I was a fairly self-proclaimed RHCP fan around the time I picked this album up. I kicked myself repeatedly for not realizing that John does work separate from the peppers earlier than I did (around summer of 2004 that is). Anyway, I found out he did solo work and I found this album in my local record store one day and decided to pick it up. I popped it in my car on the way back, and was literally blown away.

It's not the sheer fact that John makes music this interesting to me. It's the whole story behind his music, where he's come from, how dedicated to his work he is and his ongoing ability to output, maybe not perfect, but truly amazing work consistently. I was very fortunate to pick this album up when I did, it just so happened that The Will to Death came out only two weeks later and I basically was bombarded with John Frusciante for the next six to eight months.

However, out of all the albums that he's made, Shadows Collide with People has always seemed to me to be the most genuine John. Combine the earlier self-depreciating, drug-ridden works of Smile from the Streets you Hold and Niandra Lades and Usually just a T-shirt, the original vision and creativity of to Record Only Water for Ten Days, the output quantity and variety of his six albums in six months campaign and polish it up just a little, and that's Shadows Collide With People. It's really the sum of all the parts coming together.

There are some very clever depictions of John's past in this album as well. "Wednesday's Song", which depicts his favoring of one specific prostitue once a week around the time of BSSM, is a great example of this. I would certainly classify this album as the one to introduce others to his solo works, it's certainly his most accessible but doesn't sacrifice too much to that fact either. The electronic influence of other of his works is evident too in tracks such as "Double-0Ghost27", "Failure 33 Object", and "23 Go In To End". For some reason, "Chances" throws me back to the Beatles in some aspects and is always a nice fun, quick listen. And "The Slaughter" is just a song I could listen to over and over again, the absolute perfect way to end the album.

In short, Shadows Collide with People currently is and likely will be my favorite John Frusciante album. It does truly have "something for all his fans." Tracking John's growth as a musician both solo and with the chili peppers is something I continue to enjoy day after day and this is certainly, in my opinion, the best place to start.

I Love John Frusciante, but i hate people who use their love for J.F. as an excuse to love all his music. this CD is disapointing, i really did think that it would be good. there are many problem with it:
1)the drums sound like a metronome
2)everything has been so overly produced and digitalized that for most of the songs you can barely hear the music

this sound like something John Frusciante threw together late at night on his computer and decided to produce it

there are however 3 very good songs (but ONLY 3!) and they are
1)Carvel
2)Song To Sing When Im Lonly
3)The Slaughter

This album is totally amazing. I'm not one for electronic parts of music, so that's probably the downfall of the album, but all of the actual songs are really solid. I'd love to use this album as part of a movie someday. It's one of my top ten albums of all time.

Shadows is great and I think that John has a required taste type thing, I guess. I think DC EP is amazing, so is the Will to Death. They are very creative and not the norm, if you don't like other John just stop trying because I don't think you will grow into his music, it is different, I am pretty suprised that so many people like it too. I am not suprised that you don't like that much. Save your money dude, go the red hot route if you want the best of john frusciante.

I have read many, many reviews on amazon, and it seems that most people like Shadows Collide. What I don't understand is how other Frusciante albums get 5 stars...please, if you've listened to all of his albums and you read this review send me an email with suggested Frusciante albums based on these criteria:

1. Good singing (voice mainly)
2. Somewhat polished production (at least)
3. Most songs being really good
4. Good singing (emphatically)

I absolutely love Shadows, John's voice actually sounds really good and the music is unbelievable, unlike the other albums I have painfully listened to. Inside of Emptiness received really good reviews so I bought it. It's really not that great, especially when compared to Shadows. My gut feeling is that most of his albums might contain one, two, or maybe three good songs, such as the Past Recedes on Curtains. I hope I'm wrong.

So, if your privy to Frusicante's catalog could you please hit me with an email with suggestions so that I'll stop wasting time/money/hope.

