Seeing as it seems to be popular to give these guys flak, I feel it is my duty to stick up for them. Sure, the lyrics might not make sense (in the garbage way, not the densely tropological Bob Dylan sense) and often unsucessfully walk the thin line between pretence and cool, but these guys have produced some great albums. I must have lost over half my hearing capabilities of "Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik" and "Californication". In fact, I think "Californication" is a fantastic, well paced, poignant yet never soppy, commercial but insanely cool album with only one unnecessary song on the disc (that being "Porcelin"), a welcome change from their other filler-rich albums.

I regularly put "Californication" into my stereo and pump it loud. I refuse to believe that this album dies midway through. "By the Way" wasnt a bad effort either. Sure its basically a drawn out version of "Californication" on valium that ditches homages to their past in favour of exploring their "new sound", but its still a disc that my ears find very agreeable when I chuck it on.

BSSM was a great album too, despite the fact that about 50% of the songs on it were disposible. Back in those days Kledis' lyrics were coming out so quickly that it doesnt really matter what the hell he is talking about, and his words had a mad rhythm about them.

I dont think any RHCP album is worthy of perfect 10, though they did come damn close in 1999, and even though the criticism levled at them is justifiable enough, they still remain awesome.

--End random rant--

I was a huge fan of them growing up. They were one of my three favorite bands that all put out disappointing albums in a row that pretty much killed them all for me. There's was BSSM. I loved their earlier work a whole lot more, and felt they sorely missed the prescence of Hillel Slovak, like Metallica missed Cliff Burton. There are still songs on their newer albums that I like, but nothing that kicks my ass like True Men Don't Kill Coyotes, Behind the Sun, Me and my Friends, and everything from Mother's Milk. I think their new stuff is far too geared towards radio play, but the funk still does come out on at least a couple of songs each album, so I'm certainly not too cool to admit that I do own some of the new albums as well, although I rarely listen to them. Also, when I saw them live on the BSSM tour, they sucked. Well, actually, just Anthony and John sucked.

LOL, were they fully clothed? I remember when I was like 9 when they came out for that tour and it was a total dud after all the hype. Its interesting that a band that has strong roots in live performance suck so much on stage.

I liked them until they sucked.
I used to think they released several great albums including BSSM, Californication and Mother's Milk, but I'll just skip over the mediocrity of One Hot Minute and get straight to the point; By The Way rocked nothing but a rocking chair. Jesus Christ. I will admit that I didn't expect Flea to play slap bass in diapers until he hits 80, that is when I expected him to begin again, but I also did not expect him to sing whimsical harmonies on mid tempo drudge any time soon. This album made me take a second look at Californication and recognize faults I did not notice before. So long RHCP, it was fun while it lasted.

Why exactly is this doing in the "Indie Rock" forum?

The Red Hot Chilli Peppers have been major-label "artists" since before the term "indie" was coined, probably. Go back your trendy, mainstream "Alternative Rock" forums.

Edit: Props to whoever moved it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Biggles,

the red hot chili peppers, though a little different, are awesome...i like everything from the old funk sound up to their newest stuff...songs like true men dont kill coyotes and apache rose peaccock all the way up to songs on by the way...rhcp is so different than all the other bands and they don't care...

I went off them after 'Blood, Sugar...'

They said everything they had to say on that record and should have split afterwards.

Anthony Keidis deserves a really good kicking for what he did to Mr Bungle.

If I said anything about RHCP, it would be biased.
That said, I freaking love them.

Most of their albums bring back memories for me, so they're one of the bands that I come back to from time to time.

how come everybody seems to "hate" them after bssm? personally i think they were really uneven until bssm.... while i do love their earlier works, most of them had a bunch of filler songs or b-sides. i love bssm and by the way. i actually do not like californication that much, although i will admit it probably has the strongest singles off any of their albuums. one hot minute was okay, but dave navarro was just a horrible, horrible match for them.

I liked a lot more of their earlier stuff, but I really think the newer stuff I've heard sounds good, I just haven't listened to that much of it. Putting the music aside, every time I have seen them live it has been fantastic.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PRG,

I think the RHCP are doing their best work now. They've finally grown up, and are making real music, flashing some melody. I hated the earlier stuff. It seemed to juvenile- and I was teenager at the time. I just hate bands who jump around a stage like idiots while their music is bad, uneven noise with no shape to it. And when are people going to recognize John Frusciante? If music handed out MVP Awards he would win every time. So, yes, I'm not afraid to say I like the RHCP.

quote:

Originally posted by purple:
I think the RHCP are doing their best work now. They've finally grown up, and are making real music, flashing some melody. I hated the earlier stuff. It seemed to juvenile- and I was teenager at the time. I just hate bands who jump around a stage like idiots while their music is bad, uneven noise with no shape to it. And when are people going to recognize John Frusciante? If music handed out MVP Awards he would win every time. So, yes, I'm not afraid to say I like the RHCP.

I sort of agree that RHCP is improving with age. Their past couple albums since BSSM have been letdowns, but both of those albums still are more solid than their pre-BSSM work. And you're right about John Frusciante. He's probably the best guitar player in modern rock.

The band sounds better now than ever and it is for one reason and one reason alone.

John Frusciante is getting way more sway in what the sound is like. You know on "By The Way" it was the first time the band ever really used harmony and layered vocals with someone other than Keidis doing his own layered vocals.

And it is because Frusciante has worked on his vocals for yars. HIs solo work is some of my all time favourite... for the most part I think I have started to like his solo stuff even more than that of RHCP.

You know, I was close to getting some of Frusciante's solo work, but never did. I was wondering if it was any good. Didn't he release, like, 6 albums at once?

I enjoy RHCP. They've released some bad albums, but also some good albums. I enjoy BSSM and Californication. RHCP is one of the few popular rock bands that's managed to change their style when popular tastes changed, and still manage to stay pretty good and pretty popular. I'd put them in the same category as Green Day in that regard.

By The Way, however, is pretty mediocre.

I'm not too cool to admit "By The Way" is my favorite album of theirs. It sounds like the best possible SoCal harmony whathaveyou that is not the Beach Boys.

I think that "By the Way" is underrated. Sure, there's a little repitition and filler, but the album is just so... enjoyable.

RHCP is simply a great band. One Hot Minute is my favorite album and is underrated. "By the way" is a calm and polished album and a bit more pop-rock

i'm more a fan of the cool laid back songs and less a fan of the fast funky stuff

Fast funky vs Laid back?

Fast n funky!!!