Red Hot Chili Peppers - One Hot Minute Review

Red Hot Chili Peppers One Hot Minute

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Tracklist:
1.Warped
2.Aeroplane
3.Deep Kick
4.My Friends
5.Coffee Shop
6.Pea
7.One Big Mob
8.Walkabout
9.Tearjerker
10.One Hot Minute
11.Falling Into Grace
12.Shallow Be Thy Game
13.Transcending

Release Date: 1995

user rating

3.4
great

Chart.

other reviews

(4)
...

Oddsen (4)
One Hot Minute is The Red Hot Chili Peppers most unusual album but still as interesting and funky as...

ImAround (4)
Overall, while the album is a step in a different direction from the usual Chili Pepper's sound, the...

Neoteric EMERITUS (3)
...

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3.5
great

USER (2 Reviews)

2005-09-26 | 82 comments | 8,513 views

6 of 7 thought this review was well written

When their guitarist John Frusciante left suddenly following the success of Blood Sugar Sex Magik the Chili Peppers were stumped. After playing with numerous acclaimed guitarists (including Arik Marshall of Weapon of Choice) they asked ex-Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro to join after he had previously turned them down along with GnR. Dave reluctantly agreed to join but it proved a mistake, Dave was a notorious drug user like Vocalist Anthony who was concentrating on becoming clean. Dave Navarro admitted he didn't like funk music and that he didn't even own a record by RHCP so things were bound to set off slowly. When this record was eventually completed a whole year after it was originally due to be released. In 1998 Dave announced that he'd had enough, but it is a mystery to whether he really quit or he was forced out by Flea and Anthony. With Dave out of the picture the future of the Chilis looked extremely bleak but after the death of original guitarist Hillel Slovak they proved they could survive anything. Shortly after Dave's departure it was announced that John Frusciante was once again a member if the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

RHCP:

Anthony Kiedis: Lead Vocals
Flea aka Mike Balzary: Bass/Vocals
Dave Navarro: Guitars
Chad Smith: Drums

Track by Track:

1. Warped: It is clear from this opening song that this was not going to be anything like BSSM. The song is introduced with some rumbling bass and multitracked vocals until the track ignites with pounding drumming and layered guitars. The track is very dark and the lyrics are clearly about pain and drug use, this is like nothing else the Chilis have done before. The chorus leaves Anthony wailing and Dave’s guitars climbing over the top. Whatever the track leaves you feeling about this new sound this Chilis have adopted it is an album highlight. 4/5

2. Aeroplane: A strange track apparently based on gospel music-don't ask why I can find no connection. The verses are based heavily on Flea's slap basslines giving a vibe of deep funk music. The chorus is made of a simple melody sung by some children which really annoys me. Dave’s guitars run along with the chorus jangling slightly. Anthony doesn't provide a great performance as his vocals fail to make fluently like on previous albums it does the track no favours. 3.5/5

3. Deep Kick: We are introduced with some bass playing which is accompanied by Anthony giving a running commentary on his and Flea's childhood. At this point it is very tempting to skip onto the next track until the track explodes with heavy wah-wah from Dave and chanting from both Anthony and Flea. Once we are underway the track jerks around with classic rapping from Anthony with Flea singing the Chorus and providing some abnormal backing vocals. Dave’s guitar squeaks in and out of the track and generally destroys much of the track. At the end Flea recalls an incident from 10 years back involving them getting into trouble but he also quotes the Butthole Surfers: “it’s better to regret something you did than something you didn't do." Wise words I wonder if applies to appointing Dave as their guitarist. 3/5

4. My Friends: Probably the most well known song off the album, Dave introduces with a country style strumming sequence with Anthony singing once again about love and friendship. Quite a sad track involving past unlawful abiding girlfriends and depressed friends. Dave provides a nice guitar solo but this is far from their best. 4/5

5. Coffee Shop: This is a rather unusual track which I enjoy listening to. Dave provides loads of guitar FX beside Anthony’s abnormal vocals. The chorus is pretty impressive suggesting that we should dance like Iggy Pop, now that'd be fun! Flea give off some solid bass work with a great solo near the end which is one of the track's best moments. Although musically impressive the lyrics are not particularly good bearing in mind Anthony wrote the very creative lyrics to Sir Psycho Sexy. 4/5

6. Pea: A solo from Flea singing about him being beaten up because of his size. He clearly states his anger against Rednecks and dickheads alike. This song if nothing else may provide you with a brief laugh because of his good use of abusive language. NOT RATED.

7. One Big Mob: This sounds like it should be off The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. There is increased chanting definitely reminding us that they haven't forgotten their days of old. This track would probably be the best on the album, Anthony sings brilliantly with his vocals in full flow and their is a groovy bassline accompanied by some intensely funky drumming, but then we hit a brick wall. The track loses all sense of purpose when it all calms down with some uninspired singing and with a baby crying now and again which is so bloody irritating! We eventually come back to the original tempo and rambling vocals but even that can't stop the "Baby" interlude ruining the track. 3.5/5

8. Walkabout: Groovy but very boring, this song has no personality apart from overused liquid wah-wah FX and vocals that certainly don't suit Anthony. This song is dull and offers nothing of interest apart from a nice bassline but very little else. This is a track that this album could've done without. Yawn! 2.5/5

9. Tearjerker: A ballad based around the death of Kurt Cobain, this track moves slowly and lets Anthony reveal his honesty about himself and his troubles. Anthony met Kurt ("sitting backstage in a dress") when they toured together with Nirvana as their supporting act, this track is deeply depressing but does allows a period of connection with Anthony. Generally quite average. 3/5

10. One Hot Minute: And we come to the title track which painted with Guitar FX giving a dark and dense feeling. Not really an obvious title track to be honest it shows clearly that this band has changed from BSSM this is something they wouldn't of dreamt of writing with John. One of the most heavy tracks on the album but it gives Chad a chance to smash the *** into his drums at least, and some experimenting to be done especially with endings. Even if this track is not something to be associated with the Chili Peppers it's one I'm quite fond of. 4/5

11. Falling into Grace: Mid tempo Funk with some bizarre noises being made alongside the vocals. The track is not very impressive, even the bass is annoying and I love Flea! This track is thick with groovy vibes and some abnormal instrument combinations with what sound like some form of sitar. The track gets increasingly irritating when it sounds like Anthony and the female vocalist are making spastic groans. 3/5

12. Shallow Be Thy Game: My favourite on the album although it does sound like something by Jane's Addiction (without Perry Farrell). Dave plays some heavy funk mixed with JA licks. The lyrics are impressive and Anthony delivers them expertly and it gives the track great character. There is some furious drumming and aggressive bass playing which emphasises the powerful funkadelic atmosphere of the track. Very enjoyable. 5/5

13. Transcending: The first part of this song is a soft elegant tribute to Flea's deceased friend River Phoenix. This track is kept relatively simple but does become quite plain until the track leaps into the second half with Anthony howling and some screeching guitar work by Dave. This half is far from the starting half and potentially irrelevant. The track develops into more rumbling bass until it sets off again with Anthony shouting but his voice is melted in FX.

Overall an average album but worth buying for a few quid because it is an interesting listen and gives an inside look at what life was like in the RHCP camp with Dave Navarro in the band. It's not as bad as people make it out to be and sets the stage for the amazing Californication.

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