This is definitely Johns best work yet. It is also the most commercial but I won't hold that against him. From the opening note of 'carvel' to the final sound of 'the slaughter', this record will ring in your head long after you've played it. The songwriting has taken another big step forward, the melodies on this album are the catchiest yet, whilst the lyrics are filled with honesty and make perfect sense, unlike the drug-filled ramblings of his first two releases. It almost feels like John is singing the songs to you and not into a tape.
The presence of John's good buddy Josh Klinghoffer on this album makes it even better. They are both very talented musicians in there own right, but together they form a partnership which takes them higher than anyone. A partnership which fortunately still lasts today. A highlight of this album is Josh's vocals on 'Omission'.
Also lending out on this album is Chad Smith on drums, while Flea lends his bass to 'The Slaughter'. Charlie Clouser of Nine Inch Nails fame provides orchestral programming on a couple of songs, 'Regret' and 'Chances'.
My favourite tracks on this album are 'Regret', a song so simple but yet stirs up so much emotion from within, it is hard not to be moved by this track. And 'Second Walk', a song which sums up John perfectly.
Also listen out for 'Ricky', 'Every Person'(I think the line "A ship out in the distance is here if I draw it" is just the best ever), the catchy' Song To Sing When I'm lonely' and the experimental '23 Go In To The End'.
I believe this is a must have album for all RHCP fans as it will open your eyes to a whole new world. The world of John Frusciante, the greatest living musician in the world today...

"Shadows Collide With People" is the first CD Frusciante did solo while being clean, I believe. It's also the best produced, and most accessible of his solo works. After listening to this I can clearly hear the Frusciante influence in every subsequent RHCP release. The Chilis used to be Kiedis and Flea's band---now they are definitely Frusicante's band. I like this CD. I think if it had been pushed there are definitely radio friendly songs there. Buy this one first, and if you like it you should try his other solo works. Just be warned, some of them (Niandra Lades, especially) are pretty weird.

Another reviewer compared John Frusciante to Brian Wilson. I believe that is an accurate comparison. One day, people will look back at JF's solo work and wonder why more people didn't "get it". Brilliant musician, brilliant songwriter, genius in the studio. Buy this CD, buy all his other CDs, buy all the RCHP albums, too.

some of the best songs i've heard in a long time. go to his official website to download acoustic versions of them!(...)

Like many others, I'm a big fan of Mr. Frusciante's work with the Chili Peppers, from Mother's Milk to By The Way. His contributions to all of the Chili Peppers' albums is magnanimous--from his highly melodic guitar work to his incredible backing vocals and everything in between. It goes without saying that the Peppers got lucky when they discovered Frusciante.

Like the aforementioned reviewer, I had the albums "To Record for Water for Only Ten Days," this album, and "The Will to Death." I casually listened to the previous two, and listened to "The Will to Death" here on Amazon, and decided to get the album. It is a very impressive album musically. Then I went back and really listened to "Shadows," and found myself blown away by the mad-art mastery of John Frusciante. After reading one of the previous reviews that blasted this album for Frusicante's use of samples, loops, various vocal effects, and interesting Line 6 Guitar effects such as an arpeggiator, I had to respond. There are many groups that use such effects uselessly and wastefully, but every modulation/synth effect that John uses on this album, every instrument has a distinct purpose--it all fits. To me, this album is so poignantly experiemental that I would like to consider it a modern-day "Pet Sounds." I really believe that Frusciante has the mad-art mastermind of a Brian Wilson (minus the intricate vocal harmony composing). To me, it goes without saying that this is Frusicante's best solo album ever. Lyrically, he expresses some of the deepest emotional experiences ever, and musically, the album is a wall of potently beautiful music. One can only postulate what kind of artistic electrochemical neurosynaptic charges go through the brilliant cerebral muscle of John Frusciante. I also recommend a listen through of "The Will to Death."

John Frusciante is best known for his ability to create touching peices of music using the guitar. This album is nothing but pop crap with corny lyrics and dull strumming backed by electronice beeps and bops. Two OK songs: "Carvel" and "Song To Sing When I'm Lonely". To hear John at his best pick up the album TO RECORD ONLY WATER FOR TEN DAYS. Almost every song on that album is truely genius (see "Rampart" and "Murderers"). To Record Water For Only Ten Days is so good that when people heard Shadows they made themselves believe it is good even though it is not.

if you like john frusciante,you may also like john doe,joy division,depeche mode,the smiths,talking heads,frank zappa,hayden,boards of canada,cracker.

I should first say that I am a HUGE fan of John Frusciante as both a musician and a human being. But even I was shocked upon first listening to this album at just how good it is. Many of the lush sounds of the Chili's BTW album are built on here, with John having singular artistic control. Some of the production values are raw, which some reviewers count off for, but I for one see as an endearing thing. (As in the case of the Beatles White Album). So much of the music here is simply beautiful, particularly the oddly titled "Slaughter" and "Omission". "Wednesday Song" sounds like authentic 60's pop, while "Carvel" reminds me of 70's prog music. This album is not easy to classify, but suffice to say it is worth owning for any lover of adventerous and beautiful music.

While nearly each of these songs are very good, some of them seem to short (Second Walk), and songs like this make it sound like parts of the album were thrown together as they were. It doesn't sound like there was very much time put into ordering the tracks or actually listening through the beginning of the first track and the three 'noise' tracks to see just how annoying they were.

Though I'm currently in love with 'The Slaughter' (favorite track on the album), it seems more like a demo version of a song than the song itself. Another thing I would like to point out is the ability to hear the drummer of the song muttering the metronome (1... 2... 1, 2, 3, etc.) just before the song begins. Though this doesn't take away from the experience, it just doesn't make it sound like there was much work put into the overall sound. This Cold is actually overall a pretty simple song, but every album needs some radio-friendly songs. 18 songs also seems to be too much for an album, and some of them I find sound similar to others.

Two of the songs I can't stand: the first two 'noise' tracks. The first one I skip every time I hear it, the second one I let run on until the sound begins to become more distorted. The third noise track, however, I actually go back to listen to a lot (a good lead into The Slaughter), and is sort of reminiscent to Pink Floyd.

Now, the good points: Carvel, despite the long minute and a half intro, is a great starter, and was one of my initial favorites. Omission I didn't like as much as everyone else, but still a good song. Regret is another good song; sometimes I find myself wishing it was longer, but then I don't think it could be succesfully done without running on or keeping it's feeling. Wednesday's Song is a noteworthy track, along with 'Song to Sing When I'm Lonely,' 'Time Goes Back,' and 'In Relief' (the last three being adjacent, ironically). 'Water' is sort of catchy, but I just can't find myself enjoying it as much as the other songs. 'Cut-Out' and 'Chances' fall victim to being a part of an 18-track album. When there are too many tracks, some are lost in the loop, and songs like these two that are worthy for memorable listens are sometimes forgotten. '23 Go in to end' I like because of it's longevity, and the only one of the noise tracks I don't skip over.

My favorite song on the album, The Slaughter, is amazing. Perfect close to the album, and I really love the lyrics. Probably one of the most memorable songs on the album for me, and is a great outro.

Memorable songs: Carvel, Omission, Regret, Every Person, Wednesday's Song, Song to Sing When I'm Lonely, Time Goes Back, In Relief, 23 go into end, the slaughter.

Shadows Collide With People definitely comes across as very personal work by John Frusciante. The lyrics are extremely heartfelt (see "Second Walk" or "I Regret My Past") and the music is beautifully executed.

What puts me off a bit from this record is that John Frusciante reveals his melancholy side, but seems to reveal only that side of himself. JF is capable of some beautifully savage yet surgically precise music, which slaps you in the face but deeply moves you at the same time. Many songs on this album are dominated by him strumming an acoustic guitar with pop abandon, belting out his soulful lyrics.

