They say you can't go home again. And yet, the Red Hots have not only reteamed with guitarist John Frusciante, with whom they enjoyed their biggest success in the early '90s, but they've created an album that's an homage to California. Fine. But in the time then and now, they've upped the ante; One Hot Minute, an uneven but potent album, was marked by the band's strongest songwriting to date and the fiery guitar of ex-Jane's Addiction axman Dave Navarro. In comparison most of the new one seems sparse, and a bit of a step backward. The title track, melds a strong, simple melody to one of Anthony Kiedis' more comprehensible lyrics, creating a sad, dreamy Hollywoodland ode to sex, eternal youth, and the silver screen. Elsewhere, though, Californication suffers from too much filler. It's as if Kiedis scribbles ideas down on cocktail napkins, and then, rather than develop them into actual songs, he simply leaves them as is. In "I Like Dirt," he muses, "Some come slow and overload/ Must roll over when you're told/ Let's unzip and let's unfold." Whatever. If he couldn't write better stuff, maybe it wouldn't matter. But he has and it does.
MusicianAoki is A-OKThursday, 17 September 2009 | Joe Bodia
Aoki Takamasa is one of Japan's busiest and freshest young electronic artists today. His sensitivity to melody and groove, coupled with his approach to live performance, keeps his music warm, emotive and engaging...
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Sounds likeBRYAN FERRY FranticThursday, 20 November 2008 | Keith Kirchner
LISTEN-Retaining his ability to knock out a tune with a voice that never seems to have aged in 20 years, Ferry makes a respectable effort in light of some recent solo joints from 50 year olds (Jagger comes to mind). Produced by the... Click to Continue...
Sounds likeBALLISTIC EDNA Minefield TapdanceFriday, 14 November 2008 | Laura Encarnado
LISTEN-Usually when I pop a cd in to review, I start from the beginning. As I was listening to the first track, "You’re the Man", I leafed through the cd booklet and came across the lyrics for "Headaches" which features bits on... Click to Continue...
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Aoki Takamasa is one of Japan's busiest and freshest young electronic artists today. His sensitivity to melody and groove, coupled with his approach to live performance, keeps his music warm, emotive and engaging...
