His face should look familiar and his name should sound familiar, but John Frusciante usually is referred to as simply "the guitarist" for the infamous Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has had an on and off relationship with the band for 10 years now - a love affair that started when he was 14 and was finally consummated when he joined the band at the age of 18.
Frusciante is not just a guitarist, however. His latest release, "To Record Only Water for Ten Days" should more than prove this.
"Ten Days," Frusciante's third solo effort, is a slew of searing guitars, fuzzy background noise and indistinguishable lyrics at times brought to life by an almost painful wavering falsetto. On the first listen, the album sounds messy and unfortunate for a man of such talent. But trust him enough to give it a second spin - there will be no regrets.
Frusciante's prowess on guitar is well known, but what is not so well known is his talent in areas other than guitar artistry. Frusciante has devoted much of his time to painting, particularly after breaking up with the Peppers in 1992 (he rejoined in 1998). Several of his paintings are presently on display in Los Angeles.
"Ten Days" is a far cry from the Peppers' latest, "Californication." Frusciante's solo work is less accessible and takes longer to appreciate. But it's worth the effort. In an age of so much easily likable and simultaneously despicable pop music, Frusciante's work is an interesting, rewarding change.
|
Listeners should expect incredible guitar playing from Frusciante and should not be disappointed by his latest work. Yet despite his punk rock roots, Frusciante opts for a much mellower (yet still incredible) sound on this album instead of the fast-paced anarchy of punk guitar. The juxtaposition of tender acoustic and more severe electric guitars becomes complementary rather than contrastive in these songs. This can best be heard in the instrumental "Ramparts," a one-minute masterpiece of melodic guitar. Throughout several songs, another juxtaposition is brought out - the placement of sharp, fast drum kit beats next to fuzzy static.
These complementary contrasts can be taken to reflect Frusciante's life. Though mostly known as a rowdy Chili Pepper, he also plays the pensive painter in tune with his inner self. During his hiatus from the Peppers, Frusciante's long-term heroin addiction overcame him completely. His second solo album, "Smile From the Streets That You Hold" was recorded for drug money and, according to Frusciante, is not an album that he is proud of. Thankfully, he sought rehabilitation and has come through.
|
This spirit of survival is interwoven throughout "Ten Days." The emotion in his voice sometimes overcomes Frusciante's ability to be coherent, but it doesn't seem to matter. The feelings inherent in each song come across clearly. If, however, the album's lyric booklet were perused, you might be surprised.
Frusciante is a poet - a strange, unusual poet, but a poet nonetheless. His introspection is apparent in each of his songs. Earnestness exists in his pensiveness; he has things he feels he needs to tell us. Things like: "There will come a time / When times goes out the window / And you'll learn to drive out of focus / I'm you / and if anything unfolds / It's supposed to."
None of the 15 songs on the album has the usual alternating verse-chorus-verse format. While this works for the songs, what is missing is length. Most songs clock in at under three and a half minutes, ending as soon as they begin to open up and turn into something beautiful. With more expansion, several songs could become exceptional pieces of music.
Some of the more brilliant songs on "Ten Days" are the most stark, like "Wind Up Space." Sadness pervades the guitar line and the desperate, frustrated and muted vocals. In "Away & Anywhere," Frusciante's vocals are purposely monotonous, offset by background vocals and a shifting synthesizer and drum line.
The album as a whole generates a definite atmosphere. It is an experience and should be listened to in its completion rather than in pieces. That is not to say that each song is not a work in and of itself, but that each song is needed in conjunction with every other song in order to see all of what Frusciante offers.
As a solo artist, Frusciante easily is loved or hated. And while his sound is unquestionably unique, his music could be considered a hybrid of that of Built to Spill, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley. Althought Frusciante's previous solo efforts have garnered much critical acclaim, they have been missed by most everyone else. After having been in the shadow of the Chili Peppers for much too long, it's time his name stands on its own.
Read More
The best albums of 2014
By Noah Zeidman | December 4, 2014Across genres, it has been a pretty great year in music.
Top 10 movies of 2014
December 4, 2014This has been an excellent year for film, offering everything from gripping blockbusters to innovative personal films.
Iggy Azalea is “Reclassified”
December 4, 2014It has become common practice among music artists to repackage their albums in an effort to simultaneously boost single sales and dish out new content by slightly renaming the album or slapping “Deluxe” onto the title.
