Does anyone really like the Red Hot Chili Peppers?

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Wrong. Best Flea movie = Penelope Spheeris' "Suburbia."

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 11 October 2002 20:23 (twenty-one years ago) link

'bloodsugarsexmagik' actually meant something to me at the time, even if it is just a watered-down version of a lot of other things done better by other people. "Give It Away" is a good single. also the dirty bits in the other songs were much-valued contraband to a twelve-year-old. and they do have their moments in their post-MothMilk stuff - "Soul To Squeeze" is their best non-album track, and "Warped" and "Scar Tissue" are also worth it. i would buy a singles comp from their later years, but that's all.

Dave M. (rotten03), Friday, 11 October 2002 20:26 (twenty-one years ago) link

how can you like Jane's Addiction and not like RHCP even a little bit?

Dave M. (rotten03), Friday, 11 October 2002 20:27 (twenty-one years ago) link

Avoiding your point, but: I hate Jane's Addiction completely and like RHCP a little bit.

Yancey (ystrickler), Friday, 11 October 2002 20:31 (twenty-one years ago) link

I like "True Men Don't Kill Coyotes" but that's about it. Jane's Addiction (their direct L.A. peers) were light years better. Although the Chili Peppers are far better (i.e. less irritating) than any of the nu-metal stuff

Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 11 October 2002 20:51 (twenty-one years ago) link

Fishbone stalled but I would mention them, too. And everybody knows about the Minutemen, RHCP models. "Under the Bridge" is Flea's Watt immitation set to Journey.

Pete Scholtes, Friday, 11 October 2002 23:55 (twenty-one years ago) link

Every once in a while they do something that doesn't make me want to immediately vomit, and that one video - think the song's called 'Otherside' is really a great video. My primary problem with them is that they seem like such half-baked assholes. Which is, you know, FINE. If only if their collective personalities were easily separable from the music. Instead, virtually everything they do reeks of it.

Kim (Kim), Saturday, 12 October 2002 00:20 (twenty-one years ago) link

Jane's Addiction (their direct L.A. peers) were light years better

maybe, but i would argue that the self-indulgent/dull/irritating moments in JA are at least as bad as anything RHCP did. i think the fact that JA broke up before most of their fans outgrew their stuff is their critical shining armor.

Dave M. (rotten03), Saturday, 12 October 2002 00:37 (twenty-one years ago) link

I really don;t like when the RHCP try to be serious. Some of their funk-ish tracks are better.

Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Saturday, 12 October 2002 00:58 (twenty-one years ago) link

The solo in "Scar Tissue" reminds me of the solo in "Torn".

James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 12 October 2002 05:23 (twenty-one years ago) link

They're the new generation's Rolling Stones...i.e. decrepit, washed-up, greedy, ruthless, millionaire drug addicts still hawking themselves as beacons of youth rebellion. Though at least Mick didn't need to have his vocals recorded one word at a time and painstakingly pieced together in the studio over months as Anthony does.

G. Turkington, Wednesday, 16 October 2002 22:31 (twenty-one years ago) link

If that really is Mr. Turkington, welcome. Neil Hamburger's entries in the premiere issue of Arthur make me smile.

the 1988 Sam Elliot/Paul Weller film

I would pay money to see Sam Elliot kill Paul Weller on film. Or at least abuse him.

As for the question at hand...I'll grant 'em "Give It Away" and Frusciante really is a fantastic musician on his own. But that's it.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 23:46 (twenty-one years ago) link

“Yeah, That’s much better”

“Hey, why didn’t we think of that?”

Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Thursday, 17 October 2002 03:12 (twenty-one years ago) link

Ned -- is Arthur on the newstand?

Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 17 October 2002 03:30 (twenty-one years ago) link

I forgot about Fishbone.

Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 17 October 2002 03:34 (twenty-one years ago) link

Ned -- is Arthur on the newstand?

