Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Stadium Arcadium Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 893 Ratings

  • Summary: Rick Rubin produced this double-disc, 28-song set for the veteran Los Angeles rock outfit.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 25
  2. Negative: 1 out of 25
  1. It overflows with the kind of music the Chili Peppers do best: a physical, often psychedelic mix of spastic bass-slapped funk and glistening alt-rock spiritualism. Only they've never sounded this good as musicians.
  2. 80
    It's the sound of a band on a roll. [Jun 2006, p.110]
  3. Attempting such an ambitious concept in an age of diminished attention spans should no doubt be applauded, but overstretching itself in a stab at immortality, "Stadium Arcadium" marks a step backwards from 2002's "By The Way".
  4. The lyrics are especially vapid here in the Stadium Arcadium.

See all 25 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 25 out of 344
  1. This is a very ambitious project from the Red hot chili peppers. A 28 track album! And they pull it off, so well! Being only 18, Stadium was my first experience of the Chili Peppers. And it was so massive and awesome, I thought it was a best of album. I love almost all of the songs in this sprawling metropolis of Alternative rock/Funk rock. My personal favourites are Dany California, Snow, Hump de bump, slow cheetah, especially in Michigan, Tell me baby, Readymade and Storm in a teacup. Yeah...there are a lot of good songs. Charlie is the only song I don't like, and I'm sure that is just personal taste. I recommend this album to anyone, it's certainly in the top 20 albums in history. Expand
  2. SunnyFunkySoul
    8
    This album is not Californication. It's not Blood Sugar Sex Magik. It's not Mother's Milk. Thankfully, it's also not By The Way. What it is, like I said, is the strongest parts of each of those. It's melodic, it rocks and a majority of the songs have at least something about them that stands out and will have you hooked. That's the one problem for me, though: a lot of the songs have a strong chorus melody, or something, but you have to sit through a less than stellar intro or verse to get to it. That's only on a few songs though. The only true filler, to me, would be "Stadium Arcadium", "Warlocks", "Hump De Bump" and maybe 2 or 3 others. However, there are definitely more strong tracks than there are filler. The chorus to "Charlie" is incredible, and "Hard to Concentrate" and "Desecration Smile" are strong, melodic and beautiful. If this were stolen or lost, I would buy it again because its worth it. It may not be their greatest, but when you're as good as the Chili Peppers, failing to meet expectations doesn't necessarily make a bad album. This is certainly a strong album, and it will grow on you. Expand
  3. 7
    I love the whole album, but the thing is, I love almost every other Red Hot Chili Peppers album more than this one. My go to songs are She's Only 18 and Wet Sand! Expand
  4. JiriV.
    4
    Well, if they came with this extensive album before their highlights, Californication and By The Way, I would not be that hard. Nevertheless this double is really booooring. Songs resemble each others like the songs on the latest albums by R.E.M. There are not good songs enough even for one album. Seems that "more more more" does not work, does it, R.E.M., Coldplay, SOAD and RHCP? Expand

See all 344 User Reviews