Red Hot Chili Peppers Album: “Freaky Styley [PA] [Remaster]”

Before they were international superstars known for their soothing, mellow and soulful ballads, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were four poverty-stricken L.A punks making some of the funkiest music known to man. In the spirit of P-Funk recordings from the 70s, Freaky Styley is laden with springy bass lines, funkdafied guitar, and edgy, uneven drum grooves. Far from accessible, Freaky Styley is nonetheless an interesting, unique, and extremely original white-boy funk album.

The most intriguing prescence on the album would most certainly be guitarist Hillel Slovak, whose funky guitar dominates almost any track, lifting all of them to new heights. Tracks such as "Hollywood" and "Jungle Man" are guitar heavy, with super-charged funk-laden riffs that are as musically complex and interesting as much of John Frusciante's work. His noodling will no doubt be respected by listeners of all ages and backgrounds, even if it's not necessarily their kind of music. The virtuoso bassist Flea has some interesting pieces here as well, but don't be expecting any of his genius that comes through on Mother's Milk or BloodSugarSexMagik. He was surely one of the most talented bassists of the eighties, but he had yet to come into his own as a songwriter, as some of the basslines are repetitive and are consistently dominated by the outstanding guitar; Slovak and Flea are both extremely talented, but don't have the chemistry that the Frusciante-Flea team display.

Anthony Kiedis also had yet to become the lead singer he is today, his voice has very little range on this album, and his lyrics are seriously undeveloped. Tracks like "Catholic School Girls Rule" are fun, but will leave the listener wanting more after five songs in a row witht he same lyrical content. His charismatic and confident voice however, makes up for many of its shortcomings, and he definitely connects with the rest of the band. Cliff Martinez gives very strong work here as well, easily rivaling anything current drummer Chad Smith has done over the years.

If you've heard Californication and By the Way and are looking for some of the funkier Chili Peppers, I would suggest starting with BloodSugarSexMagik. If you enjoy tracks on that such as "Mellowship Slinky in B major" and "Sir Psycho Sexy," Freaky Styley would be a great second purchase. Drenched in L.A cool, it's a unique, funky and outright weird experience you won't soon forget.

Freaky Styley is without question not only the funkiest Red Hot Chili Peppers album, but also one of the best funk albums since the heyday of Parliament/Funkadelic. After getting mixed results with their self titled debut, the Chili Peppers stepped up their game musically thanks to the return of original member Hillel Slovak and the strong production by the godfather of funk, George Clinton. Every song is worth listening to, especially Jungle Man, The Brothers Cup, If You Want Me To Stay, and Catholic School Girls Rule. Freaky Styley doesn`t have the strong songs and production of the later albums, but it`s definitely a good old school album.

The early works of the RHCP blew my mind. I knew I was hooked before I listened to this cd. Now I'm absolutely sold.

The Chili Peppers' second album is best described by the amazing Flea himself.. `Too funky for white radio, too punk for black.'

What we have here is a very entertaining variety of off-kilter, and bizarre pieces of funky rock; but to give you my view on the Peppers in general, so to compare your personal opinion to mine, I think that 'Freaky Styley' 'Mothers Milk' 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' and 'Uplift Mofo Party' are the Chili Peppers most creative, and entertaining albums. This is the Chili Peppers before the extreme funk and experimentation was watered down by alternative and commercial influences. To me, this is more along the lines of what the Chili peppers should have remained.. but of course I am more into Primus and Tom Waits than anything alt pop.

The only downfall to this album is the sometimes immature lyrics. While I don't enjoy the later Peppers music all that much, I do think that they have really evolved lyrically. The production isn't so good either, wich may bother you, but I find it to add personality to this particular recording.

If you are looking for classic Chili Peppers radio hits, then look elsewhere. There is not a radio-friendly song on this album. If you are looking for something weird, funky, and fun, then I would say that you have found it..

These alternative rockers usually only dabble in funky

rhythms when they can but here on their George Clinton-produced

second album the Red Hot Chili Peppers swing into full funk

mode,complete with Clintonesqe arrangments,JB guiatrs and horns

and {cute} Isaac Hayes like raps.But don't let that make you think

this has high lyrical importance-it's just four young guys having

a good time-nothing more.But on tracks like "Jungle man",the hit

"Hollywood",the beat-heavy tital track,"Brothers Cup" and a big

handful of others this is one of the only 80's post-punk bands

who succeeded in releasing an album that NEVER takes it's eyes

off the one.