Search - Red Hot Chili Peppers :: Stadium Arcadium

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Stadium Arcadium
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, R&B, Rock

Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
1. Dani California
2. Snow (Hey Oh)
3. Charlie
4. Stadium Arcadium
5. Hump De Bump
6. She’s Only 18
7. Slow Cheetah
8. Torture Me
9. Strip My Mind
10. Especially In Michigan
11. Warlocks
12. C’mon Girl
13. Wet Sand
14. Hey
Track Listings (14) - Disc #2
1. Desecration Smile
2. Tell Me Baby
3. Hard to Concentrate
4. 21st Century
5. She Looks To Me
6. Readymade
7. If
8. Make You Feel Better
9. Animal Bar
10. So Much I
11. Storm In A Teacup
12. We Believe
13. Turn It Again
14. Death of a Martian
Track Listings (3) - Disc #3
1. Dani California (video)
2. Track by track interviews with the band
3. Making of Dani California

Four-year career hiatuses followed by sprawling double-albums could spell trouble for a band of the Chili Peppers' stature: consider they'd originally recorded enough for three discs. The restless, trouble-plagued outfit t... more »hat helped break alternative rock into the mainstream with a potent fusion of punk 'n' funk in the '80s finds itself two decades on almost completely devoid of the former's energetic abandon, while the latter's effusive rhythms are considerably subdued over the course of this two-hour, 28-track collection. It's not so much that the Peppers have lost their muscular, often uber-macho edge as they have willfully tamed it in service of mature reinvention here. The mellower, often introspective, if no less potent pop ethos that characterized the crossover hit "Under the Bridge" blossoms fully here on tracks like disc one's "Snow," "Wet Sand," and the jazz-cool of "Hey." The title track, "Desecration Smile," and "She Looks To Me" finds them venturing further into laid back pop ballad territory, while the tricky rhythms of "Dani California," "Charlie," and "So Much I" eventually kick into familiar top gear on the pop-savvy "Tell Me Baby" and hip-hop seasoned "Storm in a Teacup." It's not that there's a paucity of musical adventure here ("If" and "Animal Bar" finds them wafting into Floydish neo-psychedelia while "Make You Feel Better" seems to channel no less than Joe Jackson) but that it's delivered with a subtlety--and dare we say it?--tasteful musical restraint that's a stark contrast to the band's early, overly overt nature. There's perhaps too much mid-tempo simmering and reflection going on; like most double-albums it could be focused into a much more compelling single disc. But that seems largely beside the Peppers' hooks-over-histrionics point here: an unlikely record to kick back to, and one that both challenges assumptions and eases the band into middle age with an oft languorous, if undeniably savory groove. This deluxe edition contains a 90-minute bonus DVD featuring Tony Kaye's video (and a half-hour "making of" featurette) for "Dani California," a kaleidoscopic romp through rock history that finds the appropriately costumed and bewigged Peppers conjuring everything from early Elvis and British Invasion to P-Funk, Glam Metal, and Grunge. All four band members also participate in a casual, track-by-track discussion of the album that runs nearly an hour. --Jerry McCulley

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CD Details

All Artists: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Title: Stadium Arcadium
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Warner Bros UK
Original Release Date: 1/1/2006
Re-Release Date: 5/9/2006
Album Type: Limited Edition, Import
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, R&B, Rock
Styles: Funk, Funk Rock
Number of Discs: 3
SwapaCD Credits: 3
UPCs: 093624999720, 093624999720

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Four-year career hiatuses followed by sprawling double-albums could spell trouble for a band of the Chili Peppers' stature: consider they'd originally recorded enough for three discs. The restless, trouble-plagued outfit that helped break alternative rock into the mainstream with a potent fusion of punk 'n' funk in the '80s finds itself two decades on almost completely devoid of the former's energetic abandon, while the latter's effusive rhythms are considerably subdued over the course of this two-hour, 28-track collection. It's not so much that the Peppers have lost their muscular, often uber-macho edge as they have willfully tamed it in service of mature reinvention here. The mellower, often introspective, if no less potent pop ethos that characterized the crossover hit "Under the Bridge" blossoms fully here on tracks like disc one's "Snow," "Wet Sand," and the jazz-cool of "Hey." The title track, "Desecration Smile," and "She Looks To Me" finds them venturing further into laid back pop ballad territory, while the tricky rhythms of "Dani California," "Charlie," and "So Much I" eventually kick into familiar top gear on the pop-savvy "Tell Me Baby" and hip-hop seasoned "Storm in a Teacup." It's not that there's a paucity of musical adventure here ("If" and "Animal Bar" finds them wafting into Floydish neo-psychedelia while "Make You Feel Better" seems to channel no less than Joe Jackson) but that it's delivered with a subtlety--and dare we say it?--tasteful musical restraint that's a stark contrast to the band's early, overly overt nature. There's perhaps too much mid-tempo simmering and reflection going on; like most double-albums it could be focused into a much more compelling single disc. But that seems largely beside the Peppers' hooks-over-histrionics point here: an unlikely record to kick back to, and one that both challenges assumptions and eases the band into middle age with an oft languorous, if undeniably savory groove. This deluxe edition contains a 90-minute bonus DVD featuring Tony Kaye's video (and a half-hour "making of" featurette) for "Dani California," a kaleidoscopic romp through rock history that finds the appropriately costumed and bewigged Peppers conjuring everything from early Elvis and British Invasion to P-Funk, Glam Metal, and Grunge. All four band members also participate in a casual, track-by-track discussion of the album that runs nearly an hour. --Jerry McCulley

