Red Hot Chili Peppers | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Few rock groups of the 80s broke down as many musical barriers and were as original as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Creating an intoxicating new musical style by combining funk and punk rock together (with an explosive stage show to boot), the Chili Peppers spawned a slew of imitators in their wake, but still managed to be the leaders of the pack by the dawn of the 21st century. The roots of the band lay in a friendship forged by three school chums, Anthony Kiedis, Michael Balzary, and Hillel Slovak, while they attended Fairfax High School in California back in the late 70s/early 80s. While Balzary and Slovak showed great musical promise (on trumpet and guitar, respectively), Kiedis focused on poetry and acting during his high-school career. During this time, Slovak taught Balzary how to play bass, while the duo encouraged Kiedis to start putting his poetry to music, which he soon did. Influenced heavily by the burgeoning L.A. punk scene (the Germs, Black Flag, Fear, Minutemen, X, etc.) as well as funk (Parliament-Funkadelic, Sly & the Family Stone, etc.), the trio began to rehearse with another friend, drummer Jack Irons, leading to the formation of Tony Flow & the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem, a quartet that played strip bars along the Sunset Strip during the early 80s. It was during this time that the four honed their sound and live act (as they stumbled across a stage gimmick that would soon become their trademark -- performing on-stage completely naked, except for a tube sock covering a certain part of their anatomy). By 1983, Balzary had begun to go by the name "Flea," and the group changed its name to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Word spread quickly about the up-and-coming band, resulting in a recording contract with EMI. But before the Chili Peppers could begin work on their debut, Flea and Kiedis were dealt a disappointing blow when both Slovak and Irons announced that they were leaving to focus more on another band they were in, What Is This. With replacement members Jack Sherman (guitar) and Cliff Martinez (drums) filling in, the Peppers released their self-titled debut in 1984. But the absence of the two original members showed, as the album failed to capture the excitement of their live show. While the album didnt set the world on fire sales-wise, the group began to build a dedicated underground following with college radio buffs. By 1985, What Is This were kaput (after issuing a single self-titled album) and Slovak and Irons returned to the Peppers, resulting in the George Clinton-produced Freaky Styley. While the album was an improvement over its predecessor, it still lacked the fire of the bands in-concert experience, a problem that would finally be solved with their next album, 1987s The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. The album was the groups first to make an impression on the charts, and they followed it up a year later with a stopgap five-track release, The Abbey Road EP, in 1988. But just as the world was warming up to the Peppers, tragedy struck when Slovak died from a heroin overdose on June 25, 1988. In the wake of Slovaks death, Irons left the group for the second and final time, while Kiedis (who was also battling drug addiction at the time) and Flea decided to soldier on. After a new lineup featuring former Parliament guitarist Blackbyrd McKnight and former Dead Kennedys drummer D.H. Peligro didnt work out, the duo found worthy replacements in newcomers John Frusciante and Chad Smith. The new-look Chili Peppers hit pay dirt straight away, as their first album together, 1989s Mothers Milk, became a surprise hit due to MTVs exposure of their videos for a cover of Stevie Wonders "Higher Ground" and a song about their fallen friend Slovak, "Knock Me Down," as the album was certified gold by early 1990. The bandmembers knew that their next release would be the most important one of their career, so they moved into a mansion-turned-recording studio with producer Rick Rubin to work on what would become their most successful release yet, the stripped-down Blood Sugar Sex Magik (their first for the Warner Bros. label). The album became a monster hit upon its September 1991 release (eventually going on to sell a staggering seven million copies in the U.S. alone), as it spawned such hits as "Give It Away" and the groups first Top Ten single, "Under the Bridge." But not all was well in the Chili Peppers camp. Like his predecessor, Frusciante had become addicted to hard drugs, and abruptly left the band mid-tour in early 1992. Undeterred, the band enlisted new member Arik Marshall, and headlined Lollapalooza II in the summer. When the band returned to the studio to work on its sixth release overall, it quickly became apparent that Marshall didnt fit in, and he was replaced by Jesse Tobias. But before Tobias could record a note with the group, he was handed his walking papers as well, and former Janes Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro signed on. After a layoff of four years, the Peppers much delayed follow-up to BSSM was released in 1995, One Hot Minute. While the album was a sizable hit, it failed to match the success and musical focus of its predecessor, as it became apparent during the albums ensuing tour that Navarro wasnt fitting in as well as originally hoped, and he left the band in early 1998. After Frusciante had left the group, he released a pair of obscure solo releases, 1995s Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt and 1997s Smile from the Streets You Hold, yet rumors circulated that the guitarist was homeless, penniless, and sickly with a death-defying drug habit. After checking himself into rehab and putting his demons behind him, Frusciante emerged once again refocused and re-energized, and promptly accepted an invitation to rejoin the Peppers once more. The groups reunion album, 1999s Californication, proved to be another monster success, reconfirming the Chili Peppers as one of alternative rocks top bands. The band put in a quick guest appearance on Fishbones Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx before hitting the road to support the album. The following months found the band getting involved in bizarre situations and