Shadows Collide with People Reviews

• Beautiful work; truly outstanding in every way

  
  By A146D2LYLICNLS on 2004-02-26
  Up until now I would have considered myself a mere casual fan of John Frusciante. Up until now I would have said that his most interesting work was with The Red Hot Chili Peppers. I own Niandra Lades & Usually Just a T-Shirt and To Record Only Water For Ten Days and like both, although I admit to only having given them a passing listen. But after listening to Shadows Collide With People, I have discovered this man's musical genius. I'm now inspired to listen to his other albums again and discover even more greatness, things which I probably missed before or simply went over my head.

  But getting back to Shadows Collide With People, there isn't one song that doesn't totally captivate you. I've never heard music like this before. How does this guy do it? It's almost impossible to choose a favorite song but I would have to go with "Regret." While short, it's one of the most beautifully haunting songs I've ever heard, not to mention some excellent vocal effects. There are no filler songs on this album. John has poured his heart into this work, and each song reflects that.

  In a world where by-the-numbers, stale, uninspiring factory processed music has inundated our ears, it's so refreshing to see that there are still musicians like John out there who can offer us something challenging and original. Is he unorthodox in his songwriting? Perhaps. Will any of these songs become a Top-40 hit? Doubtful. But that means nothing. Let the music speak for itself. Buy this album and let yourself be immersed.
  
  

• John is Back

  
  By A2IIEAHI6BCWYA on 2004-03-17
  After gorgeous "to record wateer for ten days only" and two avantgarde previous releases Frusciante was touring with RHCP,he released another minimal music album through the internet. while first news about new studio release appeared i thouhgt that it will be another acoustic and drum machine based collection of introspective melancholic songs. i was wrong. i was truly shocked when i bought it and switched on my cd player. i also didin't knew any songs from it before.

  "carvel" starts with ambient bubling but around 1.30 it grows into powerfull rocker.we have Bass,real drums,keyboards,guitars,clean good production - almost everything that was missing on his previous efforts.even John's vocals sound more powerfull.
  other songs including highlights like "in relief","cut-out","the slaughter" and "every person" are amazing melodic guitar based songs with very personal lyrics.some cuts sound like some red hot's "by hte way" b sides ("water","this cold"). Frusciante's best friend,Josh Kilinghoffer plays amazingly on drum set and bass guitar,he even gets lead vocals on haunting "Ommision". My favourite songs is powerfull "Time goes back" were vocals,guitars and heavy bass sound just perfect.i bnet that it would be a hit if promoted by video and released as a single. There are three experimental ambient songs like creepy "000ghost7" that sound much different and wierd but they grow on you with every listening.

  Overall,it is amazing piece of true rock genius,Fru is Ten years younger than all RHCP crew and he is still their most talented member. A stunning piece of music,get it now!
  
  

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  By on 2004-02-26
  most people i know who hear johns first two albums are appalled and offended, usually refering in some way to a dying cat. or a man with his weiner slammed in a car door... i dont understand where theyre coming from those two records have remained two of my favorites, niandra for almost ten years, and smile for atleast six.. as a guitar player AND a singer there really isnt anyone in the same room with him. Smile From the streets you hold was a document from the bowels of heroin addiction with similar depth and bile as william burroughs' naked lunch.... and now john is clean his two albums since getting sober glow with the same elusive peace and gratitude that his first two could only shiver in the corner and dream about so few of us are pulled from those gates of insanity and death im so glad that today john is among them....
  
  

• John Frusciante as Messiah

  
  By A1B63NPC0B322C on 2004-03-05
  What can honestly be said about this album that won't be immediately swallowed by the twenty-two other metageneric reviews which appear on this site? I can't say that it is phenomenal: the album speaks quite eloquently for itself. I can't say that it is by far his best work, for that is a matter of taste and an unanswerable question in the long run. However, I can qualify this album (as well as every last inch of tape that John Frusciante recorded, even in the dregs of apocalyptic heroin binges, including the most grating sounds which adorn "Niandra LaDes" and "Smile From The Streets You Hold") as worlds better than the latest release (used here in the sense of releasing a bowel movement or a particularly acrid river of vomit) from the Chili Peppers, "By The Way."

  Chad is also in top form on SCWP ("Shadows Collide With People"). The rhythmic chemistry between Frusciante and Chad shines in a way that makes all of the lackluster Chili Peppers albums since BloodSugarSexMagic seem darker and duller than the cemetery sod which blinds the eternally occulate coffin of popular music.

  "Carvel" is a marvel, the sharpest hook to dig into the soft flesh of a virgin listener's lips. "Omission," which Frusciante co-wrote, is a bittersweet ballad which sets the tone for some of the major issues that JF is fond of exploring lyrically. "Regret" resounds with a melancholic melody; it is the pained utterance which dights John's lips as he emerges from the dark catacombs of his purgatorial past. "Ricky" rises and falls, asserting that "there's a world in what appears not to be there at all." In "Second Walk," Frusciante noisesomely stumbles back into his labyrinthian past, only to discover that each turn leads him down a hitherto unexplored path where vampiristic fame clings like a fat spider to its web in the ambiguous blackness of his mind.

  "Everyperson" and the instrumental "-00 Ghost 27" (with its inexplicable name) are somewhat thematically tied. For me, "Everyperson" is one of Frusciante's finest songs ever: "You know this moment in time / is all my life. / Everyday is each day that's past / Every person alive is everyone who's died." Then, "-00 Ghost 27" becomes the societal corpse, more like an empty coccoon really or a shell whose internal nut has withered and died, which dangles from the sorrow-soaked words of "Everyperson."

  And from then on, it only gets better, culminating in a moment I've been waiting to see for years: a Red Hot Chili Peppers sans Anthony, a "man" whose voice and persona have been ceaselessly corroding since his brief peak as a white rapper during the BloodSugarSexMagic days. Flea plays upright bass, along with Chad and Frusciante on drums and guitar, respectively, on the final track, "The Slaughter" a fine culmination (after the early-era Pink Floyd throwback "23 Go Into End") to a stellar album. Frusciante sums up human society as a slaughter: "It's blood / It's a flood."

  In other words, we have here an artist who, while being paradoxically an international superstar with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, remains relatively unknown as a solo artist. Even worse, he has been scoffed at repeatedly for the "poor quality" of his solo work (especially the early drug-ridden albums). Today, pop music remains as the twisted fetus of a botched abortion, a constant reminder of the progressive degredation of American society in general. John Frusciante represents the sliver of redemtion, dormant at the moment but containing the revolutionary prospect to erupt. I, for one, would like to be there to watch the plastic pop princes(ses) melting and convulsing in the flood of fiery lava as it rushes down from the peak into the Valley of Death, casting a hungry, omnipotent shadow across the now-fertile land and reducing it to dust.
  
  

• great pop-songs, not very much else

  
  By on 2004-03-27
  i'm a big fan of john frusciante. i own all his albums, and i was very excited when this one came out. the first listens were amazing, but then the album went boring. it is quite one dimensional- what you hear is what you get. i think his other albums are much deeper, i had to listen to them several times before getting a hold on them, and they give me something new with every listen. but not this one. it's so polished and structured, all the rough elements that were in john's music are taken away. the falsetto off-key singing, the loose song structures, that was what i loved in john's music. the personality and the way he expressed his felings and left the listener totally breathless, almost crying.
  of course this is a great album, it's full of great songs, catchy melodies and good singing. john has envolved, and for the first time, he's finished an album totally. it's good, but i'd expect something more than just great pop songs from this man. this would be totally amazing if someone else would've done it, but john frusciante is in my opinion one of the most honest and talented musicans there is nowdays, he could do so much more touching stuff. but if this is what he wants right now, ok, next time we'll get something else.
  
