•
Rating:
While waiting for the next Peperoncini album, I dive into the archive to find something old by the Peppers, and I end up with the last true album from the Californian band. The album is dated 1999 and marks the rebirth of John Frusciante, the soul of the group, the genius. Although not very technically gifted, it is undeniable that this guy is the most important element of the Chili Peppers. The fact is that the great John's return coincides with the artistic rebirth of the Red Hot.
The album opens in the most overwhelming and crazy way possible: distorted bass notes accompanied by a rocking guitar and a rock-crushing drum, all seasoned by Anthony's liberating and joyful shout at the same time. It is "Around The World", an absolutely tough track with a funky bass like in the good old days. This first piece thus combines a typically funky bass with a very rock guitar, and the result is something really overwhelming. "Parallel Universe" has a very interesting bass and guitar structure, and we can immediately notice how the sound in this album is more rock-oriented, while funk is distributed sparsely: the second track confirms what has been said so far. "Scar Tissue" starts with a duet between guitar and bass joined by Anthony's very interesting lyrics and the usual, great, performance of Chad Smith's drums: a piece to listen to with eyes closed, imagining traveling to isolated places; the lyrics are violent, true, and ironic. Notably, there is John's great performance here, delighting us with a series of extraordinary solos that make us understand how important he is to the band's sound. "Otherside" is another rather rock piece, which also starts with interplay between guitar and Flea's bass, certainly one of the most successful tracks on the album. We return to more funky territories with "Get On Top" which brings us back almost twenty years, to when the Peppers were making hard and pure funk, a track for general pogo!
"Californication" is a return to more rock sounds, with that beautiful guitar intro accompanied by the solid bass and the tough drums, another track that deserves a lot, and at the time it was very successful. "Easily" is very overwhelming with the singer's very aggressive singing and John's riffs, who delivers an outstanding performance, as always. "Porcelain" seems to act as a bridge between the album's first and second halves: it's an unusual piece for the four, a poignant, simple, and very short ballad, a track to listen to in solitude: emotional! "Emit Remmus" is yet another rock track, as always aggressive and played masterfully by the band, although this could be considered one of the less successful tracks on the CD. "I Like Dirt" is a nice funky piece showing us that the four, despite their age, still know how to do it, giving us a carefree and fun piece like this one. "This Velvet Glove" brings us back to heavier sounds, the piece is of sure impact, with a chorus that sticks in your head very easily. "Savior" is a piece that doesn't offer much, it goes unnoticed. Therefore, the album seems to close without any major surprises, but now we have a final trio to be reckoned with: "Purple Stain" is the perfect marriage between rock and funk sounds, the lyrics are also very ironic here, and John's and Flea's instruments merge to give us a piece with strong appeal and great impact! This is certainly also one of the best tracks on the album. "Right On Time" shows that the Peppers want to end with a bang, a track that could be almost punk in speed and duration (just under two minutes), the chorus is based on John's falsetto voice and Anthony's funky singing, with Flea's bass working brilliantly. Just when it seems like the masterpieces are over, "Road Trippin" emerges, a true gem of the album, an acoustic track played without drums, especially enjoyable on long pleasure trips. In it, the group's desire to live explodes, an ending that leaves you speechless and with a feeling of great sadness inside...
This album marks the return to the great glory of the Peppers, and the return to life (both artistic and human) of the great John Frusciante. The album deserves all the praise and applause possible, although some tracks (Savior and Emit Remmus) could have been left out; if that were the case, we would be faced with a masterpiece of the late millennium rock. Seven years have passed since this (almost) masterpiece, and we are still eagerly waiting for the sequel...
