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Red Hot Chili Peppers: Californication
 Reunited with producer Rick Rubin and guitarist John
Frusciante (both of whom were on board for the 1991's breakthrough Blood Sugar
Sex Magik), the Chili Peppers waste no time in burying their last effort, the
so-so One Hot Minute. Californication's kickoff cut, "Around the
World," swaggers around the room, reacquainting itself with old fans and
welcoming new ones. Fuzzy Hendrix vibes and popcorn bass lines still rule the
roost, along with a heaping helping of disco magic and some unexpected twists.
Ten years ago, Anthony Kiedis and company wouldn't have been comfortable doing
revamped new wave ("Parallel Universe") or unpretentious ballads (the
acoustic "Road Trippin'"), but such material fits Californication's
extra-wide canvas. Except for a few meandering numbers that could have been
excised, the Red Hot Chili Peppers succeed and regain their footing on the
mountain of adrenalized funk.
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