10 Perfect Rock Albums Of The 2000s
2. The Empyrean - John Frusciante (2009)
John Frusciante is known as the on and off guitarist from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, being instrumental in some of the bands most successful albums to date. Towards the end of the noughties, Frusciante released his eighth solo album, The Empyrean.
When solo endeavours by members of already giant bands go unnoticed, it’s usually for good reason. Slash is an incredible guitarist, but he isn't celebrated for his solo work; Frusciante, on the other hand, this guy can make a solo record.
The album felt like an adventure into psychedelic space. It was an experimental blend of post-rock guitar melodies, synthesizers, string ensembles and Fruciante's haunting vocals, with themes of religion and the wide expanse of the universe.
The opening track was a homage to the Funkadelic song, Maggot Brain, a slow number to open with, but this record was all about the journey. The atmosphere created throughout the album constantly shifts, with many tracks morphing into something quite different from how they began.
Central was a swirling, ever-building psychedelic jam, and Enough of Me featured the slick guitar playing of Johnny Marr of The Smiths. There was even a hidden Easter egg; the tracks Enough of Me and One More of Me, when timed correctly, could be played over the top of one another, and their various components complimented each other perfectly.
This is an album to give time to. Block off an evening, close the blinds, turn your lights down and your sound system up.