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Firstly, John Frusciante was ranked at number 16 on the Rolling Stone's top 100 guitarists of all time. It has an edgy tone to it yet certain songs like "Under the Bridge" and "I Could Have Lied" show the versatility of the band. I've read some reviews stating that the band, (this album in particular) is just another has-been alternative rock band.
These people are idiots. Point and case, don't believe the "this band sucks" hype. The music is undeniably great.
Overall, RHCP is probably one of the single most influential bands in the history of music. For some reason, people have it in their heads that as soon as a band achieves big success, they stop being good. They are phenomenal and hopefully will forever be recognized for the great artists they are.
However, RHCP are way much more than just another alternative rock band. People are really only ragging on this album in particular because it was the first album to REALLY achieve mainstream success.
Not to mention the beautiful Under the Bridge which many probably consider to be the bands best 4:24 even after all these years.A band that had the surfies fired up, the teenage girls squealing and even the heavy rocker fans on board. This new found synergy and discipline allowed rockers such as Suck My Kiss to really cut through with identifiable riffs and melodies. Silly, juvenile, drug addled and overly self conscious (look ma, no brains).Who was listening to the singles like Suck My Kiss, Under the Bridge, Give It Away etc. What's not to love. Some of these songs have become radio staples and have entered into popular culture in a multi generational manner.Ultimately this album was so successful it's hard to review objectively and besides just how many uninitiated people are out there who haven't already heard it. Really delivering a smash hit for the band this album captured that California funk rock persona so perfectly it's hit singles are probably forever etched into the memory banks of everyone who was 13-25 years old at the time.
Well nobody I know that's for sure. It also allowed the more alternative/weird chorus section of Breaking the Girl to be centred in a coherent setting and therefore be even more striking. Playing it again after all these years is a fun but slightly confusing experience. However my two cents worth can be somewhat summed up by a quote from my girlfriend of the time who after hearing Give It Away said `Wow, it sounds like RHCP have finally written an almost normal song.' To expand, what the band had achieved here was to bridge the gap between their more nonsensical slacker/drug loser persona and the mainstream culture that demanded musical signatures that could be used as something to hold onto.The band achieved this with whimsical lyrics married to a rollicking rhythm section that after a few earlier albums had really hit it's communicative stride. Oh year, all those non single songs.well I guess it all still equates to a score of four stars. After all the non single like Mellowship Slinky in B Major, Naked in the Rain, My Lovely Man, The Greeting Song.who on earth was listening to this stuff.
Well darn near everybody.
Highly recommended. This has to be one of the greatest albums ever made , awesome tracks like give it away and suck my kiss and many many more , this is probably the best album they have made next to (californication).
This album was made right before guitarist John Frusciante left the band (he's back now) but this record had so much commercial success and at his young age John was unable to handle all the popularity that came out of this record being made. This is the best studio album the Red Hot Chili Peppers have made to date. It has something on it for everyone. Produced by Rick Rubin, this album should be on anyone's top list of CD's to hear before they die. It has a total of 17 tracks. (the 17th is a cover of a Robert Johnson song called "They're Red Hot") This album is funky,sexy,sweet,explicit and full of Magik.
This album, while very put together and well produced, sounds raw and authentic as can be.The Bass, courtesy of Flea, is not the same slap bass we heard in the 80s, it's funky, heavy but very smooth and polished. The vocals are pure energy, Anthony Keidis has this almost rap-like style on here which sounds great.If you're into the chili's more recent work, this album is quite different.
But anyway you look at it, this album is just stunningly good. If you're into their 80s p-funk days, this album is somewhat different too.
From the second "Power Of Equality" starts, the sheer energy of this album becomes apparent. John provides some seriously funky guitar on some tracks and very melodic grooves on others.
That's the magik of this band, they can switch their style up and still get it right without isolating their fans. On this release, the Chili Peppers took their funk-infused sound and took it to a whole new level.
The drums are heavy hitting and precise as it gets, completely coordinated to the bass.
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