Heroin addict sees the light. (To Record Only Water For Ten Days - John Frusciante)

Member Name: JJJJ

Product:	To Record Only Water For Ten Days - John Frusciante
Date:	25/03/09 (184 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Moving Tracks

Disadvantages: Grating Vocals

Released in 2001, 'To Record Only Water for Ten Days' is the third solo album by Red Hot Chili Pepper's lead guitarist John Fusciante.

Recorded at the time when Frusciante was recovering from a heroin addiction, the album has a very homemade feel and is certainly not a commercial or mainstream sounding release. Fruisciante's previous albums 'Smile from the Streets You Hold', and 'Niandra LaDes & Usually Just a T-Shirt' were a little shambolic in their overall sound, so how does To Record Only Water for Ten Days shape up?

I'm not going to dwell on each of the tracks, as many are experimental instrumental pieces - so I will isolate a select few songs which I feel shape the album.

Opening with 'Going Inside', To Record Water opens with one of it's best tracks. It comes as a bit of a shock when you hear Frusciante's voice for the first time - usually heard in the Chilli Peppers as high pitched harmonious backing - here, it's very deep and not at all polished.

'Someone's' is a short track featuring a electronic drum backing - extenuating the homemade feel of the album. It's a fairly bland number, but like the rest of the album, I'm sure it has a lot of resonance and meaning to Frusciante.

'Away and Anywhere' is one of the more memorable songs, and although it sounds like it's been recorded on a 4-track (which most of the album does), it's suitably moving and enjoyable to listen to.

The acoustic guitar driven 'Remain', produces the album's first bluesy sounding number - although it does degenerate into electronica with some unusual futuristic beats.

'Ramparts' is an instrumental which sounds exactly like a Chili-Peppers interlude, featuring Frusciante's trademark guitar sound. In a similar vein 'Murders' is another instruments only piece, and this one does sound like a demo and less Peppers in style. That said, it actually makes for a pleasing listen.

'Invisible Moment' is one of the few songs on the album that sounds polished and complete, whilst 'Saturation' encapsulates a 60's feel, but again suffers from uncomfortable vocals and a bland mid section.

The seven out of the fourteen tracks I have selected above encapsulate the feel of the album, and occasionally show the flashes of genius that Frusciante is capable of. That said, for every creative chord and thoughtful lyric, there is the grating voice and repetitive nature of many of the songs which is quite difficult to see past.

Although it's not the easiest of listens, To Record Only Water for 10 Days is a personal and non-commercial journey. Frusciante's vocals feel fragmented and uncomfortable, probably representative of the state he was in shortly before creating the album. This results in a selection of tracks which need a few listens before you recognise and appreciate their value.

I would recommend this album as an interesting and non-mainstream listen - it does take a bit of work, but it may be worth it in the end. You can download the album for £7.99 from the iTunes store.

Summary: Chili Peppers Guitarist Solo Album