Well folks... Rick Rubin manages to somehow screw up another album...

RHCP's latest "Stadium Arcadium" has well enough songs for a 12 or 15 PERFECT SONG lineup...

But noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo....

Leave it to Rick Rubin to clog the thing with no less than TWENTY EIGHT SONGS... are u kiddin' me ???

Somehow, I knew this was gonna happen. There's no band on earth that can release a coherent CD with 28 songs... no band in history for that matter...

Now, Stadium Arcadium has the following INCREDIBLE tunes on it:

Hump De Bump
She's Only 18
Slow Cheetah
Torture Me (dig Flea's trumpet highlights here)
C'Mon Girl (one of my top faves of the whole CD)
Hey (nice jazz guitar groove here)
Desecration Smile
Readymade (great relentless rocker)
If (has that "Candle in the Wind" quality to it)
So Much I
Storm in a Teacup (I had some extra stars by this, so another very top fave)
We Believe
Death of a Martian...

Okay, if you want, throw in Dani California and Stadium Arcadium...

What in the &^%$#@ does Rubin always have to go and add those filler songs that do nothing but bring an album down.

If they'd stuck just to the 12 to 15 above we'd have another Californication... as it is now there's just way too much there to wade through and it's so chopped up from song to song.

VH1 has free listening to all tracks, not sure how long they'll have it up... link is below:

[www.vh1.com]

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."

this is the worst aspect of the CD-age. Almost all albums are too long.

BornOnTheBayou Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well folks... Rick Rubin manages to somehow screw
> up another album...

another? when was the last one he screwed up?
>
> RHCP's latest "Stadium Arcadium" has well enough
> songs for a 12 or 15 PERFECT SONG lineup...
>
uh....regardless of who the producer is, if the RHCP (or anyone) WANTS to put 12, 15 or even 50 songs on an album, its their choice to do so or not - not the producer's. Theyve the record deal and he's the employee - not the other way 'round.

Gazza's right. No way Rubin decides how many songs will make it on the album. But apart from the quantity of songs, how do you rate the album? Is it another Californication / By The Way or have the Peppers changed direction? Give us a review!

(I'm downloading the album as we speak)

The songs are all dirges. The singer can't sing and the band don't swing.

Sorry but the Chilli Peppers are my major blind (or should that be deaf?) spot..

seen the video for their latest single? - horrible

Child of Clay wrote:

this is the worst aspect of the CD-age. Almost all albums are too long.

So true, also no clear Side 1 and Side 2. Think of how this defines "Tattoo You" among many others. Or the 4 sides of "Exile".

Well. I'm listening to it now and there are some cool songs on it, but also a lot of forgettable ones, as BOTB mentioned. I'll compile my own Stadium Arcadium on one disc this weekend by leaving off the fillers. Should result in a decent album.

R U kidding me?........Stadium Arcadium.....is epic. Any band willing to risk their reputation and have the balls to release 28 songs is OK with me.....kudos to the Stones too for their 18 tracks and bucking the industry norm....and perhaps starting a trend..............
anyway..........the new disc is a mix of Blood Sugar...meets Californication......that Fruscante and Kiedis are not on drugs anymore really shows.......and their musical genius is staggering............we all know Flea is the best bass player ever.....and on "Storm in The Teacup" for example.....it's a "how to" manual.......Fruscante's lead guitar on "Wet Sand"....is staggering........this is a classic disc.

Rip This Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> R U kidding me?........Stadium Arcadium.....is
> epic. Any band willing to risk their reputation
> and have the balls to release 28 songs is OK with
> me.....kudos to the Stones too for their 18 tracks
> and bucking the industry norm....and perhaps
> starting a trend..............
> anyway..........the new disc is a mix of Blood
> Sugar...meets Californication......that Fruscante
> and Kiedis are not on drugs anymore really
> shows.......and their musical genius is
> staggering............we all know Flea is the best
> bass player ever.....and on "Storm in The Teacup"
> for example.....it's a "how to"
> manual.......Fruscante's lead guitar on "Wet
> Sand"....is staggering........this is a classic
> disc.

agreed. its an excellent CD

Gazza Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BornOnTheBayou Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well folks... Rick Rubin manages to somehow
> screw
> > up another album...
>
> another? when was the last one he screwed up?
> >
> > RHCP's latest "Stadium Arcadium" has well
> enough
> > songs for a 12 or 15 PERFECT SONG lineup...
> >
> uh....regardless of who the producer is, if the
> RHCP (or anyone) WANTS to put 12, 15 or even 50
> songs on an album, its their choice to do so or
> not - not the producer's. Theyve the record deal
> and he's the employee - not the other way 'round.

