Red Hot Chili Peppers
Stadium Arcadium

THE REVIEW

Question: what happens if you listen to all 28 songs from the double CD "STADIUM ARCADIUM"? Do you win a prize? A little doll with "RHCP's" written on its little behind? I ask because it was (fortunately) gifted to me at Christmas. It's been 5 months, and I still haven't managed to do it. Even the challenge of finding a noteworthy song proves daunting. My wife gifted it to me (thankfully within a basket with many other things, otherwise it would have risked "defenestration") knowing I already owned all the original CDs of the Californian quartet. But since nothing worse than "STADIUM ARCADIUM" exists in the RHCP's discography except the previous "BY THE WAY," I had decided not to euro-reward Anthony Kiedis and co., and had only listened to it on the internet. I did well!

When I signed up for "DeBaser," I set myself a goal. To write a review for each of my favorite artists (about a dozen in total). But I also promised myself to write only about albums I enjoy. I prefer to praise rather than criticize. But the RHCP's really asked for it! When I think of the "RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS," I get the same childish feeling as having a girlfriend who cheats on you with a "loser." Because the "betrayal" had already taken place many years ago. When the Californian quartet left the "route" of "rap-funky-grunge-alternative" to take the path of "American pop." However, at least, although I consider "BLOOD, SUGAR, SEX MAGIK" (rating 9) the peak of their artistic career, I must say that "ONE HOT MINUTE" (rating 6.5) and "CALIFORNICATION" (rating 6.5) were albums. The first one more rock (thanks to Dave Navarro), the other more pop, but still there were good songs to be found (even though the many fillers made them very distant from the first funky productions). Unfortunately, with the latest ones, the group's "sellout" was fully consummated in all its drama! Therefore, I do not intend to review all 28 songs of "STADIUM ARCADIUM," to avoid unnecessarily boring you and because honestly, I will never manage to listen to them all. I am therefore limited to some general observations.

First of all, almost all double or triple studio albums are a flop. It's already difficult to nail 10 or 12 consecutive tracks all beautiful. Going beyond 20/25 successful ones is pure UTOPIA. In fact, it's no coincidence that the smarter ones (Depeche Mode and Iron Maiden leading the way) leave doubles and triples only the task of holding collections, live performances, and remixes. After all, Guns 'N' Roses failed in the attempt with "USE YOUR ILLUSION" (at least 3 good singles are here) and Metallica with "LOAD + RE-LOAD" (even though they were released a year apart). Perhaps the only artist who succeeded in the arduous feat was Trent Reznor with "THE FRAGILE" (wonderful), but still, in my personal opinion, inferior to the previous Nine Inch Nails project, "THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL." Obviously, all this remains in the realm of today's music (meaning bands still active) from the '90s onwards, without bothering sacred monsters like "LED ZEPPELIN." In the specific case of "STADIUM ARCADIUM," it's "cosmic fluff" written in a hurry. That is, the bad copy remakes of the band's past more successful singles. A brush off the dust of the scores, two notes changed, and off they go. The released singles: "DANI CALIFORNIA," "TELL ME BABY," "SNOW," "DESECRATION SMILE" are... cloying. The only listenable one is "HUMP DE BUMP" (rightfully released as a single only in the USA), which recalls some early funky sounds. This is all to say that I'm not one of those nostalgic fans who crucifies a band if it changes genre. That can happen, and I fully understand that after 10 or 20 years of playing the same music, there is a "human" desire for change. But even changing for God, you can change with style (see Metallica's "Black Album," Anthrax's "Sound of White Noise").

The "Red Hots," instead, made the transition with embarrassing shamelessness. And it's a shame because Mr. Frusciante, Flea, and Smith were good musicians with a good voice on top. This makes me even more angry! Therefore, I conclude by stating that there are only two plausible explanations for such a deafening flop: too much money or too much drugs? (if not both together). Because that's the only way I can explain why this band, which I loved so much in the early '90s, could have fallen so low. R.I.P.