This Red Hot album is a must for any fan of the Chili Peppers! (Greatest Hits - Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Member Name: katykicker

Product:	Greatest Hits - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Date:	15/05/09 (41 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Amazing variety of different styles.

Disadvantages: A couple of average songs.

After hearing a Red Hot Chili Peppers song (herein referred to as RHCP) on the radio a year or so ago I suddenly realised that I don't own any of their material and decided I must hunt down at least one or two albums that I love to add to my collection. One of my choices was this, their greatest hits, as I thought it would be great to have quite a few amazing songs on one album that I could listen to when I desperately wanted some feel good music to blare out.

Throughout this review I have provided background history, chart information, my personal opinion on each song as well as a rating out of 5. This style of review writing may not be to everybody's taste but this is how I have chosen to do my review. Also, some of the information within this review may have come from Wikipedia and you may visit Wikipedia for further information on RHCP here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hot_Chili_Pepper s.

For the main part the RHCP have been made up of Anthony Kiedis (Vocalist), John Frusciante (Guitarist), Michael "Flea" Balzary (Bassist) & Chad Smith (Drummer) and they have been around since 1983 after being formed in Los Angeles, California.

This album was released on November 18th 2003 by Warner Bros. Records.

1. Under The Bridge

This song was released in 1992 and reached number 26 in the UK charts.

It begins with a very simple guitar and is a suitable start to the album with Kiedis' voice harmonising perfectly with the gentle calming start of the song. After a couple of verses and choruses there is a key change and the bass comes in, shortly followed by the drums and the song takes on a whole new level. Under The Bridge is where Kiedis' struggled with drugs and almost took his own life. It's very easy song to sing along to and one that I thoroughly enjoy.

This is one of the first songs by RHCP that I ever heard being quite a young child myself back then (around 5 or 6) and it's a song that I will forever adore enjoying.

Rating: 4/5

2. Give It Away

This song was released in 1991 and reached number 9 in the UK charts.

Give It Away is a fast paced song that starts with a fantastic drum beat and then the guitar joins in followed by Kiedis' fast paced lyrics which speak of selflessness and learning to give things away in order to make your own life more fulfilling. What a fantastic philosophy!

This song gave RHCP their first top 10 single in the UK but it's not really my cup of tea. I will sit and sing along to the few words that I do know (mainly the chorus) but I wouldn't choose this song over any other on the album.

Rating: 2/5

3. Californication

This song was released in 2000 and reached number 16 in the UK charts.

Californication is quite a sombre song that speaks of the darker side of life, Hollywood living in particular, and how the Western Society is seen to be in decline. The lyrics are very deep and speak of lots of subject relevant to the current day. The verses build in to a fantastic crescendo toward the chorus and it's one of my favourite RHCP songs as the lyrics are just fantastic and I love the way that once the chorus is over and the next verse continues that the song just slows back down.

Rating: 4/5

4. Scar Tissue

This song was released in 1999 and reached number 15 in the UK charts.

Scar Tissue is a very mellow song with some fantastic guitar solos and talks about learning to be reborn and gives me a real feeling of change within the group. It was recorded after Frusciante (Guitarist) rejoined the band after a long and well documented battle with drugs that almost ended in his death. In this song Frusciante is really showing that he is back and better than ever. The guitar solos really are my favourite part of this song by far but overall I don't rate this song very highly as it just doesn't have enough of that RHCP sound that I adore so much.

Rating: 3/5

5. Soul To Squeeze

This song was released in the US only in 1993 after being released as a B side to "Under The Bridge", it was a surprising success when released alone charting at 22 in the "Hot 100".

This is a fairly laid back song with that great RHCP beat in the background that Chad plays so well on the drums. Within this song you will hear about depression, insanity, drug withdrawal and having love from those around you to help you make it through. I adore the lyrics, even if a little strange at times, and Kiedis' voice is just amazing on this song. He has slowed right down compared to other tracks and Frusciante is really apparent throughout this song on his guitar.

Rating: 4/5

6. Otherside

This song was released in 2000 in the US only and reached number 14.

The constant guitar and the latter joining bass & drums helps Kiedis' to get across his lyrics just fantastic. How long will he continue to slide in this grip of drug addiction? This song takes on several very different beats and tunes and I think this describes the variety of emotions that must have been experienced at the time of Kiedis' well documented battle with addiction.

The song has a fantastic beat continuously and is another firm favourite of mine.

Rating: 5/5

7. Suck My Kiss

This song was released in Australia only and reached number 8.