I disagree with this.... the album is PRODUCED by the Producer, and whatever company has the band under contract for the album. Just like a building is built according to the designs of the DEVELOPER not the carpenter or plumbers who do the work. Or a movie is produced by the PRODUCER & DIRECTOR, not the actors. The musicians play the music.

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-05-02 21:47 by BornOnTheBayou.

mr edward Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well. I'm listening to it now and there are some
> cool songs on it, but also a lot of forgettable
> ones, as BOTB mentioned. I'll compile my own
> Stadium Arcadium on one disc this weekend by
> leaving off the fillers. Should result in a decent
> album.

I really like the songs I listed above... they all have the potential to be RHCP classics.

What an incredible album this WOULD have been if the Producer had done his job.... the musicians are playing incredibly well.

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."

mr edward Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gazza's right. No way Rubin decides how many songs
> will make it on the album. But apart from the
> quantity of songs, how do you rate the album? Is
> it another Californication / By The Way or have
> the Peppers changed direction? Give us a review!
>
> (I'm downloading the album as we speak)

Well then, according to you and Gazza the producer is little more than a flunky-boy for the musicians.

This is ridiculous. The history of rock music is full of strong producers... look at Felix Pappalardi. Rick Rubin is incredibly influential to the bands he works with. It's up to him to give the album formative direction, help choose the best song arrangements, edit the songs, and be a very strong voice for what goes on the album, and what doesn't.

At the end of the day Stadium Arcadium just comes off as a hodge-podge to me, but the great songs are really good. Too bad they missed such an opportunity. Just like a poorly edited movie, I don't blame the ACTORS anymore than I blame the MUSICIANS for a poorly produced album.

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."

Rip This Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> R U kidding me?........Stadium Arcadium.....is
> epic. Any band willing to risk their reputation
> and have the balls to release 28 songs is OK with
> me.....kudos to the Stones too for their 18 tracks
> and bucking the industry norm....and perhaps
> starting a trend..............
> anyway..........the new disc is a mix of Blood
> Sugar...meets Californication......that Fruscante
> and Kiedis are not on drugs anymore really
> shows.......and their musical genius is
> staggering............we all know Flea is the best
> bass player ever.....and on "Storm in The Teacup"
> for example.....it's a "how to"
> manual.......Fruscante's lead guitar on "Wet
> Sand"....is staggering........this is a classic
> disc.


There's some incredible stuff on this CD... I love Storm in the Teacup (maybe the best track on the entire album)... but 28 songs ??? they aren't all nearly at the same level.

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-05-02 21:44 by BornOnTheBayou.

Gazza and I both sai that it wasn't up to Rubin to decide how many tracks ended up on the album. That's not the producers jod, but the band's...

ricks great.

john scialfa

mr edward Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gazza and I both sai that it wasn't up to Rubin to
> decide how many tracks ended up on the album.
> That's not the producers jod, but the band's...

Of course the Producer has incredible input here. Just like the developer of a building decides how many rooms it has, not the carpenters. or the producer & director of a movie decide how long it's going to be, not the actors.

Granted musicians have more input but still an album is a MANAGED PIECE OF ART, directed by the Producer, not just the whimsy of the band.

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."

Pretty weird to see kiedis and co as "actors in Rubin's movie". But let's play Hump de Bump really loud now!

I suppose every single song on Exile is perfect.........I think Rubin did a great job of staying out of their way and helping them create a masterpiece....by the way this band decides what goes out......

"I disagree with this.... the album is PRODUCED by the Producer, and whatever company has the band under contract for the album. Just like a building is built according to the designs of the DEVELOPER not the carpenter or plumbers who do the work. Or a movie is produced by the PRODUCER & DIRECTOR, not the actors. The musicians play the music"


that has to be the FUNNIEST/MENTAL things i've ever read

well done Bayou!

