Californication (album)

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Californication
Californication cover
Studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Released June 8, 1999
Recorded December 1998 – March 1999 at Cello Studios in Los Angeles, California
Genre Alternative rock
Length 56:24
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Rick Rubin
Professional reviews
Red Hot Chili Peppers chronology
One Hot Minute
(1995)		 Californication
(1999)		 By the Way
(2002)
Singles from Californication
  1. "Scar Tissue"
    Released: May 25, 1999
  2. "Around The World"
    Released: September 14, 1999
  3. "Otherside"
    Released: January 11, 2000
  4. "Californication"
    Released: June 19, 2000
  5. "Road Trippin'"
    Released: 2000

Californication is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on June 8, 1999 on Warner Bros. Records. Produced by Rick Rubin, Californication marked the return of John Frusciante, who had previously appeared on Mother's Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik, to replace Dave Navarro as the band's guitarist. Frusciante's return was credited with changing the band's sound altogether. The record was a notable shift in style from what was produced with Navarro. The album's subject material incorporated various sexual innuendos commonly associated with the band, and introduced themes of lust, death, contemplations of suicide, and drugs.

Californication produced several hits for the band, including "Around the World", "Otherside", "Californication" and the Grammy-award winning "Scar Tissue". Californication peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200. It is the Chili Peppers' most commercially successful album to date, selling more than fifteen million copies worldwide;[1] a revitalization in comparison to their previous album, One Hot Minute. The record marked a change in style for the band; Rolling Stone's Greg Tate noted that "while all previous Chili Peppers projects have been highly spirited, Californication dares to be spiritual and epiphanal."[2]

Contents

[edit] Background

Guitarist John Frusciante departed from the band mid-tour in 1992, while touring their critically acclaimed album Blood Sugar Sex Magik.[3] It took over a year before the band found a new guitarist to officially begin recording with. Dave Navarro, formerly of Jane's Addiction, was invited to join the Chili Peppers after Arik Marshall, who had finished the remaining tour dates for Blood Sugar Sex Magik, was fired.[4] Navarro influenced the band's ensuing album, One Hot Minute, by incorporating various elements of heavy metal and psychedelic rock,[5] which was something that the Chili Peppers had not previously been notable for. One Hot Minute was a commercial success, selling roughly five million copies (although a let down compared to Blood Sugar Sex Magik).[6] Critics, however, dismissed the album, claiming it was weak and unfocused.[5][7] Shortly after the release of One Hot Minute, Navarro was fired due to internal differences.[8]

In the years following Frusciante's departure from the Chili Peppers, he had developed a heroin addiction that left him in poverty and near death.[9] He was talked into admitting himself to drug rehabilitation in January 1998.[10] In April 1998, following Frusciante's three month completion, Flea visited his former band-mate and openly invited him to re-join the band, an invitation an emotional Frusciante readily accepted. Within the week, and for the first time in six years, the foursome gathered to play and jump-started the newly reunited Red Hot Chili Peppers.[11]

[edit] Writing and composition

The Red Hot Chili Peppers' reunited lineup, which once again featured John Frusciante.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers' reunited lineup, which once again featured John Frusciante.

Much of the album was written in the band members' homes in the summer of 1998. Kiedis and Frusciante often spent days together discussing song creation, guitar riffs and lyrical content. Bass and percussion aspects of the record were constructed through jam sessions and the individual work of Flea and Smith.[12]

Californication's lyrics were derived from Anthony Kiedis' ideas, outlooks, and perceptions of life and its meaning. "Porcelain" resulted after Kiedis met a young mother at the YMCA, who was attempting to battle her alcohol addiction whilst living with her infant daughter.[13] Sarcasm was a concept that Kiedis had been thinking about for some time and he decided to devote a song to it. Kiedis was also inspired by former band mate Dave Navarro, who he considered the "King of Sarcasm".[14] Frusciante began playing a poignant guitar riff, which Kiedis immediately saw integrating smoothly into "Scar Tissue". Running outside with joy, he saw birds flying gracefully overhead which inspired the lyric, "With the birds I'll share this lonely view".[15]

Audio samples of Californication
  • "Around the World"
    Sample of "Around the World", the second single from Californication, which combined hard, abrasive guitar progressions with a deeply melodic chorus.
    "Otherside"
    Sample of "Otherside", the fourth single from Californication, which was one of the darkest recordings following One Hot Minute.
  • Problems playing the files? See media help.

