Stadium Arcadium

Red Hot Chili Peppers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000EMGAOY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (658 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #460 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > R&B > Funk > Metal
  • #2 in Music > Rock > Funk Rock
  • #52 in Music > Alternative Rock

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Dani California

2. Snow (Hey Oh)

3. Charlie

4. Stadium Arcadium

5. Hump De Bump

6. She’s Only 18

7. Slow Cheetah

8. Torture Me

9. Strip My Mind

10. Especially In Michigan

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Desecration Smile

2. Tell Me Baby

3. Hard to Concentrate

4. 21st Century

5. She Looks To Me

6. Readymade

7. If

8. Make You Feel Better

9. Animal Bar

10. So Much I

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Four-year career hiatuses followed by sprawling double-albums could spell trouble for a band of the Chili Peppers' stature: consider they'd originally recorded enough for three discs. The restless, trouble-plagued outfit that helped break alternative rock into the mainstream with a potent fusion of punk 'n' funk in the '80s finds itself two decades on almost completely devoid of the former's energetic abandon, while the latter's effusive rhythms are considerably subdued over the course of this two-hour, 28-track collection. It's not so much that the Peppers have lost their muscular, often uber-macho edge as they have willfully tamed it in service of mature reinvention here. The mellower, often introspective, if no less potent pop ethos that characterized the crossover hit "Under the Bridge" blossoms fully here on tracks like disc one's "Snow," "Wet Sand," and the jazz-cool of "Hey."

The title track, "Desecration Smile," and "She Looks To Me" finds them venturing further into laid back pop ballad territory, while the tricky rhythms of "Dani California," "Charlie," and "So Much I" eventually kick into familiar top gear on the pop-savvy "Tell Me Baby" and hip-hop seasoned "Storm in a Teacup." It's not that there's a paucity of musical adventure here ("If" and "Animal Bar" finds them wafting into Floydish neo-psychedelia while "Make You Feel Better" seems to channel no less than Joe Jackson) but that it's delivered with a subtlety--and dare we say it?--tasteful musical restraint that's a stark contrast to the band's early, overly overt nature. There's perhaps too much mid-tempo simmering and reflection going on; like most double-albums it could be focused into a much more compelling single disc. But that seems largely beside the Peppers' hooks-over-histrionics point here: an unlikely record to kick back to, and one that both challenges assumptions and eases the band into middle age with an oft languorous, if undeniably savory groove. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers calls the band’s first new album in four years, Stadium Arcadium, the most-anticipated album of the spring, "the best thing that we’ve ever done…. There’s this weird kind of sublime, subliminal undercurrent that is suggestive, in a spirited way, of our earliest records." Exuding all the passion, energy and funked-up rock that have made the Red Hot Chili Peppers one of the most popular bands in history, the 2-CD Stadium Arcadium, simply put, will knock your socks off.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm with the band on this one...it's a masterpiece., May 15, 2006

By 

R. Otero (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stadium Arcadium (Audio CD)

Wow. I see a lot of old fans complaining about the direction "their" Peppers have taken here. Well, if you don't like it go form your own band and write your own "perfect" music!

There are a few common fallacies being repeated here:

1) "This album is soft. Too many ballads. Boo hoo." Huh? Maybe you are not playing it loud enough, but I hear plenty of blistering guitar and slammin beats for my tastes. The bass tone is as good as it has been since BSSM and the drums are bright and present. There are quite a few mid-tempo pieces, but they usually resolve to scorching bridges of pure rock power.

2) "The Peppers have abandoned their roots! Boo hoo." Please. Just because they are not retreading their young punk vibe over and over again it does not mean they have lost their integrity. I personally think punk AND metal sound best when a young band has something to prove. If they keep at it, without maturing, it sounds pretty stale. So I appreciate that they have moved on. I still love the old records and they are not going anywhere. Bottom line, if you want a dangerous punk sound look underground, this band has grown up.

3) "They mailed it in. It's all about Frusciante now. Boo hoo." Nonsense. They bring it all to the table on this record. Yes, John's layered sounds are a huge part of the post-Californication sound, but I personally think this is Flea's best work. He is master of a ridiculous number of styles and still manages to sound like himself. No imitators possible. He practically invents a new style of bass on "Hard to Concentrate". I defy you to tell me you've heard anything like that stuttering little groove played on a bass guitar before (he seems to be pulling modern hip hop grooves into his own brand of upper register playing) and the next tune "21st Century" is a clinic on creative funk bass groove. Flea has reached a perfect balance of his relentless power and a "less is more" approach. If you have seen them play "Subway to Venus" at a billion beats per minute recently you know that neither he nor John have lost their chops, they just make different choices now. They are playing exactly what they think is beautiful and powerful and funky, no more no less. The reason I buy every album they make is because I trust them to make THEIR choices not MINE. I do that in my own band. I like where they are going as much as where they have been. Anthony Keidis has NEVER sounded better. His lyrics are on par with the other albums, equal parts sublime abstract genius and quirky Keidis nonsense delivered in his unique style. Again if you think the lyrics aren't good, then grab a mike and let us hear yours. Keidis is doing his thing well here.