Copies were at Terrastock.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 17 October 2002 03:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

Their cover of Love Rollercoaster is about the worst thing anyone ever did. ssssSSSSSSUUUUUUUUUUUCKS!

dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 17 October 2002 11:19 (twenty-one years ago) link

i always kinda hated them. i mean, *funk metal*, come on. but every song i've heard by them over the last couple of years (their mature period i suppose) has been pretty good in a kind of world weary cali-druggy sort of way.

it pained me to say that.

adam b (adam b), Thursday, 17 October 2002 19:50 (twenty-one years ago) link

Thank you, Ned! I still haven't seen Arthur yet myself.

G. Turkington, Friday, 18 October 2002 23:08 (twenty-one years ago) link

five months pass...
u can all go **** urselves, rhcp rock. if u can't appreciate them for their musical ability then ur nuts. u need a serious head check!!

t, Thursday, 10 April 2003 13:18 (twenty-one years ago) link

oooh 'by the way' john frusciante is sooooooo cute! (that coming from a teenage girl)

t, Thursday, 10 April 2003 13:21 (twenty-one years ago) link

i don't appreciate bands solely on their "musical ability", t. i like to hear more than just technically great bass-work, especially when all it's doing is creating such ugly, ugly music.

frusciante's cuteness is another matter entirely.

weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 10 April 2003 13:24 (twenty-one years ago) link

Chili peppers' career path is similar to Aerosmith's to an alarming degree.

dleone (dleone), Thursday, 10 April 2003 13:24 (twenty-one years ago) link

I liked that last single.

Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 10 April 2003 13:27 (twenty-one years ago) link

I forgot about Fishbone.

EVERYONE DOES. (except for me & maybe chaki)

Honestly, I loved their first 3 albums, was kinda "meh" about most of Mother's Milk (even though "Magic Johnson" & "Knock Me Down" are grebt songs, and "Pretty Little Ditty" was a thing of beauty until Crazytown raped it raw), ABSOLUTELY LOVED AND STILL DO Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and everything since then has been touched with rare moments of greatness ("Kill Your Television" fr'instance), but mostly frustrating in-that they've got great melodic/harmonic ideas (thank you John Frusciate!), but a lead singer with a rather limited range and a voice that can be k-annoying. This is a band I once loved, now a band I k-like that has some songs I love that my own band is (painfully often) compared to.

nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 10 April 2003 13:35 (twenty-one years ago) link

And I want to mention that, although they're VERY challenging and rather harsh listens, Frusciante's solo albums are dirty gorgeous cracked-out raw soul.

nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 10 April 2003 13:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

And Flea's not a great bassist 'cause of technical-shmecnical mumbo jumbo, he's a great bassist because his basslines are very clear and strong and catchy and just so damned funky. Young MC agrees.

nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 10 April 2003 13:45 (twenty-one years ago) link

Young MC agrees.

Well, I'm sold!

Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 10 April 2003 13:46 (twenty-one years ago) link

I think "By the Way" was one of the great radio singles of last year -- even though I'm not otherwise invested in RHCP. In fact, a lot of their newer (Frusciante comeback) material strikes me as "modal" somehow. Or maybe I'm using that word wrong, but Radiohead uses a similar compositional technique. Does anyone know what I mean?

jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 10 April 2003 13:52 (twenty-one years ago) link

That first Frusciante solo alb is nice and cracked-up.

g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Thursday, 10 April 2003 14:30 (twenty-one years ago) link

Catholic School Girls Rule.

christoff (christoff), Thursday, 10 April 2003 19:33 (twenty-one years ago) link

Everyone should remember that every Red Hot Chili Peppers lyric may be replaced with "Red Hot! Red Hot Chili Peppers!" with no noticeable effect on quality.

Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 10 April 2003 19:40 (twenty-one years ago) link

No noticable effect? The lyrics would make more sense I'd imagine.