Fast paced from the off with lots of experimental sounds here for the band and we are back to Kiedis' fast paced lyrics here. A very funky sound that's got me rocking in my seat within just 5 seconds of the song beginning. Lyrics about not really caring and being untouchable. Perhaps this is describing how life feels when you're in the grip of an addiction and believe that you are invincible.

Rating: 3/5

8. By The Way

This song was released in America only in 2002 and reached number 1 in the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Kiedis' is in perfect harmony with the key changes on the guitar from the off with this song and then they are joined by drums and for a split second I am almost convinced that the song is going to be calming before everything crashes in together and Kiedis' usual fast paced style is back along with some rather unusual lyrics (half of which I can't understand) and here you will again hear of a girl named Dani who was the 'teenage bridge with a baby inside' on Californication and the subject of the song "Dani California".

Rating: 4/5

9. Parallel Universe

This song was never actually released but still charted at number 37 in the Modern Rock Charts in the US.

Parallel Universe is far removed from most of the other material by RHCP and is extremely loud throughout. The lyrics are deep & dark and Kiedis' has subdued vocals throughout this song but I'm afraid that this song really does nothing for me.

Rating: 1/5

10. Breaking The Girl

This song was released in 1992 and reached number 41 in the UK charts.

Breaking The Girl is drawn from experience by Kiedis' of splitting with his girlfriend shortly before recording an album and he seems to be attempting to screech his heart out on this song. Parts of it are almost painful to listen to but the background of the song is amazing with beautiful noises which are rather unusual and making use of some very novel items from a junkyard and this song is one of only 2 songs recorded in the 6/8 time signature which gives it a very different feel to other songs on this compilation and when compared to most of the other material that RHCP have recorded over the years.

Rating: 3/5

11. My Friends

This song was released in the USA only and reached number 1 in the Hot Modern Rock Charts.

My Friends is quite a moody song from the band and was recorded when "Flea" was going through his 1st divorce and Kiedis' wanted to convey a message to his friends and loved ones that they were indeed still loved even though they were feeling 'depressed and distressed' at how life was mapping out for the band at the time. It has come fantastic music to it and is one of my firm favourites from this album along with a couple of others.

Rating: 4/5

12. Higher Ground

Higher Ground is a cover of a Stevie Wonder song that the band recorded in 1989 and has never charted anywhere.

This song has a very rocky feel to it and is definitely one that is best when performed live by the RHCP. It is a fantastic cover of the original song and makes me want to rock out and throw around my imaginary air guitar! It has a very anthem-esque part in the chorus which crowds seem to adore singing along to when the RHCP perform live.

Rating: 4/5

13. Universally Speaking

This song was released in 2002 and reached number 27 in the UK charts.

Universally Speaking is an extremely upbeat song and probably one of the most instantly recognisable RHCP song of recent years (certainly in the UK at least). It has a fantastic drum beat throughout that is paired beautiful with the guitar and it is one that I thoroughly enjoy.

Rating: 4/5

14. Road Trippin'

This song was released in 2000 but I am not able to find a record of where this charted (sorry!).

Road Trippin' is by far my favourite song, it's mellow & adorable. It does not contain any drums either and talks about Kiedis, Frusciante & "Flea" going on a road trip together after Frusciante returned to the band. It talks of friends and their journey and there is just something magical about this song. It's talking about a fairly simple subject really but the lyrics seem to touch me in a way that not many songs can.

Rating: 5/5

15. Fortune Faded

This song was released in 2003 and reached number 28 in the UK charts.

Fortune Faded was re-recorded for this Greatest Hits album as the band were not happy with the sound of it on the "By The Way" album and it's definitely the better version of the song. It has a funky sound to it with everything coming together perfectly and even though I don't know many of the words at all I thoroughly enjoy either humming along whilst tapping my foot or full on rocking out and just inventing my own lyrics!

Rating: 4/5

16. Save The Population

This is a previously unreleased song by RHCP and was included on the album as one of two new songs (the other being Fortune Faded which was then released).

Save The Population has a very summery vibe to it and has fantastic lyrics. Kiedis' voice is strong & powerful on this song whilst conveying the very random message that he wants to get across.

Rating: 4/5

This compilation is fantastic and full of some real classic RHCP songs and it also has a couple of not so fantastic songs but I won't dwell on those because overall this compilation is a cracker. The songs on this 'Greatest Hits' are definitely some of the best material that RHCP have ever released. There should be something here for everybody and I have just spent the last couple of hours listening to it whilst updating this review slightly. It is a mood lifting compilation that I could happily listen to time and time again whilst always discovering something new within any one of the songs and never tiring of it.

Summary: An amazing compilation by The Red Hot Chili Peppers that shows you who they are.