John Frusciante – Niandra LaDes And Usually Just A T-Shirt (1994)
Upon leaving the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1992, guitarist John Frusciante delved into home recording, eventually completing a 12-track album titled Niandra Lades that bore the influence of ’60s oddballs like Syd Barrett and Captain Beefheart. Niandra Lades languished on the shelf for a while until it was paired with another 12-track collection of Frusciante’s home-taping efforts; this one, titled Usually Just a T-Shirt, concentrated on pleasant psychedelic instrumentals with plenty of backward-guitar effects. While some might find the jump from bizarre vocal numbers to atmospheric instrumentals (and the resultant shift in mood) a bit jarring, the two halves do share certain characteristics. Frusciante’s singing voice has a fragile, wispy quality that sits well next to the often delicate second half, and the sparse arrangements of the first half help set the stage for the gossamer guitar work later on. Because the whole project has a definite stream-of-consciousness feel, it does fall prey to underdeveloped ideas at times, but overall, Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt is an intriguing and unexpected departure from Frusciante’s work with the Chili Peppers.–Steve Huey
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download part 1 – 195.0 MB
download part 2 – 195.0 MB
download part 3 – 10.5 MB
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*****
I give this album 3 out 5 stars
let us know what you think in the comments section of this post
I dunno, first I thought this was brilliant… now I sometimes feel it’s just a very bad trip. Can’t make up my mind on this one LOL
I guess you know that he was in very bad shape because of drugs during that album. My fovorites are Shadows collide with people and To record only water…
but these album has great songs, like the big take over and my smile is a rifle are awsome tracks
Yes I knew that. My now ex wife and I had tickets for a RHCP concert which was cancelled because of his situation. Years later when he returned to the band we went to see them and he played this one song all by him self right in front of us, we still agree that was one of the best things we ever experienced together :)
But all that doesn’t change the fact that I can’t get my head around this one… I’m not sure… brilliant or just plain crazy LOL
John wasn’t using heroine when he recorded Niandra.
@ Hello: hello Hello, maybe you should read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niandra_Lades_and_Usually_Just_a_T-Shirt and if you’re not convinced then you might wanna look for the vpro interviews on youtube or read his book.. he was not only using during Niandra, he was proudly admitting he was a junkie at the time… I still think it’s sad everytime I see that interview.. :(
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1979448559706741322