controversies. First, their refusal to play songs from One Hot Minute during the tour was an unpopular decision with some fans and a sore spot for Dave Navarro. Next, they re-ignited a personal feud between Kiedis and Mr. Bungle singer Mike Patton by refusing to play a series of European concerts with Bungle. Patton responded with a "tribute" show for the Peppers, where Bungle mocked their stage moves, faked shooting up heroin, and imitated Kiedis comments about Patton. They also played the ill-fated Woodstock 99 festival, where their headlining performance was met with piles of burning rubble and a full-scale riot. Tours with the Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam brought them into the next year without problems, but they stepped off the road after a planned stop in Israel was halted due to security worries. They returned to the studio in November of 2001 and by the summer of 2002 they had a new album ready to drop, By the Way. Warner Bros. released a Greatest Hits compilation in 2003, followed by a chart-topping two-CD album of all-new material, Stadium Arcadium, in 2006. After an extensive supporting tour, the Red Hot Chili Peppers took an extended hiatus and the members pursued individual interests. Flea began studying music theory at USC and played in a variety of side projects. Kiedis attempted to turn his autobiography, Scar Tissue, into a television show. Smith joined Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, and Joe Satriani in the party supergroup Chickenfoot. Frusciante released The Empyrean in 2009, by which time he had left the band. His replacement was Josh Klinghoffer, who played secondary guitar on the Stadium Arcadium tour. Klinghoffers first album with the band, the Rick Rubin-produced Im with You, was released in late summer of 2011. It performed well around the world, hitting number one in numerous countries and reaching gold or platinum status. Touring the globe occupied much of the next three years, although the bands most prominent appearance was in America, playing with Bruno Mars at the half-time show for 2014s Super Bowl. By the end of the year, theyd begun writing songs, and entered the studio with Danger Mouse in the production chair and Nigel Godrich mixing. In 2016, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released their 11th studio album, Getaway, which featured the lead single "Dark Necessities." | ||
 | Album: 1 of 23 Title: The Red Hot Chili Peppers Released: 1984-08-10 Tracks: 16 Duration: 45:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 True Men Don’t Kill Coyotes (03:38) 2 Baby Appeal (03:40) 3 Buckle Down (03:22) 4 Get Up and Jump (02:52) 5 Why Don’t You Love Me (03:23) 6 Green Heaven (03:58) 7 Mommy, Where’s Daddy? (03:29) 8 Out in L.A. (02:00) 9 Police Helicopter (01:16) 10 You Always Sing the Same (00:16) 11 Grand Pappy du Plenty (04:14) 12 Get Up and Jump (02:37) 13 Police Helicopter (01:12) 14 Out in L.A. (01:56) 15 Green Heaven (03:50) 16 What It Is (Nina’s Song) (03:57) |
| The Red Hot Chili Peppers : Allmusic album Review : The Red Hot Chili Peppers debut album sketched out their funk-metal hybrid quite effectively, especially on the warped deep groove of "True Men Dont Kill Coyotes." Even though their fusion of heavy guitars and slapping bass was audacious, their first effort didnt quite gel into a cohesive album. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 23 Title: Freaky Styley Released: 1985-08-16 Tracks: 14 Duration: 39:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Jungle Man (04:09) 2 Hollywood (05:03) 3 American Ghost Dance (03:45) 4 If You Want Me to Stay (04:07) 5 Nevermind (02:47) 6 Freaky Styley (03:38) 7 Blackeyed Blonde (02:40) 8 The Brothers Cup (03:27) 9 Battle Ship (01:53) 10 Lovin’ and Touchin’ (00:36) 11 Catholic School Girls Rule (01:56) 12 Sex Rap (01:54) 13 Thirty Dirty Birds (00:14) 14 Yertle the Turtle (03:37) |
| Freaky Styley : Allmusic album Review : The closest the Red Hot Chili Peppers ever came to straight funk, Freaky Styley is the quirkiest, loosest, and most playful album in their long and winding catalog. Its also one of the best, if least heard. A year earlier, in 1984, theyd made their self-titled debut with a stiff album produced Andrew Gill of Gang of Four fame. The album had its share of good songs, most notably "True Men Dont Kill Coyotes" and "Get Up and Jump," but Gills cold and tinny production riddled The Red Hot Chili Peppers with the same sort of problem that made Gang of Fours early-80s albums so distasteful. Namely, the production sucks all the life out of the music and makes it seem distant and unapproachable, as if you were listening to the album in a long tunnel with reflective metal walls. Here on Freaky Styley that problem is thankfully solved: enter producer extraordinaire George Clinton. The funk legend not only gives the Peppers the sort of warm and loose-limbed production that had graced many a Parliament/Funkadelic album over the years, but he also seemingly gives the band some serious inspiration. For instance, a pair of covers of funk classics instantly stand out -- "If You Want Me to Stay" (Sly & the Family Stone) and "Africa" (the Meters), the latter retitled "Hollywood (Africa)" here -- and theyre made all the more standout with the addition of Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley on horns. The Peppers also write a number of strong songs of their own. If none stand out, per se -- with the exception of the two covers, that is -- thats because theyre all fairly good, relatively rough songs. Sure, some are slight, no question about that, but they help the album flow from one song to the next, because the songs are all more or less different from one another in subtle ways. And theyre performed with vigor, as original guitarist Hillel Slovak is thankfully back aboard (replacing Jack Sherman, who played guitar on The Red Hot Chili Peppers and co-wrote the bulk of these songs), and he makes a major contribution to practically every song, playing straight funk here more so than the funk-metal that would characterize the bands subsequent album, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. And to make mention of that 1987 follow-up, the Peppers would move on to a new producer, making this their one collaboration with Clinton. Theyd never quite recapture the pure funk sound of Freaky Styley again, likely as a result. Thats one reason why this album is so special, but its also because the Peppers have a good clutch of songs to work with in addition to excellent production. And too, they seem relaxed and at ease here, playing quirky songs without any self-consciousness, a quality lacking on their debut. Its a quality lacking on subsequent albums also, though to a lesser degree, when the Peppers would begin sharpening their pop smarts and crafting catchy songs rather than just fun jams like these. So if youre feeling adventurous and are drawn to the idea of the Peppers and Clinton together in the same studio back in 1985 without any pop-crossover ambitions, give Freaky Styley a listen by all means. Its a cult classic of sorts and a world apart from the where the band would go in later years, for better and for worse. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 23 Title: The Uplift Mofo Party Plan Released: 1987-09-29 Tracks: 14 Duration: 43:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Fight Like a Brave (03:52) 2 Funky Crime (03:00) 3 Me and My Friends (03:09) 4 Backwoods (03:07) 5 Skinny Sweaty Man (01:16) 6 Behind the Sun (04:41) 7 Subterranean Homesick Blues (02:34) 8 Special Secret Song Inside (03:16) 9 No Chump Love Sucker (02:42) 10 Walkin’ on Down the Road (03:49) 11 Love Trilogy (02:41) 12 Organic Anti‐Beat Box Band (04:10) 13 Behind the Sun (02:55) 14 Me and My Friends (01:54) |
| The Uplift Mofo Party Plan : Allmusic album Review : In a perfect world, the Red Hot Chili Peppers breakthrough album wouldnt have been 1989s Mothers Milk, but 1987s The Uplift Mofo Party Plan, and the history of this groundbreaking rock/rap band (and likely the entire subgenre it created) wouldve been drastically changed. But the Chili Peppers created most of the imperfections in their world, especially in the late 80s, and the unusual scenario of four original bandmembers recording together for the first time on that bands third album would tragically prove to be a one-shot deal. Veterans Anthony Kiedis (vocals) and Flea (bass) had welcomed back original guitarist Hillel Slovak for the preceding Freaky Styley album after using Jack Sherman on their self-titled 1984 debut, doing the same at this point for original drummer Jack Irons, who replaced Cliff Martinez. The energy of having these four friends from Los Angeles back together jumps out of the opening anthem "Fight Like a Brave" and the experimental "Funky Crime"; tracks like the autobiographical "Me & My Friends" and closing "Organic Anti-Beat Box Band" would stay in the groups live repertoire for the next decade or more. Kiedis barking rap delivery drives the cover of Bob Dylans "Subterranean Homesick Blues," and Fleas ahead-of-their-time slapping basslines stand out in "Behind the Sun" and "Walkin on Down the Road," but Slovak and Irons brought things to the Chili Peppers that no one else ever has. The drummers pounding funk backbeats left a blueprint for his successor, Chad Smith, and the manic intro to "Skinny Sweaty Man" sounds like Buddy Rich playing James Brown material. Slovak is at the height of his powers on the rap-rock reggae "Love Trilogy" and funky "Special Secret Song Inside," which gained some notoriety for its anatomical undertones. But Slovak would die of a heroin overdose the following year, with Irons quitting the band afterward from the depression of the loss. Kiedis and Flea would come to grips with their own drug habits and return with Smith and guitarist John Frusciante on Mothers Milk, breaking into the arena circuit with a hit cover of Stevie Wonders "Higher Ground" -- and leaving Kiedis and Flea to wonder what might have been. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 23 Title: Mother’s Milk Released: 1989-08-22 Tracks: 13 Duration: 44:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Good Time Boys (05:01) 2 Higher Ground (03:22) 3 Subway to Venus (04:25) 4 Magic Johnson (02:56) 5 Nobody Weird Like Me (03:49) 6 Knock Me Down (03:43) 7 Taste the Pain (04:31) 8 Stone Cold Bush (03:05) 9 Fire (02:03) 10 Pretty Little Ditty (01:36) 11 Punk Rock Classic (01:46) 12 Sexy Mexican Maid (03:22) 13 Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky (05:09) |
| Mother’s Milk : Allmusic album Review : A pivotal album for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1989s Mothers Milk turned the tide and transformed the band from underground funk-rocking rappers to mainstream bad boys with seemingly very little effort. Mothers Milk brought them to MTV, scored them a deal with Warner Bros., and let both frontman Anthony Kiedis and the ubiquitous Flea get back into a good groove following the death of co-founding member Hillel Slovak. With a new lineup coalescing around the remaining duo plus new drummer Chad Smith and guitarist John Frusciante, and with producer Michael Beinhorn again behind the boards, the band took everything that The Uplift Mofo Party Plan hinted at, and brought it fully to bear for this new venture. If anyone doubted the pulsating power of the opener, "Good Time Boys," it took only a few bars of bands outrageous and brilliant interpretation of the Stevie Wonder classic "Higher Ground" to prove that this new lineup was onto something special. Wrapping up with the aptly titled and truly punked-out "Punk Rock Classic" and the bands own punched-up tribute to "Magic Johnson," Mothers Milk was everything the band had hoped for, and a little more besides. Effortlessly going gold as "Knock Me Down" and "Taste the Pain" careened into the charts, the album not only set the stage for the bands Blood Sugar Sex Magic domination, it also proved that funk never died; it had just swapped skins. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 23 Title: Blood Sugar Sex Magik Released: 1991-09-24 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:14:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Power of Equality (04:04) 2 If You Have to Ask (03:37) 3 Breaking the Girl (04:55) 4 Funky Monks (05:23) 5 Suck My Kiss (03:37) 6 I Could Have Lied (04:04) 7 Mellowship Slinky in B major (04:00) 8 The Righteous & The Wicked (04:08) 9 Give It Away (04:44) 10 Blood Sugar Sex Magik (04:31) 11 Under the Bridge (04:26) 12 Naked in the Rain (04:26) 13 Apache Rose Peacock (04:43) 14 The Greeting Song (03:14) 15 My Lovely Man (04:41) 16 Sir Psycho Sexy (08:17) 17 They’re Red Hot (01:11) |
