from BEATmagazine

Never one to put the guitar down for a second, John Frusciante has changed style almost completely in the past few years. From his previous, largely self-indulgent and at times almost unlistenable albums, Shadows Collide With People is more pop/rock than ambient and certainly more reflective of the style he plays with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Frusciante is joined by Chad on drums throughout the album, Josh Klinghoffer on a couple of tracks and Flea popping up on bass for The Slaughter, the last - and auguably the best - of the 18 tracks on the album. It's an album that acts as somewhat of a showcase for Frusciante's talent both as a guitarist and a developing singer; although his vocals leave a bit to be desired. Most of the album is very effects-heavy with more influence on the music than on lyrics, although both Water and Cut-Out are reasonably good lyrically.
The album dips and twists and turns between atmospheric, pop, rock, ambient and electronic. From the synthesised intro to Song to Sing When I'm Lonely to the electronic Failure 33 Object, to the much rockier Second Walk and Wednesday's Song and a string orchestra backing to Regret.
The album still carries traces of Frusciante's signature style - ambient, wailing guitars that are an acquired taste in music on tracks such as 00 Ghost 27 and 23 Go in to End.
Shadows Collide With People has some really good moments and some that really could have been left off. There's no doubt that Frusciante is a fantastic musician who doesn't tie himself downto any one style and this album has a number of highlights, including Wednesday's Song, Time Goes Back, and Water. But it is hard to imagine listening to it repetitively as it is pretty hard going at some points. Still though, a large improvement on his last solo album...