First review of May! I've givin' up the ghost and realize I can't do a full discography. I'm too erratic when it comes to music.

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I like to think my music tastes are open. As of late, though, I haven't had a go-to artist, which I usually do. I stuck, more or less, in the world of dance music, enjoying sugary beats by BoA and the few Mariah Carey tracks I could stomach (bass-pumping Migrate anybody?) This week was splattered with M.I.A., Janet Jackson, and Madonna-- usual suspects. But this week I'm feeling a little more nostalgic, pining for the 90s again. And, as the temperatures are slowly making their way up to the 90s, I start looking for Sister Hazel and Third Eye Blind. There was something very fun and upbeat about rock music back then with its cool mixture of messed-up lyrics with happy guitar riffs and funky grooves. Come on. Who didn't love If You Steal My Sunshine? This lead me back to the daddy of all retro-90s music: California rock gods (the) Red Hot Chili Peppers, a band with a drug-soaked background, all the while being so clever as to have some of the more depressing lyrics displayed with catchy melodies. I couldn't tell you how many people think Under the Bridge is about a relationship...

Before this review, I did some homework, like I usually do. I read up all about this band and learned their typical-rocker history: drugs, sex, love, hate, drama, members dying, members quitting, producers cheating. The band, known for their goofball presence, have a past that can be equated to a tug of war. After getting through the mess and living through addiction and quite a few relapses, Stadium Arcadium represents ... well, nothing new. As incredible as this album is, it is musically more reflective than anything, and quite a few times, they self-plagiarize themselves. Then again, they may have been the point. The band stated that the success of this record can be linked to the lack of tension within the band. The Chili Peppers have cleaned up their act significantly from the days of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, now being able to create slick rock records that they've always wanted to produce. I have no problem with this. In fact, I'm enjoying this record more than previous ones, but there's a pattern that follows on this album. Don't go looking for anything good. I feel like the Peppers went back through their catalogue and tried to create music based on their discography, except this time they were sober to remember it.

THE GOOD

The great thing about an album with 28 tracks is that you're going to find at least one song you're bound to like, especially if you're a longtime fan. I've only been a casual fan for the most part, tending to stick to their popular singles by such names as By the Way and Californication. There's something about this album, though, and the way its paced that keeps it on replay. Tell Me Baby is an incredible pop rock song I'd expect to hear at any beach, USA. The Peppers have been known not for not being just Anthony Kiedis. In fact, bassist Flea and guitarist John Frusciante are just as popular as their lead singer. John's work on Stadium Arcadium is buttery smooth: just take one listen to lead-off single Dani California and you'll hear it. The song is the conclusion to the long referenced Dani, a tragic hero of sorts that has made subconscious appearances on quite a few songs from previous albums. The verses have been known for being remarkably similar to Tom Petty's Mary Jane's Last Dance, which is true, it does; however any allusion to Mr. Petty is then made their own with the driving chorus: California, rest in peace...

I'd tried to give the Peppers many chances to prove to me they could make a thorough album that I enjoy from beginning to end, but usually their rough spots are so annoying that I turn off the CD and switch to something else. I was surprised when I kept listening to Stadium, which kept giving me incredibly catchy tune after incredibly catchy tune: She's Only 18 is a weird ode to Anthony's girlfriend. The lyrics range from dirty to cryptic, but the funky beat is too great to ignore before the Peppers give you a classic chorus: Knock the world off its feet and right onto its head; the book of love will be laughing long after you are dead." The playful side of the band shines all through-out the album, but the prime example is Hump de Bump, a tongue-in-cheek dance song with that cool Peppers stylization. The music video, directed by Chris Rock, features the Peppers at an all black block party, booty shaking, mattress-jumping, grillz-wearing and iced trumpet-playing. I also like the cool sound on Animal Bar, which takes a page from progressive-rock band Yes while still a being a pure and simple pop song.

As I let the double-disc CD set play through, I can hear musical flourishes that span their impressive discography, though there's a lack of vibe from the mid-90s One Hot Minute, aka the forgotten album. Unfortunately, while this works most of the time, it does lead us into the BAD. My biggest issue with Stadium is that when I listen to the songs, I can point and say, "HEY! That's the Under the Bridge song! HEY! That's the Scar Tissue song! HEY! That's the Parallel Universe song!" It's gets difficult to separate after a while, not only from past incarnations, but also from each other. On a 28-track album, you're bound to get lost, especially on the latter half of the second disc. Also, I'm unsure what the theme behind the track division is. I know that this record was initially to be a trilogy of releases, but instead it lead to a double-album. But, I don't hear the concept. Is there a big difference between the music found on Disc One that's not on Disc Two? They may have been one intended, but I just don't get it.

But hey, on the upside, there is not a single song from this album that I can say I dislike! Each one brings something to a table. Even the filler is classic. If you find it difficult to listen to some of their older works, Stadium Arcadium is a great place to start your Chili Peppers adventure. It's got subtle allusions to past works that will help appreciate where they came from and where they are now. What with this musical expression and reflection, I can't wait for their next true progressive, but this wasn't it.

JUDGING
I've said it all already. This album is great, but it's not perfect. Also, what's up with the strong Doors-esque break on Wet Sand?

DISC ONE:
Dani California (5 Stars)
Snow ((Hey Oh)) (5 Stars)
Charlie (3.5 Stars)
Stadium Arcadium (4 Stars)
Hump de Bump (4 Stars)
She's Only 18 (4.5 Stars)
Slow Cheetah (5 Stars)
Torture Me (3 Stars)
Strip My Mind (4 Stars)
Especially in Michigan (4 Stars)
Warlocks (4 Stars)
C'mon Girl (4 Stars)
Wet Sand (4 Stars)
Hey (4 Stars)

DISC TWO
Desecration Smile (4 Stars)
Tell Me Baby (5 Stars)
Hard to Concentrate (4 Stars)
21st Century (3.5 Stars)
She Looks to Me (4 Stars)
Readymade (3 Stars)
If (4 Stars)
Make You Feel Better (4 Stars)
Animal Bar (4 Stars)
So Much I (3 Stars)
Storm in a Teacup (3 Stars)
We Believe (3 Stars)
Turn It Again (4 Stars)
Death of a Martian (4 Stars)

OVERALL SCORE: 4 STARS (3.94+)

Recommended: Yes