The Red Hot Chili Peppers is easily one of the biggest names in music. The Los Angeles band has been around since the early 1990’s, making hits such as "Under The Bridge," and their music is still relevant in the new millennium, with more recent hits from newer albums. All in all, the band has been making music for around two decades, while constantly evolving in style.
Their 2006 album, Stadium Arcadium is highly-acclaimed and has been nominated for the Grammy Awards, but another great album that fans should listen to is their 1999’s classic Californication.
Just like Arcadium, music guru Rick Rubin produced this LP, and it features a funky sound. Things start off with a bang on "Around The World." The upbeat lyrics toast the international lifestyle, and feature band leader Anthony Kiedis singing about various locales around the globe, such as Sicily, Bombay, and of course, California. Kiedis sings on the chorus "I know, I know for sure, that life is beautiful around the world." If there is one song that epitomizes the Peppers’ vintage sound, it’s this one. As usual, bassist Flea provides an excellent line that shifts several times during the song, as it moves from the chorus to bridge, and so on. Background vocals also add flavor to this classic song.
Californication seems to have a song for every mood that someone can be in. While the aforementioned "World" has an upbeat feel, "Scar Tissue" is very mellow. The understated guitar melody is the bed for a contemplative Kiedis: "with the birds I’ll share this lonely view." The outro of the song, which is almost a minute long, features a guitar solo and more of Flea’s inventive bass lines
"Get On Top" is another of the energetic songs heard on this album. It mostly features Kiedis abandon singing in favor of rapping and shouting. Kiedis exclaims "Get on top!" but also occasionally sings in the lively song.
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Californication is an album with memorable tunes that almost anyone will enjoy.
Verdict: Dust off this album and give it another listen
