Greatest Hits [Explicit]

I forgot how much I like their music and all of their big ones are on this CD. I love it! My mom even loves it.

Anthony Kiedis has one of the most melodic voices in music. Flea is one of the best Bass players today. From true life tales about drug abuse like in "Under the bridge" to non sensical jam sessions the Peppers fuse rock, soul, r & B, and hip hop into their own magic. This collection of greatest hits plus 2 brand new songs high light what us peppers fan have known for a long time these guys rock. If you are a peppers fan you must have this. If you are a fan of good music you must have this. 5 stars

The Red Hot Chili Peppers hit their commercial stride after switching record labels (from Capitol to Warners) in 1991. They had been struggling with capitol's general indifference (I remember hearing the Peppers on K-Roq in Los Angeles blasting their former label as "Blood Sugar Sex Magic" was about to be released) and a lack of commercial success, when their fortunes changed with "Under The Bridge."

Suddenly the Red Hot Chili Peppers were everywhere. They have had an amazing run with the WB, and that is what this CD represents. (Exception: "Higher Ground," the Stevie Wonder cover from the album "Mother's Milk.") It is also where the really hit their stride as artists. Rick Rubin lassoed their energy for BSSM, and those funk/rock hybrids like "Give It Away" and "Suck My Kiss" promptly reshaped the musical landscape. Flea became the bassist everyone wanted to sound like and Antony Kiedis became a sex symbol. This mammoth success was tempered by loss ("Under The Bridge" is an eulogy for heroin casualty Hillel Slovak and then super-guitarist John Frusciante went on hiatus) and the less than well received "One Hot Minute" reflected that. Navarro's psychedelic style didn't gel the way Frusciante's aggressive funk did, and the album reflected that. Only "My Friends" appears from the Dave Navarro era. ("Warped" and "Aeroplane" would have been nice here, though.)

But John rejoined for "Californication," which remains my favorite RHCP album. It must be pretty high on the band's list as well, since five songs from that CD made it to this best of. "Otherside" and "Scar Tissue" rate with the band's most melodic songs. "By The Way" continued in that vein, with energized rock workouts like "Universally Speaking" matching mid-tempo goodies like the title track.

Of the new songs, "Fortune Faded" is the best of the two. You also get the soundtrack cut "Soul To Squeeze," saving it from "Coneheads" soundtrack obscurity. (But why no "Love Rollercoaster?")

There are several key tracks missing, like "Love Rollercoaster" and anything else from "One Hot Minute." "The Zephyr Song" from "By The Way" could have made an appearance. If you really want to dig deeper, the "What Hits" collection covers the band's wilder years prior to BSSM. I can also say that most of the albums from this period are everybit as good as their individual songs would suggest, and you could easily get those instead of "Greatest Hits."

If you love the Red Hot Chili Peppers, you must add this to your collection

a great album, all of there best songs to rock out to. the only song i think that there misssing is the zephyr song, but othere than that this cd rocks!