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Member CD Reviews

Michelle S. (Chelly10s) from W HOLLYWOOD, CA
Reviewed on 3/17/2009...

Stadium Arcadium is one of their best CDs. They prove they aren't being left behind with their nineties alternative counterparts with a contemporary CD chock full of great tracks. If you enjoy RHCP's music, this is a must have.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

CD Reviews

RHCP Deliver An Uncompromising Box Set

Corey Turner | Florida | 04/12/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Vinyl is sparking a flame as of late, many choose it because they claim they can truly hear the difference (when in reality lets be honest many people snag it for the looks and credibility). I agree vinyl can sound amazing, modern releases from artist though are usually compromised due to the lacking rough source (and no it's not always because it's always digital). Rest assure this is one set that the difference isn't just packaging. Steve Hoffman was behind the vinyl pressing, he's one of the few people I truly trust when it comes to revitalizing the sound of an album.

Pressed at RTI by Rick Hashimoto, all four 180 gram slabs of vinyl sound fuller, warmer, and dynamically alive. Between Warner Bros. commitment to keeping it all analog and (thankfully) passing these masters over to Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman you come out ahead. When "Stadium Arcadium" was released in May of 06', Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante spoke highly of all the effects and techniques he had incorporated. We heard his playing style really evolve, spiced with vintage rock riffs (tones too), and waves of forgotten 80's artist. This was the ultimate thank you to fans, twenty eight tracks, singles and experimental tunes as plentiful as the number of days, weeks, months and years we've awaited for this release ( what a long four years).

Chad Smith blasted us away with unique drum solos, Anthony tested his vocal range, and Flea was still bouncing off the bass of 2002's "By The Way". It all seemed so perfect, then the moment of truth... Going home looking at the funky packaging, 'Mars' and 'Jupiter' some spacey attempt to cohesively bond the two discs instead of coming out in the open with 'disc one' and 'disc two'. It seemed like things were going smooth, and they did to many of us for the first few weeks, until we noticed the definite lack in something. That something turned out to be the dynamics, missing in action and we were fed a lot of chunky cleans, lifeless drum chatter (Chad did a great job, I'm just trying to make a point of the actual sound quality) and a look to the past. Anyone remember RHCP's "Californication"? Of course, how about all the sharp jabs at Rick Rubin and co? Claiming the album was too compressed for its own good, many picked up on this much later in the game with 2008's "Death magnetic" by Metallica.

Instead of dwelling on the past, and the digital copy of "Stadium Arcadium" lets look at the pros of the vinyl edition. You get more headroom, the dynamics have made a return. Ambience submissively takes the back seat, in the good sense of course. Tracks like "Slow Cheetah" flow, and make the way to the top of your playlist. What you could have labeled filler in the past may now be not nearly as fatiguing and actually quite enjoyable. Singles sound fresher, the album lasts longer, if only vinyl was gum. Uplifting tunes express themselves now, calmer songs like "Wet Sand" and "Hard to Concentrate" are much easier to appreciate etc. "Turn It Again" and "Readymade" burst at the seams with energy without ever being so repulsively compressed you turn down the volume.

2006 for many fans wasn't a good year, criticizing the album at any given chance, the production value was instantly a cheap shot. Given this copy there probably wouldn't be a reason to complain, still a 'hot' mix it's not nearly as scorching. Some will find a way to poke fun at Anthony Kiedis and his bizarre wording, or the Chili Peppers being less funky then former releases. This has a little bit for everybody familiar with there 90's work and above ("Uplift Mofo Party Plan" tunes sorry).

For those not familiar with vinyl and would to snag a copy of this, do note there are two separate version floating amongst sellers. They both come with four records, you get all twenty eight tracks no worries there. One edition is on 150 gram vinyl, pretty standard stuff, but again it doesn't sound bad. For those willing to throw more money at the deal, you can get the 180 gram version (heavier, thicker vinyl usually saved for audiophile recordings, doesn't seem to be the case as of recently). This box set includes a 'deluxe' slipcase, combined with a special booklet."