  
• In a word: UNIQUE
  By A17MMEOH9A9YZ8 on 2004-06-28
  Shadows Collide With People is John Frusciante's fourth solo release (fifth if you consider From The Sounds Inside, his free internet album) and, in my opinion, his best. While the music is more polished than ever, what makes it different from his other albums, in my opinion, is the wider range of instruments and sounds used. Now it's not just John on vocals, guitar, and keyboards with a drum machine, but he also plays bass, and has Josh Klinghoffer (formerly from The Bicycle Thief) on guitars, bass, keyboards, and vocals; and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) on drums, on nearly every song. Other guest appearences include Omar Rodriguez (Mars Volta) on slide guitar on 'Chances' and '23 Go Into End' and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) on bass on 'The Slaughter'.
  While these set this album apart from the others, this is still John Frusciante, and each song is charged with emotion, and represents some of the most beautiful music I've ever (and possibly that you've ever) heard. In John's own words, Shadows is all about "interesting chord progressions." The music is as simple as it can get, the guitar usually plays just chords. But it does so in an amazing way.
  While, as I said, this is his most polished album yet, this album's still not for everyone. If you think the vocals have to be good for the music to be good, you might not like this. John is not a typically good singer (not at all) and people sometimes cannot accept this. I personally think they're wrong.
  This CD is unique in its own way, and it's the kind of music you can listen to a million times and still love it just as much.
  
  
• NDE report on record
  By A1EC5K48TLPYDM on 2004-03-06
  What can I say about John Frusciante that hasn't already been said? The man is a walking miracle, overcoming a near-death battle with heroin and parlaying the sanity he almost lost into one of the most successful comeback stories in rock history. While the first of his two comeback albums with the Chili Peppers, Californication, was a little too RHCP by-the-numbers for my taste, By the Way, the second, was the most musically mature pop album the Chili Peppers have released in their two decades as a group. I'm convinced that it's success stems not from the stereo-typical, fan-favorite tandem of Keidis and Flea but from the creative wellspring and innate guitar prowess Frusciante channels from the spirits and demons he has admitted he uses as inspiration. Following up on his wonderful, but inconsistent, To Record Only Water for Ten Days, SCWP offers overwhelming support for the above hypothesis. The opener Carvel, with a NES Metroid-like blipping, effervescent interlude, soars with the triumph of a man who has momentarily overcome that which none of us can escape, death. Carvel feels almost like a spiritual catharsis, a song that is on the precipice of translating a mystical experience into music. Omission, with the dichotomy of it's somber verse and upbeat sweeping chorus and solo could have easily fit in on By the Way. The song ends with a primal scream that sounds like it could have been delivered from the mouth of Kurt Cobain or Plastic Ono Band-era Lennon. Regret, when taken in context with John's first solo, Niandra Des Ledes, is poignant and beautiful, even if it is a little redundant. Water, the funkiest and perhaps most catchy and poppy track on the album, is another listening pleasure that could have been recorded for a Chili Peppers release. Perhaps my favorite track, Chances, is a collaboration with sonic wizard Omar Rodriguez of Mars Volta fame, on whose album De-Loused in the Comatorium, John provided lead guiatr work for the 13 minute jam-session that comprised the track Inertiatic ESP. Chances, which clocks in at barely two minutes, is a druggy track with a Revolver-era Beatles feel. It seems to be a retrospective look at John's life by the artist himself, with an assurance to himself and potentially despondent listeners that they still have a part to play in their lives even if it feels as though they have destroyed a much of it. Frusciante sings that "in the multi-dimensional scheme, you'll know what I mean." The song leads into another spacey instrumental, ambient-noise track, reminiscent of Meddle-era Pink Floyd that I appreciate but normally skip over because I've heard enough of the real the thing to last a lifetime. The final track, the Slaughter, a collaboration with bandmate Flea, is a great love ballad, an ode to loss that like most of Frusciante's songs has an undercurrent of hope beneath the exterior. SCWP is the most listenable, and accessible of John's albums, but not the best; that honor goes to the painful to listen to Niandra des Ledes & Usually Just a T-Shirt. It does however surpasse almost every other piece of work the man has created, and that even includes his famed recordings with the Chili Peppers from his teenage years and his last brilliant solo album. This, combined with the Frusciante-fueled progressive direction the RHCP took on By the Way, means we, as music fans, have much to look forward to from this artistically gifted phoenix.
  
