An album by John Frusciante is really one of the last things I figured would be "assigned" to me by my “You Show Me Yours, I’ll Show You Mine” write-off partner andym173. Considering the, um, diversity of the previous albums I've had to review (see scary Ashanti and weird Pink Dots) I assumed this year I'd get something even more off kilter with my normal music tastes. When Andy shared with me his choices of albums for me to review, I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised because for the first time in three years I figured I’d have an easy time reviewing any of his choices.

John Frusciante is not a musician I know very well outside of his much talked about drug addict past and the Red Hot Chili Peppers – which is not saying much since my experience with that band started and ended with Mother’s Milk. After that release I definitely heard songs by RHCP, but haven’t purchased any of their albums. The same goes with John Frusciante’s previous solo releases, which I understand weren’t that outstanding. Suffice to say, listening to Shadows Collide With People is much like discovering an artist you’ve never heard before.

The first thing that strikes me about Shadows Collide With People is the strange opener “Carvel” and its weird keyboard effects that seems builds into an actual song right around the point where I’m ready to skip it. This is one of a few instances where Frusciante simply plays with electronically created sound as sort of an interlude to the actual tracks. I’m not a big fan of most instrumental music so these pieces don’t impress me that much and they come off exactly like the filler they seem to be. A track like “Carvel” would be perfect to me if the first two minutes of noise were cut out.

However, hearing John sing opens up a whole new aspect of this album. The third track, “Regret,” is really a prime example of how good this man’s songwriting can be. He does incorporate some minor effects, but the focus is really on his voice and guitar and the result is a low-key, but emotional rock song. “Wednesday’s Song” is a radio-ready number that could easily have been recorded by a band like Stone Temple Pilots. Frusciante sticks to this style throughout most of the album – just simple rock, good vocals, and introspective lyrics. More often than not the music is acoustic, but there are plenty of guest appearances (think band mates and such) throughout.

John does take the time to show off some different styles on Shadows Collide With People as well. There’s the upbeat pseudo-surf rock of “Second Walk” with electric guitar like most RHCP fans have come to know Frusciante for. I also enjoy “Water” for being simply a damn good song, but also because this is the one place where John truly blurs the lines between his solo efforts and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Shadows Collide With People is an overall solid solo effort. Although so many of these are eclipsed by the artist’s band and people’s expectations of the music I think this release is one that Red Hot Chili Peppers fan and non-fans alike can enjoy. The music style is one that won’t turn off existing fans, but is individual enough that no one is likely to claim this sounds just like the Peppers. Although I am not likely to have picked this up under other circumstances, Shadows Collide With People is a worthy addition to my collection and all of the lyrical references to water make it the perfect melancholy, rainy day listen.

Thanks to andym173 for turning me on to this release. Now go check out the other participants in the You Show Me Yours, I’ll Show You Mine writeoff!

Recommended: Yes