The Standard names Californication one of best ’99 albums
Australian newspaper, The Standard, did a little recap of all the years of the XX century ending with 9 and, as they pointed out, 1999 was the next after 1979 and 1989. Naturally, RHCP’s Californication is on their list.
WHEN fame and drugs got the better of guitarist John Frusciante, RHCP recruited Jane’s Addiction axeman Dave Navarro and recorded One Hot Minute – an under-rated and adventurous album that failed to inspire the public or the critics like their previous album Blood Sugar Sex Magik had. After looking like things could be over for the Peppers, Frusciante returned, breathing new life and a fresher, poppier sound into the punk-funk heroes on Californication. While it lacks the raw edge and lusty power of Blood Sugar…, Californication is the band’s brilliant pop moment in the mainstream. A spacious, melodic album, Californication finds Anthony Kiedis singing better than ever as the sounds of bassist Flea and guitarist Frusciante dance around each other beautifully like never before. The six singles are all pop-rock-funk winners (Around The World, Scar Tissue, the title track, Otherside, Parallel Universe and Road Trippin’) but the album tracks hold forgotten gems such as the subtle Porcelain, the driving Emit Remmus and wah-guitar rocker Get On Top.
If you’re interested in what other albums are on this list, click here to read the whole article.
