Stadium Arcadium--A Review

The new Red Hot Chili Peppers CD was released last week to alot of hype. Is a two CD set too ambitious? Can they maintain the excellence that typified "Californication" and "By The Way" the last two studio albums?

The answer to both is an emphatic yes.

The RHCP's are musically and lyrically better than at anytime in their career. John Frusciante has dropped heroin and is playing as well as anyone. His experiences and role models such as Stevie Vai and Frank Zappa come out in ways that add to every song. Flea has always been superb and on this CD lays down bass lines that are incredible. My ten-year old son actullay got the CD the first day it came out and his immediate thought was that he "liked the bass line". Chad Smith is no Neil Peart on the drums but he doesn't need to be. He adds to songs by a subtle or intricate percussion beats.

What most makes this double CD good is Anthony Kiedis. Kiedis has taken some heat over the years because of his sometimes over the top schtick. This, however, is the new, more musically mature Kiedis. His vocals and lyrics are much improved over the OK but not stellar "One Hot Minute" CD that featured Dave Navarro on guitar.

Kiedis sings with a growl when needed as on the song "She Only Eighteen" or subtly on the excellent "Snow (Hey Yo)" and the title track. His writing has improved to the point that he has written two CD's worth of excellent material, no easy task.

I highly recommend this CD and also recommend seeing the Chili's live when they commence their tour in the summer.