Do the Red Hot Chilli Peppers get the appreciation they deserve? [Archive]

nightwalker

11-17-2006, 12:45 PM

Just watching, well, I just watched Snow on Kerrang!. I've heard it a few times, but I took more notice this time and thought do the Chillis get the appreciation they deserve?

I mean, sure when a single comes out it gets played a lot but after it's been out for a bit it gathers dust.

Granted, Californication and Can't Stop, etc, are played often but a lot of the good songs are hardly ever played.

Snow is a amazing piece of music and each member is amazing. For example, John is a really great guitar player, Flea is one of best bass players around, Chad is an awesome drummer and Anthony is one hell of a singer.

I readily admit that Under The Bridge was a suicide note and that John has had some trouble with heroin (well, most of the band have, actually) and that he has burn marks up his arms, but besides that they are great musicians and a great band. I really don't think, in this day and age, they get the appreciation they deserve...

Does anyone agree?

superpeer

11-17-2006, 12:59 PM

Does proper English get the appreciation it deserves?

Anyway, they are insanely famous, so I'd say yes.

Tyr

11-17-2006, 01:02 PM

Almost all of their shows are sold out and they play big venues. So, obviously, yes.

nightwalker

11-17-2006, 01:06 PM

yeh i know they sell out venues and sell alot of records but once they bring a album out and it dies down, no-one really hears from them for a year or 2 except doing shows.

Tyr

11-17-2006, 01:06 PM

Yeah, but most other bands are the same.

AA-12

11-17-2006, 01:07 PM

They're really overrated tbh

Cocaine

11-17-2006, 01:07 PM

They get more than they deserve. Their singles get lots of play and then their albums fade because they're shallow and lack depth.

TojesDolan

11-17-2006, 01:19 PM

They get good recognition.

jakerc

11-17-2006, 01:42 PM

yeah i agree, the chili peppers are one of the most famous rock bands of all time. they get plenty of recognition.

maybe a better way to phrase what you're trying to say is that some of their really good songs are overlooked?

penelope weird hands

11-17-2006, 01:55 PM

They get the appreciation they deserve.

Det_Nosnip

11-17-2006, 02:33 PM

They get a fair bit more than they deserve. Not to say that they aren't a decent band, but in particular from a musical standpoint none of them are as good as they're made out to be.

Kage

11-17-2006, 02:41 PM

The fact that they have any fans at all shows that they get way more appreciation than they deserve.

Det_Nosnip

11-17-2006, 02:41 PM

:lol: Wow, that's a little harsh.

PinkFreud

11-17-2006, 02:41 PM

Flea's one of my favorite bassists and John's solo career is awesome but Anthony really sucks and Flea DOES get way overrated. Badly. And their songwriting and lyricism lacks a little. I'd say they get more credit.

penelope weird hands

11-17-2006, 02:45 PM

The fact that they have any fans at all shows that they get way more appreciation than they deserve.

:lol:
lurlers. :smash:

Kage

11-17-2006, 02:45 PM

:lol: Wow, that's a little harsh.

That's what I'm here for. XD

Pete

11-17-2006, 02:51 PM

Moon Flavor

11-17-2006, 02:57 PM

A lot of people go through RHCP "phases"...I know many people who have, and I did a little bit too.

He'll see around it eventually.

Kingofdudes

11-17-2006, 03:01 PM

What the hell is the TS talking about? RHCP are circle jerked like crazy.
Hell just look at the last.fm site-wide charts. RHCP is constantly the #1 played artist on there.

Birdsell

11-17-2006, 03:08 PM

They have been making music since the mid 80's and have evolved musically on every album they have made, and they still aren't finished. But I believe that their next album will in time be known as one of the better albums ever made and in the end their recognition will come.

And about Kiedis, he is the life behind RHCP which you would see if you go to one of their shows. He writes unbelievable lyrics too and has gotten better with every album, which is why I think their next album will be their best yet, along with the fact that Frusciante is off heroin and getting (if not already there) to the point of greatest guitar players ever.

PinkFreud

11-17-2006, 03:28 PM

His lyrics suck. NONE of their albums should or will be known as one of the best albums ever made.

Welcome to MX.

Birdsell

11-17-2006, 03:35 PM

His lyrics suck. NONE of their albums should or will be known as one of the best albums ever made.

Welcome to MX.

Hahaha, thanks for the welcome. I feel like I'm stepping into the wrong club here with taste on RHCP, doesn't seem to be a favorite of some here, but to each their own :chug:

Shattered_Future

11-17-2006, 03:35 PM

Frusciante is NOT one of the greatest guitar players ever either. I think YOU should get off the heroin.

I do have a newfound respect for these guys seeing them live though. They are all extremely good at improvising.

infinitestrain

11-17-2006, 03:42 PM

They are overappreciated!

PinkFreud

11-17-2006, 03:53 PM

Frusciante's a good guitarist but I don't think he's one of the greatest of all time. I enjoy his solo albums a lot though. Great songwriter.

Birdsell

11-17-2006, 03:58 PM

Just to be clear, one of the greatest of all time to me is top 50. Not sure if someone else might look at that as being top 5.

PsychoTronn

11-17-2006, 04:06 PM

I'd say they get more attention then they deserve.

why does "flea" get called a bass god? :confused:

Benzum

11-17-2006, 04:31 PM

Woah hang on, they get too much appreciation, if anything. Their musical progression over the years has been nothing short of terrible, and embarrasing to any self-respecting fan of music, and pushing the boundaries.

Their songs are bland to listen to, leave nothing to the imagination, they should just quit before they come really terrible.
Listening to their new song makes me angry, it's that bad, oh wait, their past 6 songs released actually.

Noone can possibly explain how the RCHP are in a good place right now, except with their local fans eating out of their hands.

I hate them.

PinkFreud

11-17-2006, 04:35 PM

why does "flea" get called a bass god? :confused:
Because he's got good chops, a good ear, and knows when to be elaborate and when to lay low and groove. He's nothing compared to jazz bassists or some other rock and funk bassists but he's good.

Permanent Solution

11-17-2006, 04:41 PM

They are overrated by some, and underrated by some.

In particular, underrated on this board, overrated in the mainstream.

Sleepy

11-17-2006, 04:42 PM

Flea's pretty good. His style is admirable, even though when judging purely by technicality he pales in comparison to others.

Anyway, this is a rather stupid thread. Any group that's had videos on MTV for a decade either:

A) Have the respect they deserve
B) Have so much cash that they don't care what respect they get

PsychoTronn

11-17-2006, 04:57 PM

Because he's got good chops, a good ear, and knows when to be elaborate and when to lay low and groove. He's nothing compared to jazz bassists or some other rock and funk bassists but he's good.

yeah it's prob just the fanboys that call him god

rhcp pman

11-18-2006, 03:59 AM

They get more than they deserve. Their singles get lots of play and then their albums fade because they're shallow and lack depth.
Their albums >>>> Their singles IMO

Woah hang on, they get too much appreciation, if anything. Their musical progression over the years has been nothing short of terrible, and embarrasing to any self-respecting fan of music, and pushing the boundaries.

Listening to their new song makes me angry, it's that bad, oh wait, their past 6 songs released actually.

What's wrong with their progression? The idea of a progression is that you're not likely to find a fan who likes all their phases. Not everyone likes Camel's synth stage, likewise with Rush. King Crimson has changed a lot, but I like all their phases. Some people prefer pop Genesis - some prefer prog Genesis. Some prefer early Maiden with great albums but an 'arguably' worse vocalist - some prefer later Dickinson stuff.

They've released more than 6 songs lately. You should listen to their albums in full - especially older stuff like BSSM (if you haven't already). Singles aren't good for judgement of most bands.

***
Anyway, as has been stated, they're overrated in the mainstream, but underrated on this board.

This is how I see them:

Vocals - Anthony has a nice voice but not a lot of singing skill - which makes him ok in my books. Frusciante has some great backing vocals. Also, take a look at Frusciante covering a Bee Gees song on Youtube - he certainly has singing skill.

