Amazon.co.uk Review: Greatest Hits attempts to sum up the history of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but its focus is firmly in the second half of their career. Early on, in the late 1980s, the Chili Peppers were an LA band who played a unique fusion of punk and funk--four guys, united by a love of partying and playing music. But they had a problem: although they were developing an underground following, nobody was buying their albums. Their first three albums failed to set the charts on fire, though they finally had a bit of a breakthrough with 1989's Mother's Milk. It wasn't enough--their label, EMI, dropped them.
EMI's A&R department must be kicking themselves now because the Red Hot Chili Peppers have since gone on to become one of the most popular bands in the world. Their next album. Blood Sugar Sex Magik, was a massive, worldwide hit, containing such huge singles as "Give It Away" and "Under the Bridge". It's follow-up One Hot Minute was frankly a bit poor, but it hardly stalled their upward trajectory. These funky punks had matured and they found a whole new audience on albums such as Californication and By the Way. On them, there's the perfect marriage of playful innuendo, blistering musicianship (Flea is--quite rightly--considered one of the finest bassists in rock) and thoughtful songwriting. Greatest Hits focuses on these later years of the Chili Peppers' career (only the Stevie Wonder cover "Higher Ground" predates Blood Sugar…). It may not please all of their fans, but it's certainly a great starting point for the casual listener. --Robert Burrow
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Good album
As this is a greatest hits album I knew what I was getting before I bought it so obviously there was no disappointment there. The songs that are on it are great, some of my favourites.
But personally there are so many more songs that I would have liked to be on there. I don't know if the answer is a double album or replacing some of the songs on this album.
It's still a good album though.
Rating: - No good at all
This album is so terrible. Infact the tracks were so terrible I sent mine back. If you want to listen to proper music, listen to REM and THE BEATLES.
Rating: - 3.5 Stars, an album of 2 halves..........
Admittedly, I am not a hardened Chilli's fan, and really only know them from their hits. As such, this album is a perfect introduction to them, although the album only takes us up to 2004.
Of the 16 tracks, I would say about 6 are classics, 5 are very good, and 5 are ok; most of the good tracks are crammed in at the begiining, with 'Under the Bridge','Give it Away', and 'Californication' as strong as opening to an album as you'll find anywhere.
The Chilli's give you what you expect, a ... Read More
Rating: - The Best Of...
Yep, this album has all the greatest hits from 1991-2002 (apart from Higher Ground [1989] which is in there for legal reasons), and what a fantastic selection. I don't think there are any duff tracks and you even get two previously unreleased songs. If you have'nt heard the Chilis before, this is a perfect place to start.
To clarify the last reviewer's comment about suitability, it has a parental advisory sticker for strong language and adult lyrics.
Rating: - red hot chilli peppers
This greatest hits album includes all of the best and greatest hits the Red Hot Chilli Peppers have ever made, this means their best songs.
Immediately when you slot in the album you will be instantly shocked by the quality of the singing and the skill of the guitar and base playing. Once I started listening to the first few tracks I felt instantly awakened and my ears were exposed to some of the best music I have ever heard.
Other than the quality of the music the lyrics ... Read More
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