"Californication," the seventh studio album by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, hit the shelves on June 8, 1999, under Warner Bros. Records, produced by Rick Rubin. This release marked the return of guitarist John Frusciante, altering the band's musical direction. The album's lyrics, while maintaining the band's signature sexual innuendos, introduced themes of death, suicide, California, drugs, globalization, and travel.
Notably, "Californication" stands as the Chili Peppers' most commercially successful studio album globally, selling over 15 million copies worldwide, with more than seven million in the United States alone. Hits like "Otherside," "Californication," and the Grammy-winning "Scar Tissue" contributed to its success. The album reached number three on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.
Critically, the album was recognized for its departure from the band's previous energetic style, showcasing a more spiritual and melodic dimension. Rolling Stone's Greg Tate described it as "spiritual and epiphanic," while Billboard's Paul Verna highlighted the band's softer, melodic side.