Vinnie (vprabhu), Thursday, 10 April 2003 23:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

I think my biggest problem with the RHCP is I'm just do damn bored with their "story." I mean, granted: it's a great saga of snatching victory back from the jaws of defeat.....sorta, but y'know, YAWN! Isn't everybody tired of hearing about their struggles and triumphs over heroin addiction? Isn't everyone tired of their soulful introspection? I know I fuckin' am.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 April 2003 23:45 (twenty-one years ago) link

"By The Way," the only RHCP album I know, is to Love what Interpol is to Echo & The Bunnymen. Right down to the flamenco track. Or maybe RHCP is now REM's "Radio Song" done RIGHT. I dunno. But within the bloated 16-song album is a great 10 song one. Here's how I cut it on my CD player. I don't get why pleasant songs by, to quote Christgau, new age sex maniacs bother people so much. I guess pleasant rap-rock is peanut butter on pizza for some. Keidis's goofiness, for me, is what makes listening to them unique experience and keeps it from getting too serious.

By The Way
Universally Speaking
This Is The Place
Dosed
The Zephyr Song
Can't Stop
Cabron
On Mercury
Minor Thing
Venice Queen

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 11 April 2003 20:51 (twenty-one years ago) link

I guess pleasant rap-rock is peanut butter on pizza for some.

See, the problem is how we're defining 'pleasant.' ;-)

Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 11 April 2003 20:59 (twenty-one years ago) link

Oddly enough this a the only rock band all the black women I work with listen to (and own). So their crossover must be undeniable.

SplendidMullet (iamamonkey), Friday, 11 April 2003 21:03 (twenty-one years ago) link

I forgot about Fishbone.
EVERYONE DOES. (except for me & maybe chaki)

MAYBE? man i never miss a show. wait till you hear what Angelo Moore/Chaki are workin on in the studio together!

chaki (chaki), Friday, 11 April 2003 21:06 (twenty-one years ago) link

can someone recommend GOOD Fishbone? The stuff Classic VH1 plays is ASS ("Freddie's Dead," "The Radio Station Call Letter Industry Song").

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 11 April 2003 21:13 (twenty-one years ago) link

Get the first EP and you will understand, and everything flows after that. The Reality of My Surroundings is pretty dang spiff too.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 11 April 2003 21:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

Truth & Soul is irrefutably Fishbone's greatest album.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 11 April 2003 21:42 (twenty-one years ago) link

good songs:

Unyielding Conditioning
Lemon Merangue
Rock Star
When Problems Arise
Housework

chaki (chaki), Saturday, 12 April 2003 01:01 (twenty-one years ago) link

Appropos of oh-so-very-little, I dug out my copy of the first Red Hot Chili Peppers' album today, produced -- like the forthcoming Killing Joke album -- by Andy Gill. While it seems RHCP purists (including the band members themselves) decry this album, I think it's still pretty fine (tho' perhaps that's because it reminds me of my distant youth). I know there's invariably a lot of hatred toward this band (some of it sorely justifiable), but I still have loads of time for their *EARLIER* work (I lost interest circa Blood Sugar Sex Magik, for the most part, but didn't hate the otherwise universally written-off One Hot Minute).

I'm wondering how Gill's production technique has changed over the years. There's a sort've crackly, blistering quality to the sound on this album, but the players seem very sonicly tucked behind the vocals, which -- unfortunately -- highlights Anthony Kiedis' limitations as a singer (not Andy Gill's fault). At the very least -- it's got a cleaner sound, quite unlike, say, the last Killing Joke album, Democracy, so here's hoping Gill's input solves that dilemna.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 16 April 2003 16:08 (twenty-one years ago) link

one month passes...
I love the RHCP and Anthony Kiedis is so hot and i hate all you fuckers who diss them but shot all the people who like them!!

Brooke Hardy, Saturday, 14 June 2003 10:20 (twenty years ago) link

No singer has benefited more from auto-tune technology than Mr. Keidis.

