Stadium Arcadium (Indie Exclusive)

Thank God - after 15 years, the Chili Peppers returned to Rick Rubin's Laurel Canyon house and recorded the stunning sequel to Blood Sugar Sex Magic -- Stadium Arcadium, a flat-out tour de force which ends up surpassing it to become the Chilis' defining musical achievement.
Stadium Arcadium has more to it than meets the ear -- much more. It is an album that can keep growing on you through dozens of listenings. All of the signature Chili Peppers touches are here: the crosstalk between Flea's bass and John Frusciante's lead; the vocal lead of Anthony Kiedis backed by John Frusciante's high harmony; the deft exclamation points of Chad Smith's drums; and the almost preternatural entwining of John's guitar passages with Anthony's vocals, which deserves further comment.
What John Frusciante has done on Stadium Arcadium borders on miraculous. He paints soundscapes of negative aural space for Anthony to fill with vocals; his guitar returns after a line of verse to offer commentary on it -- ironic, mirthful, mournful, as the case may be. Other times, it joins in as a wordless vocal accompaniment. Quite simply, Stadium Arcadium establishes John Frusciante's status as a guitar superstar.
Perhaps four cuts on the double album - Dani California, Snow and Stadium Arcadium  and Animal Bar might be described as lightweight - pleasant enough. What remains is 24 songs - over 100 minutes - of pure living water from the Chili Peppers. Fittingly, the summit occurs at dead center - C'mon Girl, Wet Sand, Hey plus Desecration Smile and Tell Me Baby, are 25 minutes of the Chili Peppers at full cry, grooving in a white heat of aural perfection on a runaway train that won't stop. Yet, as always, in the midst of passages that may start out strident or bombastic, the Chilis will stop you in your tracks with a melodic interlude so sweet and unexpected as to bring tears to your eyes.