This isn't a bad thing, and comes across very well, but the songs tend to blend together about half way through the album. Also, I feel (and this will be sacrilegeous to fans) that the lyrics and song structures could have been tighter -- it does ramble occasionally.

The last thing that bugs me a bit is JF's singing. Don't get me wrong, he is a fantastic singer and certainly is worthy of having a great solo career. I just feel that more modulation in his singing would have helped the songs tremendously. In every one of them, he sings at the same volume, same pitch, occasionally veering into the trademark soft roar that gives Red Hot Chili Pepper songs so much more texture.

All in all, this is great radio-friendly pop-rock. Even the more experimental tracks are readily accessible. I was expecting a bit more experimentation from the true artist that is John Frusciante, that's all.

Still highly recommended, especially if you're into more middle of the road stuff (think U2 etc.) and are looking for solid catchy songs with a bit of an edge to them.

When I first formed an opinion of Shadows Collide With People, I decided I liked it best of all of John Frusciante's previous stuff. Of course it remains ranked higher than most other music, but it has since slipped in my personal ranking of Frusciante's catalog. This may sound odd, but, overall, the songs on SCWP that aren't completely weirded out are some of JF's most normal-sounding songs. (Please note that I say MOST.) What I mean is they sound the like they could almost fit in with other decent alt-rock music. But the weird ones...MAN. Those without lyrics are mainly the crazy(est) tracks. The intro to "Carvel," "-00Ghost27" (the exact title), "Failure33Object," and "23 go in to end" are specifically what I refer to. Also, for some reason, the songs on SCWP always seem to get stuck in my head, especially "Wednesday's Song" and "Water" and ...heck, all of them! The more I think about it, the more I remember that JF's "older" music is just as good as his new stuff, and I need to take a break from the more recent Record Collection recordings and revisit the old. (FYI: Even though it was released this year in late spring, John has released 5 CD's since on this "6 Albums in 6 Months" thing.) This is a good JF disc for diehards and beginners alike.

Some have disputed whether or not John Frusciante is a genious or just a junkie being given too much credit because of his association with one of the biggest bands ever. This album sways from his usual experimental methodology and gives the listener something a little more concrete, without losing the artistic qualitiy that we have all come to know and respect from this solo artist with a conscience.
One poigniant moment in the album comes with a track titled "Song to sing when I'm lonely", a heartbreaking tale of society's two-faced hidden agenda ways and the way each of us hides who we truly are.
John Frusciante will forever be a shining example of what indie music should be and what someone can create if they get away from the same benign rut which the music scene seems to have fallen into.

Those expecting to rock out are going to be disappointed. However, liking melody and depth over artists that use the same 3 power chords and sounding angry, this music struck many nerves (in a good way) that a lot of other works havent. the Lo-Fi sounds mixed in with the slide guitars, string arrangements, and other quirks and oddities make this John's best performance that I have listened to. It all seems to bind together in a way that most albums do not. Carvel is a great opener as it lets the listener know what they are in for; A more effects driven album rather than all guitars and drums. Every Person is tied for my favorite song on this album with its sweeping slide guitar over vocals ever few seconds.. really does something as far as bringing out emotion.. 23 go in to end is an absolute gem as far as listening to a song tell a story without words. Time Goes Back is my other favorite as it is a classic song with a classic rock feel to it *which is my style*
Overall, this album is forever in my car and on my computer available to listen at the touch of a button. Excellent work.

Clean studio album, basically just a chili poppers album! osme brilliant songs tho like carvel, every person. if you like by the way youll like this

It is a shame John Frusciante's name is tainted with the Red Hot Chili Pepper name that overshadows his solo career. Perhaps that is why he named this album "Shadows Collide with People". A fine appreciation of music and an ear tuned to hear musical genius when it is in front of them while this album is playing makes it a great inspiration to fellow musicians. Play it, enjoy it and forget the fact he is the Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist. You won't find much of them here even though I am a fan of theirs since '87.

