Now, I love the chaotic-funky-groove-beast Chillis, and I am somewhat turned off by the polished article they are today. Uplift Mofo Party Plan was a great record, and was totally one nation under a groove. So when guitarist Hillel Slovak died suddenly of an overdose, I was interested to see who they brought in as his replacement and if the style would be the same. Well, the groove is still there and the songs are more focused, but with the track Knock Me Down and its subsequent success, the future was in view for the band.
This is my favourite album by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and I love every inch of of it. The funk is deep in the DNA of this record, and it would be the last with this vibe all the way through. Good Time Boys opens up the album and it’s classic Chilli’s hard core rockin’ funk. The cover of Stevie Wonder’s Higher Ground is one of the best covers of this track I have heard. Killer groove and the metal ending is so cool. Sunday To Venus is a monster of a tune with a ripping funky groove and the horns are just superb, plus what an ending. The band are big fans of basketball and their tribute to Magic Johnson is pure old school chaotic punk funk. It is followed with Nobody Weird Like Me with an almost thrash metal groove, the heaviest the band ever got. Side 1 closes out with Knock Me Down which would be the take off point for the modern Chilli’s sound. You have to wonder if the band believed in the song themselves, as it’s at the end of Side 1 on vinyl and would be right in the middle of the cd. Either way it was a hit.
Side 2 opens up with Taste The Pain, another of the Frusciante tunes with a more modern edge. Stone Cold Bush is a rap, metal, funk crossover, and the groove is intense. Flea’s bass playing is killer and Frusciante lays a ripping lead over the top. A hyped up version of Hendrix’s Fire follows, and that flows into Pretty Little Ditty, a more laid back instrumental piece. Back to the chaos with Punk Rock Classic, a short burst of insanity and it does what it says on the tin. Sexy Mexican Maid slides on in next with a smooth funky groove, and the middle section is so cool. Last track next and it’s definitely my favourite on the album, and possibly my favourite Chilli’s track ever. Johnny Kick A Whole In The Sky – man what a tune. Superb groove and the “wah wah” riff in the verse is killer. That for me is what the Chilli Peppers are all about.
Fantastic album!!!
10/10 from The Grooveman.