AL B SURE TO THREAD

Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 14 June 2003 12:23 (twenty years ago) link

this is as good a place as any to reminisce about when Chris Rock introduced Ricky Martin as "the Puerto Rican Al B. Sure" at the VMAs to no audible reaction whatsoever.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 14 June 2003 12:28 (twenty years ago) link

Kiedis 'BENEFITTED'? Jesus. Maybe the stuff doesn't work

dave q, Saturday, 14 June 2003 17:35 (twenty years ago) link

RHCP seriously don't deserve all this hatin'.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 14 June 2003 18:06 (twenty years ago) link

i hate all you fuckers who diss them but shot all the people who like them!!

Jesus Christ, this is one of the harshest damned-if-you-do/damned-if-you-don't set-ups I've ever heard of

J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Saturday, 14 June 2003 18:14 (twenty years ago) link

actually, a couple days ago i was wondering about the slang use of "shot" (as synonym for "big up"/"well done"/"yeah!"). i hear it here in s.a. all the time ("shot bro!"), is it an americanism?

mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Saturday, 14 June 2003 21:12 (twenty years ago) link

One of my students wrote beautifully about Scar Tissue last semester. I was a little dubious at first when she chose that song bc I had preexisting bias but she convinced me it was deeper than I thought.

Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Wednesday, 8 February 2023 13:21 (one year ago) link

Idk why anyone is talking about REM jock jams but I’d vote for Stand!

Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Wednesday, 8 February 2023 13:21 (one year ago) link

Orange Crush > Stand

calstars, Wednesday, 8 February 2023 13:40 (one year ago) link

Turn You Inside Out could work, too. Or Finest Worksong, etc. Anything with big drums (which Stand lacks).

Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 8 February 2023 13:47 (one year ago) link

but what is the Pylon stadium jam?

Brad C., Wednesday, 8 February 2023 13:52 (one year ago) link

For various reasons I have fallen into a hyperlocal music scene where 30-year-old people inexplicably love 30-year-old music.

Seriously RHCP is implicated in a seemingly inexhaustible well of 90s jams that the young adults apparently crave. Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows, Sugar Ray, Hootie, Killers, Smashmouth, Gin Blossoms, Foo Fighters.

I have sat in on drums with two bands that play this stuff and it is a complete mindboink.

It's like this - I load in, set up my kit, get a drink, look out at a normal bar crowd. Ho, hum, I've done this a thousand times and mostly get ignored. Then the band starts up with "Under the Bridge" or "All Star" and the place fucking EXPLODES. All of a sudden, five 20-something women in sparkly tank tops are going WOOOO and putting money in the tip jar and asking if we know any Coldplay and buying me drinks.

It's uncanny and I have no explanation for it. When this music was current I had no love for it (I'm an 80s creature) but I can play it all from memory without thinking. If I had known this was a thing, I wouldn't have bothered with half my repertoire.

Auf Der Martini (Ye Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 8 February 2023 14:04 (one year ago) link

Chili Peppers should do a "Shrek" song. Whether or not there's a new "Shrek" movie. Though for all I know, they're all "Shrek" songs. "Under the Bridge" is for sure about Shrek.

Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 8 February 2023 15:40 (one year ago) link

Sometimes I feel like I don't have an ogre

Auf Der Martini (Ye Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 8 February 2023 15:49 (one year ago) link

Sometimes I feel like my only friend / Is the donkey I live with / A wisecracking equine

Guayaquil (eephus!), Wednesday, 8 February 2023 16:11 (one year ago) link

Give it away give it away give it away now

Mike Myers walking like he talkin

Understand I don't wanna be a dorkwad

How come everybody wanna keep it like Lord Farquaad

Give it away give it away give it away now

Auf Der Martini (Ye Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 8 February 2023 16:19 (one year ago) link

I really like Flea’s playing on higher ground, it sounds like he’s climbing a stairmaster

not too strange just bad audio (brimstead), Wednesday, 8 February 2023 16:20 (one year ago) link

"Under the Bridge" is for sure about Shrek"
you're right. under sheck's bridge you find shrek's mud pool

CerebralCaustic, Wednesday, 8 February 2023 23:59 (one year ago) link


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