Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T - Shirt - wikipedia Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T - Shirt Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T - Shirt Studio album by John Frusciante Released November 4, 1994 Recorded 1991 - 1993 Genre Lo - fi, avant - garde, psychedelic rock, experimental rock Length 70 : 12 ( cd version ) ; 76 : 06 ( cassette version ) Label American Recordings Producer John Frusciante John Frusciante chronology Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T - Shirt ( 1994 ) Smile from the Streets You Hold ( 1997 ) Smile from the Streets You Hold 1997 Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T - Shirt is the debut solo album by John Frusciante, released on November 22, 1994, on American Recordings. Frusciante released the album after encouragement from several friends, who told him that there was `` no good music around anymore. '' Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T - Shirt combines avant - garde and stream - of - consciousness styles, with guitar, piano and various effects on a four - track recorder. The album 's first half, Niandra Lades, was recorded before Frusciante left the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1992 ; during the recording of Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The second half, Usually Just a T - Shirt, was recorded while the band was on tour in the months leading up to Frusciante 's departure. Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T - Shirt sold poorly upon its release in 1994, and was taken off the market, only to be re-released in 1999. The first - ever vinyl release of the record will be available October 20, 2017 through Superior Viaduct offering both a standard black vinyl edition and a deluxe translucent red vinyl edition with 7 '' b - side strictly limited to 1,000 copies. Contents 1 Background 2 Writing and recording 3 Release, reception, and aftermath 4 Track listing 5 Personnel 6 References 7 Notes Background Frusciante joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1988, at the age of 18, and released his first album with the group, Mother 's Milk the following year. The follow - up album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, was recorded in an empty mansion that the band decided to live in for the duration of recording. Frusciante adapted well to the environment, and often spent his time alone painting, listening to music, and recording songs that would eventually make up the first half of the album, Niandra Lades. Blood Sugar Sex Magik was released on September 24, 1991 and was an instant success. The album peaked at number three in the U.S. and went on to sell over 12 million copies worldwide. Soon after the album 's release, Frusciante developed a dislike of the band 's newfound popularity. He felt that the band was too famous, and wished they were still playing small nightclubs like they were before he joined the group. By his own admission, the band 's rise to popularity took Frusciante by surprise, and he could not cope with it. During Blood Sugar Sex Magik 's promotional tour, Frusciante began using heroin and cocaine heavily. He and vocalist Anthony Kiedis often argued before and after performances. According to Kiedis, Frusciante purposely sabotaged the Saturday Night Live performance of `` Under the Bridge '' by playing the wrong intro for the song and out of key. His relationship with the band had become progressively more strained, and he abruptly quit during the Japanese leg of their world tour in 1992. Writing and recording After leaving the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frusciante continued to write and record solo material. He had been doing so since the age of nine, but had never considered releasing his material to the public. That was until several of his friends -- including Johnny Depp, Perry Farrell, Gibby Haynes and former Red Hot Chili Peppers band mate Flea -- encouraged him to release the material he wrote in his spare time during the Blood Sugar Sex Magik sessions. Frusciante began working on final cuts of the songs he had been writing, and producing them at his home in mid-1992. The production process, however, became hampered by his increasingly severe addiction to heroin. Usually Just a T - Shirt was recorded in the order it appears, with the final tracks being recorded shortly prior to Frusciante 's departure from the Chili Peppers. Frusciante 's use of heroin and cocaine became more extreme during the final stages of recording in late 1993 ; he began viewing drugs as the only way to `` make sure you stay in touch with beauty instead of letting the ugliness of the world corrupt your soul. '' `` My Smile is a Rifle '' `` My Smile is a Rifle '' exemplifies the album 's avant - garde lyrical themes complemented the record 's disavowing of conventional