BornOnTheBayou Wrote:
> Of course the Producer has incredible input here.
> Just like the developer of a building decides how
> many rooms it has, not the carpenters. or the
> producer & director of a movie decide how long
> it's going to be, not the actors.
>
> Granted musicians have more input but still an
> album is a MANAGED PIECE OF ART, directed by the
> Producer, not just the whimsy of the band.


indeed - but the FINAL say on what goes on an album and what stays off rests with the artist. They're the one with the record deal. not the producer. So, if theres 28 songs or 8 songs on the record - the buck stops with the artist

BornOnTheBayou, I'm surprised by this thread. A couple months ago, on a thread you started about the Chili Peppers, I wrote about a 20 minute or longer conversation I had last fall with Chad Smith which included talking about the upcoming RHCP album and tour plans. I wrote about how Chad told me the band had recorded 36 songs in the new album sessions and, due to their own faith in the quality of the music, while considering releasing it as 3 separate 12 song albums, they had decided to release 2 14 song albums, with the first due in May and the second due in 2007. Since I talked to Chad the decision obviously was made to release the 2 together as 1 double cd album or 4 vinyl disc album.

Never in my talking to Chad did he say that it was Rick Rubin pushing for so many songs to be released and in subsequent interviews, band members have talked about their enthusiasm to get out all of the songs they released, based on how they feel it is the best work they have ever done. The reason given for releasing it now as a 28 song album, was that they wanted all the music to come out now and not sit on a shelf for another year, where they would then release new music that was already old to them. The decision to release this much music in entirely a band decision, for which Warner Brothers has gone along with it.

They could have followed what acts like Guns N Roses and Bruce Springsteen did in the early 1990s and release 2 seperate studio albums on the same day, but by releasing it in 1 package, the fans are getting all 28 songs at a much cheaper price. In the US, the list price for this 2 hour, 28 song double cd is $21.98 which is only $3 more than a typical single cd release. had they released it as 2 separate cds, the combined list price would be about $38, so that's a huge savings to the fan. Each of the cds in Stadium Arcadium have their own separate title, so why not consider it 2 separate albums and just focus on the 14 songs on each of them at a time?

The band plans to release all 8 of the remaining songs from these sessions as bsides or bonus tracks, which again is not based on anything to do with Rick Rubin. It's based entirely on the band's excitement at their new music and a desire to release all of it to the fans. Itunes recently released all of their WB studio albums onto their serivce with unreleased bonus tracks, which goes along with the band's mind set of today, which is to release as much material to fans as they deem of sufficient quality.

BornOnTheBayou Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mr edward Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Gazza and I both sai that it wasn't up to Rubin
> to
> > decide how many tracks ended up on the album.
> > That's not the producers jod, but the band's...
>
> Of course the Producer has incredible input here.
> Just like the developer of a building decides how
> many rooms it has, not the carpenters. or the
> producer & director of a movie decide how long
> it's going to be, not the actors.
>
> Granted musicians have more input but still an
> album is a MANAGED PIECE OF ART, directed by the
> Producer, not just the whimsy of the band.

"
But if the carpenters don't do their work good it would be an ugly building.

__________________________

Halup Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BornOnTheBayou, I'm surprised by this thread. A
> couple months ago, on a thread you started about
> the Chili Peppers, I wrote about a 20 minute or
> longer conversation I had last fall with Chad
> Smith which included talking about the upcoming
> RHCP album and tour plans. I wrote about how Chad
> told me the band had recorded 36 songs in the new
> album sessions and, due to their own faith in the
> quality of the music, while considering releasing
> it as 3 separate 12 song albums, they had decided
> to release 2 14 song albums, with the first due in
> May and the second due in 2007. Since I talked to
> Chad the decision obviously was made to release
> the 2 together as 1 double cd album or 4 vinyl
> disc album.
>
> Never in my talking to Chad did he say that it was
> Rick Rubin pushing for so many songs to be
> released and in subsequent interviews, band
> members have talked about their enthusiasm to get
> out all of the songs they released, based on how
> they feel it is the best work they have ever done.
> The reason given for releasing it now as a 28 song
> album, was that they wanted all the music to come
> out now and not sit on a shelf for another year,
> where they would then release new music that was
> already old to them. The decision to release this
> much music in entirely a band decision, for which
> Warner Brothers has gone along with it.
>
> They could have followed what acts like Guns N
> Roses and Bruce Springsteen did in the early 1990s
> and release 2 seperate studio albums on the same
> day, but by releasing it in 1 package, the fans
> are getting all 28 songs at a much cheaper price.
> In the US, the list price for this 2 hour, 28 song
> double cd is $21.98 which is only $3 more than a
> typical single cd release. had they released it as
> 2 separate cds, the combined list price would be
> about $38, so that's a huge savings to the fan.
> Each of the cds in Stadium Arcadium have their own
> separate title, so why not consider it 2 separate
> albums and just focus on the 14 songs on each of
> them at a time?
>
> The band plans to release all 8 of the remaining
> songs from these sessions as bsides or bonus
> tracks, which again is not based on anything to do
> with Rick Rubin. It's based entirely on the band's
> excitement at their new music and a desire to
> release all of it to the fans. Itunes recently
> released all of their WB studio albums onto their
> serivce with unreleased bonus tracks, which goes
> along with the band's mind set of today, which is
> to release as much material to fans as they deem
> of sufficient quality.