While most of the album progressed rapidly, "Californication" itself remained a difficult song to complete. Frusciante felt compelled to write an appropriate guitar ensemble to accompany the powerful lyrics, but encountered difficulty.[16] The song was barely making progress, and would have been scrapped had it not been for Kiedis' urgency to include it on the album. Frusciante completed the final riff two days prior to recording, and taught the rest of the band how to perform it. "Californication" was intended to represent Californian lifestyles, and more specifically, the "fake" nature which is associated with much of Hollywood.

The record was a change of style for the Chili Peppers, especially compared to their previous album, One Hot Minute, which combined various elements of psychedelic rock and hard rock. Although Californication still contained elements of their once ubiquitous "punk funk" sound (such as "Purple Stain", "Get On Top", "I Like Dirt", "Around the World", and "Right on Time"), it leaned towards more melodic riffs (for example, "Scar Tissue" and "Otherside") and focused on songs with implemented structure rather than jams. Experimental guitar work is evident in "Savior", and "This Velvet Glove", which use a Mellotron and other distortion methods. The album includes multiple references to drugs and Hollywood.[17]

[edit] Promotion and release

Rick Rubin had produced their two previous albums. However, The Chili Peppers decided to look for other producers for Californication.[18] David Bowie had shown great interest in working with the band and asked to produce the album; however, the Chili Peppers chose to remain with Rubin for Californication.[18] Rubin had, in the past, granted the Chili Peppers creative freedom on their recording material; this was something they thought necessary for the album to be unique, and could only occur with his return.[19] Recording took place at Cello Studios in Los Angeles. Following the recording process, the band played "Scar Tissue", "Otherside", and "Californication" to their managers, in early 1999, and it was decided that "Scar Tissue" would be the lead single for the album.[20] To support their reunited line-up, the band played various proms across the country in order to promote Californication.[20] It sprouted a competition, which called upon high school students to write essays on "...how they could make their schools better, safer, happier, more rocking places, so that they didn't have to go to school afraid. If you wrote the essay, you got a free ticket to the show."[20]

Californication was released on June 8, 1999, debuting at #5 but peaking at #3 on the Billboard Top 200. In Europe, the album peaked at #5 on the UK Top 40, #1 on the Finnish, Austrian, Swedish and New Zealand charts, and #2 on the French Top 40. It was certified gold just over a month later, on July 22, 1999, and its continuing sales have resulted in it being certified five-times multi-platinum.[21][22]

In March 2006, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' albums were made available to purchase on the iTunes Music Store.[23] Albums bought there included new previously unreleased tracks ("Fat Dance", "Over Funk", and "Quixoticelixer"). The original tracks, unlike the bonus tracks, were not remastered.

[edit] Critical reception

Californication gained positive critical acceptance in contrast to its less popular predecessor, One Hot Minute, and was a greater success worldwide.[24] Rolling Stone credited Kiedis for his drastically improved vocals: "[his] vocal cords have apparently been down to some crossroads and over the rehab, and returned with heretofore unheard-of range, body, pitch, soulfulness, and melodic sensibility."[2] Songs such as "Otherside" and "Porcelain" were called "Pumpkins-esque", while the album as a whole was "epiphanal" and that the "RHCP furthermuckers are now moving toward funk's real Holy Grail: that salty marriage of esoteric mythology and insatiable musicality that salvages souls, binds communities and heals the sick."[2] Other critics credited the album's success to the return of Frusciante. All Music Guide's Greg Prato said that the "obvious reason for [the band's] rebirth is the reappearance of guitarist John Frusciante", considering him to be the "quintessential RHCP guitarist".[25] The album as a whole was "a bona fide Chili Peppers classic".[25] Entertainment Weekly also credits Frusciante with transforming the band's sound into a "more relaxed, less grating, and, in their own way, more introspective album than ever before".[17]