Guitar - Frusciante is an amazing guitarist. I hold him quite high and his solo stuff is great; especially the experimental stuff. He's on another level.

Bass - Flea is an awesome bassist. No, he's not amazingly technical but he has flair for songwriting and feel.

Drums - Smith is a pretty good drummer with some nice chops and great feel. He's not amazing, but he's decent.

Of course, they're only individual parts. How they fit together is a different matter altogether. Personally, I find that they work perfectly together and create good studio albums. Improvisation/jamming skill is a plus.

Apocalyptic Raids

11-18-2006, 04:41 AM

They definitely get the appreciation they deserve, and probably a little more.

I'm not a huge fan, but I do enjoy them somewhat.

Amit

11-18-2006, 05:53 AM

nice shpongle reference raidzilla

anyway froosyauntie is an okay guitarist but it would be a very foolish thing to place him in the top 500 let alone the top 50 of any guitar list :-\

Mazeppa

11-18-2006, 07:00 AM

They get more than they deserve. Their singles get lots of play and then their albums fade because they're shallow and lack depth.

Amen to that.

Arucard

11-18-2006, 07:04 AM

To much appreciation. Kiedis can't sing, Chad is a pathetic drummer and i want to stab John.

=]

Knifeboy

11-18-2006, 09:14 AM

Under appreciated? Wtf?..
The tour RHCP is on now is the biggest tour this year, wich technically means RHCP must be the most appreciated band out there right now.

IMO RHCP would be better if they dumped keidis and let John do all the singing, keidis was horrible when I saw them live

ATM

11-18-2006, 09:56 AM

Yea, Kiedis was horrible when I saw them in September. John Frusciante and Flea were good, but Kiedis was so detatched.

EightMilesHigh

11-18-2006, 12:26 PM

Anyway, they are insanely famous, so I'd say yes.

'peer says it best.

Clunge

11-18-2006, 01:03 PM

Dr. Jake Destructo

11-18-2006, 03:26 PM

They're really overrated tbh

This.

Moses

11-18-2006, 03:55 PM

To much appreciation. Kiedis can't sing, Chad is a pathetic drummer and i want to stab John.

=]

Right about Kiedis but Smith is actually a really good drummer and tends to enjoy playing pocket.

Dr. Jake Destructo

11-18-2006, 04:30 PM

What's playing pocket?

/oozing ignorance regarding drumming from every pore!

PinkFreud

11-18-2006, 04:32 PM

He grooves. A lot. He plays a little behind the beat which makes it sound groovier. Groove.

Permanent Solution

11-18-2006, 04:35 PM

What's playing pocket?

/oozing ignorance regarding drumming from every pore!

Playing pocket is what separates good drummers from average drummers.

Moses

11-18-2006, 05:25 PM

What's playing pocket?

/oozing ignorance regarding drumming from every pore!

He's not playing to show off but just to sit in the back and focus on what a drummer should focus on.

Ollie The Drumming Legend

11-18-2006, 05:36 PM

They get more than they deserve. Their singles get lots of play and then their albums fade because they're shallow and lack depth.

I reckon it's the other way round. Albums > Singles every time. I think they clearly are appreciated by their huge swathes of fans, but not my their non-fans if you know what I mean, pretty obvious. But musically, what with being really popular a lot of people put it in the same category as the latest band-of-the-minute arctic monkeys and snow patrol, I think a lot of people IMO don't realise some of the really interesting features of their songs, and the fact that they are played exceptionally well - if you got most drummer, bassists and guitarist in the rock scene to play one of their songs exactly as they do 90% it wouldn't be as well done, and that's not just because they wouldn't be the 'original thing'. Talking of not appreciating them fully, when I saw them live half the crowd were drunk chavs who'd probably heard under the bridge and by the way about once each. That was just annoying / **** even though the band were great. One of those bands that don't just play their album or a selection of songs from albums exactly as they were on the cd - they had heavy alterations, solos, improvising (well maybe), jamms, etc, unlike a lot of crap bands I've seen like (*cough* Hard-Fi *cough*) .

