10 Overrated Hard Rock Albums Of The '90s
2. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication (1999)
Red Hot Chili Peppers started the decade by skyrocketing themselves to the commercial stratosphere with 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik', immediately stagnated with follow-up 'One Hot Minute', and so found themselves trying to find some stability as the decade came to a close.
Guitarist John Frusciante returned to the fold to replace the man who in fact replaced him several years prior in former-Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, as RHCP moved towards a refinement of their signature California-core sound, having previous attempted to blend their bouncy funk rock motif with psychedelic rock and heavy metal.
Frusciante spends most of his time vibing, and establishes himself as the OTP of RHCP, as he spearheads a desire to move towards the more mellow, relaxed sound. As a result, Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy (otherwise known as frontman Anthony Keidis) is further revealed as the frontman who just can't keep in tune.
Short, punchy songs like "Around the World" do damage enough, but getting to the slow, drawn out tracks like "Scar Tissue" and "Porcelain" completely shows him up - or is a great impression of someone singing underwater. Elsewhere, Flea continues to eat all the blue Smarties and Chad Smith still isn't Will Ferrell.