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 I Like Dirt (02:38)
Some come up and some come young
Live to love and give good tongue
Sit down, get down in the sun
Rocket to the woman is on the one
Well I like dirt
Well I like dirt
Well I like dirt
The earth is made of dirt and wood
And I'd be water if I could
Live in a dream
In your stream
Live in a dream
Some come up and some come young
Live to love and give good tongue
Sit down, get down in the sun
Rocket to the woman is on the one
I like dirt
I like dirt
I like dirt
I like dirt
Some come slow and overload
Must roll over when you're told
Let's unzip and let's unfold
A letter to the petter, better get it to go
Well I like dirt
Well I like dirt
Well I like dirt
Space is made of everything
And I'd be fire that I bring
Live in a dream
In your stream
Live in a dream
Some come slow and overload
Must roll over when you're told
Let's unzip and let's unfold
A letter to the petter better get it to go
I like dirt
I like dirt
I like dirt
I like dirt
Some come up and some come young
Live to love and give good tongue
Sit down, get down in the sun
Rocket to the woman is on the one
I like dirt
I like dirt
I like dirt
I like dirt
Some come up and some come young
Live to love and give good tongue
Sit down, get down in the sun
Rocket to the woman is on the one
02 Parallel Universe (04:31)
Deep inside of a parallel
Universe
It's getting harder and harder
To tell what came first
Under water where thoughts can breathe
Easily
Far away you were made in a sea
Just like me
Christ I'm a sidewinder, I'm a
California king
I swear it's everywhere
It's everything
Staring straight up into the sky
Oh my my
A solar system that fits in your eye
Microcosm
You could die but you're never dead
Spider web
Take a look at the stars in your head
Fields of space kid
Christ I'm a sidewinder, I'm a
California king
I swear it's everywhere
It's everything
Christ I'm a sidewinder, I'm a
California king
I swear it's everywhere
It's everything
Psychic changes are born in your heart
Entertain
A nervous breakthrough that makes us the same
Bless your heart, girl
Kill the pressure it's raining on
Salty Cheeks
When you hear the beloved song
I am with you
Christ I'm a sidewinder, I'm a
California king
I swear it's everywhere
It's everything
Christ I'm a sidewinder, I'm a
California king
I swear it's everywhere
It's everything
03 Savior (05:07)
Dusting off your savior
You were always my favorite
Always my man-All in a hand
To celebrate you is greater
Now that I can-always my man
Now you see what I came for
No one here is to blame for
Misunderstand- All in a hand
Just like you cause you made me
All that I am-All in a hand
A butterfly that flaps its wings
Affecting almost everything
The more I hear the orchestra
The more I have something to bring
And now I see you in a beautiful
And different light
He's just a man and any damaging done
Will be all right
Call out my name
Call and I came
Dusting off your savior
Forgiving your behavior
He's just a man-All in a hand
Your hero's destined to waver
Anyone can-Always my man
I would never betray you
Look at me who could raise you
Face in the sand-Safe in your hand
You were always my favorite
Always my man-All in a hand
We are the red hots
And we're loving up the love-me-nots
The flowers in your flower pot
Are dancing on your table tops
And now I see you in a beautiful
And different light
He's just a man and everything he does
Will be all right
Call out my name
Call and I came
Dusting off your savior
The life you have narrated
You were my man
05 Easily (03:52)
Easily let's get carried away
Easily let's get married today
Shao Lin shouted a rose
From his throat
Everything must go
A lickin' stick is thicker
When you break it to show
Everything must go
The story of a woman on the morning of a war
Remind me if you will exactly what we're fighting for
Calling calling for something in the air
Calling calling I know you must be there
Easily let's get caught in a wave
Easily we won't get caught in a cave
Shao Lin's shakin' for the sake
Of his soul-Everything must go
Lookin' mighty tired of
All the thing that you own
Everything must go
I can't tell you who to idolize
You think it's almost over
But it's only on the rise
Calling calling
For something in the air
Calling calling
I know you must be there
The story of a woman on the morning of a war
Remind me if you will exactly what we're fighting for
Throw me to the wolves
Because there's order in the pack
Throw me to the sky
Because I know I'm coming back
Shao Lin's shakin' for the sake
Of his soul-Everything must go
Lookin' mighty tired of
All the thing that you own
Everything must go
The story of a woman on the morning of a war
Remind me if you will exactly what we're fighting for
Calling calling for something in the air
Calling calling I know you must be there
I don't want to be your little research monkey boy
The creature that I am is only going to destroy
Throw me to the wolves
Because there's order in the pack
Throw me to the sky
Because I know I'm coming back
Easily
06 Otherside (04:18)
How long how long will I slide
Separate my side
I don't
I don't believe it's fair
Slittin' my throat
It's all I ever
I heard your voice through a photograph
I thought it up and brought up the past
Once you know you can never go back
I've got to take it on the otherside
Centuries are what it meant to me
A cemetery where I married the sea
Stranger things could never change my mind
I've got to take it on the otherside
Take it on the otherside
Take it on
Take it on
How long how long will I slide
Separate my side
I don't
I don't believe it's fair
Slittin' my throat
It's all I ever
Pour my life into a paper cup
The ashtray's full and I'm spillin' my guts
She wants to know am I still a slut
I've got to take it on the otherside
A scarlet starlet and she's in my bed
A candidate for a soul mate bled
Push the trigger and pull the thread
I've got to take it on the otherside
Take it on the otherside
Take it on
Take it on
How long how long will I slide
Separate my side
I don't
I don't believe it's fair
Slittin' my throat
It's all I ever
Turn me on, take me for a hard ride
Burn me out leave me on the otherside
I yell and tell it that
It's not my friend
I tear it down I tear it down
But then it's born again
How long how long will I slide
Separate my side
I don't
I don't believe it's fair
Slittin' my throat
It's all I ever
How long... how long
I don't
I don't believe it's fair
Slittin' my throat
It's all I ever
07 Californication (05:36)
Psychic spies from China
Try to steal your mind's elation
Little girls from Sweden
Dream of silver screen quotations
And if you want these kind of dreams
It's Californication
It's the edge of the world
And all of western civilization
The sun may rise in the East
At least it settles in the final location
It's understood that Hollywood
Sells Californication
Pay your surgeon very well
To break the spell of aging
Celebrity skin is this your chin
Or is that war your waging
First born unicorn
Hard core soft porn
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Marry me girl be my fairy to the world
Be my very own constellation
A teenage bride with a baby inside
Getting high on information
And buy me a star on the boulevard
It's Californication
Space may be the final frontier
But it's made in a Hollywood basement
And Cobain can you hear the spheres
Singing songs off station to station
And Alderaan's not far away
It's Californication
Born and raised by those who praise
Control of population everybody's been there and
I don't mean on vacation
First born unicorn
Hard core soft porn
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Destruction leads to a very rough road
But it also breeds creation
And earthquakes are to a girl's guitar
They're just another good vibration
And tidal waves couldn't save the world
From Californication
Pay your surgeon very well
To break the spell of aging
Sicker than the rest
There is no test
But this is what you're craving
First born unicorn
Hard core soft porn
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication
08 Get on Top (03:21)
Get on Top Get on Top
Hit me come get me I bite but she bit me
Go-rilla Cunt-illa
Sammy D and Salmonella
Come with me 'cause I'm an ass killer
You're ill but I'm iller
I'll malinger on your block and
Give the finger to a cop and
Pick a lock before I'll knock and
Set you up to get on top
Complications of a mastermind
Last temptation of my kind
Extra planetary sign
When do we align
All in time
Right on
Get up and come sit up I light up but she lit it
Grass Hopper Show Stopper
The life of a Wife Swapper
Come with me 'cause I'm a big bopper
You do but I wopper
Exterminate my cause
You want to draw some straws
Be the one to see my flaws
Make me bleed with painted claws
Complications of a mastermind
Last temptation of my kind
Extra planetary sign
When do we align
All in time
Right on
Get on Top Get on Top
Hit me come get me I bite but she bit me
Speed Baller Rhodes Scholar
Bottom Bitch and a Bottom Dollar
come with me 'cause I'm a free faller
you hoot but I holler
I'll malinger on your block and
Give the finger to a cop and
Pick a lock before I'll knock and
Set you up to get on top
Get on Top
Get on Top
Get on Top
09 Purple Stain (04:16)
To finger paint is not a sin
I put my middle finger in
Your monthly blood is what I win
I'm in your house now let me spin
Python power straight from Monty
Celluloid love got a John Frusciante
Spread your head and spread the blanket
She's too free I'm the patient
Black and white red and blue
Things that look good on you
And if I scream don't let me go
A purple stain - I know
Knock on wood we all stay good
'Cause we all live in Hollywood
With Dracula and Darla Hood
Unspoken words were understood
Up to my ass in alligators
Let's get it on with alligator haters
Did what you did - did what you said
What's the point yo what's the spread
Black and white red and blue
Things that look good on you
And if I scream don't let me go
A purple stain - I know
And if I call for you to stay
Come hit the funk on your way
It's the way out there but I don't care
'Cause this is where I go
Knock on wood we all stay good
'Cause we all live in Hollywood
With Dracula and Darla Hood
Unspoken words were understood
It's way out there
But I don't care
'Cause this is what
I want to wear
Knock on wood we all stay good
'Cause we all live in Hollywood
To finger paint is not a sin
I put my middle finger in
Your monthly blood is what I win
I'm in your house now let me spin
Feather light but you can't move this
Farley is and angel and I can prove this
Purple is the stain upon my pillow
Let's sleep weeping willow
Black and white red and blue
Things that look good on you
And if I scream don't let me go
A purple stain - I know
And if I call for you to stay
Come hit the funk on your way
It's way out there but I don't care
'Cause this is where - I go
Knock on wood we all stay good
'Cause we all live in Hollywood
With Dracula and Darla Hood
Unspoken words were understood
It's way out there
But I don't care
'Cause this is what
I want to wear
Knock on wood we all stay good
'Cause we all live in Hollywood
10 Around the World (04:07)
All around the world
We could make time
Romp in' and a stompin'
'Cause I'm in my prime
Born in the north
And sworn to entertain ya
'Cause I'm down for
The state of Pennsylvania
I try not to whine
But, I must warn ya
'Bout the motherfuckin'
girls from California
Alabama baby
Said, hallelujah
Good god girl
I wish I knew ya
I know I know for sure
That life is beautiful around the world
I know I know it's you
You say hello and then I say I do
Come back baby
'Cause I’d like to say
I've been around the world
Back from Bombay
Fox hole love
Pie in your face
Living in and out
Of a big fat suitcase
Bonafide ride
Step aside my Johnson
Yes I could
In the woods of Wisconsin
Wake up the cake
It's a lake she's kissin' me
As they do when
They do in Sicily
I know I know for sure
That life is beautiful around the world
I know I know it's you
You say hello and then I say I do
Where you want to go
Who you want to be
What you want to do
Just come with me
I saw God
And I saw the fountains
You and me girl
Sittin' in the Swiss Mountains
Me Oh My O
Me and Guy O
Freer than a bird
'Cause we're rockin' Ohio
Around the world
I feel dutiful
Take a wife
'Cause life is beautiful
I know I know for sure
ding ding dang dong dong
ding dang dong dong
ding dang
I know I know its you
ding ding dang dong dong
ding dang dong dong
ding dang
Mother Russia do not suffer
I know you're bold enough
I've been around the world
And I have seen your love
I know I know it's you
You say hello and then I say I do
11 Emit Remmus (04:02)
The california animal is a bear
Angeleno but the devil may care
Summer time to talk to and swear
Later maybe we could share some air
I'll take to you the movies there
We could walk through Leicester Square
What could be wetter than
An English girl American man
London in the summer time
Call me now use the satellite
London in the summer time
Cuss me out and it'll be all right
Hesitate but don't refuse
The choice is yours but you said choose
The look she used was green and sharp
Stabbed that boy all in his heart
Come what may the cosmos will
Take me up and down on Primirose Hill
What could be wetter than
An English girl American man
London in the summer time
Call me now use the satellite
London in the summer time
Cuss me out and it'll feel all right
Cuss me out and it'll feel all right
It's all right now
Call me now use the satellite
It's all right
It's all right
Down and out and it'll sound all right
It's all right now
It's all right
The California flower is a poppy child
Felony sends me all the gold in your smile
Drift away from anyone you can
Nothing ever goes according to plan
Though I know that every river bends
Time to say hello to snow on the Thames
What could be wetter than
An English girl American man
London in the summer time
Call me now use the satellite
London in the summer time
Cuss me out and it'll feel all right
12 This Velvet Glove (03:48)
Close to my skin
I'm falling in
Someone who's been
Sittin' by the phone
I'm left alone
In another zone
John says to live above hell and
My will is well
No one is waiting
For me to fail
My will could sail yeah
It's such a waste to be wasted
In the first place
I want to taste the taste of
Being face to face with common grace
To meditate on the warmest dream
And when I walk alone I listen
To our secret theme
Your solar eyes are like
Nothing I have ever seen
Somebody close
That can see right through
I'd take a fall and you know
That I'd do anything
I will for you
Sailin' for the sun
'Cause there is one
knows where I'm from
I care for you
I really do I really do
Come closer now
So you can lie
Right by my side
Sit alone in the sun
I wrote a letter to you
Getting over myself
Your solar eyes are like
Nothing I have ever seen
Somebody close
That can see right through
I'd take a fall and you know
That I'd do anything
I will for you
Your solar eyes are like
Nothing I have ever seen
Somebody close
They were made for you
I'd take a fall and you know
That I'd do anything
I will for you
Close to my skin
Someone who's been
I'm falling in
Disasters are
Just another star
Falling in my yard
John says to live above hell
My will is well
Long to be with
Someone to tell
I love your smell
13 Scar Tissue (03:44)
Scar tissue that I wish you saw
Sarcastic mister know it all
Close your eyes and I'll kiss you 'cause
With the birds I'll share
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
Push me up against the wall
Young Kentucky girl in a push-up bra
Fallin' all over myself
To lick your heart and taste you health 'cause
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
Blood loss in a bathroom stall
Southern girl with a scarlet drawl
Wave good-bye to ma and pa 'cause
With the birds I'll share
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
Soft spoken with a broken jaw
Step outside but not to brawl in
Autumn's sweet we call it fall
I'll make it to the moon if I have to crawl and
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
Scar tissue that I wish you saw
Sarcastic mister know it all
Close your eyes and I'll kiss you 'cause
With the birds I'll share
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
14 Right on Time (01:54)
One shot all I need
I've got rhythm when I bleed
�Til death do us part
Break my heart so I can start
Supercalifragilistic
Kiss me in the futuristic
Twisted but I must insist
It's time to get on top of this
It's right on time
It's right on time
It's right on time
It's right on time it's right on time it's right on time
It's right on time
Lookin� fine you're lookin� fine get on 1999
It's right on time
Discard to bombard
Calling all you shooting stars
Holy cow bow wow wow
Now I'm here I'm nowhere now
Joan of Arc reincarnated
Maybe we could be related
So much blood to circulate
And so much space to decorate
It's right on time
It's right on time
It's right on time
It's right on time it's right on time it's right on time
It's right on time
Lookin� fine you're lookin� fine get on 1999
It's right on time
Plain and simple pain
I want to but I can't complain
Death row let us go
It's time to blow up for show
All the world reverberated
Coming through we motorcaded
Vibrate when we operated
Turing up in solid stated
Oh Lord
15 Porcelain (02:46)
Porcelain
Are you wasting away in your skin
Are you missing the love of your kin
Drifting and floating and fading away
Porcelain
Do you smell like a girl when you smile
Can you bear not to share with your child
Drifting and floating and fading away
Little lune
All day
Little lune
Porcelain
Do you carry the moon in your womb
Someone said that you're fading too soon
Drifting and floating and fading away
Porcelain
Are you wasting away in your skin
Are you missing the love of your kin
Nodding and melting and fading away
Little lune
All day
Little lune x2
16 How Strong (04:43)
How strong is my love?
How strong is my love?
How strong is my love?
How wrong could it be?
I'll walk a water mile
Rest a while to kiss your smile
Laugh and roll and after a while
I'll begin to like your style
How strong is my love?
How wrong could it be?
She turned me down this time
She turned me down
Lord, I can't believe she
She turned me down
She turned me inside out
She turned me down
All I ask of you
Is turn me up this time
How strong is my love?
How strong is my love?
How strong is my love?
How wrong could it be?
Come on over show me your
Your glow soul I do adore
I'll be sure to drop my guard
Give it up it's not that hard
How strong is my love?
How wrong could it be?
She turned me down this time
She turned me down
Lord, I can't believe she
She turned me down
She turned me inside out
She turned me down
All I ask of you
Is turn me up this time
How strong is my love?
How strong is my love?
How strong is my love?
How wrong could it be?
Tested life but that's alright
Darker than the darkest night
Living hell and pollocks at you
Getting new down your back
How strong is my love?
How wrong could it be?
17 Road Trippin' (03:32)
Road trippin' with my two favorite allies
Fully loaded we got snacks and supplies
It's time to leave this town, it's time to steal away
Let's go get lost anywhere in the U.S.A.
Let's go get lost, let's go get lost...
Blue you sit so pretty west of the one
Sparkle light with yellow icing just a mirror for the sun
Just a mirror for the sun
Just a mirror for the sun
These smiling eyes are just a mirror for...
So much as come before those battles lost and won
This life is shining more forever in the sun
Now let us check our heads and let us check the surf
Staying high and dry's more trouble than it's worth in the sun
Just a mirror for the sun
Just a mirror for the sun
These Smiling eyes are just a mirror for...
In Big Sur we take some time to linger on
We three hunky dory's got our snakefinger on
Now let us drink the stars, it's time to steal away
Let's go get lost right here in the U.S.A.
Let's go get lost, let's go get lost...
Blue you sit so pretty west of the one
Sparkle light with yellow icing just a mirror for the sun
Just a mirror for the sun
Just a mirror for the sun
These smiling eyes are just a mirror for...
These smiling eyes are just a mirror for...
Your smiling eyes are just a mirror for...
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By janis
Californication is reduced to a plasticized trail, the wreck of an aged and dazed snake that can no longer hypnotize with its rattles.
The funk is frozen, pre-packaged, almost museum-like, it cannot be touched, not even looked at, impossible to think of listening to it.
By stargazer
Hardly had time begun and the great Flea hits us without warning with the first bass solo, followed by a liberating scream of Anthony and John Frusciante’s guitar and Chad’s drums.
Californication is thus an album that contains some great songs (Around the World, Californication, Savior, Road Trippin’) but alternates with compositions that make you nostalgic for the old days.
By pinkoSpallino
"The secret of this success was the return of the great Jack Frusciante to the team."
"A fabulous song, to be listened to endlessly, thinking of being on a Californian beach, with a bonfire, waiting for a midnight swim."