song structure. Problems playing this file ? See media help. During a 1994 interview, a visibly intoxicated Frusciante noted that he wrote the album in order to create `` interesting music '', which he felt no longer existed. He felt contemporary artists were not writing material he deemed worth listening to and the mainstream population were settling for mediocrity. Drugs were another significant topic Frusciante based Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T - Shirt on. According to Frusciante, he `` was stoned for every single note ( he ) played on the album. '' He increased his drug use to cope with worsening depression that was caused by leaving the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and his subsequent isolation. Several songs on the album deal with his dislike for the Chili Peppers ' success, such as the album 's eleventh track, `` Blood on My Neck From Success ''. All of the music on the record was written by Frusciante, save for the cover of hardcore punk band Bad Brains ' song `` Big Takeover ''. The track was intentionally slowed down and recorded melodically because of a pastime in which Frusciante sang punk songs in different time signatures : `` It was just something I had been walking around thinking of in my head. Sometimes I 'll walk around singing punk rock songs to myself, but as if they were regular songs instead of punk rock songs, you know, slow it down and make a melody instead of just yelling them out. And then the idea occurred me to record it like a Led Zeppelin ballad with mandolins and stuff. '' River Phoenix, a friend of Frusciante 's, had contributed guitar and backing vocals to two songs that were intended be included on the record, but they were ultimately left off due to protests from his family. These were later included under different names on the album Smile from the Streets You Hold in 1997. Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T - Shirt incorporated Frusciante 's avant - garde style of song composition, with his stream - of - consciousness methodology. He recorded, mixed, produced and mastered the entire record by himself, and released it on Rick Rubin 's label, American Recordings. Warner Bros., the Chili Peppers ' label, originally held the rights to the album because of the leaving - artist clause in Frusciante 's Chili Peppers contract. Because he was living as a recluse, however, the label gladly handed the rights over to Rubin, who released the album under his label. Release, reception, and aftermath Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating PopMatters ( favorable ) AllMusic Entertainment Weekly ( B+ ) High Times ( favorable ) Boston Herald ( mixed ) Rolling Stone Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T - Shirt was initially previewed by Billboard magazine, who said that `` Chili Peppers fans might be daunted by the album 's elusive experimentalism. '' A representative of American Recordings did not foresee the album as being viable in any mainstream music stores, and some retailers went as far as to ban it from being sold. After the album was released, Frusciante played three small performances, and participated in a few magazine interviews to promote the album, explaining in one interview that people would only be able to understand his work if `` their heads are capable of tripping out. '' At one point shortly after release, Frusciante began searching for a string quartet to play the album with him on tour. The idea was eventually discarded when he could not find a band that `` understands why Ringo Starr is such a great drummer, can play Stravinsky, and also smokes pot. '' The concept of a tour was ultimately abandoned as well, due to Frusciante 's diminishing health. Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T - Shirt was not widely reviewed, but yielded a generally positive response from critics. Steve Huey of AllMusic, who rated the album four out of five stars, said that `` ( the album was ) an intriguing and unexpected departure from Frusciante 's work with the Chili Peppers '', and that `` the sparse arrangements of the first half help set the stage for the gossamer guitar work later on. '' He went on to say that Usually Just a T - Shirt -- the latter half of the album -- contained `` pleasant psychedelic instrumentals with plenty of backward - guitar effects. '' Ned Raggett, also of AllMusic, noted that `` there 's nothing quite so stunning as ( Frusciante 's ) magnificent remake of Bad Brains ' ' The Big Takeover '. '' Adam Williams of PopMatters said the album `` fall ( s ) somewhere between madness and brilliance ''. He went on to compare Frusciante to Syd Barrett, and felt it was a `` hint at a deeply cerebral artist looking within for inspiration and creativity. '' High Times ' Tim Kenneally saw the record as `` a revelation, both disturbingly intimate and