The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Freaky Styley [Bonus Tracks] (CD)

All Music Guide

Long before the Red Hot Chili Peppers became alternative rock darlings via tearjerking ballads, they were firmly rooted in pure, uncut funk. Of course, their stint as a funk band extended for a very short time, from their inception (showcased on their formative selftitled debut) to their more stylistically varied guitarorientated efforts (hinted at on Uplift Mofo and fully realized on Mother's Milk). Of this short era before Anthony Kiedis decided to take a more poetic approach to songwriting, and before Hillel Slovak's unfortunate death, Freaky Styley stands as the group's masterpiece. Here, the Peppers seem fully in control of their vision to be accessible successors to '70s PFunk, laying down a varied collection of quirky songs propelled by Flea's omnipresent bass riffs and Slovak's restrained efforts. Above all, though, much of this album's success from all angles goes to producer George Clinton, perhaps the most inspiring individual the Peppers could have worked with at this point... in their career. Freaky Styley is the mid'80s album that Clinton could never make on his own. Where Clinton's '80s albums seemed infused with the right ideas, he never had the seemingly limitless energy that the Peppers employ here. Above all, the Peppers' stunning rendition of Sly Stone's "If You Want Me to Stay" is a testament to just how funky the Peppers were at this point, even if it doesn't quite have the original's soul. Other notable moments include "Jungle Man" and "American Ghost Dance," two tight funk numbers with wonderful choruses. This album probably won't appeal to those weaned on "Under the Bridge" or "Scar Tissue," but it's undeniably a somewhat forgotten cult favorite, particularly to those infatuated with the group's shortlived Slovak era, the group's zenith in terms of quirkiness and funkiness. [Capitol's 2003 reissues of RHCP's early albums appended previously unreleased and other bonus materials.] - Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide Read more Less