Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
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Free Music Notes for Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Free Music Review: Simply the Best
Hit: 5 Stars
The Chili Peppers had left EMI records after recording the slightly commercially succesful Mother's Milk with newly recuited Chad Smtih and John Frusciante. After sparking the interest of legendary record producer, Rick Rubin, the Peppers were signed on to Warner Brothers records. They were given a Hollywood mansion to record Blood Sugar Sex Magik in complete seclusion. There they ate, drank, slept, wrote, and recorded (except for Chad who only recorded because he didnt want to live in the mansion because he thought there was a ghost.) Anyways, they made one of the greatest records of the 90's and in my opinion, the Chili Pepper's best record to date. This is my opinion of each song.
1. Power of Equality- A politically driven rap that starts the album off like an explosion. Featured On Tony Hawk's Underground 2
2. If You Have to Ask- A Funky song with a catchy corous with John on his trademark backing vocals.
3. Breaking the Girl- A beautiful acoustic ballad that features the band banging on scrap metal at the end of the song and features superb vocals by Anthony.
4. Funky Monks- A funky song (obviously) with funny lyrics and a good performance by Flea and John.
5. Suck My Kiss- A dirty song by Anthony that talks about oral sex. John's guitar and Flea's bass sound fused into one instrument. You'll see what I mean when you listen to it. Anyways, good song.
6. I Could Have Lied- Another heartfelt acoustic ballad with a great guitar solo by John and superb lyrics by Anthony.
7. Mellowship Slinky In B Major- One of the odder songs from the album. Funny lyrics but a great opening guitar riff.
8. The Rightous and the Wicked- Another political song with a great corous that leads right into the most popular song on the album....
9. Give It Away- This song is perfect in every way. Anthony's vocals are top noch, Johns guitar playing is funky and fierce (with a guitar solo played backwards), a great bass riff by Flea, and consistant drumming by the reliable Chad. Good music video too.
10. Blood Sugar Sex Magik- The title track and mabey the weakest song on the album (how ironic) but its still a great song with a loud courous that will have you shouting too. "Blood Sugar Baby, She's Magik, Sex Magik!"
11. Under the Bridge- Another masterpiece. A ballad by Anthony about surviving his heiorin addiction. With an awesome guitar into by John. (The end of this song is sung by John's mom and her friends.)
12. Naked In the Rain- Another one of the weaker tracks off the album. Lyrics tell of Anthony's wanting to live in the wild. Still worth listening too. Its better than anything Green Day has to offer.
13. Apache Rose Peacock- A song about seeing a chick in New Orleans. Features odd lyrics but great muscicianship by Flea, John, and Chad. (Flea plays the trumpet in this song.)
14. The Greeting Song- Nice fast guitar playing by John and perhaps sexually oriented lyrics by Anthony. Nice tempo.
15. My Lovely man- An ode to dead guitarist, co-founder, and friend, Hillel Slovak. This is the second song for Hillel along with "Knock me Down" from Mother's Milk.
16. Sir Phsyco Sexy- Perhaps Anthony's most vulgaric lyrics ever. But it features the best musicianship on the entire album with a nice upbeat ending .
17. They're Red Hot- A Robert Johnson cover song used entirely as a joke and features Chad playing drums with his hands. Ends the album on a good note.
If you dont own this album then I encourage you to purchase it today. This is the best Red Hot Chili Peppers album hands down. If you know nothing about the Chili Peppers and you just started listening to them then this is the perfect album for you to start with. This album made the Peppers one of the greatest bands from the 90's. Whether youre a fan of rock, rap, punk, or disco this is the record for you. Just open it, put it in your cd player, and let the Funky Monks take you on their ride of musical genious.
Free Music Review: Easily the best album in any genre of modern rock
Hit: 5 Stars
Few albums ever produced have this level of consistency. The only track on here not worth at least listening to is the last song "They're Red Hot" which is not even composed by the RHCP anyway. Each song is vastly different from the others, and yet at the same time they have a common feel to them, something only the peppers could reproduce. It is a level of unity and brilliance that has only ever been acheived by bands of similar caliber. And there is a reason this album has been consistently dubbed the best bass album of the century. The following are my opinions on a select few of the tracks, not necessarily my favorites.Power of Equality: B+
The bass line is strong and John's guitar overlay is perfect. No real guitar or bass solo, although this song does not need one. The defining characteristic of this song is the lyrics.
If You Have to Ask: A
Lyrics flow smoothly through this song. Flea's bass line is intoxicating and the guitar solo near the end is soulful with a great rythym. The drum part is very fresh and fits the song perfectly. I would say the defining characteristic of this song is the play between the bass and guitar.
Funky Monks: A
The beginning sets the mood for this song, which features one of the most funky, yet soulful songs in existance. The primary feature of this song is the funky off-beat via the guitar, bass and drums, which contrasts the on-beat lyrics. The interlude starts off with mellow guitar and the switches into overdrive, showcasing John's versatile abilities. The end is a gradual fade out featuring funky flea improv.
I Could Have Lied: A
In short, a very mellow song with a gradual climax and let down. This song should be listened to by every guitar player out there as an example. With just the right amount of distortion, John lets us all know his place in the guitar world (at the top). This song has one of the best and most emotional guitar solos of the century.
Mellowship Slinky: A+
John and Flea work together so well in this song. The chemistry between them is evident when Flea, playing the brilliant background beat, merges with John's counter melody back and forth. I dont have much else to say about this song except that the harmony between all of the RHCP in this song is perfect.
Naked in The Rain: A
Harder to get into than some of the other songs, this song features an amazing bass line, and, later on, a tremendous bass solo and just after that and tremendous guitar solo. Some people dont like this song because of the seemingly nonsensical lyrics, although that is obviously not the focus of this song.
The Greeting Song: A+
A more traditional RHCP song, harking back to their early days, with the added twist of the brilliance of John Frusciante and Flea working together. Anthony also provides perfectly timed vocal effects like echo to create a trippy feast for your ears.
Sir Psycho Sexy: A+
I wish I could give this song a better score because it deserves it. Dont be turned off by the first 4 minutes (as many other reviewers have said as well). Once you are into this song it will change your life. The best way to describe this song is that it is like "butter" or as an 8 minute "epic." Flea, with the most unusual bass effect I have ever heard, creates the perfect background melody for the first 4 minutes About 3 minutes into the song, there is a part where while a xylophone plays a practically trance inducing melody in the left stereo channel, while one of the 2 guitar parts plays a wah-wah-wah sound in the right channel, and the other parts play along accordingly. Later, the drums lead into yet another practically trance inducing part where flea and john play beautiful, soaring parts in the background and the soft, sweet sounding lyrics are overdubbed with "La La La" all with effects like reverb, and echo. Then, the last 3 minutes features the most beautiful chord transitions I have ever heard, while John's guitar cries out within those overall chords and continues to as the song fades away.
Free Music Review: Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
Even the most detailed reviews on this page are a woefully inadequate way of communicating the ingenuity of this record. BSSM is an album that does what few do today - seamlessly flow from one song to the next, taking the listener on a journey in which the ultimate whole is MUCH greater than the sum of its parts. This is not to say that the individual tracks are weak, as "Give It Away" and "Under The Bridge" still remain staples of mainstream rock radio, but when taken out of context, they cannot demonstrate the brilliance that defines BSSM.
I won't give my personal ranking of each song, as that opinion varies from person to person, but here's a brief description of each:
Power of Equality - A song in which Anthony's lyrics actually make sense, this is perhaps the most politically-charged song by RHCP. Repetitive lines by John and Flea, but the song is easy to listen to multiple times. Frequently played live.
If You Have to Ask - An example of the funk that pervades the whole album. John uses his characteristic falsetto.
Breaking the Girl - A surprising acoustic ballad thrown in the mix, yet works well with everything around it. Chad throws in some inventive percussion.
Funky Monks - The title says it all. Broken into 3 distinct parts, the last of which is a total jam.
Suck My Kiss - Anthony should have said "crank it" before this one, not Give It Away. Definitely the heaviest song on the album, driven by Flea's bass, and capped off with a great solo by John.
I Could Have Lied - Completely contrasting Suck My Kiss, this song is perhaps more mellow than Under the Bridge. Very beautiful.
Mellowship Slinky in B Major - A deceiving, heavy opening riff covers up this otherwise funky song. Anthony provides some comical lyrics. The barely distinguishable piano in parts shows RHCP's attention to minor details, the kind that any true musician can appreciate.
The Righteous and the Wicked - Noticeably less energy than other songs, but still a good number. John's solo surprisingly deviates from his normally subtle style.
Give It Away - No explanation needed, everybody knows this one. An excellent live piece, though.
Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Ironically enough, the title track is probably the weakest on the album. Chad opens with a great rhythm, but Anthony's uncharacteristic voice carries the song downhill. A great song for any other band :)
Under the Bridge - Like Give It Away, everyone has heard this one. Perfectly placed amongst other songs on the album.
Naked In The Rain - A stellar bass solo on this one, overall great song.
Apache Rose Peacock - Almost as much as Under the Bridge, it seems this song is one you can find yourself singing along with VERY easily. A heavy riff at the end sets the tone for The Greeting Song.
The Greeting Song - A song briskly opened by John, and doesn't let up.
My Lovely Man - A tribute to Hillel Slovak, this is yet another great song. One of the heavier pieces on the album.
Sir Psycho Sexy - Incredibly funky tune, with Anthony's lyrics getting a bit vulgar at times. Nevertheless, it is compensated for by the very mature-sounding outro.
They're Red Hot - See for yourself.
Enjoy.
Free Music Review: Elemental
Hit: 5 Stars
Blood... a fluid that carries nourishment and oxygen to all parts of the body.Sugar... a sweet, white crystal.
Sex... a sexually motivated phenomena or behaviour.
Magik... supernatural power over natural forces.
Hmm, a self-reviewing album title. Like the four elements (earth, wind, fire, and water), the title of this album perfectly encompasses all that lies within it.
