Yes, yes
It IS a subject which has been addressed at least a handful of times, but I feel no one is really getting into the pulp of the problem.
Just a quick recap to give some context of where we as Chili fans currently stand.
Its been 24 years since the Chili's man-handled their way onto the scene, with their exciting-yet-misfiring self-titled debut. Granted, part of the reason that album misfired a little was due to 2 of the original members not being present. Ok, so a couple years passed and original guitarist Slovak returned to the fray, they hook up with George Clinton to release their second album aaaaannnd....its better. Still inconsistent, but a definite improvement; still Jack Irons (original RHCP drummer) is not involved in any of the recordings.
So we progress to 1987, the release is "Uplift Mofo Party Plan"; which REMAINS one of their BEST albums ever. Uptempo punk with a swing, punctuated with funk riffs, some blistering guitar work from Slovak and relentless bass grooves from Flea.
here, their economy of delivering material had improved; they began to harness the qualities of their energetic live shows with their obvious musical dexterity played with extreme PASSION. You could really FEEL this record.
Sadly, a year later guitarist Slovak would pass away, paying the ultimate price for over-indulging in heavy narcotics. This left all band-members disconsolate; eventually resulting in Jack Irons leaving the band as he "couldnt see this shit happen to my best friends".
Remaining Peppers' Kiedis and Flea considered calling time on the band, but thankfully decided against it; as the band would release 2 landmark albums in the 3 years to follow.
A young Frusciante was recruited, adding a new dimension to the band with his songwriting ability as well as his multi-faceted guitar stylings. Chad Smith was recommended for the drum stool by a friend of the Peppers, who said "he eats drums for breakfast". nice.
1989 saw the release of the jubilant and aggressive "Mother's Milk"; where the Chilis began incorporating more melodic ideas than ever before, while retaining their hard sound and funk-inflected playing. It contains some of the band's best material, such as "Stone Cold Bush", "Taste The Pain" and "Subway to Venus".
Well, by now everyone knows what came next. the one they wont stop talking about, Blood Sugar Sex Magik.
It kind of goes without saying that this is a ridiculously good album; again containing some of the funkiest tracks laid down by the Chilis ("If You Have To Ask" and "Mellowship Slinky in B Major" should serve as good examples) along with the politicised element of things (Power of Equality), and another turn to the more traditional forms of melody and harmony (Under The Bridge, I Could Have Lied).
So then came the second bout of bad luck, Frusicante quits the band at the apparent peak of their powers; claiming to be at odds with the spirits in his realm. He begins a 6 year addiction to Cocaine and Heroin, mostly administered intravenously. Dark.
The Chili's remain in limbo for a while before adding Dave Navarro (previously of the mercurial Jane's Addiction) to the lineup; doing shows and releasing "One Hot Minute"; which remains the MOST UNDERRATED Chili's album, bar none.
This album is probably largely ignored due to the difference in approach from the previous albums. Its darker, more psychedelic, heavier and infused with a sense of melancholy; even on the expertly crafted "Aeroplane". These qualities are mainly attributed to Navarro's presence on guitar and his infatuation with progressive rock and ethereal sounds.
Granted it does have its weaker moments, on songs such as "One Big Mob" "Tearjerker" and "Falling Into Grace"; but its strong points far outweigh the downsides.
If you havent heard this just cause it doesnt have Frusciante on guitar, dont be a dick; go get a copy of this album somehow and enjoy the PASSION of delivery.
Yeah, yeah from here on I bet you all know the story, Navarro's out after "only" helping sell 5 mil of OHM and creative differences; Frusicante CHECKS HIMSELF INTO REHAB AND QUITS COLD TURKEY.
That man has had an interesting life, never heard of someone go into such a heavy drug addiction and decide exactly when to come out, no problems with relapses. He clearly feels that it was a valuable period in his life. All heroin and cocaine users should be so lucky as him to have such epiphanies!
So, the original Chilis are back together, everyone is off the drugs aaaaaand Californication.
Pretty damn good actually. kind of a more half and half effort; with the first 8 tracks and a couple of the latter ones being really well executed, but with a definite pop sensibility.
The rest of the material is where the analysis of the Chili's downward spiral can begin.
The funkier tracks on this album are veeerrrry suspect.
