Cocks In Socks Rock (Greatest Hits - Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Member Name: utero

Product:	Greatest Hits - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Date:	24/11/03 (902 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Songs, Good for passive listeners, Great DVD

Disadvantages: None really

When asked what his favourite Beatles album was, Alan Partridge exclaimed it was "The Best of the Beatles". Greatest hits or best of albums are a strange thing. Most of the time they are released when a band splits or when they've reached a pinnacle of success and feel it time to move in a different direction. Of course they are also money-spinners and ideal buys for those who like some of the bands songs but wouldn't buy the albums. Of course fans will already have the albums and there is normally little point in them buying these kinds of releases unless they're completely die-hard. So it's strange to see a Greatest Hits package by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. After all they're probably in the midst of their biggest success right now.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers were started in 1983 but it wasn't until the turn of the ninties when they found success. Blood Sugar Sex Magik shifted a lot of copies worldwide perhaps due in part to the grunge phenomenon but also because it was a great album with some great singles that good MTV play.

This album kicks off with one of the Chili's most famous songs. 'Under The Bridge' has been covered since it's release but nothing tops the original. It?s a haunting song about drugs that sucks you before lifting higher with a full on choir. 'Give It Away' is the typical Chili's sound and also one of their best songs. It features a great guitar hook and bass line.

'Californication' is the title song from one of the recent albums. You'd recoginse it from its innovative video game style video. It's another soulful rock tune about California, show business and Hollywood. 'Scar Tissue' is one of the best tracks on this album. Again it's a more soulful sound far from the likes of 'Give It Away'. You can't help but like the mood of the song.

'Soul To Squeeze' is an early track from the nineties and one th
at perhaps isn't well known by most people. It's perhaps not as refined as some of the slower songs on Californication but it doesn't hint at the general sound of Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

'Otherside' is another from the Californication album. Again it's a more sombre sound that perhaps recent output; again it's more soulful and this time a bit more darker. However things change with 'Suck My Kiss' from the BSSM album. This from the outset is a far rockier affair with thumping drums, rumbling bass and general funk.

'By The Way' is the title track of the Chili's last album that still seems quite recent even though it was released last year. It's a thundering rock track with direct lyrics in it's verses while the chorus is more delicate. Meanwhile 'Parallel Universe' is another from the successful Californication album. It's a far more rockier affair than the other tracks you?ll find on that album although I'm not too sure about it being a 'hit'.

'Breaking The Girl' from the BSSM album is another one of the standout tracks on this collection and it?s original album. Starting with some striking acoustic guitar it slowly builds and builds before descending into some complete madness. Alternatively the next track should bring you back down to earth. 'My Friends' is a single from the 'One Hot Minute Album', this album wasn't as big as other albums but this is one of my favourite Chili songs. It's a well-crafted musical number with stunning lyrics and it's something I can listen to over and over. Again I don't think it was a big hit at least in the UK but that?s too bad.

'Higher Ground' is a 1989 cover of the Stevie Wonder song. It's a rawer and early Chili's sound but this is probably the lowpoint of this collection because in all honesty it's not one of those songs that you can really cover in a roc
k style.

'Universally Speaking' is one of the most recent singles release in the UK. Again this is not really a rockier track but more soulful but this time very upbeat. It's probably the closest you'll get to a love song by the band. 'Road Trippin' is another one of my favourites, it's a great acoustic number with purely bass and guitar and some refined strings. It's a warm sounding track and like 'My Friends' it's one I can listen to over and over.

'Fortune Faded' is the new single for this release; it's a good song that slowly grows on you with its simplicity. Soon you?ll have the chorus on your brain, it?s by no means that best song on the collection but it's still great. 'Save The Population' is another new track but you'd be forgiven for thinking it was earlier material. It does sound a bit like a B-Side but again it's not bad.

Now if you haven't any Red Hot Chili Peppers albums then this is an essential purchase as it reflects the majority of the best output since the nineties. 'Greatest Hits' is a just a common term. Like I've said some of the tracks on this release weren't hits in the UK but then that doesn't matter. If you have the previous albums that feature these tracks then this probably isn't going to be top of your wishlist. That was the case with me but however there is a limited edition release that is well worth it.

For passive listeners there is the music only release however there is also a release that features a DVD disc. This is what prompted me to buy this as it features all the music videos to the tracks as well as recent videos such as 'Can?t Stop' and 'The Zephyr Song'. Not only that but the DVD also features making of footage, commentaries and general footage of the band. It's incredible value for the extra few quid and certainly could have been a DVD that they could have released
on it's own. However it's inclusion makes it an essential purchase for everyone.

Summary: