Records of the Week: 4/30/11

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik

The Red Hot Chili Peppers sometimes get a negative reputation because a lot of their fanbase consists of “bros.”  Considering the fact that they are one of the most popular bands of the past twenty years,  it’s natural that they have some fans who aren’t necessarily part of a likable demographic.  It’s a shame they have this reputation, because they are a great band with amazing chemistry.  Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the group’s second effort with guitarist John Frusciante (who left the band recently amicably) and it’s the album where his creative ability skyrocketed.  Blood Sugar is one of the most interesting records of the 90′s musically.  It consists of some funk songs (like “If You Have To Ask” and “Power of Equality”) and melodic songs (like “I Could Have Lied” and arguably their biggest hit, “Under the Bridge.”).  Flea – the band’s bassist – switched from constant “popping and slapping” basslines to more sparse, melodic playing, and Frusciante begun shaping his own style into something of his own rather than an emulation of the group’s previous guitarist, Hillel Slovak.  If you haven’t heard any of the band’s albums or only know the popular stuff, check this one out.

Sebadoh – Bakesale

Sebadoh’s Bakesale is one of the most listenable indie rock albums of the 1990s from front to back.  Lou Barlow (the bassist from Dinosaur Jr) is the band’s leader, and the music is definitely the polar opposite of anything he did with his former band.  While Dinosaur Jr focused on distorted guitar and loud production, Sebadoh is much more quiet and emotional.  A great example of the album’s style is the song “Not A Friend” which has jangly, minimalistic guitar and a melodic bassline behind Barlow’s restrained vocals.  Everything seems to fit in with eachother and no instrument really overshadows another.  There’s a lot of “room to breathe” in the recordings – a mark of many of the best albums  – which makes it a pleasant listen.  There are some louder songs, like “S. Soup” which is memorable for it’s distorted vocals and pounding drum beat.

Minor Threat – Complete Discography

Minor Threat is one of the best punk bands of the early 80s.  While a lot of punk music from that time period sounds the same, Minor Threat was much better at their instruments and more focused on playing well as opposed to the “punk” way of life (although their live shows had a lot of energy and intensity, and I’m sure a lot of crazy things happened at them).  They also did pretty much everything themselves.  Vocalist Ian Mackaye (who later started one of my all-time favorite bands, Fugazi) and drummer Jeff Nelson started their own record label, Dischord, and the band handled all booking of shows themselves.  It’s easy to see why the band’s music has often been labeled as “iconic” when you listen to the first track on this collection, “Filler”.  There’s an element of technicality there that isn’t necessarily in a lot of punk music along with the energy.  It’s easy to see how Mackaye eventually started Fugazi – which was a punk band focused more on instrumentation.  This is definite an essential collection for any punk fan.