| Blood Sugar Sex Magik : Allmusic album Review : The Red Hot Chili Peppers best album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik benefits immensely from Rick Rubins production -- John Frusciantes guitar is less overpoweringly noisy, leaving room for differing textures and clearer lines, while the band overall is more focused and less indulgent, even if some of the grooves drag on too long. Lyrically, Anthony Kiedis is as preoccupied with sex as ever, whether invoking it as his muse, begging for it, or boasting in great detail about his prowess, best showcased on the infectiously funky singles "Give It Away" and "Suck My Kiss." However, he tempers his testosterone with a more sensitive side, writing about the emotional side of failed relationships ("Breaking the Girl," "I Could Have Lied"), his drug addictions ("Under the Bridge" and an elegy for Hillel Slovak, "My Lovely Man"), and some hippie-ish calls for a peaceful utopia. Three of those last four songs (excluding "My Lovely Man") mark the bands first consistent embrace of lilting acoustic balladry, and while its not what Kiedis does best as a vocalist, these are some of the albums finest moments, varying and expanding the groups musical and emotional range. Frusciante departed after the supporting tour, leaving Blood Sugar Sex Magik as probably the best album the Chili Peppers will ever make. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 23 Title: What Hits!? Released: 1992-09-29 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:07:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Higher Ground (03:22) 2 Fight Like a Brave (03:52) 3 Behind the Sun (04:41) 4 Me and My Friends (03:09) 5 Backwoods (03:07) 6 True Men Don’t Kill Coyotes (03:38) 7 Fire (02:03) 8 Get Up and Jump (02:52) 9 Knock Me Down (03:43) 10 Under the Bridge (04:26) 11 Show Me Your Soul (04:22) 12 If You Want Me to Stay (04:07) 13 Hollywood (05:03) 14 Jungle Man (04:09) 15 The Brothers Cup (03:27) 16 Taste the Pain (04:31) 17 Catholic School Girls Rule (01:56) 18 Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky (05:09) |
 | Album: 7 of 23 Title: The Best of Red Hot Chili Peppers Released: 1994 Tracks: 10 Duration: 38:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Behind the Sun (04:41) 2 Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky (05:09) 3 Me and My Friends (03:09) 4 Fire (02:03) 5 True Men Don’t Kill Coyotes (03:38) 6 Higher Ground (03:22) 7 Knock Me Down (03:45) 8 Fight Like a Brave (03:52) 9 Taste the Pain (04:31) 10 If You Want Me to Stay (04:07) |
 | Album: 8 of 23 Title: Out in L.A. Released: 1994-11-07 Tracks: 19 Duration: 54:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Higher Ground (05:19) 2 Hollywood (06:33) 3 If You Want Me to Stay (07:03) 4 Behind the Sun (04:43) 5 Castles Made of Sand (03:19) 6 Special Secret Song Inside (03:12) 7 F. U. (01:17) 8 Get Up and Jump (02:37) 9 Out in L.A. (01:56) 10 Green Heaven (03:50) 11 Police Helicopter (01:12) 12 Nevermind (02:09) 13 Sex Rap (01:36) 14 Blues for Meister (02:54) 15 You Always Sing the Same (00:16) 16 Stranded (00:25) 17 Flea Fly (00:40) 18 What It Is (04:04) 19 Deck the Halls (01:03) |
 | Album: 9 of 23 Title: The Originals Released: 1995 Tracks: 37 Duration: 1:50:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 True Men Don’t Kill Coyotes (03:38) 2 Baby Appeal (03:40) 3 Buckle Down (03:22) 4 Get Up and Jump (02:52) 5 Why Don’t You Love Me (03:23) 6 Green Heaven (03:58) 7 Mommy, Where’s Daddy? (03:29) 8 Out in L.A. (02:00) 9 Police Helicopter (01:16) 10 You Always Sing the Same (00:16) 11 Grand Pappy Du Plenty (04:02) 1 Jungle Man (04:09) 2 Hollywood (05:03) 3 American Ghost Dance (03:45) 4 If You Want Me to Stay (04:07) 5 Nevermind (02:47) 6 Freaky Styley (03:38) 7 Blackeyed Blonde (02:40) 8 The Brothers Cup (03:27) 9 Battle Ship (01:53) 10 Lovin’ and Touchin’ (00:36) 11 Catholic School Girls Rule (01:56) 12 Sex Rap (01:54) 13 Thirty Dirty Birds (00:14) 14 Yertle the Turtle (03:37) 1 Fight Like a Brave (03:52) 2 Funky Crime (03:00) 3 Me and My Friends (03:09) 4 Backwoods (03:07) 5 Skinny Sweaty Man (01:16) 6 Behind the Sun (04:41) 7 Subterranean Homesick Blues (02:34) 8 Special Secret Song Inside (03:16) 9 No Chump Love Sucker (02:42) 10 Walkin’ on Down the Road (03:49) 11 Love Trilogy (02:41) 12 Organic Anti‐Beat Box Band (04:01) |
 | Album: 10 of 23 Title: One Hot Minute Released: 1995-09-08 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:01:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Warped (05:04) 2 Aeroplane (04:45) 3 Deep Kick (06:33) 4 My Friends (04:02) 5 Coffee Shop (03:08) 6 Pea (01:47) 7 One Big Mob (06:02) 8 Walkabout (05:07) 9 Tearjerker (04:19) 10 One Hot Minute (06:23) 11 Falling Into Grace (03:48) 12 Shallow Be Thy Game (04:33) 13 Transcending (05:46) |
| One Hot Minute : Allmusic album Review : Following up Blood Sugar Sex Magik proved to be a difficult task for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In 1993, two years after Blood Sugar, former Janes Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro joined up, but it was still another two years before One Hot Minute appeared, due to various personal problems. Navarros metallic guitar shredding should have added some weight to the Chili Peppers punk-inflected heavy-guitar funk, but tends to make it plodding. By emphasizing the metal, the funk is gradually phased out of the blend, as is melody; the grinding chant of "Warped" is hardly as twisted as anything on Freaky Styley, or even "Give It Away." The ballads "My Friends" and "Transcending" are blatant attempts to hold on to the mainstream audience gained by "Under the Bridge," but the melodies are weak and the lyrics are even more feeble. One Hot Minute is as musically ambitious as Blood Sugar Sex Magik, but is even more unfocused, which means it provides the fewest thrills of any of the groups albums. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 23 Title: Under the Covers: Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers Released: 1998-03-31 Tracks: 13 Duration: 43:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 They’re Red Hot (01:00) 2 Fire (02:03) 3 Subterranean Homesick Blues (02:34) 4 Higher Ground (03:22) 5 If You Want Me to Stay (04:07) 6 Why Don’t You Love Me (03:23) 7 Tiny Dancer (02:00) 8 Castles Made of Sand (03:19) 9 Dr. Funkenstein (01:11) 10 Hollywood (05:03) 11 Search and Destroy (03:45) 12 Higher Ground (05:16) 13 Hollywood (06:33) |