Halup, the only thing here is when Chad Smith says "we" I honestly have to believe he's referring to the entire decision-making apparatus of the production team, which of course includes the HEAD of that team, Rick Rubin. And the key is that the Producer really is the CHIEF ADVISOR to the band on arrangements/mixing, order, song selection, etc. If he's not, then the band should have another Producer...

FWIW, Stadium Arcadium is growing on me. I must admit I felt a bit letdown on "By the Way" at first, also, an album that has some of the RHCP's very greatest work and has done nothing but IMPROVE in terms of it's impressions on me. And of course the By the Way tour of 2003-2004 was one of the greatest tours by any band, ever.

Let's hope this tour even excels it. I'm going to go on record as predicting that this will be "Johns tour", just as By the Way was really Flea's tour. There's just no way that Flea can out-do those performances of BTW, and when you listen to Stadium Arcadium it's really a guitar-forward album.... not to mention some of Chad's work on it which is just blisteringly great.

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 2006-05-03 06:28 by BornOnTheBayou.

The RHCP just announced their tour dates also... North America, Europe, and "Rest of the World"...

The main page is below:

[tickets.redhotchilipeppers.com]

Any Stones fan who wants to see the greatest band to come along in the past 25 years won't want to miss this tour!

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."

BornOnTheBayou Wrote:

> Any Stones fan who wants to see the greatest band
> to come along in the past 25 years won't want to
> miss this tour!


That's true, Pearl Jam is touring this summer.

nikkibong Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BornOnTheBayou Wrote:
>
> > Any Stones fan who wants to see the greatest
> band
> > to come along in the past 25 years won't want
> to
> > miss this tour!
>
>
> That's true, Pearl Jam is touring this summer.

Keep in mind that PJ and Nirvana both got their starts as opening bands for RHCP, if I'm not mistaken.

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."

Perhaps they also realised that if you put put most of the songs from the sessions people can download what they want and leave the rest, just us old fashion Joes who buy CDs have to buy everything.

The first single has grown on me and I'm looking forward to hearing the album (and it only cost me £9).

Now that I'm actually LISTENING to these songs, rather than just "skimming" through them, I realize this album is awesome...

Like By the Way it takes a listen or two because you try to compare it to their previous stuff... but it's DIFFERENT... just like By the Way was different...

That's what distinguishes this band...

1) There is no band out there that sounds like them AND

2) They are always coming up with NEW rhythms, new grooves...

So, at first you compare the new grooves to the incredible songbook of old grooves... and don't know where it fits... but it's just NEW STUFF... it expands the songbook, rather than fitting comfortably within it...

There's no doubt that the RHCP is the most important "veteran" band in the world that's still writing tons of important new music... that's why they are just gaining such a legion of fans with every CD and tour... and becoming recognized as the true "Supergroup" of the past 25 years.

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-05-09 11:06 by BornOnTheBayou.

Like I said before, Wet Sand is my fav off the album, but the whole album, flat out rocks!

"It's Good To Be Here, It's Good To Be Anywhere"-Keith Richards

"Halloween Is Every Night Of My Life"-Keith Richards

"I Got The Sticky Fingers, For Some Girls"