RHCP Deliver An Uncompromising Box Set
Corey Turner | Florida | 04/12/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."