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CD reviews

Smile from the Streets You Hold

John Frusciante - Smile from the Streets You Hold Audio CD

A fair review of the John Frusciante "Smile from the Streets You Hold" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all John Frusciante reviews here, or go back to the John Frusciante tabs.

Band: John Frusciante
Title: Smile from the Streets You Hold
Rating:

Release Date: 1997-08-26
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Enter a Uh 2: Other 3: Life's a Bath 4: Fall Thru the Ground 5: Poppy Man 6: I May Again Know John 7: I'm Always 8: Nigger Song 9: Femininity 10: Breathe 11: More 12: For Air 13: Height Down 14: Well, I've Been 15: Smile from the Streets You Hold 16: I Can't See Until I See Your Eyes 17: Estress

If you are not a big time John Frusciante Do not buy this

Despite this albums many flaws. Once every couple of years you listen to a album that rocks you to the core. I could not bring myself to stop listening. I rarely if ever listen to a album all the way through but there is just something entrancing about it. This album goes beyond music beyond any thing I've ever heard. By the time was done with album I was in tears. Do not buy this album expecting to hear anything remotely near a mainstream sound. Please note during the time he was recording this album John was extremely addicted to heroin. This reflects in the overall sound and quality of the music. Beware his voice sounds horrible because of all the drugs. Understand this is not a studio album in fact most of it was recorded on 4track recorders. Even with all these flaws this album is truly a great work of art. Although I must admit I can't wait till he rerecords this album.

Would be better off in the comedy section
In fact the only place I could find this album was on eBay for �18, making it the expensive album in my entire CD collection. `Smiles' is the second album from John Frusciante released back in 1997 and is his hardest album to get.

Was it worth it? In a word; NO! This is one of the worst albums in my CD collection. When listening to this album for the first time I did wonder what he was on. Well it turns out it was heroin and lots of it. In his head it probably sounded like the best thing ever. But the reality is that it is extremely badly produced and is just a complete mess. `Smiles' makes his debut album; `Niandra Lades and Usually just a T-shirt' sound like a classic. Not because I think `Niandra' is good, but because this one of the most awkward, unaccessable albums I have ever heard.

Starting off with 8 minuter `Enter a Uh', you can hear Frusciante coughing and footsteps, before coming in with `You see me now'. The vocals in this song and throughout the album are projected in such a way that it is as if Frusciante is in excruciating pain, trying to hang on in there. This was John at one of his darkest moments, even more so than when he recorded `Niandra'. The state he was in is reflected in the album, as it seems he is struggling to even play to any sort of rhythm or melody on the guitar. The lyrics give you the feeling he just blurted out the first thing that came into his head, whether it made sense or not. For example: `Why I paddle thru the clouds. In my oversized canoe,' from the song `I'm Always' or even worse from the song `Height down' the lyrics `Bili lie now despite to go walling'.

When I put my MP3 player on shuffle and a song from this album comes on it is instantly recognisable as it stands out like a sore thumb. This is because the sound quality is so bad; a band made up with 12 year olds could easily make a better sounding record than this, never mind being able to write songs which can actually be distinguished as songs. I do wonder sometimes, if he went back and recorded this album again now that he has cleaned up his act; what it would sound like? In my opinion it would be a real eye opener and probably be one of the best re-masters of all time. Primarily because it could not get much worse and secondly because we know the ridiculous amount of talent and potential he possesses.

I would only recommend this album if you really want to complete your JF collection because apart from that it really is the musical equivalent of diarrhoea. Even the cover looks like it has been done by a five year old. Drugs should not be an excuse. I am not going to listen to an album, and say `It's pretty bad, but I found out he was taking drugs when he wrote it. OK, when I listen to it from that perspective, its actually pretty good'. It is rubbish and it should never have seen the light of day. In saying that if it was designed to be a comedy record, it does achieve its goal of being hilarious but given the state he got himself into; I very much doubt it.
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Very Much A Solo Album
Recorded in motel rooms in his darkest days, this album features some unforgettable songs and some forgettable ones. I recently listened to this record again and I love it:)

This is very much John solo and you can certainly feel his loneliness through the songs. . .

While this album is hard to get, it is worth tracking down. For most John fans, this is a must have. For anyone still getting into his music, look into all his other releases first.

Whilst the recording is not of the highest quality there a definitely some great songs on here. . . A fall thru the ground, I'm Always, Femininity, Smile from the streets and Estress are all memorable songs but if you like the more experimental of Johns work you will love 'Enter a uh' and 'I may again know John'. They are both 8 minute plus songs with great guitar riffs and vocals that touch every emotional level. Close your eyes and listen to them and you will feel something i guarentee. . .

All up, I am glad I own this record, it certainly is not his best but listen to it with an open mind and you will be impressed.

A great record, and the vocals aren't as bad as everyone says.
I was expecting something terrible (I have loved John Frusciante for a long time, and I Just got this in the mail), and I really like it. Sure, there are sometimes on this record where John Frusciante's screeches are unbearable, but if you look past all of that, the guitar work and instrumental work is amazing. It isn't perfect like To Record Only Water for Ten Days or Shadows Collide With People, but it is a good record nonetheless. Listen to it with an open mind and you will be fine.

Standout tracks: Enter a Uh, The Other, A Fall Thru the Ground, Feminity.

A review without a single mention of smack
Granted, it probably reminds him all too vividly of a rather unstable time in his life, but to the regular listener this is a more accessable record than 'Usually Just A T-Shirt' in my opinion. I fail to see how this album is any less deserving of a place in Frusciante's discography than the others, even if he (until recently) thought so himself. 'Smile From The Streets You Hold' is longer than said album too, and as a result the more rambling songs on here are easily outnumbered by the excellent ones. It is actually a very intense, fulfilling album to listen to in one sitting.

The opener 'Enter A Uh' sets the tone perfectly: it's raw and scruffy as hell, almost impenetrable upon the first few listens, but give it time and you'll find a song in there. A funky, carefully written song with excellent vocal lines (painfully sung, mind) and an opening riff that betrays the genius in this sadly drug-addled man (with a happy ending, of course). The rest of the album fluctuates, though its highlights are as good as anything from 'Niandra LaDes' - 'Poppy Man' is a great instrumental, 'Height Down' (a duet with the late River Pheonix) is a touchingly happy folkish tune and the title track really should have been on 'Niandra. . . ' all along.

There are some oddities too. 'A Fall Thru The Ground' is a lush and layered home recorded tune from pre-Chilis days (he was 17!! - Christ, to have been that good at 17!), 'I'm Always' is one of my favourite Frusciante songs and totally unlike anything else he's done (it's more RHCP than JF), and 'I May Again Know John' is just fantastic - a distortion-drenched psychedelic dirge with an beautiful evolving chord progression.

It certainly is a tough listen, but stick with it and it'll repay you tenfold. It's a good thing John didn't go the same way as Hillel, because 'Smile From The Streets You Hold' would have been a dark and tragic swan song. Happily, instead we got nine more solo records and three from the Chilis!.

You can see a complete list of all John Frusciante discography, or go back to the John Frusciante tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.