csberry

For the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blood Sugar Sex Magik was a goal they had been making their way to for years. Their first few albums were exciting with energy and their blend of funk and punk. However, those albums were also rather chaotic. While Mother's Milk saw the band gelling in a way to record a more cohesive sound, the two major differences to me between Mother's Milk and BSSM is the way the guitar is mixed into the mix and their further embrace of "ballads." The shifting of the guitars to where it is not shoved right up to the front as if to reassure listeners that the Chilis are a rock band first and foremost allowed the band more flexibility on the dynamics of the song. Flea's bass lines sometimes partners equally with the guitar in driving the melody. That helps to make songs such as "Breaking the Girl" and "Under the Bridge" seem like a natural fit for the band and not some token attempt at an alternative power ballad.

So, the songs please the ears more and there is a greater variety and "wholeness" to the band's sound...so why have I felt so indifferent to the album these past few days. I think there is a similarity between this album and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, with over 70 minutes of music there is still a bit of sameness on some of the tracks. The last third of the album, in particular, just couldn't get my ears' attention for very long.

Songs I knew I liked: "Breaking the Girl," "Funky Monks," "Give It Away," and "My Lovely Man"

Songs I didn't know but now like: I have owned the album, so I'm familiar with the album. While I had forgotten a few of the songs, none of the ones I "rediscovered" were long lost loves.

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: None