PR Newswire review of Niandra
12th June 2003, PR Newswire (USA)
*This is concerning the album’s reissue, so don’t be confused about the year.
Debut Solo Album From Red Hot Chili Peppers Guitarist John Frusciante, NIANDRA LADES AND USUALLY JUST A T-SHIRT, Reissued; “Frusciante’s record is meant to be experienced, not analyzed. You drift within the meandering melodies. It’s scary because the roads are so unfamiliar and illogical. But it’s also warm, like a caress – there’s a haunting, evocative touch within its broad spaces.” (Warp, June 1995).
LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, June 12 /PRNewswire/ — As the Red Hot Chili Peppers continue their world tour this summer in support of the platinum, #2-charting BY THE WAY and John Frusciante prepares the release of his fourth solo album, the renowned guitarist’s intriguing 1995 debut album earns another listen. NIANDRA LADES AND USUALLY JUST A T-SHIRT (American/UME), released June 24, 2003, is one of rock’s true curiosities for fans of the Peppers and Frusciante, and for lovers of lo-fi stream-of-consciousness musical adventure.
Combining funk and psychedelia, Frusciante has won a reputation for a unique guitar style long on both wild inspiration and technical skill. His first recording with the Peppers, 1989’s gold MOTHER’S MILK, helped break the underground rock band into the mainstream. 1991’s multiplatinum BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK marked the group as one of the most popular in music. But, plagued by drug problems, the Californian exited in 1992.
Songs he had been recording at home on four- and eight-track systems the previous couple of years, largely featuring just Frusciante playing guitar and singing, were not intended for release. Influenced by the likes of ’60s bizarro legends Captain Beefheart and Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett, the fragile songs remained unheard except by friends. With his split from the Peppers, Frusciante began recording delicate, atmospheric instrumentals punctuated by backward-guitar effects. None of those were intended for an album either.
But American Recordings, the domain of Peppers producer Rick Rubin, eventually convinced Frusciante to release his strange and moody concoctions. He agreed, as long as there were no changes made in the music. The result was a single album of 12 selections dubbed NIANDRA LADES meeting 12 untitled selections dubbed USUALLY JUST A T-SHIRT and together being released as NIANDRA LADES AND USUALLY JUST A T-SHIRT. An unexpected and bare bones departure from his work with the Peppers, the album won both critical acclaim and obscurity.
After a 1997 follow-up, SMILE FROM THE STREETS YOU HOLD, and having cleaned up his personal life, Frusciante returned to the Peppers upon the departure of Dave Navarro. Reunited, the group busted out with 1999’s quadruple platinum CALIFORNICATION. In 2001, he released TO RECORD ONLY WATER FOR TEN DAYS, self-penned, self-produced and with Frusciante the sole musician. Both the man and his music continue to be a work-in-progress first heard solo on NIANDRA LADES AND USUALLY JUST A T-SHIRT.