And while many critics found the band's new sound refreshing, NME criticized the Chili Peppers for rarely utilizing their trademark funk sound, asking: "Can we have our brain-dead, half-dressed funk-hop rock animals back now, please? All this false empathy is starting to make my removed rib tingle."[26] Pitchfork, while considering the album a triumph over One Hot Minute, felt Californication lacked the funk that was ever-present in Blood Sugar Sex Magik.[27] It went on to scrutinize some lyrics for being overly sexual, but also considered Frusciante to be "the best big- time American rock guitarist going right now".[27]

The album received criticism for what Tim Anderson of The Guardian called "excessive compression and distortion" in the process of digital remastering,[28] and was the subject of an online petition which garnered over 1,000 signatures. Stylus Magazine labeled it as one of the victims of the loudness war and commented that it suffered from digital clipping so much that "even non-audiophile consumers complained about it".[29] An "unmastered" bootleg version has been circulated over the internet.[30]

Over the years, Californication has maintained its popularity. "Scar Tissue" won a Grammy award for best rock song in 2000.[31] The album was ranked number 399 on Rolling Stone magazine's, 2003 list, of the 500 greatest albums of all time and, in 2006, the Chili Peppers recorded a five-set playlist for AOL Sessions that included "Californication" and "Scar Tissue".[32][33][34] The album produced many staple hits for the Chili Peppers; five of the sixteen songs on their Greatest Hits album were taken from Californication.[35]

[edit] Californication tour

John Frusciante in 2000 during the Californication world tour.
John Frusciante in 2000 during the Californication world tour.

Immediately following the release of Californication, the band embarked on a world tour to support the record, beginning in the United States. To culminate the US leg of their tour, the Chili Peppers were asked to close Woodstock '99, which became infamous for the violence it resulted in.[36][37] The band was informed minutes before arriving that the crowds and bonfires in the fields had gone out of control.[36] When the Chili Peppers performed a tribute to Jimi Hendrix's song "Fire" to finish their set, the disruption escalated into violence when several women who had been crowd surfing and moshing were raped and nearby property was looted and destroyed.[38][39][40][41] Kiedis felt that "It was clear that this situation had nothing to do with Woodstock anymore. It wasn't symbolic of peace and love, but of greed and cashing in... We woke up to papers and radio stations vilifying us for playing 'Fire'."[42]

To kick off the band's European tour, the band staged a free show in Moscow's Red Square, on August 14, 1999, to a crowd of over 200,000.[43] Kiedis recalled the situation: "Red Square was so filled with wall-to-wall Russians that we needed a police escort to get near the stage."[43] Following the European leg, the group did a show in New York City, at the Windows on the World, for KROQ radio contest-winners, and then at the Big Day Out festival in Australia following several Japanese tour dates.[44] Flea, however, began to feel the repercussions of touring causing the band to set up concerts that were less strenuous, and consequently less financially rewarding, for them. These shows would finish the remainder of the Californication tour.[45] As one of the last shows before the release of their next album By the Way, the Chili Peppers played Rock in Rio 3.[46]

[edit] Accolades

The information regarding accolades attributed to Californication is adapted from AcclaimedMusic.net[34]

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
Robert Dimery United States 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[47] 2005 *
Rolling Stone United States The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time[48] 2003 399
Classic Rock & Metal Hammer United Kingdom "The 200 Greatest Albums of the 90s"[49] 2006 *
Mojo United Kingdom "The 100 Greatest Albums of Our Time 1993–2006"[50] 2006 89
Rolling Stone Germany "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"[51] 2005 189
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame United States "The Definitive 200: Top 200 Albums of All-Time"[52] 2007 92

(*) designates unordered lists.

