10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Albums - Ranked!
5. Stadium Arcadium (2006)
Stadium Arcadium is FAT: The vinyl of this 2006 album consists of four double-sided records… but we defy you to say this is a bad thing.
It’s a swirling exploration of genre, emotion and musical mastery that showcases every previous incarnation of the Chili Peppers’ sound in a truly refined way, with hard-hitting rock tracks like Storm in a Teacup, bouncing funk numbers like Hump de Bump and the tender-hearted love song Hard to Concentrate; a subtle blend of Afrobeat drumming, surging guitar melodies, and the heartfelt love confessions of Kiedis. It’s a hell of an album.
This was the last album to feature John Frusciante before his second departure in 2009, and he went out with a bang. Long-time producer of the Chilis, Rick Rubin worked closely with Frusciante who started experimenting with a variety of sounds and effects pedals, often layering his guitar multiple times giving a real richness to this record.
It’s a damn fine example of what four musicians can do when they’re tapped into the river of musical creativity. For any real music nerds ready to undertake this audio pilgrimage, it’s worth noting that the album really benefits from being heard on vinyl as the digital compression of the original analogue masters omit many of the subtle details that make this one of the most satisfyingly produced records on the list.