Johnny Marr (of The Smiths) plays guitar on two tracks “Enough of Me” (first verse and chorus) and “Central” (acoustic guitar).  “Enough of Me” begins with some bell like sounds and an organ.  The solo on this sounds like a mix of something Frank Zappa and John Coltrane would play.  “Central” has so many changes it that if you listen within the minute you should hear him going to a different direction.  For example, the first few seconds sound like a beautiful ditty, but within 40 seconds it bursts with a scream from John and the whole feel becomes more rock-ish and then 20 or 30 seconds the tom tom’s are emphasized along with a guitar playing a melody with feedback.  Flea plays some great bass lines on this track, as well.  The last minute of the piece is overtaken by a series of strings like violins and violas.  I don’t know if they’re keyboards, but they sound like a concerto of some sort.

Frusciante stayed close to his Chili Pepper gear utilizing his vintage Fender Stratocasters 1962 and 1955, Marshall amplifiers (2550 Silver Jubilee and Major Head) and assortment of effects pedals (mostly Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi Distortion USA).  Surprisingly with such limited gear, he produced a massive guitar sound.

The Chili Peppers have sadly went on an indefinite hiatus.  John has stated off the record that “there are no plans” as far as Chili Peppers are concerned.  Chad Smith (drummer of RHCP) is working with his jazz/funk band Bombastic Meatbats (who recently played the jazz club The Baked Potato) and super group Chickenfoot including Joe Satriani, Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony.  Flea played on this album (and will most likely continue to guest spot on other artist albums) and is running his ‘Silverlake Music Conservatory’.  Anthony Kiedis is focusing on his family, had kidney failure and is now working on an HBO series based on his autobiography “Scar Tissue”.

Overall, this is not John Frusciante’s best work, but even the worst of John’s work is more interesting than 95% of what’s out there.    The melodies are not as catchy on this album as his previous ones, but he takes so many directions that you will not be bored.  Besides being one of the last great guitar players, anything John Frusciante puts out is worth a few spins and its a requirement if you play guitar.

Grade : B-

Suggested Listening :

• John Frusciante – Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt
• Tim Buckley – Lorca or Starsailor
• Jimi Hendrix – Electric Ladyland (Outtakes)
  
• Medeski, Martin, & Wood – Combustication