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

  1. "Around the World" – 3:58
  2. "Parallel Universe" – 4:30
  3. "Scar Tissue" – 3:37
  4. "Otherside" – 4:15
  5. "Get on Top" – 3:18
  6. "Californication" – 5:21
  7. "Easily" – 3:51
  8. "Porcelain" – 2:43
  9. "Emit Remmus" – 4:00
  10. "I Like Dirt" – 2:37
  11. "This Velvet Glove" – 3:45
  12. "Savior" – 4:52
  13. "Purple Stain" – 4:13
  14. "Right on Time" – 1:52
  15. "Road Trippin'" – 3:25

[edit] B-sides

Song Length B-side of
"Gong Li" 3:43 "Scar Tissue"
"Instrumental #1" 2:48
"Teatro Jam" 3:06 "Around the World"
"How Strong" 4:43 "Otherside"
"Instrumental #2" 2:34 Bonus track on Australian edition
"Quixoticelixer" 4:48 iTunes bonus tracks
"Over Funk" 2:58
"Fat Dance" 3:40

[edit] Personnel

  • Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
  • John Frusciante – guitar, backup vocals
  • Michael "Flea" Balzary – bass, backup vocals
  • Chad Smith – drums
  • Greg Kurstin – keyboards
  • Patrick Warren – Chamberlin Organ on "Road Trippin'"
  • Rick Rubin – producer
  • Jim Scott – engineer, mixing
  • John Sorenson – additional engineering
  • Greg Fidelman – additional engineering
  • Greg Collins – additional engineering
  • David Schiffman – additional engineering
  • Jennifer Hilliard – assistant engineer
  • Ok Hee Kim – assistant engineer
  • Louis "Make It So" Matthieu – "Our Man"
  • Lindsay Chase – production coordinator
  • Vladimir Meller – mastering
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers – art direction
  • Lawrence Azerrad – art direction
  • Sonya Koskoff – photography
  • Tony Wooliscroft – photography

[edit] Chart positions

[edit] Album

Chart Peak position
Billboard 200[53] 3
UK Top 40[54] 5
Swedish Top 60[55] 1
New Zealand[56] 1
France[57] 2
Finland[58] 1
Norway[59] 1
Switzerland[60] 3

[edit] Singles

Year Song Peak positions
US
[61]		 US Mod
[61]		 US Main
[61]		 UK
[54]		 SWE
[55]		 NZ
[56]		 FR
[57]		 SWI
[60]
1999 "Scar Tissue" 9 1 1 15 3 66
1999 "Around the World" 7 16 35 35
2000 "Otherside" 14 1 2 33 19 5 65
2000 "Californication" 69 1 1 16 37 8
2000 "Parallel Universe" 37
2000 "Road Trippin'" 30 44 91