TBH as a huge fan I'm always gonna say they're heavily underrated but those who don't see what the fuss is about will always say they're overrated. Maybe overrated in popularity terms, but underrated in musical terms, if such a thing is possible?

Ollie The Drumming Legend

11-18-2006, 05:38 PM

To my ears, they are just horrible, generic, funk-rock I suppose.

How they ever became one of the biggest bands ever, I don't know. It all sounds so immensly average. Take Snow for example, I defy anyone to call it a class song, it's just a standard, middle of the road pop song. Nothing more, nothing less.

Same goes for all of their work since BSSM.

Just meh.

I fail to see how funk-rock is at all generic as a.) a lot of chillis work esp from by the way has limited funk-content and b.) very few bands play actual funk-rock.

Someone complained about progression. The way I see it is that if you stay the same then you have very few fans and end up playing the same stuff over and over again, it's not natural. If your style evolves over time then the fans who have such a narrow taste that they only like you're first album from 10 or 15 years ago say you've sold out, but tbh the real selling out would be sticking to the same old material just to please your old fans.
Btw Chad Smith is a killer drummer, he grooves incredibly well and has some wicked chops too. In all fairness, the comments about his drumming probably come from some metal or dream theater fanboys who think that good drumming is just playing super-fast tom rolls the whole time or blasting 32nd note double pedalling through whole songs with only the odd variation around the kit or a crash cymbal here or there. A good drummer doesn't try to overplay the whole time or overshine the band - a good drummer plays for the song, something a lot of the teenage guitar hero wannabe types could take lessons about.

Futuro

11-18-2006, 05:44 PM

He grooves. A lot. He plays a little behind the beat which makes it sound groovier. Groove.

hmmmmm.......

Dr. Jake Destructo

11-18-2006, 05:44 PM

I find it unbearable to sit through an entire Chili's cd. Some of their songs are well crafted, but most of them are generic. I can enjoy Californication until about track 8 or so. Then it all just fades into monotony.

Kage

11-18-2006, 05:44 PM

hmmmmm.......
Uh oh.

:cool:

Dr. Jake Destructo

11-18-2006, 05:49 PM

Wait so playing pocket = syncopation?

You bitches can never deliver a straight answer, I swear. :p

PinkFreud

11-18-2006, 05:56 PM

hmmmmm.......
Oh, don't listen to me.

....Groove.

PsychoTronn

11-18-2006, 07:37 PM

people think they are cool people they dye their mohawks blue and red

Permanent Solution

11-18-2006, 07:41 PM

Wait so playing pocket = syncopation?

You bitches can never deliver a straight answer, I swear. :p

I think the best defnition I have of playing pocket is holding a good groove and driving the music without overbearing it or anything. A good pocket player can fit the music and add to it without being flashy.

Riva

11-19-2006, 05:14 AM

Average pocket player: Nick Mason

Good pocket player: John Bonham

Bad pocket player: Mike Portnoy

Clunge

11-19-2006, 05:46 AM

Average pocket player: Nick Mason

Good pocket player: John Bonham

Bad pocket player: Mike Portnoy
+95995492753825723659215

slaughteredfirst

11-19-2006, 11:08 AM

Average pocket player: Nick Mason

Good pocket player: John Bonham

Bad pocket player: Mike Portnoy

Portnoy's drumming is really bland, and the fact every drummer who likes dream theater thinks he is god dosnt help.

His beats just dont sound good.

Shattered_Future

11-19-2006, 11:39 AM

I never understood what was so good about the guy...he's not really anything special.

Dr. Jake Destructo

11-19-2006, 01:25 PM

Especially considering his surroundings. If he was in a nu metal band, he might get some respect, but since he's constantly being one-upped by his bandmates, he sounds pretty infantile in relation to Petrucci and Co.

sobelecta

11-19-2006, 01:50 PM

I think they get too much appreciation.

Long live Def Leppard!

