Review Summary: DC EP is a solid effort by John Frusciante, and it is most definitely worth a listen, especially if your new to his work, this little EP is a perfect starting point beacuse of its accessibility in comparison to his earliest efforts.
I've always been a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I could never truly warm up to the early works of guitarist John Frusciante; perhaps it is way too abstract, or perhaps I just don't understand the beauty of it all. However his most recent albums have grown on me, and DC EP is an impressive effort from this most talented musician.
The disc begins with the perfect opener, Dissolve. The melody is very catchy, and Frusciante's lyrics shine here, it is clear that his voice has improved significantly over the years, and now it can be heard for its true strength and quality. This piece has beautiful guitar harmonics throughout, in addition to Frusciante harmonizing his voice in several sections. The drumming and bass guitar carry the song quite well, and Frusciante displays some impressive guitar chops with an effective solo, followed by more great harmonics throughout. Overall a solid track, I can't see anything that would bring its score down from a perfect 5/5.
Goals, the second track, is probably my favourite track on the album, only because of its true sincerity and the fact that it is the most heartfelt, beautiful piece of work I think John has produced. It begins with his truly emotional singing and his slightly distorted guitar playing a very effective chord progression. From this sentimental opening, the drums kick in and they carry an effective beat throughout. John demonstrates a capable vocal range here, switching from higher and lower pitch ranges with relative ease. Just as you think the song will end, it breaks into a beautiful harmonized section until its conclusion. Overall, a perfect track from John Frusciante. 5/5
A Corner is the penultimate song on this short EP and it again is another solid track. It kicks off almost immediately, and it is quite a mellow piece, its sheer beauty is in its simplicity and its flowing rhythm. John again shows off his vocal range, and some nice, simple, yet effective guitar chops. Again another perfect track, it is in complete harmony with the rest of the album. 5/5
Finally we come to the album's closing track, the emotional Repeating. The song opens with Frusciante singing at a high range with a simple chordal accompaniment and a simple drum beat. The song is sincere and heartfelt, with another little solo in it. However I did expect a little more from it, after repeated listens it became a little bit annoying, this is probably because of its incredible simplicity and Frusciante's penetrating voice. Not that these are bad things, it's just the slowest song on the album, and, I think it could have been just a little bit more than it is. Overall, it's still a solid track, and a worthy closer. 4/5
In conclusion, DC EP is a solid effort by John Frusciante, and it is most definitely worth a listen, especially if your new to his work, this little EP is a perfect starting point beacuse of its accessibility in comparison to his earliest efforts. However because it is so short, it might leave you wanting, so I personally recommend grabbing a copy of The Inside Of Emptiness and Shadows Collide With People to fully satisfy your interest or mere curiousity of the finer works from John Frusciante.
