John Frusciante Shadows Collide With People CD

With his second solo album for Warner Bros., Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante makes good on the promise of his previous outing, TO RECORD ONLY WATER FOR TEN DAYS. While that album succeeded in showing that Frusciante had shaken the drug-induced self-indulgence of his utterly bizarre first two discs, SHADOWS COLLIDE WITH PEOPLE provides further evidence of the once-troubled guitarist's remarkable rehabilitation.

Of course, there's still plenty of room for Frusciante's experimental weirdness, but that quality is kept in check by an excellent set of tunes. Keyboards and electronics ebb and flow throughout these songs, but Frusciante's voice and guitar are the focus here, aided by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Josh Klinghoffer. Fellow Chili Pepper Chad Smith turns up on drums, while Flea contributes bass to the emotive closing track, "The Slaughter." Returning the favor of Frusciante's appearance on DE-LOUSED IN THE COMATORIUM, Mars Volta guitarist Omar Rodriguez performs on two songs. From the quirky, Cure-like pop of "Omission" to the gentle swoon of "Ricky," SHADOWS is filled with surprisingly catchy melodies and harmonies--an intriguing album by one of rock's undeniably unique talents.

Recorded at Cello Studios, Hollywood, California.

Personnel: John Frusciante (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, percussion); Josh Klinghoffer (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, percussion); Flea (upright bass).

Audio Mixer: Jim Scott.

Recording information: Cello Studios, Hollywood, CA.

Photographer: Vincent Gallo.

Personnel includes: John Frusciante (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, bass, percussion); Josh Klinghoffer (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, bass, percussion); Omar Rodriguez (slide guitar); Flea (upright bass); Chad Smith (drums, percussion); Charlie Clouser (programming).

Entertainment Weekly (2/27/04, p.96) - "[Frusciante] lives up to his image as the sweetly spaced-out Red Hot Chili Pepper with [this] set of squishy pop..." - Rating: B
Uncut (3/04, p.99) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Frusciante has frequently been at the heart of most that is interesting about the Red Hot Chili Peppers....[A] surprisingly likeable collection."r
Mojo (Publisher) (3/04, p.95) - 4 stars out of 5 - "It's heavier and more unruly than anything that band ever attempted, with a sincerity the Peppers could never pull off."