Customer Reviews

Stadium Arcadium

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i have remained a hardcore frusciante fan since he left, yet found the peppers albums since his return more and more disapointing (not entirely, just mostly).
then..this album. WOW! if you have given up on them after bssm or even before, you must give them another chance! by far the best thing they have ever done. too many favorite songs to list, although slow cheetah is currently my fav.
now, about the expensive version...
i hate to say i feel ripped off because the music contained is worth every penny and then some, but, well...i feel ripped off.
an extra $30 or so for basically a dvd is what i feel like i got.
the packaging just makes getting to the cd's harder, the dvd is just ok, nothing great. another funky monks type documentary would have been pure magic, the album being recorded in the same mansion, etc. the "28 page booklet" is merely the lyrics and credits and some photos, basically what they probably added in a smaller version on the regular version of the cd. the "original artwork" also could've just been part of the cheaper versions booklet (and maybe it is). everything else is just junk trinckets not worth the extra mony. marbles, blank paper, and a wooden top.
anyways...i cant recommend the more than double price sticker for a crummy gimmick, but the actual album has got to be one of my all time top 5 albums already, and this coming from someone who basically gave up on them after bssm. buy the new cd without hesitation, but proceed with caution on throwing down your money for an overpriced box of junk is all im trying to say.

I'm not going to write about the music, cause you can read about that in one of the other reviews, so I'll instead talk about the boxed set.

If this boxed set was $29.99 it would be worth every penny, but for $49.99, the contents aren't worth it. Included with the set, you get:

2-Amazingly good CDs
1-DVD about the making of Dani California
4-Marbles
4-Notes from the band
1-28 page book
2-Wooden things (tops?)
1-Killer box to store it all in

Cds- Personally I think it is about the best RHCP has to offer. You be your own judge.
DVD- Video is about the best I've seen. Making of the video has little-to-no John, which sucks. Making of is bland, but it's a making of, so what do you expect?
Marbles- DISSAPOINTING! I thought they were going to be in theme with Stadium Arcadium. Instead, you get four, and they are just regular marbles you could get at Toys R' Us.
Notes from the band- Actually just pieces of scrap paper. John and Chad's are cool.
28 page book- Probably the best of the extra stuff. Same as the book you get with the regular album version (lyrics and pictures), but has more pictures, and is of very high quality.
Wooden things- what are these??? I guess I could use them as drink coasters...
Killer box- The outside of the boxed set is undoubtedly the coolest packaging I've seen in a long time. It's a 3-D version of the album cover. Really Cool.

Well I hope my breakdown of what is inside the Boxed Set was helpful. If I would have read a review like this, I wouldn't have gone out and bought another copy.

Wow I got my copy this morning, and this is the most musical album of all time!! If this doesn't win a grammy for Best Album, then I have lost faith in NARAS..

Thank you John, Anthony, Chad, and Flea for all the good vibrations, musical harmonies, thunderous solos, and good times that are found on this album of a lifetime..

Vinyl is sparking a flame as of late, many choose it because they claim they can truly hear the difference (when in reality lets be honest many people snag it for the looks and credibility). I agree vinyl can sound amazing, modern releases from artist though are usually compromised due to the lacking rough source (and no it's not always because it's always digital). Rest assure this is one set that the difference isn't just packaging. Steve Hoffman was behind the vinyl pressing, he's one of the few people I truly trust when it comes to revitalizing the sound of an album.

Pressed at RTI by Rick Hashimoto, all four 180 gram slabs of vinyl sound fuller, warmer, and dynamically alive. Between Warner Bros. commitment to keeping it all analog and (thankfully) passing these masters over to Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman you come out ahead. When "Stadium Arcadium" was released in May of 06', Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante spoke highly of all the effects and techniques he had incorporated. We heard his playing style really evolve, spiced with vintage rock riffs (tones too), and waves of forgotten 80's artist. This was the ultimate thank you to fans, twenty eight tracks, singles and experimental tunes as plentiful as the number of days, weeks, months and years we've awaited for this release ( what a long four years).

Chad Smith blasted us away with unique drum solos, Anthony tested his vocal range, and Flea was still bouncing off the bass of 2002's "By The Way". It all seemed so perfect, then the moment of truth... Going home looking at the funky packaging, 'Mars' and 'Jupiter' some spacey attempt to cohesively bond the two discs instead of coming out in the open with 'disc one' and 'disc two'. It seemed like things were going smooth, and they did to many of us for the first few weeks, until we noticed the definite lack in something. That something turned out to be the dynamics, missing in action and we were fed a lot of chunky cleans, lifeless drum chatter (Chad did a great job, I'm just trying to make a point of the actual sound quality) and a look to the past. Anyone remember RHCP's "Californication"? Of course, how about all the sharp jabs at Rick Rubin and co? Claiming the album was too compressed for its own good, many picked up on this much later in the game with 2008's "Death magnetic" by Metallica.

