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iTunes Music Review - Stadium Arcadium (4 out of 5)

Stadium Arcadium
- 4 out of 5
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Reviewed by Darla Sasaki
- What? Only four stars, you stingy bastard? I'm asking myself the same question, so let me explain myself to myself... If I compare the new RHCP album to, say, any double album I can think of off the top of my head, Stadium Arcadium would be taunting lesser double albums from atop a French-occupied British castle while using a funny accent and a moustache.
  
  However, if I compare it to 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Stadium Arcadium has failed to grab me as completely. I am telling myself that I'm being a little bit unfair to Anthony, Flea, Chad, and John. How could another album from one band possibly affect me the way Blood Sugar Sex Magik did? I tattooed their logo on my body, I loved them so much.
  
  Four stars or five, Stadium Arcadium brings back the Peppers with a vengeance. The funk -- which (IMNHO) fizzled away with Dave Navarro on guitar and the subsequent so-so release One Hot Minute -- has come back. Drummer Chad Smith and bassist Flea lay down great beats, giving us the funk, but also showing some well-deserved musical maturity.
  
  "21st Century" musically calls back to "Naked in the Rain," and has hints of the "old" band while it showcases the newer sound of the band. Guitarist John Frusciante blisters through a great run at the end of that song, which just makes me want to hear more. (Chanting for more in my living room gets me nothing, alas.)
  
  Where I found Californication and By the Way to be fine, if not too laid back, I love the energy behind Stadium Arcadium. Tracks like "Readymade" and "Dani California" have bass and guitar lines (respectively) that cause head bobbing you don't even realize you're doing. The greatest compliment I can give this album is that I'd road trip to this set and not skip a song. Now what I want are the tracks that didn't make the album.
  
  This band is 23 years old. While I fondly think back upon the pseudo-Seuss days of socks-on-[you-know-whats], I can't imagine a better gift than a new/old avenue for a great band.
  
  The Peppers are going on tour this summer. You can bet I'll be there and feeling better than ever.
  
  Favorite Songs: "Snow ((Hey Oh!))," "Charlie," "21st Century," "Readymade," "Animal Bar"
  - Darla Sasaki
Darla began playing the piano when she was eight. But she's lazy, so she switched to the clarinet in order to read only one line of music at a time. She then expanded to the alto and soprano sax to spice up her woodwind life. Meanwhile, she listens to everything from The Beach Boys to Boulderdash (which, if not interpreted alphabetically, is a lot of music, but is otherwise only the groups between "be-" and "bo-"). She places full blame on her friends for her eclectic tastes. In an ideal world, she would want an easy way to describe the music she loves, mix tapes would still be a hot hobby, and the RIAA would get over themselves.

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A guest said: (hide)

Fri May 12, 2006 6:09 pm

Great review, Darla.

I think the best part of listening to any new album is bobbing your head and you don't know you're doing it -- that line says it all for me.

Jim Dalrymple

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:30 pm

Come on. Have you listened to it through and through more than once or twice? Once you do, yo'll fully comprehend the brilliance and creativity of this amazing album. Listen to C'mon girl.

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