  
• yawn..........
  By A1PWTBWGQF1FH0 on 2004-07-15
  The trouble is with artists like John Frusciante is that they have a very loyal, cult following. Fans who will support them no matter what. I think this is what is going on here judging by the ridiculously generous reviews........ I also consider myself to be a big Frusciante fan but I also like to remain objective about the way I view his output.

  I haven't been this dissapointed with an album for a long time. It contains mediocre, boring songs that drag on and on and on and on.........

  I think John has got lost somewhere along the way in his quest for artistic fulfillment and experimentation; resulting in an album which seems to be unremarkable, formulaic, banal and lacking the usual edge that is expected of his work.

  Worse than Coldplay.
  
  

• '50's harmonies and spooky drum machines...nail on the head
  By A2KA0J7CK5AM3A on 2004-02-25
  Frusciante has succeeded in releasing an album which feels like a more artistic "by the way", in which the chili peppers should rename their group to 'John Frusciante and the hot three'. More seriously though...It's a work of art that has 50's harmonies with spooky drum machine tracks. "Carvel" is a real gem as it opens the cd with a feel of psychadelic beach boys. Songs like "I regret" and "Ricky" feel like it should be 3 am drinking white wine feeling happy. John has succeeded in producing an album that has outdone "To Record Only Water For Ten Days"...
  
  
• BEST album of 2004
  By A37C3Q7D1ZIU3J on 2004-02-25
  Who said good music is dead??
  after getting this John Frusciante album id say definately not John's music.
  this album is really kickass with great songs like wednesdays song,song to sing when im lonely,this cold,water..etc

  a must for any Chilis , John ,or good music fan.
  
  

• to listen to only john frusciante for ten days.
  By A289RQHO8T0TB6 on 2004-02-26
  honestly...spin after spin, it keeps getting better...his best work ever. a definite endeless form of inspiration and experiemtnal exuberance mysteriously fit into the constraints of a compact disc!
  go buy it, buy many copies of it, and give them to random people on the street to aid in their self-enlightenment.
  
  
• The most creative musician of our time: John Frusciante
  By A2NOOEK6SR1NSJ on 2004-02-28
  John Frusciante's life is an incredible story. Joining what is now today one of the greatest bands of all time at the age of 18, going through terrible times with an addiction to heroine, and nearing a collapse, but coming out victorious with rehab with help from his friends, and finally his solo work that he has done for several years. His early albums were out of the blue, with his own recording, keyboard, magnificent guitar, and screaming and emotional lyrics. In 2001, To Record Water for Only 10 Days was more successful then his previous albums, for he was sober in 2001. But "Shadows Collide With People" is one fantastic album, one of the best I've heard in a long time. All of his songs have very beautiful and creative melodies, such as Omission, The Slaughter, In Relief, Wednesday's Song, and Song To Sing When I'm lonely. And also some really cool fun songs like Carvel (which rocks), Second Walk, This Cold, and Water (my favorite). And he also did some spooky experiments with his synthesizer, like the strange-titled -00Ghost27, Failure33Object, and 23 go in to end. At first you will probably want to go to the next song immediately, but some how, the songs grow on you. John has really matured over the years with his voice becoming extraordinarliy good, and the mainstream sound he and the Chili Peppers (my absolute favorite band) have created is absolutely magnificent. A lot of credit must go to Chad Smith and Flea(who is excellent on the album) of RHCP, and Josh Kinghoffer from Bicycle Theif, and Warner Brothers for making this album the absolute best yet. Buy this album for a treat and surprise. There are no weak songs on this album, only masterpeices created by my idol, John Frusciante.
  
