Red Hot Chili Peppers: Ranking Their Albums From Worst To Best
2. Californication
The comeback album can be a tricky thing to get right. Sometimes bands nail it - think Iron Maiden with the superb Brave New World; sometimes they're completely misguided at best - think The Weirdness by The Stooges. Though it had only been four years since One Hot Minute, 1999's Californication was most definitely a comeback album - with Frusciante's much-publicised return to the band, the Chilis were on a mission to win back the fans they'd lost over the last decade and retake their place as one of the biggest rock acts in the world.
They more than succeeded. Californication is a great example of a band offering music that's commercially accessible yet true to their own vision. We all know the singles - they've become radio staples over the years, but like all great pop songs, these are songs with substance. Opener Around The World begins with a blaze of Hendrix-style riffing, moving into a classic Chillis groove before exploding into the unmistakeable chorus. Scar Tissue is delicate and mellow, driven by a sparse Frusciante riff. The title track is another highlight, featuring some of Kiedis's best poetry as he examines the dark side of modern Los Angeles.
And this new-found commercial sensibility never compromises the band's sheer musical chops - Frusciante, Flea and Smith all all on top form throughout. What's refreshing is that the band aren't afraid to embrace their past. Funkier numbers like Get On Top and I Like Dirt stand proudly amongst the radio hits. The album is at its most interesting sonically when it combines their commercial sensibility with a harder edge.
Emit Remmus (which I only recently realised was Summer Time backwards) sounds like the Sex Pistols at their most menacing until the melodic bass in the bridge, while Right On Time - two minutes of Kiedis spitting out raps at super speed - could have been off the first album if it wasn't for Frusciante's vocal harmonies elevating it to a thing of curious beauty. Californication is a minor masterpiece and rightfully re-established the Chilis as rock heavyweights.