A Thinking Reed

"Man is but a reed, the most feeble thing in nature, but he is a thinking reed" – Blaise Pascal

Flea, we hardly knew ye


I used to really love the Red Hot Chili Peppers. At one time I would’ve put them among my top three favorite bands. Unfortunately, ever since the disastrous One Hot Minute – disastrous despite the promising addition of former Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro – they’ve pretty much been going downhill into middle-of-the-road, radio-friendly “alterna” pop. (Californication was actually pretty good, but not up to their past standards.)

Now they’ve run afoul of the VI iron law of the double album, and from the sounds of things the results are pretty much what you’d expect.

Maybe we need mandatory term limits for rock stars?

3 responses to “Flea, we hardly knew ye”

  1. Kellen Plaxco

    Dude, I must respectfully disagree.

    My soon-to-be wife picked up the album and its been in my car stereo for seven straight days. Can’t stop listening to “Jupiter,” especially the tail-end of track 13 (“Wet Sand”). The band has a great groove and a tight pocket on these discs, despite the fact that there are probably a couple or three that could have stayed on the cutting room floor.

    I highly recommend it, though, and it gets better with a few listens.

    Pax!

    – kp –

    Reply
  2. Lee

    Hmm. I may have to reconsider. I actually think Californication got better after a few listens, so you might be on to something.

    I was so hopeful when John F. returned to the band, but I guess you can’t just remake Mother’s Milk and Blood, Sugar… indefinitely. Maybe I’ll check it out after all.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Joshie

    Maybe their career has had such an impact on rock that they’ve pretty much put themselves out of business, kinda like the Stones.

    Reply

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