Anglachel

11-19-2006, 02:03 PM

They're overrated tbh

Ffs Flea got a video game character named after him (Flea, Magus' swordsman in Chrono Trigger)

ChickenMcFicken

11-19-2006, 02:22 PM

As has been said before, way over appriciated by the mainstream. At their show I was next to a dad and some kids who picked a good band for their first show (which it obviously was), but they had clearly only heard their new album and were terrible fans.
I think most of the people that dislike them are the type of people that just want to be against the mainstream, or try to overanalyze them (and all music). I'd like to think that musician forums appriciates that music does not need to be showoffy all the time and that most of the people here just don't like them for a legitamate reason (they just dont like them). I personally don't really enjoy their new stuff, but you really can't expect a band to sound the same way they did 20 years ago, especially when they're sposed to be sober, or at least not shooting up coke and heroin all the time.
At their best (IMO late 80's-early 90's) they were great because they put out music thats enjoyable. Simple, fun, good music. Live they put on a great show, clearly enjoy what they're doing and get the crowd into it. Plus they can jam pretty well.
Even though I'm a huge fan, I'd still say way over appreciated. So many kids out there who claim to be huge fans but have never even heard BSSM or half of their records.

Moses

11-19-2006, 03:25 PM

Wait so playing pocket = syncopation?

You bitches can never deliver a straight answer, I swear. :p

Basically.......no

Playing pocket is basically holding back so the music sounds better.

PinkFreud

11-19-2006, 03:29 PM

Average pocket player: Nick Mason

Good pocket player: John Bonham

Bad pocket player: Mike Portnoy
Great pocket player: Clyde Stubblefield

Yeaaaaah.

Cocaine

11-19-2006, 03:29 PM

I never understood what was so good about the guy...he's not really anything special.

His drumkit is huge.

PinkFreud

11-19-2006, 03:32 PM

Not bigger than Terry Bozzio's. And he's such a better drummer.

Cocaine

11-19-2006, 03:34 PM

Yeah, but more people have heard of Portnoy. And even Bozzio's compensating with that stupidly large kit of his.

PinkFreud

11-19-2006, 03:41 PM

I don't know if I'd say he's compensating. He uses all of the parts. Of course, he probably doesn't need all those chinas but he plays with orchestras and what not.

Regardless, I enjoy his playing more. And Portnoy IS much more well-known. Boo.

Ethan.

11-19-2006, 03:45 PM

PinkFreud

11-19-2006, 03:47 PM

The Mars Volta - L'via L'viaquez

He does the first two solos.

Moses

11-19-2006, 03:56 PM

He's okay.

Shattered_Future

11-19-2006, 04:51 PM

What I like about him is he actually knows how to improvise quite well, unlike a lot of bands today. That goes for the whole band as well.

Birdsell

11-19-2006, 05:18 PM

They are ok. Yes they get the appreciation they deserve. I like some of their albums.

But whats a song where John is really good in? I don't see why people think he's such a great guitarist. I don't know of any songs where I'm like WOW that was awesome towards the guitar track.

So suggest me a few songs with some sweet guitar parts please.

"Soul To Squeeze" (I actually recommend everyone to hear this unreleased song of theirs, it was the one that convinced me they made quality music)
"Pretty Little Ditty" off of Mother's Milk (this is actually one of John and Flea's first ever jam sessions together and they included it on the album)
"Breaking The Girl" off of Blood Sugar (My personal favorite song of RHCP)
"Venice Queen" off of By The Way (This song puts me in another world everytime)
"Readymade" and "Turn It Again" off of Stadium Arcadium-Mars (John's 2 min solo at the end of Turn It Again was used mixing in something like 20 different guitars, it sounds amazing)
"Wet Sand" and "Slow Cheetah" off of Stadium Arcadium-Jupiter

these are all very good in my opinion, although I'm sure many would say I left off the best ones. I'm not feeling like making much of an argument here though, doesn't seem as if anyone that reads this with the notion that RHCP or Frusciante isn't good will give it a chance one way or the other.

Moses

11-19-2006, 05:23 PM

What I like about him is he actually knows how to improvise quite well, unlike a lot of bands today. That goes for the whole band as well.

Well he does put his heart into his playing, I'll give him that. He's just kinda sloppy.

