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Rating: “Curtains” is the last chapter of the series of six records in six months. Frusciante, just to not miss anything, this time veers towards melancholic and autumnal musical landscapes.
Among the numerous changes in style that have characterized this guitarist's challenge, this is perhaps the most fitting and spontaneous. Perhaps John has realized that electronics for its own sake is not his forte and decides to let himself be guided by his acoustic guitar, giving us what he does best; eleven bittersweet melodies to listen to as leaves fall from the trees and the sky darkens. “The Past Recedes” shows us an artist at ease, perfectly serene and immersed in his music. It’s an excellent track, colored with soft pastels and sweetly meowed.
The songwriting is solid, the circles painted by the guitar fascinating, and the atmosphere vespertine. This formula works and gives life to the rest of the tracks; “Lever Pulled” becomes a bit more arid and impetuous; “Anne” stretches into the religious melody and the strong crescendo of guitars; “The Real”, with its vocal intertwining, is another tender ballad, well-made and balanced. The atmosphere remains misty throughout the work, never lapsing into boredom and maintaining a good quality standard. “A Name”, “Control”, and “Your Warning” are other lullabies in the moonlight; some more relaxed, others more vehement, all very pleasant. “Ascension” is one of the brightest episodes; the atmosphere becomes increasingly charged, like a sky that darkens before a violent storm. Concluding the work, we find the sweetness of “Time Tonight” and “Leap Your Bar”.
In essence, “Curtains” is a good record that demonstrates how Frusciante is capable of giving a lot when he has little at his disposal; his greatest ability is precisely to delight us with beautiful melodies and his guitar always at his side.
Perhaps now he has realized it…
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 Jayde
"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."
"The final solo (López + Frusci) exudes Hendrix from every pore, and I’m not speaking negatively."