Instead of dwelling on the past, and the digital copy of "Stadium Arcadium" lets look at the pros of the vinyl edition. You get more headroom, the dynamics have made a return. Ambience submissively takes the back seat, in the good sense of course. Tracks like "Slow Cheetah" flow, and make the way to the top of your playlist. What you could have labeled filler in the past may now be not nearly as fatiguing and actually quite enjoyable. Singles sound fresher, the album lasts longer, if only vinyl was gum. Uplifting tunes express themselves now, calmer songs like "Wet Sand" and "Hard to Concentrate" are much easier to appreciate etc. "Turn It Again" and "Readymade" burst at the seams with energy without ever being so repulsively compressed you turn down the volume.

2006 for many fans wasn't a good year, criticizing the album at any given chance, the production value was instantly a cheap shot. Given this copy there probably wouldn't be a reason to complain, still a 'hot' mix it's not nearly as scorching. Some will find a way to poke fun at Anthony Kiedis and his bizarre wording, or the Chili Peppers being less funky then former releases. This has a little bit for everybody familiar with there 90's work and above ("Uplift Mofo Party Plan" tunes sorry).

For those not familiar with vinyl and would to snag a copy of this, do note there are two separate version floating amongst sellers. They both come with four records, you get all twenty eight tracks no worries there. One edition is on 150 gram vinyl, pretty standard stuff, but again it doesn't sound bad. For those willing to throw more money at the deal, you can get the 180 gram version (heavier, thicker vinyl usually saved for audiophile recordings, doesn't seem to be the case as of recently). This box set includes a 'deluxe' slipcase, combined with a special booklet.

It's May 9th!! Today is the day!!

So I put it in and turn it on. It's more melodic than any of the other albums by RHCP by far. It immediately takes me to another world far from work, bills, and other things I could possibly be thinking of. The harmonies bring me to a place where I'm riding along highway 101 with the top down and my feet on the dashboard, the wind racing through my hair, taking each curve with grace.



If you don't have it now, I would recommend going out and paying for it. Don't download the bad quality from the internet. It's worth it.

The CD's were a perfect length of time.Anthony's vocals are at there best.Individual artwork in the boxset was cool! DVD was perfect at explaining the meaning to the songs.You can tell by listening to the CD's that RHCP's put their all into this project.

4 guys create 28 (!) amazing songs for a single release??? this is amazing by any standard. by far the best album of 2006 so far and i don't see any real competition for the next 5 months. if you think about the recent double albums by the foo fighters and system of a down or even ryan admas three albums which were all good solid albums (in my opinion anyway) rhcp outdone them all.

It is great, I bough this product and the music is great, I prefer the first disk, its music is very good, however both discs are fantastic "by the way" the dvd is great!!

FINALLY! I have been waiting for what seems like forever for this 28 playlist and WOW, what a value! This album is rocking and classic Chilis and new and and and... WOW, what can I say other than YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!! All the hype has been worth it. The rich vibes, the playful lyrics that Chili Pepper diehards love are here. There is a great article in SPIN this month about this album and what the guys are up to. For a band that started as a joke, this is NO JOKE, this is serious rock n roll... The Dani California video is hilarious and the making of it is even better. LONG LIVE THE CHILI PEPPERS!!

You can bet that I'm one of the biggest fans of RHCP.
But this special edition almost made me feel like I was ripped off.
2 CDs are really good. I gave 4 stars because their older albums - BSSM and By The Way deserve 5 stars.
It's impossible to compare 2CDs to one cd of previous albums.
But if you compare Jupiter OR Mars with BSSM, or By The Way, there's no way it's as good. The only way that Stadium Arcadium deserves 5 stars is to take the best out of 2CDs and put them in ONE disc. Mine would be like this
Not In Order
- Dani California
- Charlie
- Hump De Bump
- She's Only 18
- Slow Cheetah
- Strip My Mind
- Especially In Michigan
- Wet Sand
- Hey
- Descration Smile
- Tell Me Baby
- Hard To Concentrate
- 21st Century
- Make You Feel Better
- Turn It Again
- Death Of a Martian

Now that's 5 stars album.
I still prefer double discs because more is better but that doesn't the quantity gurantees the quality. There are really good songs like those above, and there are few fillers as well.
If you're a RHCP fan at all, you should get this. IMO, this album is their 3rd best behind BSSM and By The Way.
But again, I think it's a waste of money to get the special edition. The only thing that really counts in this edition is the DVD. I suggest you to borrow it from someone because you won't need to watch it too many times.
So just get the normal album for much cheaper!