"Purple Stain"...its a blemish on the album : the funk in it doesnt seem to be coming from the same exciting place it did in Mothers Milk or Uplift Mofo. It seems to be fabricated and somewhat sterile...I wanst best pleased. Given that this is a 15 track album, Id say 6 tracks could have been eradicated to make it an even bigger classic than it has become.
But wait, the Chili's would plunge lower still!
Apparently, at this time, Flea wanted to bust out some dirty funk grooves but Frusciante wanted to explore mellow guitar parts and "people with good chords, you know, like Johnny Marr".
While the potential for Smiths style chords combined with Frusciante's expertise was a tantalizing idea; it did not work so well in practice. Frusicante's vision not materializing (probably due to the friction between his and Flea's desire of what to play) effectively along with Kiedis's totally abandoned rapping, replaced by a barely passable excuse for singing; a terrible aesthetic decision given his often intelligent wordplay (which is more suited to his quirky rapping style).
By The Way is released in 2002.
It is bland, uneventful and lacks the gusto which I (and im sure many others) came to love the Chilis for. Sure, since this new audience has developed after the release of Californication, it catered to their simplistic, uninqusitive mindsets; but what about those of us who were cheering the Chili's in the early and mid 90's? Where have our funky patrons of mayhem disappeared to? What is this watered down approach?
Hmmm, cue a period of boycotting the Chili's music, waiting as each year passed with people still playing that fucking album....
2006 : Stadium Arcadium.
Its a double LP.....a time-tested sign of the last hurrah before a band implodes or goes off to become actors....or some other bullshit.
But wait, its actually BETTER than either Californication or By The Way (though beating BTW is not difficult). Its just a damn shame there is 28 songs. Shoulda really been about 17 or 18 either compressed onto one really good album or a pretty decent double album.
Still, It produces (for me) some of the best Chilis tracks EVER. (She's Only 18, Readymade & Hey) They continue to tour for this album, slowly pulling out more and more of the great tracks from their past work to keep us early-chilios happy.
What does all this mean? Well, it could suggest the band taking a step back into the "right" direction; or what many of us feel we want to hear from the Chilis : That great swagger, the bursting passion, that overt energy and absolute LOVE for making funky, hard rocking fucking music. Forget the haters lambasting the Chilis as some "white funk band" (theyve been hating for years)/ The Chilis are for REAL, or at least they certainly used to be.
Dont get me wrong, the new record's major plusses are that Frusicante is going for it (though he still has WAY more in his arsenal) and that Chad Smith is actually stomping some sick drum tracks on this album; something that neither have done in a while, so fingers crossed that continues. However, those two upsides are countered by the massive downsides : The unacceptable understatement of Flea and Kiedis continuing to sing...
It is important to remember that this decline we (the old heads) interpret is simultaneously created a new fanbase for the Chilis (after a lengthy hiatus during which a new generation got slightly older, don't forget), created by the material on Californication and By The Way; and they have to cater to that too I suppose...*fills with lament*
Hmmm... Some would say 'fuck catering to people', right? I mean, make it cause you wanna make it! Well...its not quite that simple.
But then, when they started out, they kicked ass, were funky as hell and didnt give a FUCK what anyone thought. Now it seems they are stuck between trying to please old fans who YEARN for that funky, hard, passionate shit; and the new fans who want the Chilis that can literally crap out hits.
Plus, we have to keep in mind many years have passed and they have been through a lot of shit in the 2 and a half decades they have been in the game (NOT MANY LAST ANYWHERE NEAR THAT LONG, LET ALONE BECOME HOUSEHOLD NAMES), and as Chad Smith accurately says in his ever-honset and forthright aire, "If you wanna hear those kind of tunes, go put on that record!".
Bands priorites change, their tastes change, cirumstances, etc. etc.
I get myself needlessly angry listening to the older Chilis albums I love so much, seeing as I feel they will never make that style of music again, where they were at their creative apex (which also happened to include a lot of conflict); but there is no need for me to.
All I can do is play Uplift Mofo Party Plan at Max Volume on my stereo, jumping around like a nut and hope that they do keep the funk from the SOUL; and that the next album is shorter (Many of you will know that Antony Kiedis has said it will be a 10-track-hit-em-&-quit-em style affair...some will not...) and more PASSIONATE in its delivery, with Flea, Frusciante and Smith at the CORE of the tunes.
Love, Peace & Clean Sheets.
"You can find him at the pub with the grub stain, chuggin' on a small tub of pain to his bugged brain" - King MF DOOM
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