Guitarist magazine
March 2004, Guitarist Magazine (UK)
“When Guitarist interviewed Frusciante last summer he was extremly excited about the release of this, his fourth solo album and follow up to 2001’s To Record Only Water For 10 Days. ‘There’s alot of very experimental electronic music on the album but allied to good songs,’ he explained. ‘The synthesisers are usually used in a very subtle way – the songs are basically acoustic guitar, bass and drums with additional melotron and synthesiser sound here or there.’
His description was fairly accurate. Eschewing the drum machines employed on To Record Only Water in favour of the real thing (chilis band mate Chad Smith drums throughout) shadows is, more than anything, a showcase for Frusciante the songwriter – a chance for him to pay homage to the music that he loves. The “experimental elecronic music” he talks of is evident from the off, as opener Carvel wobbles in with 90 seconds bubbling synths before exploding into a meaty strummer. For guitar lovers its a template thats followed a little to frequently throughout Shadows; and for no aparent reason, as these creative excursions rarely bolster the tracks or, as perhaps wre intended, create a sense of continuity.
Sound experiments aside, you sense from the personal, introdpective nature, the remaining songs were chiselled out on an acoustic in lonely hotel rooms across the globe. While the track titles (Regret, Omission, This Cold, Song To Sing When Im Lonely) attest to the general tone, Frusciante’s pop sensibilities often lighten the listening experience.
Omission, for example, is such a sumptuous strum along that, bouyed by Frusciante’s skilful harmonies, its bleak lyrics (‘omit myself/take myself from your eyes’) just can’t sink in.
Fans of Johns melodic lead guitar work may be disappointed by this albums acoustic/electronic basis, but theres still much for guitarists to admire: Wednesday’s Song’s nicely constructed chord sequence, Time Goes Back’s Marr-esque chiming (Frusciante said he learnt every Smiths song last year), Water’s funky chops and Second Walk’s blazing solo fills.
At 18 tracks and 65 minutes, Shadows is undoubtedly overlong and, like most solo projects, lacks the quality afforded by group collaboration. Nonetheless it remains Frusciante’s most enjoyable solo effort to date, and futher reminder of his huge talent and abounding enthusiasm for music.
Standout tracks: Omission, Second Walk, Water
3 out of 5 stars & album of the month