  
• Some great pop songs, but John is capable of much more
  By A374AONGTSX9WO on 2004-04-14
  Really, it sounds nice, the production's terrific, John's vocals are sounding better than ever. However something's missing here. Maybe I'm dissapointed because Im a guitarist and I was hoping for some of John's insanely beautiful guitar solos. Or maybe I just didn't feel the passion or originality on this album that I had felt when listening to Niandra Lades. I personally feel that Niandra is ten times deeper and better than this album. SCWP just sounds too polished for my tastes. I love John. He's one of my heros, and one of the best guitarists alive I think. I just felt that he downplayed his capabilities as a guitarist on this record. But whatever, he'll keep making great music so Im not worried. This album however, I could take it or leave it.
  
  
• Excellent Soundscape Album
  By A1UDT1P26NLUM3 on 2004-10-29
  Those expecting to rock out are going to be disappointed. However, liking melody and depth over artists that use the same 3 power chords and sounding angry, this music struck many nerves (in a good way) that a lot of other works havent. the Lo-Fi sounds mixed in with the slide guitars, string arrangements, and other quirks and oddities make this John's best performance that I have listened to. It all seems to bind together in a way that most albums do not. Carvel is a great opener as it lets the listener know what they are in for; A more effects driven album rather than all guitars and drums. Every Person is tied for my favorite song on this album with its sweeping slide guitar over vocals ever few seconds.. really does something as far as bringing out emotion.. 23 go in to end is an absolute gem as far as listening to a song tell a story without words. Time Goes Back is my other favorite as it is a classic song with a classic rock feel to it *which is my style*
  Overall, this album is forever in my car and on my computer available to listen at the touch of a button. Excellent work.
  
  
• An Artistic Triumph from The Chili Peppers' Mad Genius
  By A3B08CAHN6IYM6 on 2005-04-01
  I should first say that I am a HUGE fan of John Frusciante as both a musician and a human being. But even I was shocked upon first listening to this album at just how good it is. Many of the lush sounds of the Chili's BTW album are built on here, with John having singular artistic control. Some of the production values are raw, which some reviewers count off for, but I for one see as an endearing thing. (As in the case of the Beatles White Album). So much of the music here is simply beautiful, particularly the oddly titled "Slaughter" and "Omission". "Wednesday Song" sounds like authentic 60's pop, while "Carvel" reminds me of 70's prog music. This album is not easy to classify, but suffice to say it is worth owning for any lover of adventerous and beautiful music.
  
  
• Pure Genius
  By on 2004-02-25
  I bought this album, expecting nothing but the best, and that is exactly what I got. This is by far the best recording by John Frusciante. I have been a long time fan of RHCP and of John Frusciante and I love his solo work. This album is well thought out and simply amazing. Oh and by the way the song on the Live At Slane DVD is called "Maybe", a cover of an old song by The Chantels. Which was also done by The Three Degrees, but of course all you "fans of music" already knew that.
  
  
• Frusciante - Musical Savant /Creative Genius
  By A1OGSC7M8O2SA4 on 2004-02-25
  The latest album from John Frusciante is also his most refined. Previous works by Frusciante have at least partially been composed in his house, recorded and presumably mixed on a simple four track recorder. However, those products have been the basis for a loyal following of hardcore fans.

  Those fans may give this album mixed reviews. There is no doubt, however, that the mainstream music press, and probably mainstream music listeners, will like this album more than his older stuff.

  Other musicians performing on this album include fellow chili pepper band mates Chad Smith and Flea; as well as the young and talented Bicycle Thief multi-instrumentalist, Josh Klinghoffer - a friend and collaborator of Frusciante.

  The album booklet is nice - with photos by Vincent Gallo (the musician/actor/director/writer/artist/model/architect/motorcycle racer, and now photographer) and complete lyrics. This is something of a change for JF, as some of his previous albums have somewhat unintelligible lyrics - mainly because he used his voice as more of an instrument than a delivery method for poetry.

  On this album there is a mix of classic pop songs, experimental music, and deep meaningful tunes. Frusciante has honed his songwriting chops, along with his production skills. In the end, it's just another great album for fans to add to their repertoire.