ChickenMcFicken

11-19-2006, 06:09 PM

Hendrix was kinda sloppy.

Det_Nosnip

11-19-2006, 08:21 PM

Another great pocket player - Gadd.

Anyways, Chad's actually not that solid of a pocket player. I've seen the Chilis before, and heard the same report from others who've seen them - he tends to rush ocassionally. Granted, this is common and doesn't mean he's terrible, but it doesn't mean he's an incredible pocket player, either.

I don't think that you necessarily have to hold back in order to be an effective pocket player...it's more a factor of 99% of drummers/musicians not being able to hold it together once things get spicey. Vinnie Colaiuta has one of the tightest pockets in the world and he's also probably the most technically gifted drummer on the planet. The difference between guys like Vinnie and everyone else is that he can get away with busting out absurd phrases and still keep everything feeling great.

Zebba

11-20-2006, 06:58 AM

Flea is from Australia and his mum and dad live like 15 minutes away from me... just thought I would throw that out there...

Perhaps Crickets

11-20-2006, 07:16 AM

The fact that they have any fans at all shows that they get way more appreciation than they deserve.

I agree with Kage for once. :chug:

RIP Ian Curtis

11-20-2006, 07:22 AM

I think perhaps the threadstarter means that people with taste don't give them enough appreciation. Not saying I like them, but their massive pop career has kind of lead to them being spat on by all and sundry.

Benzum

11-20-2006, 02:10 PM

Their albums >>>> Their singles IMO

Yeah I already know all that stuff

What I'm getting at is that they could, no sorry, they should be stepping it up a bit, showing what the can do, because they just look like a bunch of fools, the singer shows no vocal variety whatsoever, which after who knows how many years, you would think he'd have learnt a new trick, or two, no? That goes for the whole band unit thing, also, but that's different. They just come across as a very bland, unexciting group and instead of people actually listening to the song and making their own decision about it, they just look at the band name and immediatly come to the conclusion that it's "ok" Well to be honest, it's not ok, it's terrible, especially for a veteran band such as they are, which make it even more annoying

This is more aimed at their recent material when they should of started getting technically more promising and musically more exciting, but obviously, they didn't
I know you are a RHCP fanboy, and that's fine, but don't try and tell me that they are a musically good band, because they are not, songwriting maybe, but again, that's different.

PinkFreud

11-20-2006, 04:04 PM

The new album was a BIG letdown. The funk songs were too stale and polished. If they're trying to do some new funk, make it dirtier, grittier, funkier. Their pop-songs just aren't up to the level that they were on By The Way (which is their best work imo. Anthony's voice sounds best when he's not trying to do his one-dimensional white rapper/funky vocals type thing).

Stevie

11-20-2006, 04:06 PM

I mean, sure when a single comes out it gets played a lot but after it's been out for a bit it gathers dust.

That's what happens with every single. Anyway, that's not true as Under the Bridge is played often.

132WalrusesInMexico

11-20-2006, 04:36 PM

ChickenMcFicken

11-20-2006, 07:37 PM

Some of his older lyrics arent that bad. Yrtle the turtle, American Ghost Dance, Johnny Kick a Hole in the Sky, Fight Like a Brave (to a lesser extent) are anywhere from decent to pretty good, but I'd agree, as a whole the lyrics are pretty weak, but that's not what anyone listens to them for and they know that.

Maybe I just like the topics though : \

nightwalker

11-23-2006, 07:41 PM

Anthony Kiedis is possibly the worst singer in any successful band ever.

Okay, exaggeration, but he's not a good singer.

They get too much recognition as it is. What does TS expect, that everyone should listen to their old crap all of the time? Or that music networks should show their videos all the time? Because neither is going to happen, and he needs to get over this band.

actually i dont listen to chillis often and hadnt really until i heard snow and i just thought there a massive band but i aint seen any of there stuff about in a while.
just thought id start a thread to hear other peoples views.
i dont know how much they are played in america and that but in uk imo ya dont hear alot of stuff on them compared to some bands.
just thought id ask lol