| Under the Covers: Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers : Allmusic album Review : Under the Covers: Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers was released as part of EMI/Capitols series of limited-edition specialty compilations to celebrate their 100th birthday. The disc collects 12 covers from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, containing such familiar items as "Higher Ground," "Fire," "Theyre Red Hot," "Search & Destroy," and "If You Want Me To Stay," as well as rare items like "Subterranean Homesick Blues," "Hollywood (Africa)," remixes of "Higher Ground" and "If You Want Me to Stay," and live versions of "Tiny Dancer," "Castles Made of Sand," and "Dr. Funkenstein." Collectors and hardcore fans will be pleased to have all these in one place, and less dedicated fans might find that the disc is actually quite entertaining, since the Red Hot Chili Peppers are a good cover band. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 23 Title: Platinum Collection ’99 Released: 1999 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:17:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Scar Tissue (03:36) 2 Higher Ground (03:22) 3 Otherside (04:15) 4 Knock Me Down (03:43) 5 Easily (03:49) 6 Fight Like a Brave (03:52) 7 Road Trippin’ (03:25) 8 Taste the Pain (04:31) 9 Under the Bridge (04:26) 10 Around the World (03:59) 11 Behind the Sun (04:41) 12 Warped (05:04) 13 Backwoods (03:07) 14 Give It Away (04:44) 15 This Velvet Glove (03:45) 16 Suck My Kiss (03:37) 17 Fire (02:03) 18 My Friends (04:02) 19 Subterranean Homesick Blues (02:33) 20 Aeroplane (04:45) |
 | Album: 13 of 23 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 1999 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:12:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Around the World (04:00) 2 Other Side (04:17) 3 Scar Tissue (03:39) 4 Californication (05:23) 5 Love Rollercoaster (04:39) 6 My Friends (04:04) 7 Aeroplane (04:47) 8 Warped (05:07) 9 Soul to Squeeze (04:54) 10 Give It Away (04:44) 11 Under the Bridge (04:26) 12 Higher Ground (03:24) 13 Fight Like a Brave (03:52) 14 Blood Sugar Sex Magik (live) (04:33) 15 Show Me Your Soul (04:24) 16 Taste the Pain (04:29) 17 Catholic School Girls Rule (01:55) |
 | Album: 14 of 23 Title: Californication Released: 1999-06-07 Tracks: 15 Duration: 56:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Around the World (03:59) 2 Parallel Universe (04:29) 3 Scar Tissue (03:36) 4 Otherside (04:15) 5 Get on Top (03:17) 6 Californication (05:22) 7 Easily (03:49) 8 Porcelain (02:41) 9 Emit Remmus (03:58) 10 I Like Dirt (02:37) 11 This Velvet Glove (03:45) 12 Savior (04:50) 13 Purple Stain (04:11) 14 Right on Time (01:50) 15 Road Trippin’ (03:25) |
| Californication : Allmusic album Review : Many figured that the Red Hot Chili Peppers days as undisputed alternative kings were numbered after their lackluster 1995 release One Hot Minute, but like the great phoenix rising from the ashes, this legendary and influential outfit returned back to greatness with 1999s Californication. An obvious reason for their rebirth is the reappearance of guitarist John Frusciante (replacing Dave Navarro), who left the Peppers in 1992 and disappeared into a haze of hard drugs before cleaning up and returning to the fold in 1998. Frusciante was a main reason for such past band classics as 1989s Mothers Milk and 1991s Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and proves once and for all to be the quintessential RHCP guitarist. Anthony Kiedis vocals have improved dramatically as well, while the rhythm section of bassist Flea and drummer Chad Smith remains one of rocks best. The quartets trademark punk-funk can be sampled on such tracks as "Around the World," "I Like Dirt," and "Parallel Universe," but the more pop-oriented material proves to be a pleasant surprise -- "Scar Tissue," "Otherside," "Easily," and "Purple Stain" all contain strong melodies and instantly memorable choruses. And like their 1992 introspective hit "Under the Bridge," there are even a few mellow moments -- "Porcelain," "Road Trippin," and the title track. With the instrumentalists interplay at an all-time telepathic high and Kiedis peaking as a vocalist, Californication is a bona fide Chili Peppers classic. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 23 Title: By the Way Released: 2001 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:12:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 By the Way (03:37) 2 Universally Speaking (04:18) 3 This Is the Place (04:17) 4 Dosed (05:12) 5 Don’t Forget Me (04:37) 6 The Zephyr Song (03:52) 7 Can’t Stop (04:29) 8 I Could Die for You (03:13) 9 Midnight (04:55) 10 Throw Away Your Television (03:44) 11 Cabron (03:38) 12 Tear (05:17) 13 On Mercury (03:28) 14 Minor Thing (03:37) 15 Warm Tape (04:16) 16 Venice Queen (06:07) 17 Time (03:47) |
| By the Way : Allmusic album Review : The Red Hot Chili Peppers eighth studio album finds the California foursome exploring the more melodic freeways of harmony and texture, contrasting the gritty, funky side streets of their early days. Luckily, with this more sophisticated sound, the Peppers have not sacrificed any of their trademark energy or passions for life, universal love, and (of course) lust. Although they recorded the spiky Abbey Road EP in 1988, this album actually sounds a lot closer to the Beatles Abbey Road, with a little of Pet Sounds and elements of Phil Spectors lushest arrangements all distilled through the bands well-traveled funk-pop stylings. Harmony vocals and string arrangements have replaced some of the aggressive slap bass that the group was initially recognized for, but fans of both the gentle and the fierce Chili Peppers styles will embrace the title track and first single, "By the Way." In fact, this song on its own could almost be a brief history of everything the Red Hot Chili Peppers have recorded: fiery Hollywood funk, gentle harmonies, a little bit of singing about girls, a little bit of hanging out in the streets in the summertime, some rapid-fire raps from Anthony Kiedis, some aggro basslines from Flea -- the song plays like a three-and-a-half-minute audio version of Behind the Music. Overall, the album leans more toward the melodic end of their oeuvre, but they have grown into this kinder, gentler mode organically, progressively working toward this groove little by little, album by album. What once were snapshots of a spastic punk-funk lifestyle have grown into fully realized short stories of introspection and Californication. Though the pace of the album falters at times (particularly in the verses; the choruses are all pretty spectacular), it is refreshing to see that as the four Chili Peppers continue to grow older and more sure of themselves, their composition and performing skills are maturing along with them. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 23 Title: Stadium Arcadium Released: 2006-05-05 Tracks: 28 Duration: 2:02:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dani California (04:42) 2 Snow ((Hey Oh)) (05:35) 3 Charlie (04:37) 4 Stadium Arcadium (05:15) 5 Hump de Bump (03:33) 6 She’s Only 18 (03:25) 7 Slow Cheetah (05:19) 8 Torture Me (03:44) 9 Strip My Mind (04:19) 10 Especially in Michigan (04:00) 11 Warlocks (03:25) 12 C’mon Girl (03:48) 13 Wet Sand (05:09) 14 Hey (05:39) 1 Desecration Smile (05:02) 2 Tell Me Baby (04:07) 3 Hard to Concentrate (04:01) 4 21st Century (04:22) 5 She Looks to Me (04:06) 6 Readymade (04:30) 7 If (02:52) 8 Make You Feel Better (03:51) 9 Animal Bar (05:25) 10 So Much I (03:44) 11 Storm in a Teacup (03:45) 12 We Believe (03:36) 13 Turn It Again (06:06) 14 Death of a Martian (04:24) |
| Stadium Arcadium : Allmusic album Review : Indulgence has long been a way of life for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, yet they resisted the sirens call of the double album until 2006s Stadium Arcadium. Sure, 1991s breakthrough Blood Sugar Sex Magik was as long as a classic double LP, but such distinctions mattered little in the era when vinyl gave way to CD, and they matter less now, as the CD gradually gives way to digital-only releases. In fact, like how Blood Sugar was the tipping point when the LPs ceded ground to CDs, Stadium Arcadium could be seen as the point when albums were seen as a collection of digital playlists. Yes, its pressed up as a two-disc set -- including an extravagant but pointless special edition housed in a clunky box that includes a make-yer-own-spinning-top -- but this is an album thats designed for you to mix and match, create your own playlist, rip and burn on your own. Its designed for you to sequence its 28 songs in some kind of cohesive manner, since the band sure didnt take the time to do that here; its the first major album by a major band that makes as much sense on random as it does in its proper sequencing. Well, thats not entirely true: the official 28-song album does begin with "Dani California," the clearest single here, the one thing that truly grabs attention upon first listen and worms its way into your subconscious, where it just wont let go, as so much of Anthony Kiedis catchiest melodies do. After that, its a long, winding path of alternately spacey and sunny pop, ballads, and the occasional funk workout that used to be the Chili Peppers signature but now functions as a way to break up the monotony. And there needs to be something to break up the monotony, not because the music is bad but because it all exists at the same level and is given a flat, colorless production that has become the signature of Rick Rubin as of late. Rubin may be able to create the right atmosphere for Flea and John Frusciante to run wild creatively -- an opportunity that they seize here, which is indeed a pleasure to hear -- but he does nothing to encourage them to brighten the finished recording up with some different textures, or even a greater variety of guitar tones. As such, the bare-bone production combined with the relentless march of songs gives Stadium Arcadium the undeniable feel of wading through the demos for a promising project instead of a sprawling statement of purpose; theres not enough purpose here for it to be a statement. That fault is down to the band not forming the raw material into something palatable for the listener, but theres also the problem that as a lyricist Anthony Kiedis just isnt that deep or clever enough to provide cohesive themes for an album of this length; he tackles no new themes here, nor does he provide new insight to familiar topics. To his credit, he does display a greater versatility as a vocalist, cutting back on the hambone rapping that used to be his signature and crooning throughout the bulk of this album, usually on key. That said, he still has enough goofy tics to undercut his attempts at sincerity, and he tends to be a bit of a liability to the band as a whole; with a different singer, who could help shape and deliver these songs, this album might not seem as formless and gormless. But there is a fair amount of pleasures here, all down to the interplay between Flea and Frusciante. While drummer Chad Smith does prove himself quite versatile here, gracefully following the eccentric turns and meanderings of the bassist and guitarist, the string instruments are the reason to listen to Stadium Arcadium. Thats always been the case to a certain extent with the Chili Peppers, but here its especially true, as they push and pull, rave and rumble, lie back and rock out -- pretty much spit out anything they can do on their instruments over the course of 28 songs. As good as much of this is, there is a little bit of monotony here, since theyre working variations on their signature themes, and they havent found a way to make these variations either transcendent or new; theyre just very good renditions on familiar themes. These tracks rarely betray their origins as studio jams -- more than ever, its possible to hear that the track came first, then the song -- and while that can result in some good listening, it all does kind of drift together. That said, there are no bad tracks here -- its all of a relatively high quality -- but there are no standouts either, so it takes a very dedicated fan to start sorting out the subtleties between the tracks (not the wheat from the chaff, since its all wheat). And while those hardcore fans may certainly enjoy the make-your-own-adventure spirit of Stadium Arcadium, its hard not to feel that its the bands responsibility to take this very good repetitive album and mold it into something sharper and more effective. So call it the rock version of Peter Jacksons King Kong: theres something pretty great and lean buried beneath the excess, but its so indulgent, its a work that only a fanboy could truly love. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 23 Title: 10 Great Songs Released: 2009 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Higher Ground (03:22) 2 Good Time Boys (05:01) 3 Fight Like a Brave (03:52) 4 Me and My Friends (03:09) 5 Behind the Sun (04:41) 6 True Men Don’t Kill Coyotes (03:38) 7 Knock Me Down (03:43) 8 If You Want Me to Stay (04:07) 9 Hollywood (05:03) 10 Taste the Pain (04:31) |