I heard this guy at one of those cool record stores talking about how his work has not been good since he got off heroin. If you can't appreciate this release you don't get music. I think it's the best thing he's done up to this point (except for niandra ladees depending on my mood). It's experimental, musical and cohesive. It works on all levels. The music he is releasing this year will be coveted for generations.

Let me start by saying I've never been a big RHCP fan (like 'em fer sure, but...)-- so I'm not one of those reviewers. Also, I find the earlier Frusciante albums somewhat inaccessible but haven't invested a lot of time (so I'm not one of those freaks saying the album is overproduced or sterile).
I bought this album on a whim after hearing a few songs on Internet radio. I'm pretty sure the album is perfect except for some of the Eno-type stuff (which is still good like the musical Bowie, "Low" stuff). I like my music a little polished so the earlier stuff is a little inaccessible to me and "Will to Death" and "Automatic Writing" aren't quite the same as this. So, to be clear I'm talking about the album itself which is the right blend of spooky, well-produced, soul-bearing, sloppy, flinging grit guitar, moog-type noise slipped in the back, great drumming, funny but oddly working falsetto backup and great, great, great songs. So now I'm a big John Frusciante fan and will probably sit and rewind solo's off Californiacation like the 17-year-olds but let it kick-off some regression.

NOTABLES
CARVEL - marvellous, epic in places, the breaks are scattered to delight, groovy in places, best lyrics of the century - is it funny? sad? "driving to eat a Carvel cake" - who cannot relate?
OMISSION - crazy falsetto backup - what's that?
REGRET - perfectly cast - stumbling acoustic with crashing dumb synths - vocalizer smartly used so voice slips underwater in the recollection of bad things done to oneself.
RICKY - "and if it's life it resolves"; identity mess-ups; I don't know what to call the backups but kind of 'do-woppy' - works for me
THIS COLD -
TIME GOES BACK - guitar breaks
CHANCES - the little synth bit at the end -
-----all the other songs, too....

This album leaves me completely annoyed and skipping through tracks to try to find one single almost-decent track.

If you like pop-sap-crap in your music, or are a loyal dedicated Frusciante fan that doesn't care what the album sounds like as long as it's his.. maybe this could work for you. Some of the songs are slightly interesting musically, but overall the sound is awkward, predictable, corny and hard to stomach. Even if a songwriter can't manage to be profound, at least spare me the bubblegum wrappers and the trite. Every track is made all the more painful by insipid and corny poppy whiney vocals that end up off the mark and out of place bordering on dischordant with the music on nearly every track. The lyrics come off as contrived, as does much of the sound for me. Even the chords end up predictable. The goal seemed to be an experimentation, at the loss of anything bordering on emotional or authentic. I can deal with experimental if it's done well. This album is like a bunch of concepts that never worked. I read something that John wrote about his meticulous production in the studio with this album, he said Shadows Collide was the one album where he obsessively perfected every sound, and went over and over again to get things exactly how he pictured them. I don't know what got lost in translation.. but perhaps the music became overworked? The vision emanated from his head and not his gut? The music just doesn't live. Frusciante usually has a freakish unique offbeat take and sound.. not for everyone. I usually enjoy the raw production value in his music, and the whirly kind of ethereal John sound. This album just doesn't deliver it quite as artfully.

The Will to Death is a heady album, not neccesarily melodic but one that has lyrical depth, putting it in my mind well ahead of this album. To Record Only Water for 10 Days has a very different vibe, more melodic, still experimental, but the experiment works. The choruses are catchy, but there isn't the contrived failed sound of this album.

There are great tracks on both, but what is different about these albums to Shadows Collide is that overall the package as a whole works. This album? Is almost painful to me. I can't help but to skip through most of it.

