Californication (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Californication
Type = studio
Artist = 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
Reviews =
*Allmusic rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:pe8m965ohep2 link]
*"Entertainment Weekly" (B+) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,64068,00.html link]
*"Kerrang!" rating|5|5 August, 2003
*"Rolling Stone" rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/277669/californication link]
*The A.V. Club (favorable) [http://www.avclub.com/content/node/11049 link]
Last album = "One Hot Minute" (1995)
This album = "Californication" (1999)
Next album = "By the Way" (2002)
Misc = Singles
Name = Californication
Type = studio
single 1 = Scar Tissue
single 1 date = May 25, 1999
single 2 = Around the World
single 2 date = September 14, 1999
single 3 = Otherside
single 3 date = January 11, 2000
single 4 = Californication
single 4 date = June 19, 2000
single 5 = Road Trippin'
single 5 date = 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 number three on the U.S. Billboard 200. It is the Chili Peppers' most commercially successful album to date, selling more than fifteen million copies worldwide;Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3864401.stm|title=Chili Peppers' album tops survey|accessdate=2007-04-20|publisher=BBC] 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 epiphanic."Cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/277669/californication|title="Californication" review|accessdate=2007-04-20|publisher="Rolling Stone" magazine|author=Tate, Greg]

Background

Guitarist John Frusciante departed from the band mid-tour in 1992, while touring their critically acclaimed album "Blood Sugar Sex Magik". [Anthony Kiedis and Larry Sloman (October 6, 2004), "Scar Tissue" (New York: Hyperion), p. 295. ISBN 1401301010.] 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. [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 307.] Navarro influenced the band's ensuing album, "One Hot Minute", by incorporating various elements of heavy metal and psychedelic rock,Cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fpfwxq9hldfe|title="One Hot Minute" review|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|accessdate=2007-06-21|publisher=Allmusic] 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"). [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), pp. 344, 358, 401.] Critics, however, dismissed the album, claiming it was weak and unfocused. [Cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/redhotchilipeppers/biography|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers Biography|accessdate=2007-06-25|publisher="Rolling Stone Magazine"] Shortly after the release of "One Hot Minute", Navarro was fired due to internal differences. [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), pp. 361–377.]

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.cite web| author=Skanse, Richard| url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/redhotchilipeppers/articles/story/5923940/red_hot_redux | title = Red Hot Redux | publisher = RollingStone.com | date = 1998-04-30| accessdate = 2007-03-31] He was talked into admitting himself to drug rehabilitation in January 1998. [Cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=JOHN|FRUSCIANTE&sql=11:7veyxdkbjoly~T1|title=Biography of John Frusciante|accessdate=2007-06-25|publisher=Allmusic] 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. [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), pp. 389–400]

Writing and composition

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. [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), pp. 401–406.]

"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. [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 404.] Sarcasm was a concept that Kiedis had dealt with in the past and ultimately crafted a song around it. He was inspired by former band mate Dave Navarro, who he considered to be the "King of Sarcasm". [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 409.] Frusciante approached the guitar line present in "Scar Tissue" as an attempt to utilize two notes that are played far apart, but produce a "cool rhythm".Blackett, Matt (September, 1999). "Return of the Prodigal Son." "Guitar Player".] He had explored this technique on his first solo album—1994's "Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt". Frusciante considers "Scar Tissue" to be a "very simple example of the technique, but I think it's a style that sounds like me." The guitarist made use of slide guitar playing for the two solos in the song.

"Get On Top", a song which contains significant use of a wah pedal, was formed after a jam session conducted shortly after Frusciante had listened to Public Enemy: "I came up with [the rhythm to the song] on the way to rehearsal—just tapping it out with my foot." The understated guitar solo played in the middle of the song was originally intended to be more noticeable, according to Frusciante, who was playing screaming guitar solos. He changed his thought process after listening to Steve Howe's guitar solo on Yes' "Siberian Khatru": "the band sounded really big—and they're playing really fast—and then this clean guitar solo comes out over on top. It's really beautiful, like it's on its own sort of shelf. For 'Get On Top' I wanted to play something that contrasted between the solo and the background." "Savior", a song found towards the end of the album, features heavy effects, most notably an Electro-Harmonix Micro Synth with 16-second delay. Frusciante notes that the sound is "directly inspired by Eric Clapton's playing in Cream. If you listen to the actual notes, they're like a Clapton solo—they just don't sound like it because of the effects."

The hit "Around the World", which harkens back to the Chili Peppers' funk-influenced sound, was constructed by Frusciante at his home. The rhythm and beat, however, are intricate; this required him to play the song with the rest of the band rather than alone, in order for them to understand it. The bass lick was composed in "maybe 15 minutes," according to Frusciante: "Flea is the best bass player in the world. His sense of timing and the way he thinks is so crazy." The title track of the album was among the most difficult for the band to complete. Frusciante felt compelled to write an appropriate guitar ensemble that would appropriately compliment the poignant lyrical content, but encountered difficulty. [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 407.] 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, after drawing inspiration from The Cure's soundtrack song to "Carnage Visors". [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 407.] The title track was intended to represent Californian lifestyles, and more specifically, the "fake" nature which is associated with much of Hollywood. It makes various references to other musicians, such as Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, and uses numerous imagery to capture the evocative nature of California. [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 407.]