The blood speaks to the power of the funk; a force that (as George Clinton says) not only moves, but removes. The tight syncopated grooves put forth by these musicians are definitely life enhancing. There was a period last year when this album stayed in my CD player for months and months. I'd never get tired of listening to it, or dancing to it, or mellowing out to it. Check out "Power of Equality", "If You Have to Ask", "Funky Monks", "Mellowship Slinky" and "Apache Rose Peacock" for real hardcore funk that moves from vivacious party jams, to laid back slow burning grooves.
The sugar speaks to the incredibly simple yet beautiful pop songs that ease into the mix every once in a while. "I Could Have Lied", "Breaking the Girl", and even the more uptempo "My Lovely Man" (about the late Chili guitarist Hillel Slovak) are great examples of this. And then of course there's "Under the Bridge", a song whose power is so awe-inspiring that I played it in my room over and over even at the height of its popularity (those who know of my iconoclastic tastes can testify that this is a remarkable feat). It ranks as one of my all-time favourite 'songs'.
The sex refers to the primal energies that flow through the entire album. The Chilis have said that their songs are formed through intense jam sessions, the four packed together in a darkened room and playing together until they reach a Zen-like state. They have this innate power to tap into that collective sexual energy (conception) and produce something new and beautiful (birth). I can't think of anything more sexual than that.
The magik refers to the interplay between John Frusciante (guitar) and Flea (bass). I've always thought that when I reach the Pearly Gates, I'd like to look off to one side and see John and Flea, shirtless, standing face-to-face, holding guitars and looking into each other's eyes. They'd be playing the most beautiful and soulful and satisfying and magical tune that my ears have ever heard. They have a great musical partnership. It saddened me deeply when I first heard that John had left the group (especially since I was just about to seem them live for the first time; I'm ecstatic he's back). He and Flea, two musicians who are fantastic on their own, form a tandem that I can listen to for hours.
This album has been a constant for me over the last nine years. It is safe to say that it will always be on my top-5 desert island list. There is not a down moment over its seventy-plus minutes (except maybe the Robert Johnson cover of "They're Red Hot", which is a little too hardcore-punkish for my liking; but I can easily overlook that because it's barely a minute long). Enjoy...
Free Music Review: Coolness incarnated
Hit: 5 Stars
There's simply no other word for it. And 'cool' is not a word I like to use very often, but it's the only possible adjective that could ever describe this wonderful piece of music. 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' shows the Red Hot Chili Peppers at their very best, both in terms of commercial appeal and of artistic merit (although 'One Hot Minute' is argubly more sophisticated - but at times it can get almost inaudible). The Peppers' unique blend of funk, rap and hard rock is at its most coherent on this album, and while some might say they gave in to commercial pressure to make straight, mainstream rock ballads like 'I Could Have Lied' and the mega-hit 'Under The Bridge', those were very smartly balanced with cocky funk-metal pieces that go back to the band's roots.If 'Mother's Milk' left doubts in anybody's mind whether the band's new drummer and guitarist would be suitable replacements for the founding members Jack Irons and Hillel Slovak, 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' - the second release by the band's final line-up - killed them off, with a vengence. Instrumentally, the Peppers are at their best here (once again, 'One Hot Minute' is a close second and is also worth checking out). The very young John Frusciante is now a full-time member of the band and he puts his skillful, funky guitar to fantastic use, and Chad Smith gives a great beat (hear his great drumming on the title track). Other than that, master bassist Flea sounds better than ever, as does Anthony Kiedis's beautiful voice.
The songs are more varied than on any other RHCP album, and since there are no less than 17 of them I won't go through all of them, but I'll mention some remarkable ones worthy of notice. 'The Power Of Equality' is a fantastic, highly energetic funk/rap/rock bit with a spectacular bass and great guitar work, and makes for a great opening. 'If You Have To Ask' - with great backing vocals - 'Funky Monks', 'Naked In The Rain', 'Melloship Slinkey', 'The Righteous And The Wicked' and the hit 'Give It Away' are all great songs along similiar lines. John's guitar on 'Funky Monks' is really amazing. 'Sir Psycho Sexy' takes the rap-metal direction to its extremes with an epic 8+ minute poem with a cool beat and very explicit lyrics.
On the metal front we have the very cool 'Suck My Kiss' and the great, epic title track that has great vocals and great instrumental work from all members. There are also some great melodic pieces - 'Breaking The Girl', 'I Could Have Lied', and of course 'Under The Bridge'. Finally, as a little joke to finish the CD - in the fine tradition of the Beatles' 'Her Majesty' - we have a sped-up cover of Robert Johnson's classic 'They're Red Hot' - a song whose relevance is obvious, and its inclusion is a stroke of genius.
'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' is really an album everyone can enjoy. My grunge-friends like it, my jazz-friends like it, my rap-friends like it, even my classical-friends enjoyed it. It's just - say it again - so COOL. To hear this properly you need to have good speakers and a good stereo and the bass turned ALL THE WAY UP. You won't regret it.