Clash magazine
from Clash magazine
thanks to funkychili
With a solo project running alongside his day job in the Chili Peppers, it’s a great opportunity for John to escape the full-on scale of the band to concentrate on his more personal lo-fi style. ‘Inside of Emptiness’ was recorded in LA with friend Josh Klinghoffer amid a fixation with Velvet Underground and Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust For Life’. ‘What I Saw’ is a dirty and distorted opener- close your eyes and it’s a group of 21-year-old New Yorkers on the cover of NME. Elsewhere, John is frank and honest in his songwriting- ‘A Firm Kick’ sounds like him praising redemption. “When I revisit the past,” he sings, “it’s a blast. I’ve just gotta move on.” His voice is sweet, lamenting and confessional throughout, his guitar playing superb, free of the shackles of three other band members. Reflecting the author’s personality, this is a dark and touching album with frequent flashes of genius.