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.Cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,64068,00.html|title="Californication"|accessdate=2007-04-21|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|year=1999|author=David Browne]

Promotion and release

Rick Rubin had produced their two previous albums. However, The Chili Peppers decided to look for other producers for "Californication".Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 420.] 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". 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. [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), pp. 230–232, 320–321, 344, 424.] 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.Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 422.] To support their reunited line-up, the band played various proms across the country in order to promote "Californication". 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."

"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.cite web|title=Gold and Platinum: Diamond Awards|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)|date=undated|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblDiamond] [cite web|title=Gold and Platinum: Searchable Database|publisher=RIAA|date=undated|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH|accessdate=2007-06-24]

In March 2006, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' albums were made available to purchase on the iTunes Music Store.Cite web| url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002200299|title=Billboard Bits: Coachella, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Zakk Wylde|date=2006-03-21|accessdate=2008-06-14|publisher=Billboard|author=Jonathan Cohen] Albums bought there included new previously unreleased tracks ("Fat Dance", "Over Funk", and "Quixoticelixer"). The original tracks, unlike the bonus tracks, were not remastered.

Critical reception

"Californication" gained positive critical acceptance in contrast to its less popular predecessor, "One Hot Minute", and was a greater success worldwide. [Cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fpfwxq9hldfe|title="One Hot Minute" Album Review - Stephen Thomas Erlewine|accessdate=2007-06-24|publisher=Allmusic] "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." 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." Other critics credited the album's success to the return of Frusciante. Allmusic'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".Cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:a9fuxqykld0e|author=Greg Prato|title="Californication" Review|accessdate=2007-06-24|publisher=Allmusic] The album as a whole was "a bona fide Chili Peppers classic". "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". Mark Woodlief of "Ray Gun" commented that "'This Velvet Glove' strikes an intricate balance between a lush acoustic guitar foundation and anthemic rock," Woodlief continued "the disco intro to 'Parallel Universe' gives way to a scorching Western giddy-up motif in the chorus, and Frusciante's Hendrix-like excursions at the song's close."Woodlief, Mark (August, 1999) "Red Hot Chili Peppers Funking: The Power of Positive." "Ray Gun".]

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."Cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/2974.htm|title=Californication Review|accessdate=2007-07-02|work=NME] "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".Cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21277-californication|title=Californication Review - Brent DiCrescenzo|accessdate=2007-06-24|publisher=Pitchfork Media] 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."

The album received criticism for what Tim Anderson of "The Guardian" called "excessive compression and distortion" in the process of digital remastering.Cite web|url=http://technology.guardian.co.uk/online/insideit/story/0,,1992466,00.html|title=How CDs are remastering the art of noise|accessdate=2007-04-20|publisher=The Guardian] "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". [citeweb|title="Californication" Sound Quality|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/imperfect-sound-forever.htm|accessdate=2007-06-25|work=Stylus Magazine]

Over the years, "Californication" has maintained its popularity. "Scar Tissue" won a Grammy award for best rock song in 2000.Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/specials/2000/grammys/list.html|title=42nd Annual Grammy Awards nominations|accessdate=2007-04-20|publisher=CNN] 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".Cite web|url=http://music.aol.com/artist/red-hot-chili-peppers/5241/main|title=AOL Sessions|accessdate=2007-04-20|publisher=AOL Music] Cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6626238/399_californication|title=The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|accessdate=2007-04-20|work=Rolling Stone] Cite web|url=http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/061024/A3752.htm|title=Accolades| accessdate=2007-06-05|publisher=AcclaimedMusic.net] The album produced many staple hits for the Chili Peppers; five of the sixteen songs on their "Greatest Hits" album were taken from "Californication".Cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jvfixqyaldse|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers: Greatest Hits|accessdate=2007-04-21|publisher=Allmusic]

"Californication" 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.Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 423.] [Cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/red_hot_chili_peppers/bio.jhtml|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers bio|accessdate=2007-06-23|publisher=VH1] The band was informed minutes before arriving that the crowds and bonfires in the fields had gone out of control. When the Chili Peppers performed a tribute to Jimi Hendrix's song "Fire" to finish their set as a favour to Hendrix's sister, the disruption escalated into violence when several women who had been crowd surfing and moshing were raped and nearby property was looted and destroyed. [cite web|Title=|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/july99/woodstock27.htm|title=Woodstock '99 Goes Up in Smoke|author=Alona Wartofsky|date=1999-07-27|accessdate=2008-06-14|work=Washington Post] [cite web|title=Police investigate alleged rapes at Woodstock '99|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9907/29/woodstock.rape/|accessdate=2007-06-28] [cite web|title=Repeated Violence: Large Block Parties Need Supervision|work=The Lantern|url=http://media.www.thelantern.com/media/storage/paper333/news/2001/05/02/Opinion/Repeated.Violence-74898.shtml|date=2001-05-02|accessdate=2008-06-14] 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'."Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 424.]

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. 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."Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 426.] 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. [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 427.] 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. [Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 435.] As one of the last shows before the release of their next album "By the Way", the Chili Peppers played Rock in Rio 3. [Cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/robbiewilliams/articles/story/5923718/really_randoms_robbie_williams_eminem|title="Really Randoms" November 01, 2000 (paragraph 9)|accessdate=2007-06-24|publisher="Rolling Stone" magazine]

Accolades

The information regarding accolades attributed to "Californication" is adapted from AcclaimedMusic.net

ingles

Notes

External links

* [http://www.google.com/musicl?lid=jiaKjCeNRv&aid=rwDAhdphyiH "Californication"] at Google Music
*MusicBrainz release|id=be580d1c-181f-4ad9-9bfd-172c3960979e|name=Californication