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!

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

Ultima "fatica" in studio per John Frusciante. Consiglio l'acquisto ai fan ed agli appassionati del genere. Da sottolineare la traccia iniziale, un assolo di chitarra di 10 minuti. Non male anche le successive due tracce, "2 pezzi di musica astratta".

great state of item, carefully packed

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!

Buon disco, in particolar modo la prima canzone, ma preferivo il vecchio stile di John Frusciante, sia quello minimalista che quello che creava un wall of sound con al centro la sua chitarra, rispetto a quello odierno che usa tanta elettronica.