  Don't buy this in the hope that it will be a chili pepper album. The music is more experimental, but every bit as good. This album would be great for anyone looking for unique music that isn't restricted by motivations other than pure art.
  
  

• A Fresh Sound with Thoughful Lyrics
  By A3MU6M7AYJLYNB on 2004-02-28
  Mr. Frusciante has had three albums prior to this release and while I've only had the opportunity to hear the most recent, I can safely say this is his best work.

  Anyone expecting to hear music like that of the Red Hot Chili Peppers will be sorely disappointed, but I'm glad this CD isn't like their work. This music is deeper and more thoughtful; even ambient. Only a few songs such as "Second Walk" showcase guitar-work we are familiar with from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Fortunately the rest of the album lets us hear a side of Mr. Frusciante most of us weren't aware of. Almost every song is flavored with acoustic guitar and synthesizer overlays. There are also three experimental instrumentals that you will either love or hate. Regardless, they are very interesting from a musical point of view and comparable to the work of Radiohead or Pink Floyd's instrumental tracks.

  This album gets 4/5 stars because, while it is amazing, some out of place tracks could have been clipped in order to make it a shorter listen. Otherwise, this is a winner.
  
  

• wow
  By on 2004-03-03
  not a huge pep fan, really on and off with em. seen them twice live once with frusciante and their last concert with dave navaro. i saw them in 89 or something on the positive mental octopus and was taken aback when john did a solo song, a cover of something i dont remember but it made a huge impression on me.

  i just had a listen to this record at the record store. it was the same way i approached to record only water.

  i skipped to track 2, omission. that song hooked me right from the start.

  what a great track. irresistable. i didnt get much of a chance to go through the whole cd but that song touched something deep inside me. i kept wandering back to get another taste of it. such pure raw emotion pouring out of the guy.

  john if your happen to read this, man that song is beautiful! i could really feel it. so genuine.

  well i am at home now and regret not having scooped it up. not sure how long i will be able to go without hearing that song again.

  i say it is a keeper. probably will get it tomorrow.
  
  

• "Heaven receives you and throws you back......"
  By A3HSD9BAJW17P8 on 2004-03-05
  I haven't been able to stop listening to John Frusciante's "Shadows Collide with People." The album is mostly midtempo rock songs (don't expect any funk or punk like in the RHCP albums). The lyrics are real deep with Frusciante baring his soul and sharing his views on life, death, and everything in between. I can't emphasize enough how much each song is dripping with emotion and the songs really take your soul on a rollercoaster ride. My feeling is that Frusciante has created an incredible work of art that really connects the listener to what the artist is thinking/singing. My favorite songs are "Carvel," "Omission," "Regret," and "Second Walk," but really each song is great. And just to correct someone else's review, Flea only plays bass on one track (he plays acoustic bass on "The Slaughter"...another great track). Flea's playing on that track is very minimal, playing only the essential notes. I congratulate and thank JF for creating a great album for everyone to enjoy and get inspired from for a long time.
  
  
• First decent music of 2004
  By on 2004-03-11
  What a shock. I was really pleased with the Cali pop rock leanings of the last RHCP album and this record confirms the genius behind that sound. (Check out his website to hear three songs in full.)

  "Carvel" is my current favorite among a large batch of great songs. This record is a grower, getting better with each listen. It is also a record that will make fans proud. After some rough years, this man will finally get the artistic acclaim he deserves. This record is smart, challenging and full of heart.
  
  

• The sound of victory
  By A2T90CCCPWJN6R on 2004-04-25
  Sooner or later, every artist faces the dilemma of having to choose between popularity and artistic integrity. John Frusciante chose both. On "Shadows collide with people" he follows the same path as on the recent Red Hot Chili Peppers albums, writing catchy tunes and adding his deeper-going, multi-dimensional touch.

  "Carvel" opens the album with eerie synth sounds leading into what seems to be a conventional pop song. However, the variety of sounds, themes and vocals John uses here is simply astonishing. "Omission" features co-songwriter Josh Klinghoffer on vocals. The interplay of the voices is just beautiful to hear. On "Ricky" and "Second Walk" John shares his newly-won life philosophy : "Be who you are, do what you do, not win or lose". "Every Person" and "Wednesday's Song" manage to be catchy and deep at the same time.

