R.H.C.P."Californication" - difficult recording?
Posted by: Rubio on 13 March 2005
Red Hot Chili Pepper "Californication" is a very difficult recording and it sounds very upfront, bright (vocals...) and tireing on most systems I've heard. But I know that a system that has a lot of control (because it is a very complex recording with a lot of information) and is very balanced will make this CD sound very good and engaging (there are some who use this as a test CD). Are there anybody here who has a Naim system where this CD sounds nice? Then, please tell me your setup (including loudspeakers). Especially, my girlfriend love this CD and if I can have a system where this one sounds good (except for a ghettoblaster where it sounds OK..) I could convince here that the equipment is worth buying. Any input is highly welcomed.
Posted on: 13 March 2005 by Jono 13
Rubio,
My NAIT3/CD3.5/Castle Severns do a fine job with Californication.
Also try Shahinian Compass 'speakers.
Jono
Posted on: 13 March 2005 by Kevin-W
Could it be that it's "tiring to listen to" because it is, like all of this wretched group's output, complete rubbish?
Kevin
Posted on: 14 March 2005 by Colin Lorenson
Shite band. Shite music. End of story.
Posted on: 14 March 2005 by Darren Miller
Great band. Great music. Bite me !
Sounds perfectly fine on my CDX/XPS/102/250 Kelly KT3's.
Posted on: 14 March 2005 by greeny
To try to make a constructive comment, I have found this is one of those albums that sounds quite good on the radio, but there is much wrong with the recording.
On the quieter bits the recording qualaty is pretty good, but once the vocals hit anywhere near a high level, or the instruments pile up you find theat there is significant compression and distortion (maybe tape saturation distortion or just dynamic compression?).
I find 'By the way' to be similar. Though both are still enjoyable.
BloodSugarSexMagik by contrast initially sounds slightly leaner yet doesn't suffer the same type of distortion/compression problems
Posted on: 14 March 2005 by Simon Matthews
It is a shame that none of their subsequent output matches the recording quality of BSSM.
Especially in the case on vinyl wher BSSM is fantastically dynamic and very realistic. The drum /bass interplay at the beginning of 'Could have lied' is always a good start when evaluating a system upgrade.
The last two albums are compressed during mixing for radio friendly listening methinks. Maybe record companies should start putting out albums in two mixes: one for the the unfussy and one for people with half decent stereo's and ears that work!
Posted on: 14 March 2005 by claudioe1
Sounds good on CD5/Nait5/FC2/NACA5/B&W 804s.
Posted on: 14 March 2005 by Sir Crispin Cupcake
Yes I have problems with this one too, particularly the vocals which seem to have a hard and whiney quality to them. I suspect that my speakers are to blame. Tonight, I'm borrowing Dom Brown's EPOS ES14s - so must remember to give this a spin again. Thanks for jogging my memory.
Posted on: 14 March 2005 by nor
quote:
Originally posted by Colin Lorenson:
Shite band. Shite music. End of story.
halleluja!!! totally and utterly agree
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by Nime
I didn't mind this band on the radio. But the opening track is unlistenable on hifi. Highly distorted and seems to have collapsed into mono.
Another radio-orientated mix. Perhap the fans simply don't care? The band obviously don't give a shit. Every track has that samey Dino Krawl dropped tone on the end of every single bløødy line of the lyrics. In a deperate attempt to seperate themselves clearly from those who can actually sing. I doubt the "arteests" are actually starving.
Nime
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by custard
I have this recording on vinyl as well as CD I also find that the vinyl copy sounds quite harsh.
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by Webke
quote:
Originally posted by Kevin-W:
Could it be that it's "tiring to listen to" because it is, like all of this wretched group's output, complete rubbish?
Kevin
I think RCHP old stuff is great, flea (bass) is very very talented, I hate your replies, everytime I see one it just sayin how shite you think bands are.
Do me a favour, SHUT UP.
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by Kevin-W
quote:
Originally posted by Webke:
I think RCHP old stuff is great, flea (bass) is very very talented, I hate your replies, everytime I see one it just sayin how shite you think bands are.
Do me a favour, SHUT UP.
It's a free country, I'll slag off who I want. If you don't like it, that's just tough.
I don't like the Chilli Peppers (they're an irritating and over-rated bunch of morons and while Flea is a passably good bassist, he's not Bernard Edwards or John Paul Jones or Larry Graham or Bootsy Collins or wassisname from The Meters, is he?) but so what? Did I ever say you couldn't fritter your precious life away listening to such half-arsed drivel? No, do what you want, you're an adult and it's a free country.
In any case, you have obviously only read a few of my posts. Why, about 30 seconds ago I was saying how wonderful Doves were. But we read what we wanna read, don't we?
Do us all a favour, get a life, or at least chill, son.
Kevin x
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by Webke
hmm
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by Webke
If I wish to listen to great players/musicians, I listen to Steve Gadd (probably the worlds greatest drummer), Jeff Porcaro, Larry Carlton, Duane Allman, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Donald Fagen, etc etc.
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by tartarus
It seems strange, that all great musicians dedicate their lives to recordings that fail to make the grade. True great music, wonderfully written. But why-oh-why, don't they go into a studio to make a good sounding recording (with real bass).
Please respond, as this has been PMO (Pissing Me Off) for the past 20 yeares-or so!
Cheers
Tar-tar-us
(a bit like toys-r-us, except with a sick sense of humour)
Posted on: 15 March 2005 by Hawk
quote:
Originally posted by Kevin-W:
quote:
Originally posted by Webke:
I think RCHP old stuff is great, flea (bass) is very very talented, I hate your replies, everytime I see one it just sayin how shite you think bands are.
Do me a favour, SHUT UP.
It's a free country, I'll slag off who I want. If you don't like it, that's just tough.
I don't like the Chilli Peppers (they're an irritating and over-rated bunch of morons and while Flea is a passably good bassist, he's not Bernard Edwards or John Paul Jones or Larry Graham or Bootsy Collins or wassisname from The Meters, is he?) but so what? Did I ever say you couldn't fritter your precious life away listening to such half-arsed drivel? No, do what you want, you're an adult and it's a free country.
In any case, you have obviously only read a few of my posts. Why, about 30 seconds ago I was saying how wonderful Doves were. But we read what we wanna read, don't we?
Do us all a favour, get a life, or at least chill, son.
Kevin x
lol, nothing like a good ole bit of fighting talk...
FWIW, i like some of the RHCP's early stuff but the quality of their recordings are utter shite to the point of making some good tunes sound painful...
With you on the Doves though.... top album and a great band live too..
Hawk
Posted on: 16 March 2005 by fled
My take on the RHCP
I never realy liked the RHCP having only owned the greatest hits on CD, it was, as some have commented here "shite" at least in the production so much so I didnt enjoy the music.
THEN - To impress my neice on my wide musical taste I hired RHCP DVD (live at Slane) and played this through my Arcam DV79 DVD and on my Sim2 projector. It was truly fantastic !!! I havnt enjoyed a live band so much for years.
Anyhow I decided to but RHCP on Vinyl and what a difference !! including Californication, by the way, they are superb in production and are among my "you got to listen to this" demos of my system.
So I understand how folks cant stand them (its good everyone has different tastes, although the over the top remarks are a little odd) but if your system is making them sound terrible I would check it over, as with Vinyl its superb.
Phil