| 10 Great Songs : Allmusic album Review : This should really be called Best of the Early Red Hot Chili Peppers, since it only includes songs from their Capitol Records period. It includes nothing from Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which came out in 1991 and is arguably the groups best album, or any of their releases since then. This collection contains the same ten songs in the same sequence as EMIs Best of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 23 Title: Road Trippin’ Through Time Released: 2011-05-05 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:18:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Give It Away (04:44) 2 Under the Bridge (04:26) 3 Suck My Kiss (03:37) 4 Scar Tissue (03:36) 5 Breaking the Girl (04:55) 6 Around the World (03:59) 7 Otherside (04:15) 8 Aeroplane (04:12) 9 Californication (05:22) 10 By the Way (03:37) 11 Snow ((Hey Oh)) (05:35) 12 Soul to Squeeze (04:51) 13 Tell Me Baby (04:07) 14 Dani California (04:42) 15 Can’t Stop (04:29) 16 Parallel Universe (04:29) 17 The Zephyr Song (03:52) 18 Road Trippin’ (03:25) |
 | Album: 19 of 23 Title: I’m With You Released: 2011-08-26 Tracks: 14 Duration: 59:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Monarchy of Roses (04:11) 2 Factory of Faith (04:19) 3 Brendan’s Death Song (05:38) 4 Ethiopia (03:50) 5 Annie Wants a Baby (03:40) 6 Look Around (03:28) 7 The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie (04:42) 1 Did I Let You Know (04:21) 2 Goodbye Hooray (03:52) 3 Happiness Loves Company (03:33) 4 Police Station (05:35) 5 Even You Brutus? (04:01) 6 Meet Me at the Corner (04:21) 7 Dance, Dance, Dance (03:45) |
| I’m With You : Allmusic album Review : Losing John Frusciante for a second time doesnt send the Red Hot Chili Peppers into a tailspin. By now, the Chili Peppers shed guitarists like a second skin, changing their outer layer but retaining their inner core. Such is the case with Im with You, the band’s first album since 2006s Stadium Arcadium. If that double-disc was defined by its unwieldy sprawl, its songs spewed not sequenced, Im with You is characterized by its focus, both within individual tunes and the songs as a whole. New guitarist Josh Klinghoffer -- veteran sideman and longtime pal of Frusciante who provided secondary guitar on the closing stretch of the Stadium Arcadium tour -- doesnt compete for center stage the way previous Peppers did. He doesnt strut, he weaves, disappearing so completely into the arrangements he doesnt seem to leave his signature despite the heavy layers of guitars on each cut. This makes Im with You the flipside of One Hot Minute, where the Chili Peppers bent over backward to accommodate Dave Navarro: the Peppers dont miss a step, they almost seem relieved to be carrying on without Frusciante. Part of that could be due to a newfound musical elasticity, a reflection of Flea taking music theory classes at USC during the group’s half-decade gap between albums. Certainly a song like "Happiness Loves Company" -- half Beach Boys, half Kinks -- shows a compositional dexterity unthinkable for previous incarnations of the Peppers, but there’s no showiness here, the album is all about precision. This extends to Anthony Kiedis, who neither hams it up on the ballads nor goofs around on his raps, he merely serves the purposes of the song like the old pro he now is. Ultimately, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are served well by that professionalism; theyre long past the point of proving themselves, theyre no longer here for a party, theyre rock & roll lifers, and Im with You illustrates they can settle into maturity convincingly. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 23 Title: I’m Beside You Released: 2013-11-29 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:13:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Strange Man (03:36) 2 Long Progression (03:58) 3 Magpies on Fire (03:44) 4 Victorian Machinery (04:06) 5 Never Is a Long Time (02:46) 6 Love of Your Life (04:05) 7 The Sunset Sleeps (03:59) 8 Hometown Gypsy (03:58) 9 Pink as Floyd (04:54) 10 Your Eyes Girl (05:08) 11 In Love, Dying (08:04) 12 Catch My Death (04:19) 13 How It Ends (03:43) 14 Brave From Afar (03:44) 15 This Is the Kitt (04:23) 16 Hanalei (04:17) 17 Open/Close (04:30) |
 | Album: 21 of 23 Title: The EMI Years Released: 2014 Tracks: 49 Duration: 2:33:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 True Men Don’t Kill Coyotes (03:38) 2 Baby Appeal (03:40) 3 Buckle Down (03:22) 4 Get Up and Jump (02:52) 5 Why Don’t You Love Me (03:21) 6 Green Heaven (03:58) 7 Mommy, Where’s Daddy? (03:29) 8 Out in L.A. (02:00) 9 Police Helicopter (01:16) 10 You Always Sing the Same (00:16) 11 Grand Pappy Du Plenty (04:02) 1 Jungle Man (04:09) 2 Hollywood (05:03) 3 American Ghost Dance (03:45) 4 If You Want Me to Stay (04:07) 5 Nevermind (02:47) 6 Freaky Styley (03:39) 7 Blackeyed Blonde (02:40) 8 The Brothers Cup (03:27) 9 Battle Ship (01:53) 10 Lovin’ and Touchin’ (00:36) 11 Sex Rap (01:54) 12 Thirty Dirty Birds (00:14) 13 Yertle the Turtle (03:37) 1 Fight Like a Brave (03:52) 2 Funky Crime (03:00) 3 Me and My Friends (03:09) 4 Backwoods (03:07) 5 Skinny Sweaty Man (01:16) 6 Behind the Sun (04:41) 7 Subterranean Homesick Blues (02:34) 8 Special Secret Song Inside (03:16) 9 No Chump Love Sucker (02:42) 10 Walkin’ on Down the Road (03:49) 11 Love Trilogy (02:41) 12 Organic Anti‐Beat Box Band (04:01) 1 Good Time Boys (05:01) 2 Higher Ground (03:22) 3 Subway to Venus (04:25) 4 Magic Johnson (02:56) 5 Nobody Weird Like Me (03:49) 6 Knock Me Down (03:43) 7 Taste the Pain (04:31) 8 Stone Cold Bush (03:05) 9 Fire (02:03) 10 Pretty Little Ditty (01:36) 11 Punk Rock Classic (01:46) 12 Sexy Mexican Maid (03:22) 13 Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky (05:09) |
