Their theory of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' seems impossible to question when listening to the first half of this record. One catchy song follows another although, typically, the Chili Peppers' lyrics are a curious combination of both the intelligent ("Psychic spies from china/Try to steal your mind's elation/Little girls from Sweden/Dream of silver screen quotations/And if you want these kinds of dreams/It's Californication- from the title track) and the simple ("Come back baby/'Cause I'd like to say/I've been around the world/Back from Bombay"- this from 'Around the World').
Nevertheless, it becomes apparent why they are one of the biggest bands in the world. A song like 'Otherside' is not just a great Chili Peppers' song- it is also a great musical moment where all the pieces somehow come together perfectly to form a captivating piece of art. 'Californication' is a clever satire of "western civilization" while 'Parallel Universe' and 'Easily' are noteworthy for how quickly you get to know and like them.
Unfortunately, the second half of Californication feels like an inferior add-on, almost as if John Candy's heart had been transplanted into Michael Jordan's body. 'Porcelain' and 'Road Trippin'' are pretty, though aimless, but apart from that the album degenerates into a confusing collection of loud noise. If you turned the volume up at the start you will want to turn it right back down again, otherwise the now draining sounds will attack your brain. It is difficult to tell why the band has got it so wrong here. It is not as if their formula has changed, but all of a sudden the same pieces are formed into an unattractive whole.
So, not for the first time, a band has recorded an album of two distinct halves. The Red Hot Chili Peppers clearly demonstrate both an ability to please and to frustrate. Most music fans should like the first part, but even fans of the band would have to admit that the second is substandard. There's nothing wrong with the sound or the style, just some of the songs.
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