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Chili Peppers' album tops survey. BBC. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  2. ^ a b c Tate, Greg. Californication review. Rolling Stone magazine. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  3. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 295
  4. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 307
  5. ^ a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine. One Hot Minute review. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
  6. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 344, 358, 401
  7. ^ Red Hot Chili Peppers Biography. Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
  8. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 361–377
  9. ^ Skanse, Richard (1998-04-30). Red Hot Redux. RollingStone.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-31.
  10. ^ Biography of John Frusciante. All Music Guide.
  11. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 389–400
  12. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 401–406
  13. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 404
  14. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 409
  15. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 408
  16. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 407
  17. ^ a b David Browne (1999). Californication. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2007-04-21.
  18. ^ a b Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 420
  19. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 230–232, 320–321, 344, 424
  20. ^ a b c Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 422
  21. ^ Gold and Platinum: Diamond Awards. Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) (undated).
  22. ^ Gold and Platinum: Searchable Database. RIAA (undated). Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  23. ^ Jonathan Cohen. "The Red Hot Chili Peppers' catalog is now available digitally for the first time". Billboard. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  24. ^ One Hot Minute Album Review - Stephen Thomas Erlewine. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  25. ^ a b Greg Prato. Californication Review. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  26. ^ Californication Review. NME. Retrieved on 2007-07-02.
  27. ^ a b Californication Review - Brent DiCrescenzo. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  28. ^ How CDs are remastering the art of noise. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  29. ^ Californication Sound Quality. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
  30. ^ Audio y Video » Archive » Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication (Unmastered)
  31. ^ 42nd Annual Grammy Awards nominations. CNN. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  32. ^ AOL Sessions. AOL Music. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  33. ^ The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  34. ^ a b Accolades. AcclaimedMusic.net. Retrieved on 2007-06-05.
  35. ^ Red Hot Chili Peppers: Greatest Hits. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-04-21.
  36. ^ a b Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 423
  37. ^ Red Hot Chili Peppers bio. VH1. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
  38. ^ Woodstock '99 Goes Up in Smoke - Alona Wartofsky. Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
  39. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 424
  40. ^ Police investigate alleged rapes at Woodstock '99. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
  41. ^ "Repeated Violence". The Lantern. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
  42. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 424
  43. ^ a b Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 426
  44. ^ Kiedis, page 427
  45. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 435
  46. ^ "Really Randoms" November 01, 2000 (paragraph 9). Rolling Stone magazine. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
  47. ^ Dimery, Robert - 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die; page 856
  48. ^ The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2007-06-05.
  49. ^ Acclaimed Music - Classic Rock and Metal Hammer 200 List. AcclaimedMusic.net. Retrieved on 2007-06-05.
  50. ^ A Selection Of Lists From Mojo Magazine. Mojo. Retrieved on 2007-06-05.
  51. ^ (Germany) The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Rolling Stone (Germany). Retrieved on 2007-04-07.
  52. ^ The Definitive 200: Top 200 Albums of All-Time. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (United States). Retrieved on 2007-04-07.
  53. ^ Red Hot Chili Peppers album chart history. Billboard. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  54. ^ a b everyhit.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  55. ^ a b Swedish album chart archives. hitparad.se. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  56. ^ a b New Zealand album chart archives. charts.org.nz. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  57. ^ a b French Chart Archives. lescharts.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  58. ^ Finnish Chart Archives. finnishcharts.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  59. ^ Norwegian Chart Archives. vg.no. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
  60. ^ a b Swiss Chart Archives. hitparade.ch. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
  61. ^ a b c Red Hot Chili Peppers single chart history. Billboard. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Flea · John Frusciante · Anthony Kiedis · Chad Smith
Jack Irons · Arik Marshall · Cliff Martinez · DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight · Dave Navarro · D. H. Peligro · Jack Sherman · Hillel Slovak · Jesse Tobias
Studio albums
Other releases
Compilations
Videography
Singles
"True Men Don't Kill Coyotes" · "Get Up and Jump" · "Jungle Man" · "American Ghost Dance" · "Catholic School Girls Rule" · "Hollywood (Africa)" · "Fight Like a Brave" · "Me and My Friends" · "Knock Me Down" · "Higher Ground" · "Taste the Pain" · "Show Me Your Soul" · "Give It Away" · "Under the Bridge" · "Suck My Kiss" · "Behind the Sun" · "Breaking the Girl" · "If You Have to Ask" · "Soul to Squeeze" · "Warped" · "My Friends" · "Aeroplane" · "Coffee Shop" · "Shallow Be Thy Game" · "Love Rollercoaster" · "Scar Tissue" · "Around the World" · "Otherside" · "Californication" · "Road Trippin'" · "Parallel Universe" · "By the Way" · "The Zephyr Song" · "Can't Stop" · "Dosed" · "Universally Speaking" · "Fortune Faded" · "Dani California" · "Tell Me Baby" · "Snow ((Hey Oh))" · "Desecration Smile" · "Hump de Bump"
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