cryptically veiled. Ladeled straight out of the guitarist 's stream of consciousness, it 's worlds away from the up - front, balls - out funk assault of his former band, '' with `` an ethereal, otherworldly quality. '' The album received its share of negative criticism as well. Rolling Stone 's Christian Hoard felt `` Frusciante 's eccentricities run seriously amok '', and that `` ( the album ) sounds like a string of four - track demos. The first part of the album is slightly more tuneful than the more ambient, experimental second section (... ) Mostly what you get are Frusciante 's acoustic - guitar scratchings and stream - of - conscious ramblings. '' The first Rolling Stone review of the record, however, was positive : `` All in all, ( the album is ) a mess -- but definitely a fascinating, often lovely mess. As one might expect of an album titled Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T - shirt this is twisted, cool stuff. '' The Boston Herald said that while the album was `` a stark display of Frusciante 's acoustic guitar virtuosity '' and `` eerily beautiful '', the singing was `` terrible ; his high notes will drive the neighborhood dogs into a frenzy. '' Frusciante during a VPRO interview at his home in Venice Beach, California in 1994. Frusciante 's drug addiction worsened as the years progressed. An article published by the New Times LA described him as `` a skeleton covered in thin skin ''. He participated in an interview with Dutch public broadcast station VPRO -- the first media appearance he made since leaving the Chili Peppers. In the interview Frusciante speaks of the positive effects drugs have had on his mind and proudly admits to being a `` junkie ''. He went on to confess addictions to heroin and crack cocaine, but ultimately described himself as being in the best health of his life. In 1997, Frusciante released his second solo album Smile From the Streets You Hold, primarily for drug money. Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T - Shirt was estimated to have sold only 45,000 copies when Frusciante ordered it out of print in 1998 -- when Frusciante rehabilitated and rejoined the Chili Peppers. Smile From the Streets You Hold was withdrawn from the market a year later. In 1999 Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T - Shirt was re-released on American Recordings. In the early 2000s, Frusciante said he planned to re-release Smile From the Streets You Hold sometime in the future, but did not give any indication as to when. It was eventually re-released on American Records in Europe of 2006. Track listing All songs written by John Frusciante, except where noted. Niandra LaDes `` As Can Be '' -- 2 : 57 `` My Smile Is a Rifle '' -- 3 : 48 `` Head ( Beach Arab ) '' -- 2 : 05 `` Big Takeover '' ( cover of Bad Brains ) -- 3 : 18 `` Curtains '' -- 2 : 30 `` Running Away into You '' -- 2 : 12 `` Ants '' ( Cassette only bonus track ) -- 2 : 23 `` Mascara '' -- 3 : 40 `` Been Insane '' -- 1 : 41 `` Skin Blues '' -- 1 : 46 `` Your Pussy 's Glued to a Building on Fire '' -- 3 : 17 `` Blood on My Neck From Success '' -- 3 : 09 `` Ten to Butter Blood Voodoo '' -- 1 : 59 Usually Just a T - Shirt ( commonly referred to as ' Untitled # 1 - 13 ' ) Untitled # 0 ( Cassette only bonus track ) -- 3 : 41 Untitled # 1 -- 0 : 34 Untitled # 2 -- 4 : 21 Untitled # 3 -- 1 : 50 Untitled # 4 -- 1 : 38 Untitled # 5 -- 1 : 30 Untitled # 6 -- 1 : 29 Untitled # 7 -- 1 : 42 Untitled # 8 -- 7 : 55 Untitled # 9 -- 7 : 04 Untitled # 10 -- 0 : 25 Untitled # 11 -- 1 : 51 Untitled # 12 -- 5 : 27 Untitled # 13 -- 1 : 52 Personnel John Frusciante - vocals, guitar, bass, piano, mandolin, banjo, clarinet, producer Toni Oswald - vocals ( Untitled # 8, Untitled # 9 ) ( Uncredited ) Martyn Atkins - art direction and design Dirk Walter - design References Apter, Jeff ( 2004 ). Fornication : The Red Hot Chili Peppers Story. Omnibus Press. ISBN 1 - 84449 - 381 - 4. Kiedis, Anthony ; Sloman, Larry ( 2004 ). Scar Tissue. Hyperion. ISBN 1 - 4013 - 0101 - 0. Notes Jump up ^ http://invisible-movement.net/gallery/d/4759-3/1994bikini_03.jpg ^ Jump up to : `` Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T - Shirt ''. Johnfrusciante.com. Archived from the original on 2007 - 10 - 10. Retrieved 2007 - 07 - 31. Jump up ^ https://www.superiorviaduct.com/blogs/news/just-announced-john-frusciante ^ Jump up to : Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 274 -- 275 Jump up ^ `` Red Hot Chili Peppers Albums Charting ''. Billboard. Retrieved 2007 - 09 - 12. Jump up ^ `` Certification search ''. RIAA. Retrieved 2007 - 09 - 21. Jump up ^ `` Red Hot Chili Peppers discography ''. Top40. Retrieved 2007 - 09 - 12. Jump up ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 229 Jump up ^ Gabriella. ( July 1999 ). `` '' Interview with the Red Hot Chili Peppers ``. The Californication of John Frusciante ''. NY Rock. Archived from the original on 2007 - 09 - 21. Retrieved 2007 - 09 - 11. Jump up ^ Dalley, Helen ( August 2002 ). `` John Frusciante '' Total Guitar Magazine. Retrieved on August 27, 2007. Jump up ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 288 Jump up ^ `` Red Hot Chili Peppers ''. Behind the Music. May 30, 1999. VH1. Retrieved 2007 - 08 - 27. ^ Jump up to : VPRO Interview with John Frusciante ( 1994 ) Jump up ^ Kenneally, Tim. ( October 1, 1994 ) `` Frusciante Steps Out With American Set ''. Billboard Magazine Jump up ^ Apter, 2004. p. 278 Jump up ^ `` Chilly Pepper John Frusciante unofficial website ''. Invisible-movement.net. 2008 - 12 - 28. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 15. Jump up ^ `` John Frusciante : Perso e Ritrovato '' ( PDF ). johnfrusciante.com Il Mucchio. Selvaggio, No. 570. March 2004. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on August 18, 2007. Retrieved 2007 - 08 - 20. ^ Jump up to : Broxvoort, Brian ( 1994 ). `` John Frusciante Goes Over a Bridge. '' Rockinfreakapotamus. ^ Jump up to : Huey, Steve. `` Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T - Shirt review ''. Allmusic. Retrieved 2007 - 11 - 22. ^ Jump up to : Hoard, Christian. `` Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T - Shirt review ''. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007 - 11 - 22. ^ Jump up to : Wilonsky, Robert ( December 12, 1996 ). `` Blood on the Tracks ''. Phoenix New Times Music. Archived from the original on September 7, 2005. Retrieved 2007 - 06 - 22. ^ Jump up to : Williams, Adam. `` Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T - Shirt review ''. PopMatters. Retrieved 2007 - 12 - 30. Jump up ^ `` Niandra Lades and Unusally Just a T - Shirt : Music Review : Entertainment Weekly ''. Entertainment Weekly. 1994 - 11 - 11. Retrieved 15 July 2009. ^ Jump up to : Kenneally, Tim ( July, 1995 ). `` Chilly Pepper. '' High Times. ^ Jump up to : `` Music Discs Dionne Farris ' arresting vocals bloom into. '' Boston Herald. December 9, 1994. ^ Jump up to : Apter, 2004. p. 279 Jump up ^ Raggett, Ned. `` Smile From the Streets You Hold review ''. Allmusic. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 12. Jump up ^ Wild, David ( December, 1994 ). `` As If We Needed One, Here 's A Reminder of Dylan 's Power. '' Rolling Stone. ^ Jump up to : `` Smile from the Streets You Hold ''. Johnfrusciante.com. Archived from the original on 2007 - 09 - 28. Retrieved 2006 - 09 - 04. ^ Jump up to : Raggett, Ned. `` Smile From the Streets You Hold review ''. Allmusic. Retrieved 2007 - 09 - 22. Jump up ^ `` A Little Message from John to the Fans ''. Johnfrusciante.com. March 16, 2005. Archived from the original on 2007 - 10 - 19. Retrieved 2006 - 06 - 08. Jump up ^ Discogs John Frusciante Albums Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T - Shirt Smile from the Streets You Hold To Record Only Water for Ten Days Shadows Collide with People The Will to Death Inside of Emptiness A Sphere in the Heart of Silence Curtains The Empyrean PBX Funicular Intaglio Zone Enclosure EPs Estrus EP Going Inside DC EP Letur - Lefr Outsides Foregrow Internet releases From the Sounds Inside 4 - Track Guitar Music Renoise Tracks 2009 - 2011 Ataxia Automatic Writing AW II Trickfinger Sect In Sgt Trickfinger Trickfinger II Collaborations Speed Dealer Moms EP Hiding In The Light Black Knights Medieval Chamber The Almighty Excalibur Red Hot Chili Peppers Mother 's Milk Blood Sugar Sex Magik Californication By the Way Live In Hyde Park Stadium Arcadium The Mars Volta De-Loused in the Comatorium Frances the Mute Amputechture The Bedlam in Goliath Octahedron Omar Rodríguez - López A Manual Dexterity : Soundtrack Volume One The Special 12 Singles Series Se Dice Bisonte, No Búfalo Calibration ( Is Pushing Luck and Key Too Far ) Omar Rodriguez Lopez & John Frusciante Sepulcros de Miel Arañas en la Sombra Related articles Discography Josh Klinghoffer Flea Chad Smith Swahili Blonde Kimono Kult Stuff The Brown Bunny OST The Sentimental Engine Slayer Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Niandra_Lades_and_Usually_Just_a_T-Shirt&oldid=801731312 '' Categories : American Recordings ( record label ) albums English - language albums John Frusciante albums 1994 debut albums Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from September 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Articles with hAudio microformats Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Featured articles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Français Italiano Lietuvių Nederlands Norsk Polski Português Română Русский Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 21 September 2017, at 13 : 56. 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Question: john frusciante niandra lades and usually just a t-shirt
Answer: debut solo album by John Frusciante