Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium Arcadium

Stadium Arcadium is the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ ninth studio album during their 23 year career – and it’s massive. It was released on various days during May 06 and debuted at number one in the UK Albums Chart, the Japanese Oricons chart, and the U.S. Billboard 200. One million copies of the album were sold within the same month of release in Europe. The title has gone gold or platinum in 16 countries across Europe already. Stadium Arcadium sold 442,000 units in its first week of release in the U.S. From the number of tracks (28 over two CDs), the cosmic themes of the cover art to – most importantly – the music itself, is sheer grandness.

The band has said in many interviews that this album is about people coming together because of music, which the track “Stadium Arcadium” sums up. The album returns back to the distinct funk-rock sound the Chili Peppers have been known for in albums such as Californication and Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The combination of tracks are what fans are used to – beautifully melodious slow numbers, out and out dirty funk and radio-friendly rock tunes like opener Dani California.

When you try to deliver something for everyone — particularly with a double album — a few missteps are to be expected but you’re sure to enjoy it. The band are legend, purely amazing.