They say you can't go home again. And yet, the Red Hots have not only reteamed with guitarist John Frusciante, with whom they enjoyed their biggest success in the early '90s, but they've created an album that's an homage to California. Fine. But in the time then and now, they've upped the ante; One Hot Minute, an uneven but potent album, was marked by the band's strongest songwriting to date and the fiery guitar of ex-Jane's Addiction axman Dave Navarro. In comparison most of the new one seems sparse, and a bit of a step backward. The title track, melds a strong, simple melody to one of Anthony Kiedis' more comprehensible lyrics, creating a sad, dreamy Hollywoodland ode to sex, eternal youth, and the silver screen. Elsewhere, though, Californication suffers from too much filler. It's as if Kiedis scribbles ideas down on cocktail napkins, and then, rather than develop them into actual songs, he simply leaves them as is. In "I Like Dirt," he muses, "Some come slow and overload/ Must roll over when you're told/ Let's unzip and let's unfold." Whatever. If he couldn't write better stuff, maybe it wouldn't matter. But he has and it does.
BandsEmbryoWednesday, 12 November 2008 | Low Po-Yu Are you thinking what kind of a name is "Embryo"? Click to Continue...
BandsPriessnitzSunday, 09 November 2008 | Stanley HolditchThe packed crowd in the concert hall of the Palac Akropolis stands silently in the dark and waits. A lone blue spotlight fires and moodily illuminates a waiting drum kit, and cheers erupt from the previously hushed masses. Being a long time... Click to Continue...
Sounds likeTRICKY With DJ MUGGS and GREASEMonday, 17 November 2008 | Keith Kirchner
Much has been made of Tricky's roots in the Bristol, UK, trip-hop scene, but hip-hop has also been at the core of his musical being. It's no fluke that the rapper/producer covered Public Enemy's "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos" on his debut... Click to Continue...
Sounds likeBLONDIE No ExitFriday, 21 November 2008 | Keith Kirchner
LISTEN-Back in the day Blondie teetered between sublime and stupid. Even on sci-r new-wave anthems like Atomic Debbie Harry sang lines like "Your Hair is Beautiful". That's why they were so cool. But the only bright spot on their... Click to Continue...
(0 vote)
Are you thinking what kind of a name is "Embryo"? 
The packed crowd in the concert hall of the Palac Akropolis stands silently in the dark and waits. A lone blue spotlight fires and moodily illuminates a waiting drum kit, and cheers erupt from the previously hushed masses. Being a long time...