  The highlights of the album are undoubtedly the last few songs beginning with "In Relief". Especially "Water" takes you to almost every station of John's musical career: the funky riff, the falsetto vocals, the somber yet joyous solo ot the end. "The Slaughter" is one of my favorite songs ever written by John.

  All in all, "Shadows" is definitely John's most polished solo album yet, which doesn't prevent it from being as groundbreaking. Now he's proved he can work with conventional methods and still emerge with something fresh and new. Even the use of 60's harmonies and synths serves as a trampoline to the future. Which, according to John Frusciante, is very promising. This is the first Frusciante album with a clear positive and optimistic message, he stands up for everything he's gone through and thanks life for the experiences that made him who he is now.

  This is the sequel of the story about the man who's won a life's struggle. John Frusciante is the I-narrator.
  
  

• Lost in translation?
  By A3F1F6NXEG0MR3 on 2004-08-29
  This album leaves me completely annoyed and skipping through tracks to try to find one single almost-decent track.
  
  If you like pop-sap-crap in your music, or are a loyal dedicated Frusciante fan that doesn't care what the album sounds like as long as it's his.. maybe this could work for you. Some of the songs are slightly interesting musically, but overall the sound is awkward, predictable, corny and hard to stomach. Even if a songwriter can't manage to be profound, at least spare me the bubblegum wrappers and the trite. Every track is made all the more painful by insipid and corny poppy whiney vocals that end up off the mark and out of place bordering on dischordant with the music on nearly every track. The lyrics come off as contrived, as does much of the sound for me. Even the chords end up predictable. The goal seemed to be an experimentation, at the loss of anything bordering on emotional or authentic. I can deal with experimental if it's done well. This album is like a bunch of concepts that never worked. I read something that John wrote about his meticulous production in the studio with this album, he said Shadows Collide was the one album where he obsessively perfected every sound, and went over and over again to get things exactly how he pictured them. I don't know what got lost in translation.. but perhaps the music became overworked? The vision emanated from his head and not his gut? The music just doesn't live. Frusciante usually has a freakish unique offbeat take and sound.. not for everyone. I usually enjoy the raw production value in his music, and the whirly kind of ethereal John sound. This album just doesn't deliver it quite as artfully.
  
  The Will to Death is a heady album, not neccesarily melodic but one that has lyrical depth, putting it in my mind well ahead of this album. To Record Only Water for 10 Days has a very different vibe, more melodic, still experimental, but the experiment works. The choruses are catchy, but there isn't the contrived failed sound of this album.
  
  There are great tracks on both, but what is different about these albums to Shadows Collide is that overall the package as a whole works. This album? Is almost painful to me. I can't help but to skip through most of it.
  
  
  
• Great album, but too much filler, and a bit unbalanced
  By AQRHH6Q4C4M5Q on 2005-03-09
  While nearly each of these songs are very good, some of them seem to short (Second Walk), and songs like this make it sound like parts of the album were thrown together as they were. It doesn't sound like there was very much time put into ordering the tracks or actually listening through the beginning of the first track and the three 'noise' tracks to see just how annoying they were.
  
  Though I'm currently in love with 'The Slaughter' (favorite track on the album), it seems more like a demo version of a song than the song itself. Another thing I would like to point out is the ability to hear the drummer of the song muttering the metronome (1... 2... 1, 2, 3, etc.) just before the song begins. Though this doesn't take away from the experience, it just doesn't make it sound like there was much work put into the overall sound. This Cold is actually overall a pretty simple song, but every album needs some radio-friendly songs. 18 songs also seems to be too much for an album, and some of them I find sound similar to others.
  
  Two of the songs I can't stand: the first two 'noise' tracks. The first one I skip every time I hear it, the second one I let run on until the sound begins to become more distorted. The third noise track, however, I actually go back to listen to a lot (a good lead into The Slaughter), and is sort of reminiscent to Pink Floyd.
  