 | Album: 22 of 23 Title: The Studio Album Collection 1991–2011 Released: 2014-12-12 Tracks: 103 Duration: 7:22:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 The Power of Equality (04:04) 2 If You Have to Ask (03:37) 3 Breaking the Girl (04:55) 4 Funky Monks (05:23) 5 Suck My Kiss (03:37) 6 I Could Have Lied (04:04) 7 Mellowship Slinky in B major (04:00) 8 The Righteous & The Wicked (04:08) 9 Give It Away (04:44) 10 Blood Sugar Sex Magik (04:31) 11 Under the Bridge (04:26) 12 Naked in the Rain (04:26) 13 Apache Rose Peacock (04:43) 14 The Greeting Song (03:14) 15 My Lovely Man (04:39) 16 Sir Psycho Sexy (08:17) 17 They’re Red Hot (01:11) 1 Warped (05:04) 2 Aeroplane (04:45) 3 Deep Kick (06:33) 4 My Friends (04:02) 5 Coffee Shop (03:08) 6 Pea (01:47) 7 One Big Mob (06:02) 8 Walkabout (05:07) 9 Tearjerker (04:19) 10 One Hot Minute (06:23) 11 Falling Into Grace (03:48) 12 Shallow Be Thy Game (04:33) 13 Transcending (05:46) 1 Around the World (03:59) 2 Parallel Universe (04:29) 3 Scar Tissue (03:36) 4 Otherside (04:15) 5 Get on Top (03:16) 6 Californication (05:22) 7 Easily (03:49) 8 Porcelain (02:41) 9 Emit Remmus (03:58) 10 I Like Dirt (02:37) 11 This Velvet Glove (03:43) 12 Savior (04:50) 13 Purple Stain (04:11) 14 Right on Time (01:50) 15 Road Trippin’ (03:25) 1 By the Way (03:37) 2 Universally Speaking (04:18) 3 This Is the Place (04:17) 4 Dosed (05:12) 5 Don’t Forget Me (04:37) 6 The Zephyr Song (03:52) 7 Can’t Stop (04:29) 8 I Could Die for You (03:13) 9 Midnight (04:55) 10 Throw Away Your Television (03:44) 11 Cabron (03:38) 12 Tear (05:17) 13 On Mercury (03:28) 14 Minor Thing (03:37) 15 Warm Tape (04:16) 16 Venice Queen (06:07) 1 Dani California (04:42) 2 Snow ((Hey Oh)) (05:35) 3 Charlie (04:37) 4 Stadium Arcadium (05:15) 5 Hump de Bump (03:33) 6 She’s Only 18 (03:25) 7 Slow Cheetah (05:19) 8 Torture Me (03:44) 9 Strip My Mind (04:19) 10 Especially in Michigan (04:00) 11 Warlocks (03:25) 12 C’mon Girl (03:48) 13 Wet Sand (05:09) 14 Hey (05:39) 15 Desecration Smile (05:02) 16 Tell Me Baby (04:07) 17 Hard to Concentrate (04:01) 18 21st Century (04:22) 19 She Looks to Me (04:06) 20 Readymade (04:30) 21 If (02:52) 22 Make You Feel Better (03:51) 23 Animal Bar (05:25) 24 So Much I (03:44) 25 Storm in a Teacup (03:45) 26 We Believe (03:36) 27 Turn It Again (06:06) 28 Death of a Martian (04:24) 1 Monarchy of Roses (04:11) 2 Factory of Faith (04:19) 3 Brendan’s Death Song (05:38) 4 Ethiopia (03:50) 5 Annie Wants a Baby (03:40) 6 Look Around (03:28) 7 The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie (04:42) 8 Did I Let You Know (04:21) 9 Goodbye Hooray (03:52) 10 Happiness Loves Company (03:33) 11 Police Station (05:35) 12 Even You Brutus? (04:01) 13 Meet Me at the Corner (04:21) 14 Dance, Dance, Dance (03:45) |
 | Album: 23 of 23 Title: The Getaway Released: 2016-06-17 Tracks: 13 Duration: 53:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Getaway (04:10) 2 Dark Necessities (05:02) 3 We Turn Red (03:20) 4 The Longest Wave (03:31) 5 Goodbye Angels (04:28) 6 Sick Love (03:41) 7 Go Robot (04:23) 8 Feasting on the Flowers (03:22) 9 Detroit (03:46) 10 This Ticonderoga (03:35) 11 Encore (04:14) 12 The Hunter (04:00) 13 Dreams of a Samurai (06:09) |
| The Getaway : Allmusic album Review : The Red Hot Chili Peppers 11th studio album, 2016s The Getaway, is a sophisticated work of dark-hued maturity that finds the long-running California outfit expanding their sound into nuanced, 70s-style orchestral soul and funky psychedelia. The album follows the equally adventurous Im with You (2011) and once again showcases guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced John Frusciante in 2009. A major difference, however, between Im with You and The Getaway was the bands choice to work with producer/instrumentalist Brian Burton (aka Danger Mouse). This makes The Getaway the first album the Red Hot Chili Peppers have recorded without longtime collaborator Rick Rubin, who has helmed each of the bands albums since 1991s Blood Sugar Sex Magik. While the choice helps differentiate The Getaway on a spiritual level, sonically it feels as if the band and Klinghoffer have finally gelled as a complete creative unit. Maybe thats due to having Im with You under their belt, or perhaps its due to Kiedis having purportedly gone through a painful break-up. Either way, the result is a subtle yet significant advance from Im with You that feels just that much more focused. Cuts like the disco-inflected title track and the 80s electro-infused "Go Robot" reveal the bands knack for coloring their sound in surprising ways. Others, like "We Turn Red" and "This Ticonderoga," are athletic funk-punk jams. Elsewhere, their chance-taking nature pays dividends, as on the Elton John collaboration "Sick Love." A laid-back groover featuring John on piano with lyrics by Bernie Taupin, the song is an album standout, bringing to mind 70s-era Isley Brothers. Similarly, tracks like the flowing "The Longest Wave" and the densely layered "Feasting on the Flowers," have a melodic, psychedelic quality that feels inspired by the Beatles late-60s period. However, its the sprawling, hypnotic album closer, "Dreams of a Samurai," that seems to pull all of The Getaways disparate themes together in a bold, anthemic, fever dream of a song. Beginning with a minor-key piano intro, the song evolves into a roiling cinematic epic with Kiedis yearning baritone framed in Klinghoffers sweltering layers of wet, echoey guitars, Fleas rounded, circular basslines, and drummer Chad Smiths frenetic rhythms. They even make room for a soaring choir in the background that adds to the songs often malevolent, dream-like atmosphere. At once transformative and self-critical, the song finds Kiedis in a philosophical mood, painting himself as a lonely "metamorphosis samurai" singing, "Ive lost myself out on the range." While none of the songs on The Getaway play out as literal stories of Kiedis relationship, there is an underlying sense of heartbreak at the core of many of his lyrics. On "Dark Necessities," he sings, "Spinning knot that is on my heart is like a bit of light in a touch of dark/You got sneak attack from the zodiac/But I see your fire spark." Ultimately, The Getaway is a nuanced album, rife with journeyman craft and poetry, that proves the Red Hot Chili Peppers still have plenty of their own creative fire. | ||