I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers so much so I was pleased to learn about John's own cds. This is the first one of his that I bought, and it's not the last. John Frusciante is an artist within everthing he hold to himself, no matter what media he's doing it in. Every song on this album is a bit of that indiviual, beautiful and sad side about him. I have heard nothing like this album and thats why I keep it close within me. He has gone through a lot in life and he expresses that in some of the songs. I loved this album. So if you are willing to try something different without listening to Anthony Kiedis's voice but John Frusciante...believe me, you won't be disapointed.

The trouble is with artists like John Frusciante is that they have a very loyal, cult following. Fans who will support them no matter what. I think this is what is going on here judging by the ridiculously generous reviews........ I also consider myself to be a big Frusciante fan but I also like to remain objective about the way I view his output.

I haven't been this dissapointed with an album for a long time. It contains mediocre, boring songs that drag on and on and on and on.........

I think John has got lost somewhere along the way in his quest for artistic fulfillment and experimentation; resulting in an album which seems to be unremarkable, formulaic, banal and lacking the usual edge that is expected of his work.

Worse than Coldplay.

This record is amazing. But then again when is Frusciantes work not amazing or at the least interesting. His lyrics are like poetry. The recording is amazing and his use of effects etc. are all put in at appropriate times and just make the album great. Good to listen the whole way through.

I love this album, it is totally awesome. Being a fan of John's work with the Chili Peppers, I expected this album to be a funky rock album... boy, was i surprised.

From beginning to end this album has a relaxing but mind boggling tone which keeps you attracted to each and every chord John plays. This was the first of John's solo albums i bought, second was To Record Water For Ten Days. That too was great. Now i have all his solo albums.

If you're a fan of this album strongly recommend John's other solo albums and also the Brown Bunny Soundtrack which has 5 of John's songs.

Shadows Collide With People is John Frusciante's fourth solo release (fifth if you consider From The Sounds Inside, his free internet album) and, in my opinion, his best. While the music is more polished than ever, what makes it different from his other albums, in my opinion, is the wider range of instruments and sounds used. Now it's not just John on vocals, guitar, and keyboards with a drum machine, but he also plays bass, and has Josh Klinghoffer (formerly from The Bicycle Thief) on guitars, bass, keyboards, and vocals; and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) on drums, on nearly every song. Other guest appearences include Omar Rodriguez (Mars Volta) on slide guitar on 'Chances' and '23 Go Into End' and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) on bass on 'The Slaughter'.
While these set this album apart from the others, this is still John Frusciante, and each song is charged with emotion, and represents some of the most beautiful music I've ever (and possibly that you've ever) heard. In John's own words, Shadows is all about "interesting chord progressions." The music is as simple as it can get, the guitar usually plays just chords. But it does so in an amazing way.
While, as I said, this is his most polished album yet, this album's still not for everyone. If you think the vocals have to be good for the music to be good, you might not like this. John is not a typically good singer (not at all) and people sometimes cannot accept this. I personally think they're wrong.
This CD is unique in its own way, and it's the kind of music you can listen to a million times and still love it just as much.

On most of johns albums he plays music from the heart. this is no exeption whatsoever. this album is stunning "Carvel" is the perfect opener to the record with great acoustic riffs. with the aid of Josh Klinghoffer on vocals for "omission" this makes a great track really stand out. the third track is a beautiful two line song about the regret of his troublesome past. The amazing thing about this album is that his music shows that he is a happier person since coming clean from drug abuse. After hearing samples from "smile from the streets you hold" the improvement of this album really stands out. plus it is also clear that frusciante writes songs, not because he thinks other people will like the sound of them..but because every inch of his personality is embedded in these tracks, straight from the heart!! this album is amazing and u need it!

I have been a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers since 1988, about the time John Frusciante took over on guitars. My favorite albums over the years have been the ones that I felt the emotional charge of the artist, and felt some sort of connection to the artist, or understanding through the lyrics of universal moments of life.

In "Shadows Collide With People", I've finally felt moved once again by music.