  Now, the good points: Carvel, despite the long minute and a half intro, is a great starter, and was one of my initial favorites. Omission I didn't like as much as everyone else, but still a good song. Regret is another good song; sometimes I find myself wishing it was longer, but then I don't think it could be succesfully done without running on or keeping it's feeling. Wednesday's Song is a noteworthy track, along with 'Song to Sing When I'm Lonely,' 'Time Goes Back,' and 'In Relief' (the last three being adjacent, ironically). 'Water' is sort of catchy, but I just can't find myself enjoying it as much as the other songs. 'Cut-Out' and 'Chances' fall victim to being a part of an 18-track album. When there are too many tracks, some are lost in the loop, and songs like these two that are worthy for memorable listens are sometimes forgotten. '23 Go in to end' I like because of it's longevity, and the only one of the noise tracks I don't skip over.
  
  My favorite song on the album, The Slaughter, is amazing. Perfect close to the album, and I really love the lyrics. Probably one of the most memorable songs on the album for me, and is a great outro.
  
  Memorable songs: Carvel, Omission, Regret, Every Person, Wednesday's Song, Song to Sing When I'm Lonely, Time Goes Back, In Relief, 23 go into end, the slaughter.
  
  
• Pop Crap With A LOT Of Filler
  By A1KCHTV3CME1PD on 2005-07-22
  John Frusciante is best known for his ability to create touching peices of music using the guitar. This album is nothing but pop crap with corny lyrics and dull strumming backed by electronice beeps and bops. Two OK songs: "Carvel" and "Song To Sing When I'm Lonely". To hear John at his best pick up the album TO RECORD ONLY WATER FOR TEN DAYS. Almost every song on that album is truely genius (see "Rampart" and "Murderers"). To Record Water For Only Ten Days is so good that when people heard Shadows they made themselves believe it is good even though it is not.
  
  
• good songs...good music...
  By ACP59I2NDKRCE on 2005-10-06
  some of the best songs i've heard in a long time. go to his official website to download acoustic versions of them!(...)
  
  
• Awesome albumn
  By A12NG5GIR4HDK1 on 2004-02-25
  this albumn is awesome. If you want to hear a great guitarist do his thing, you should defenatly check this guy out!
  
  
• The Froo-Man at his best
  By A118Z11AA54AID on 2004-02-27
  I just recieved this cd as part of my birthday present from my hubby. Let me tell you it is the best present I have ever recieved. John is at his all time best. The music just takes you away to a special place. You don't have to be a RHCP fan to love this music. Actually you will find more mellow music than their usual funk but it is just so pure and you can tell that every word comes from his heart. His voice has improved so much. Each song is better than the next. There isn't one song that I pass on when I am listening to this cd. John is a musical genius by far and a true artist with amazing talent. A must buy for any type of music fan. absolutely fantastic.
  
  
• Worth the wait
  By on 2004-02-28
  I've been waiting for this album for quite sometime and it has surpassed my expectations. His past albums have shown a hint of his brilliance both lyrically and in composition; this album confirms it. I gladly give this album a five because like has been said before, it has great playablitity. Every song has it's showcase of John's multiple talents. Not only has the quality of the music itself improved, but his voice is much more professional now. One more thing, some reviews have said it does not sound like RHCP, but I think this album clearly shows his musical and creative contribution to the band.
  
  
• There's no one like him
  By on 2004-02-28
  Thank God for John Frusciante! And thank God that there are still original musicians out there who make no compromises but continue to share their art with the world, regardless of fashion and celebrity. I'm a long-time Frusciante fan, and I see something unique and magical in all his solo work, but Shadows Collide With People is probably his most complete and easily accessible work to date. The inspiration for this collection of songs seems to come from a whole range of sources, but the result is ultimately a testimony to John's great musicianship and a spirit which is all his own.
  
  

• To Record Only Water for Ten Days
• Curtains
• The Will to Death
• Inside of Emptiness
• DC EP