Recedes" as the first track of the album, there is a song that really struck me: "Lever Pulled". This song boasts the collaboration of singer/guitarist of the Mars Volta Omar Rodríguez-López, a prog genius, in my opinion. (Go listen to the Mars Volta! I didn't tell you anything). After the magnificent "Lever Pulled", "Anne" starts immediately, which I consider one of Frusci's best songs, due to the really absurd lyrics and the variety of the guitar; not to mention the final solo (López + Frusci) that exudes Hendrix from every pore, and I'm not speaking negatively. "The Real" and "A Name" I perceive very much as two connected songs, almost part one and part two of a really sad pairing; Frusciante's lyrics are something tremendously heartrending.
"Control", even as the title suggests, is a song full of dynamics, with a guitar that "plays" only when John sings, quite unique, but at times it seems almost too long; one of my least favorite songs on the album. "Your Warning", the piano at the end. I won't tell you anything else. "Hope" is a track that sends me over the moon, truly... There's no more correct expression for the sensation the riff at 0:45 gives you, try it to believe it. After "Ascension", which I think is the worst track on the album, there is the best track on the album. "Time Tonight". The arpeggio, the vocal melody, the lyrics, and finally the reverse solo in "Give it Away" style... Hear it, hear it. The album closes with the excellent "Leap Your Bar," played entirely on a piano, a very, very sad and evocative song.
In closing, I think that with "Curtains" John Frusciante has reached one of the highest musical points of his career, with a simple album; but full, brimming, overflowing with emotions, just as his solos accustomed us to.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Anne (03:35)
Anne you can't hide
you know we'll find you
It's a matter where pride flies out the window
I never got the weight off the ground
I just forgot what's up and what's down
How many get the way I feel now
There's no regret
There's just the sense that
Nothing is going my way
There's so much that happened today
The gods of the city have called my name
It means more to them than it means to me somehow
I left my body
I left my fate
But is so hard to keep away now
Nothing is final because it seems all the while
There wasn't anything for me
I always faked my smile
There's so many careless angels responsible for me
They give me disease
They give me a pain in my neck to feed off me
saying pay us the cost and we'll be gone now
they shut my eyes and i can't see now
These are the times I was scared of
These are the fates I pushed out of the way
Now they come back here and haunt me
It's plain to see who the winner and loser will be
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Other reviews
By RHCP87
"Curtains is an album full of atmospheres, even if they are quite simple, they make the album very soft and engaging."
I always listened to this album in its entirety, so the listener’s memory doesn’t hold onto one or more songs but rather a well-defined idea of music and song.
By joe strummer
"John has realized that electronics for its own sake is not his forte and decides to let himself be guided by his acoustic guitar."
"Curtains is a good record that demonstrates how Frusciante is capable of giving a lot when he has little at his disposal."
