180g vinyl reissue of RHCP's most successful full-length to date! The 1999 album saw a personnel change with the glamorous Dave Navarro stepping out and former guitarist John Frusciante stepping back in. This change made the album sound much more reflective and dare I say spiritual. Let's face it, unless you're The Stones, you can't Rock N Roll forever... or at least at the pace they were once used to. Having fought battles with addiction amongst other issues, at some point you either succumb to the pressures or rise above and grow up. This is the album that saw Red Hot Chili Peppers enjoy the widest appeal. From longtime fans to your average middle of nowhere secretary to the frattiest of bros, it just spoke to them... to all of us. Once again produced by Rick Rubin, the album is sonically fantastic with the band at peak performance. "Scar Tissue," "Around The World," "Californication," "Road Trippin" and many others make this a solid listen from front to back.

• 25th anniversary edition
• ocean blue & red colored double vinyl pressing
• includes printed insert
• limited edition
• original release year: 1999
• music label: Warner Records 2024

reviewed by Taco Vato 07/2015