John Frusciante
The Empyrean

Campus Correspondent review by Hunter Embry,
Indiana University Southeast


It’s been ten years since guitarist John Frusciante emerged from heroin addiction and relative obscurity to re-join the Red Hot Chili Peppers and participate in the band’s multi-platinum Californication. These days, he’s just finished work on his tenth solo album The Empyrean, a concept collection that marks a step forward in Frusciante’s vocal range and confidence. His guitar playing is otherworldly as always.

The Empyrean opens with the nine-minute, verse-less dream song “Before the Beginning,” which optimistically drags with loud hollowly drums and minor-keyed guitar chords before marching into a rich-toned fender solo. “Song to the Siren,” full of psychadelic pianos and synthesizer, trades drums and guitar solos for a set of matured vocals that stand high and sincere above the rest of the mix. The track seems to be a lengthy intro to “Unreachable,” a ‘60s groove song with strange echoes and comforting pianos that nearly drown out Frusciante’s far-away yells.

“God,” probably the most rocking song and high point of The Empyrean, places Frusciante in the shoes of the big man. He sings with an angelic sounding anger, “You blaspheme my name, but still I love you/ still I love you.” The drums- phased and crunchy- hit hard, while an old Wurlitzer riff is surrounded by tin-can guitar chords and classical string instruments.