Review Summary: After the passing of Hillel and before the release of "BloodSugar", we get an interesting album.
When you first listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers fourth LP, you may get one of these feelings: confusion or nostalgia. Those who came to the Peppers somewhere between "Californication" and "Stadium Arcadium" will feel confusion. Those who listened to anything before "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" will feel nostalgia. When I heard this album, I was confused. I have grown up on the soft rock styling of "Otherside" and "Snow", so I wasn't use to the punk-funk guitar or the unpolished vocals. Needless to say I didn't like the album very much. Come back to it two years later and my mind is blown.
Starting off with "Good Time Boys", we get what has become a trademark of the Chili's: off-key rapping, strong funk guitar and wonderful bass. Through the first verse, we get Anthony playing around with his tone and John (this was his first album) emulating Hillel. This is all backed up by solid drumming by Chad Smith, who also recently joined the band. The song gets repetitive after a while before it goes into a mini-bridge that seems to jump around a radio station. Then we get their cover of Wonder's "Higher Ground", which is arguably the first Chili Pepper song I ever heard. Most people complain about Anthony's singing, but it fits nicely when he was trying to emulate Stevie Wonder. This could be a risky endeavor but the make it there own by adding that familiar funk-metal flavor.
Jumping ahead two tracks, "Nobody Weird Like Me" is wonderful funk that further showcases Flea's bass-playing skill. The vocals are probably one of the earlier examples of Anthony singing, though they still tend to exaggerate every other verses. The chorus is kinda of a let down, but it gets better after repeated listens. After this comes "Knock Me Down", which probably this album's second most well known track. Two those who are still stuck with the Chili Pepper's "I'm With You"-era, "Knock Me Down" is a eulogy to Hillel Slovak. The song, although catchy, comes off as a little new-agey at times and doesn't hold up as well as "Higher Ground" or "Nobody Weird".
As is the case with most Chili Pepper albums, there is some filler. Taking that this album is only forty-five minutes long (compared to its follower's 72-minute run time), the filler is almost excusable. "Magic Johnson" serves as a MC Anthony vehicle and "Fire" isn't nearly as good as the Hendrix version. "Taste the Pain" can get a little repetitive after a while, but is entertaining overall especially the chorus and Chad's manic drum work. "Punk Rock Classic" is more of a joke track that should of been a b-side. The "Sweet Child O' Mine" riff makes an entertaining cameo.
The album's instrumental "Pretty Little Ditty", in contrast, is actually pretty beautiful. This is probably the debut of John's more melodic guitar work that would make more appearances later in his career. Flea is also as good of a trumpeter as he is at playing bass. The album's last track "Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky" is a nice piece of funk-soul that features female backing vocals.
All in all this album is not perfect, but no Chili Pepper album is. It is a fun, entertaining LP that never takes itself to seriously. When listening this album, you have a Penthouse in one hand and a cigarette in the other. So go ahead buy the album.
Best Tracks:
Good Time Boys
Higher Ground
Nobody Weird Like Me
Taste The Pain
Pretty Little Ditty
Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky
