Stadium Arcadium

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been up and down several times over the last several years - they are smart enough and good enough to pen at least one single per album, guaranteeing that they can keep some fans, sell concert tickets, and sell records. But in my estimation, these records have often lacked depth. Californication and Scar Tissue were both very good songs, but the record didn't do it for me as a whole.


When I saw RHCP on Saturday Night Live performing the first single from Stadium Arcadium, I was throughly disappointed and sad to see that such a great band was in continued decline. But the single eventually caught my ear, as did the next one.

I've now listened through the double disc several times. This is no return to Blood Sugar Sex Magic or Mother's Milk, but those are some of the best albums of our generation. But to put together two full discs of songs is a big challenge, and this was not a product of trying to put out bulk and refusing to distinguish one poor song from the next. There are other very good songs on there, and while the sound may not be as revolutionary as their earlier work, the RHCP continue to advance the funk and hip-hop influences in their brand of (somewhat punk) rock.

Here is their Grammy performance of Snow (Hey Oh). You'll have to excuse the squealing girls at the beginning. This is a wonderful song and while it is too bad that Anthony Kiedis has spent so long battling addiction, at least we get the benefit of his troubles.

p.s. - it should come as no surprise that Rick Rubin produced this record. He was all over everything at the Grammys