Smile From the Streets You Hold

John Frusciante | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 26, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Birdman
• ASIN: B000005HOF
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,514 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Enter A Uh

2. The Other

3. Life's A Bath

4. A Fall Thru The Ground

5. Poppy Man

6. I May Again Know John

7. I'm Always

8. Nigger Song

9. Femininity

10. Breathe

11. More

12. For Air

13. Height Down

14. Well, I've Been

15. Smile From The Street You Hold

16. I Can't See Untill I SeeYour Eyes

17. Estress

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Time for some clarifications..., June 18, 2005

By 

Damien Winters - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smile From the Streets You Hold (Audio CD)

1) John does not, in fact, hate Smile From The Streets You Hold. On his website, Frusciante has recently stated, quote,

"I recently listened to 'Smile' again and really loved it, it's really a wonderful album and it should be out there, people should be able to listen to it"

2)This album is not worth $200. John dosen't think so either. As it turns out, there is a warehouse full of unsold copies of 'Smile' that John has recently decided to sell. Hence, 'Smile' will soon be avaliable for purchase on John's website (...) for a far more reasonable price.

After months of scraping around, I've been able to find all the tracks on the album myself, and I can say that it contains some of John's best - and most haunting - work. If you're not familiar with the rest of Frusciante's early solo work, you're probably best avoiding 'Smiles', or at least should get aquainted with his more recent albums beforehand. If you're willing to force your way through the first few listens, you will find a musical gem of raw honesty. 'Smiles' is a glimpe into the mind of a man convinced he is on the brink of death. If you can't feel anything by the end of Estress, you're already dead.

That said, don't bother purchasing it now. Once copies are put on sale on John's website, the price should drop to something far more reasonable.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Broaden Your Horizons, January 28, 2000

By 

T.B. (Napa, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smile From the Streets You Hold (Audio CD)

I bought this album without previously hearing it. I was familiar with john Frusciante from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and wanted to hear his solo work...I had bought this before Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-shirt. This album is wonderful! I truly couldn't live without it now. The tones and colors John paints with his talent makes you feel like you have been introduced to his soul. I prefer it to Niandra but highly recommend both. This album is definitely not your mainstream type of music you hear everyday. There is no set outline. The music is like a journey through your feelings. The overtone of the album is melancholy. It may take a few listens to appreciate it fully.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What Makes an album great, March 6, 2005

By 

Joseph P. Mcguinness (charleston, sc United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smile From the Streets You Hold (Audio CD)

This is a hard album to review because in order to do so, you really have to ask yourself, what makes an album great? If you answer, something that will always be remembered, something that gives me insite into an artists state of mind, something controversial, something unconventional, something that divides some and unites others, then this album is something you should look into if you're a fan of John's work. It will not make you dance. The melodies will mostly be forgotten. The record as a whole, though, will stick with you long after it's left the turntable. And you will return to it again occasionally to marvel at this creation. Most of it is haunting and disturbing. John has much better material on all of his other records, but there are some gems here. Don't expect a classic piece of music. Expect an organic piece of art and you will be more satisfied.