Outsides

A seemingly overlooked release by Frusciante, and unjustly so. It is an interesting album of mostly instrumental music (there is a little singing at the end of the final track "Shelf"), with one of his best guitar solos appearing on the first track, "Same". Frusciante himself introduced this EP with the following statement:"Outsides consists of a 10-minute guitar solo and 2 abstract 'out' pieces of music. Here I use the word out in the same sense as the term was used in free jazz. It’s a modern approach to the concepts of harmony found in some late 50s/early 60s free jazz and some 20th century classical. I don’t employ any aspects of rock or pop harmony, and that was basically the approach, just to make music that is not reliant on the center that, on PBX, was provided by my songwriting style. I consider this to be working along abstract lines. Making forward moving, full sounding music without resorting to any familiar musical relationships of harmony to serve as a basis has been a goal of mine for quite a while. Both songs have my style of drums and guitar solos, but nevertheless I think of them as my version of modern classical music. They started as just orchestra, but I go wherever music takes me, and I use any instrument to express my feelings, just as I use aspects of any style. For instance, on 'Shelf', despite the unconventional tonality of the section, I was surprised to find that a blues guitar solo worked well. Also, both songs have Acid sections."Fans will also want to seek out the bonus track "Sol" which was included on Japanese editions.

It's a wonderful listen. It's a little piece of art from a pretty prolific and interesting artist. It reinforces the notion of Frusciante as guitar master with high taste in art, fashion, and sound. Most of all it's interesting, subtle, and powerful all in one infinite dimension. These records are high art and should be collected and noted in this fashion................

Honesty. That's what Frusciante is striving for. And adventure, for sure. For listening to his latest outing just open your ears and let the music do the work. Give yourself to it and you will be tremendously satisfied with his creative development.Track 2, Breathiac, is a particularly rare kind of breed, especially in the pop-world. And saying so: the definition of 'pop' seems out of place here. Even so to give it any kind of theoretical ground or categorization. Frusciante becomes more and more prolific in achieving his very personal expression-world. Anyway: it's nice to hear jumping octaves between the root and minor seconds, in the likes of Webern and Boulez, especially on guitar, and in this colorful environment.What also strikes me on his latest records is the wonderful and musical way he uses timbres, sounds, and patterns in the synth domain, like conducting an orchestra without becoming boring bombastic. It's tasteful everywhere. And yes, I really like the way he cut's up rhythms. It makes it all so alive and dynamic. You won't get bored a single moment: continuously there's something going on somewhere.I hope John keeps working in this direction: the honest listener needs it...

Yes. I love it.I'm dancing to the beat. My arms are waving. My legs are attempting to keep time.I'm present with the master musician as he devours the metronome and orchestrates his way to my living room- it's so much fun!

Not his best but the guitar solo on track one is amazing.

Simply one of the best pieces of music ever made. Absolutely must hear, especially if you like out-there electronic music.The pressing is pretty good as well. A nice thick 180g record

John has always been producing very creative pieces of music, from his early years with the RHCP up to his solo career and this album is not an exception.The last couple of years, John has been experimenting with new styles of music, specifically, electronic music. This album is a blend of guitar and electronic music which ends up sounding as something abstract and some would say weird. John combines notes and sounds in a very peculiar way, ending up with unique songs, each with its own special sound. His music style is close to his previous record, PBX Funicular Intaglio Zone, however it has evolved into something more complex and beautiful. It took me a while to appreciate the songs on this record, mainly because i had never before experienced abstract music, however when i got used to it, it was a great new experience.I definitely prefer this record over PBX and i believe that John is finding his place among electronic music, getting better with each passing record. If you are a John Frusciante fan i would definitely recommend this record.

After reading his own take of the EP on his official website, I was excited to hear the highly anticipated, ten-minute guitar solo, 'Same'. John himself said that 'this song gives new life to the long ago popularly discarded form of the extended rock guitar solo', so even better. However, there are limits to how far a listener can go sometimes, and personally, though he isn't making music to impress, I don't enjoy the song as much as I did after the first listen. I began to dislike the drumming patterns and his soloing techniques in general. It is a very accomplished style that he has developed, don't get me wrong, but I very much disagree with this statement. There is a whole plethora of extended solos (that remain in the same key throughout) that are very much full of life. To sum up the song, it is innovative, but it does get rather boring, and I never thought I could say that about such an amazing musician.'Breathiac' really emphasises his whole polyrhythm idea. Again, innovative, but very dissonant at the start. Some like that kind of thing, but it wasn't for me, really. When the song finally developed a rhythm, I enjoyed it, and was disappointed it didn't last longer. Then more dissonance, then a brilliant acid bassline with a very full sounding string instrument. Dissonance sounded awesome there. I can at times hear the Aphex Twin influence.Finally, 'Shelf' begins almost the same as the previous song, and develops into a very cool piece. Frusciante did mention that there was 'unconventional tonality', but I disagree there. Minus a few notes, the whole thing is a standard Ab minor melody, and that is why his guitar solo worked there. It was also a pleasure to hear his wonderful voice again at the end.Overall, I don't agree with many of his musical philosophies he puts to this release. Modern classical music? Free jazz? It's pure experimentation, and it increases with every record. I wouldn't pin this to any particular style of music, as with any of his other albums. It's just...John Frusciante. Personally, this new style he has developed is not to my taste, but does it need to be? Of course not! He will continually delve into unchartered waters and blow people's minds away, because (possibly unintentionally), that is what he is good at. He is who he has to be.

Genau das werden sich viele Hörer bzw. Reinhörer dieser Scheibe fragen. Ich kann dazu nur sagen: S******* auf den roten Faden!!Für mich wird immer klarer, wie verschwendet er bei den Chili Peppers war!Was Frusciante hier zusammenbastelt sprengt alle Grenzen des Bekannten. Ich bin auch nicht fähig diese Art von Musik zu analysieren und genau zu beschreiben; Fakt ist JF kriegt mich immer wieder mit seinen Kompositionen.Für mich klingen diese 3Songs "galaktisch", irgendwie nicht von dieser Welt. Sicherlich fängt man beim ersten Hören keinen Ohrwurm(wobei Ohrwürmer mit der Zeit ja sowieso an Reiz verlieren) und es dauert seine Zeit bis man diese Werke fassen kann. Meistens braucht es ein beiläufiges, unterbewusstes Hören der Tracks ,damit sie in Mark und Bein überfliessen und spätestens dann macht dieses Frusciante'sche Geklängel wirklich sehr Spass. Wer schon mit PBX oder Letur-Lefr überfordert war(2x5Sterne): Finger weg!Ansonsten 5Sterne, allein für das Erklingen seiner Stimme(nach gefühlten 20min), das die Sonne sowas von aufgehen lässt.Ich bin für jedes weitere Album dankbar!