4) "It's still not as good as Blood Sugar! Boo hoo." Of course not, but it is not trying to replace that album. That was 15 freaking years ago folks! That was the perfect album for that time. I was 19 at the time and it absolutely consumed me, but that was a young man's album. This is an album for the same man 15 years later. It may not be for everyone, but it's not the Pepper's problem if you haven't grown up or if you just don't care for the music they like to make.

5) "They only care about singles now! Boo hoo." More nonsense. They are making the best music they can in the style that they like which includes more flavors than almost any other band out there. It is an insult to them or any other band to tell them they are half-assing it. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to put together even a so-so band, so when a band like this goes in to make a double album of "over produced" material it is NOT because they are just trying to sell a few more albums. These guys are already independently wealthy. They are making music, period. If you don't like it...hey...there are more bands out there than ever before...good luck finding one that cares as much about their music as these guys.

Oh...the album... (hee hee)

It is twenty eight songs of pure "grown up" Peppers. If you like the last two albums there is plenty here to digest for the entire summer. If you just like the old "real" Peppers then go dig up your old albums, stay in your cave and dream about the "good old days" when you thought they were "your" band...or you could come out into the sunshine with the REAL living Peppers and enjoy the ride.

"If you don't like this album, then you don't like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Period." - Flea

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very inspired and honest record, May 9, 2006

By 

Pedro Sobota (São Paulo, Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stadium Arcadium (Audio CD)

Like anyone at this point, I only got an initial impression of the record, albeit a strong one, since I gave it my full attention and listened on a good sound system, in a silent environment. To sum it up, it's a very well-writen, artistic, and enjoyable album.

It's a surprise. The more you know and have followed the band through its previous records, the more you'll be surprised at the level of songwriting they have reached (think Beatles-level). Originality (or the -successful- pursuing of it) is a constant. Where it isn't completely original, it is a stellar interpretation of existing structures.

It's an achievement. There is no price to be paid for all this creativity: it never sounds idiotic, pretentious, or aggressive - but free and humble. Even the most daring propositions (like Animal Bar) sound pleasing. Rick (the producer) and the recording guys are to be taken credit for this, alongside the band.

It's funky, in more than one defition. 'The funk is back', for whom it makes sense, is a true affirmation. Flea actually sounds fat for the first time since Blood Sugar Sex Magik (the band's reference funk record), due to a different choice of instrument. On the Mars half, Anthony is heard using his voice in ways that inevitably remind us of that record, and earlier ones. Where the music gets obviously funky, the mix also gets propositally old-school and rough, to further bring us memories of things as remote as 'American Ghost Dance'.

It's strange. I began my experience with the album by reading the lyrics and looking at the artwork. They communicate confusion, uncertainty, chaos. Anthony's writing suggests disenchantment with our world, alleviated by cheap pleasures and distractions. He never sounds actually sad like he does on By the Way, but true happiness is equally absent. The whole experience, music added, forms a landscape non-coincidentally reminescent of our real world.

It's a development. Chad today is the same musician as he has been since Californication (his big growth happened much earlier, beginning with One Hot Minute). He's the only estatic one though. Anthony shows a new level of control over his voice, enabling him to deliver the perfect beauty of 'Especially in Michigan'. Flea finally takes (or accepts, or reaches?) the liberty to take that intrincate, spontaneous approach, characteristic of his live jams, to the studio. John keeps the voice layering going, this time flawlessly throughout the record, and masters his guitar into new sounds that rocket-propel the music forwards.

It's too much for a jewel case. In my local Brazilian pressing exemplar, the fat booklet doesn't fit easily into the plastic, resulting in a damaged booklet. The plastic holding the discs also doesn't open smoothly, which caused one of my discs to fall music-side-down to the ground. Today's cases are real bad, this album deserves a better one.

A great album to have that is never going to bother you. A must have for Peppers fans.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instant Classic, July 11, 2006

By 

Steve M. Watkins (Tallahassee, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stadium Arcadium (Audio CD)

I am not a Chili Peppers fan but when I heard these CD's I was bowled over by the beauty and diversity of both CD's. Powerful is the only way I can describe the pure pop and rock essence of this release. I have been touting it as one of the best rock albums ever. Not just recently, ever. I have not been this bowled over since O.K. Computer and Lateralus (Radiohead and Tool). These guys have injected a pop/rock formula into their veins and are kick [...] with every aspect of this album. There is not one weak track out of 28. I listen to a lot of different music (everything) and I cannot help but be effusive about this music. It will stay in my player most of the summer. I refuse to dissect this record because I am enjoying it too much. Sometimes one simply has to surrender to the experience and let the tears flow in the beauty of it all. This one is an instant classic regardless of what others say. Can't wait to see these guys live.