Track 12 "Time Goes Back" is a good example of the powerful expression John Frusciante has found in using his musical talents and song writing ability in a way to make a simple and often used effect, such as the echo heard on the vocals, help convey the creation he hears and imagines in his head.

John's other solo efforts were also brilliant in their own right, especially considering they were self-produced, but on this album John seems able to tap more deeply into his imagination and share feelings and sounds that seem to come from a place far away, a dimension of purer colors and deeper harmonies.

this is john frusciante's best solo album to date. all of these songs are amazing in their own way. the one instrumental "Failure33Object" is insane. it so sad that so many people dont even know who he is. he is really good guitar player but an unbelievable song writer. if it was not for him the RHCP would still be the funk band they were in the 80's. if u do not have this album then you should then make sure u get it now! also look out...he will be releasing 6 other solo albums this year. this album is worth every penny!

I'm surprised that a few reviewers dislike the track "Water." I've played this album several dozen times and my two favorite songs are the first, "Carvel," and one further into the album, "Water." The ending "coda" on "Water" is pure Frusciante at his absolute greatest. Also, I'm pretty sure it is Chad Smith who is providing the heart-pounding drumming on "Water." Wow, how amazing! As Chad reduces his drum kit to matchsticks, the engineer makes some strange sonic experiments with the eq knobs. Oh yes, I love this whole album from start to finish, but for me, the song "Water" is just beautiful and perfect. I'm happy as can be.

Coming soon...six albums by John Frusicante before year's end!! Wow, when does he have time to eat or sleep? He recorded The Will to Death on a sixteen track analog reel to reel a la 1971! He has said that "no" computers were used at any stage in the recording or mixing. So be sure to check that one out as I am sure it will sound really warm and rich, in other words, you won't have to put up with the nasty "clipping" that mars releases such as Californication. That will be good, as "clipping" can be really annoying at times.

Rock on!!

...uh...for the mind. Or in this the the ears. The textures are perfect, and John's voice more accessable that it has ever been. Also worth noting about this album is that on Frusciante's website demos and acoustic takes of these tracks are available for download. The beauty of these songs shine just as well, in their stripped down form.

Rock on John!

John Frusciante is a guitar god! He is so great, even when he is solo. :)

As with JF's other solo work, the songwriting on "Shadows Collide With People" is incredible. Almost every track could qualify as a favorite. However, as with his other work, the production takes some getting used to. It's definitely not polished studio work. I'm not complaining -- I like the rawness of it all. However, RHCP fans who've never heard John's solo stuff should be prepared for grainy recordings, odd (almost amateurish) layering of samples and synths, overused reverb and delay, and simplistic drum machine beats. A positive way to describe the production quality is experimental -- almost like John is sitting in his bedroom with an eight-track recorder, some cheap mics, and too many electronic gadgets to fool around with (which probably isn't far off). But you gotta love the fact that the emotion behind the songs, as well as Frusciante's trademark guitarwork, still makes this an incredibly enjoyable album.

That said, my two favorite JF albums are not even his official releases. For a long time, he had about 20 tracks free for download on his Web site, which were just incredible -- in my opinion better overall than "To Record Only Water." I don't know if they are still on the site, but if they are, get them. Also, my absolute JF favorite is the acoustic version of "Shadows," also available free for download at John's site. These are the same songs as the studio album, stripped down to nothing more than John's vocals and his acoustic guitar. No electronics, no effects, no production whatsoever. Flaws and all. And you know what -- it's friggin' awesome.

This track has two great songs, which are tracks #2 and #15. The rest of the able sounds like some sort of radiohead parody crossed with the RHCP. Which means I don't necessarily think this a "classic" frusciante album. If anything, "shadows collide with people" is John Frusciante's equivalent to Eric Clapton's "Backless." In other words, average filler music after a classic solo comeback; frusciante with 2001's "To Record Only Water For 10 Days" and Clapton with "Slowhand." Buy it if your a die-hard fan only.