Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Lots of bangers with a bitta filler

Funky Monks Riff lernen!!

Shit maat, wat een ellenlang album. Er staan wel voldoende goede nummers in om dit een goed album te maken. Plus, RHCP's beste nummer, Give it Away, staat hierop. 4.1 dus

Have listened to this one a lot in the past. Some great classics!

Its a light 4. Its better than the albums I normally give 3/5 to which is basically "its fine, didn't dislike it but its whatever". 73 minutes is crazy for the length of this album, it has no reason to be this long.

All around great album. Only two songs I did not like. Added about 3 or 4 to daily listens. Love the early peppers with the funk

So many classics. Yeah, I know, we laugh a little at Kiedis’ lyrics sometimes, but there are still a very good amount of amazing songs on here. I listened to this album so much in my teens.

My bai's is coming out, cuz I love RHCP. Though I only listent to their greatest hits apparently. A lot of this album sounds just like all their other stuff. But all their stuff is pretty hype

John Frusciante isn’t even the best guitarists in the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Good angry white boy music. The bass player and drummer are excellent together.

The extent of my knowledge for the Chili Peppers’ discography consists of hearing their most popular songs over the years. I mean, I remember finding Can’t Stop for the first time in 6th grade, and showing my friend the music video in art class the next day. I went home after that and asked my dad if he knew who Red Hot Chili Peppers were, like I had discovered the most underground band ever. As I’ve grown up, I’ve realized they might be one of the most polarizing bands ever. At least at their level. There are a lot of people who can’t stand them. Although, it does beg the question, do they really hate the band or just Anthony Kiedis? To a degree, I understand where the distaste comes from. It’s really what inspires most of my gripes with this album. Aside from it probably being too long, Anthony just sticks out like a really ugly, sore thumb. Every piece of info I’ve learned about him has been against my will, and has generally not been positive. As much as I enjoy some of their music, I’ll never pretend that he can really sing all that well. He’s definitely at his best on something like Under the Bridge. He sounds very young here, and his lyricism often feels like purely goofy rambling. On this particular record, it leans more towards the very sexually charged kind. Sir Psycho Sexy or Suck My Kiss are glaring examples of that. It’s unfortunate that Anthony brings this down so much by just being himself. Because everything else is awesome. The band dynamic is really strange, considering almost everyone can unanimously agree on what the draw of this group really is. Flea, John Frusciante and Chad Smith are some of the best ever in their individual categories. Particularly the first two. This albums’ best moments are when Anthony shuts up and lets the music really run wild. I do think there could’ve been a little more variety though. Like, The Greeting Song is good, but My Lovely Man almost sounds like the same song. This isn’t a bad album. But it’s not a game-changer for me. I doubt a Chili Peppers' album ever would be. Rating: 7/10

Hell yeah, Red Hot Chili Peppers.

This is the Peppers at their best. I wouldn’t say any of it is awe inspiring. Maybe “Under the Bridge” comes close, but it’s mostly just quality songs. It gets a little dodgy with the last few tracks, but I’m not complaining. Didn’t need to be that long, though. 4/5

Very good. Some down moments. But overall good.

I’ve never listened to the Red Hot Chili Peppers before aside from little bits of their hits. I found most of it rather fun, but I can see how it could get annoying. I didn’t listen to this in one sitting, so it was fine for me.

Uneven but the bangers are banging 4

An album with a sound I really like, but which slightly overstays its welcome. Besides being too long, some of the lyrics are a bit cringy. But the overall energy and vibe is quite fun to listen to. The bass playing is so funky, and the singer's voice is distinctive and pleasant. The only song I was familiar with was Under the Bridge, which I think is for sure the best track on the album

I wasn’t into this album when it came out and I’m not sure I’ve ever identified as a RHCP fan, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. Sure it’s derivative and sometimes immature sexual overtness can distract, but it’s mostly a funky, riff heavy, bass-and-drum driven masterclass in West Coast rock!

👌

One of the most powerfully stupid records ever made.

7.5/10 It was funky, and i like funky Weird subject matter tho

Really enjoy the sound on this. Wish it were shorter, it was a lot to listen to

Great album, only downfall is the length, feel like it would be a stronger album if it was a bit shorter

Ahhh, this takes me back. Its 1996 and i'm 14 and at Tom Booths house. This was on repeat and felt so dangerous. Whatever your opinions on late stage RHCP and some of the more recent allegations that deserve to have them cancelled, this is an undeniably good record. There are 5/6 really top tier tracks, a few good and a few average tracks and a better editor would have brought this in under an hour but it was sure fun. It has some of the hallmarks of more rock based late 80's sleaze but it manages to avoid the repellant aspects and replaces them with some introspection, some very good slap bass and just a fuck ton of energy.

This is such a tough one to rank. The nostalgia factor is super high with this one. Adolescent me loved this. I still really enjoy the music side of this album. But I just cannot handle Anthony Kiedis creepy ass lyrics and weird affectations throughout. Goddam Flea though. Amazing bass.

Ah yes - the first REAL Chili Peppers album, at least as I see it. My general opinion on the Chili Peppers, which I think most agree with, is that the band consists of three absolutely world class musicians fronted by arguably the most annoying vocalist in the business. If they had a great vocalist, I really do believe they would be universally seen as one of the all time greats. This album captures them in a nutshell - smooth as hell bass lines, tight rhythm guitars, great lead guitar licks, solid as hell beats, and... weird non-sensical hip-hop style vocals about California and sex and drugs. In the end, I allow myself to look past it and just enjoy it. I love this album for what it is.

I had not heard this album in its entirety before. I think it has some really great songs on it.

**Blood Sugar Sex Magik** by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 24, 1991, is considered a landmark album in the band's career and a classic of 1990s rock music. It marked a shift from their earlier work, with a more polished production and mature themes while retaining their trademark funk-rock sound. Produced by Rick Rubin, the album showcases the band’s ability to blend genres, with elements of funk, rock, hip-hop, and even hints of psychedelia. Here's a comprehensive analysis of the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its influence on music, along with its pros and cons. ### Lyrics **Blood Sugar Sex Magik** features some of Anthony Kiedis's best lyrical work. The lyrics cover a range of themes, from sensuality and relationships to addiction and inner struggle. Kiedis often employs vivid imagery, personal anecdotes, and wordplay to add depth to his songwriting. - **Sensuality and Romance**: The title itself hints at the sensual nature of the album. Songs like "Suck My Kiss" and "Sir Psycho Sexy" explore overtly sexual themes with a raw, primal energy. The lyrics range from playful to explicit, with Kiedis tapping into the erotic and hedonistic experiences of his life. The provocative content, however, never veers into mere crudeness, as there is always a sense of spontaneity and joy in his delivery. - **Love and Loss**: "I Could Have Lied" deals with heartbreak and emotional vulnerability. Kiedis reflects on the pain of being hurt by someone he loved, showcasing his ability to tap into deep emotional experiences. - **Struggle with Addiction**: Tracks like "Under the Bridge" give a more introspective view, particularly dealing with Kiedis's feelings of loneliness and the longing for a connection while battling heroin addiction. The lyrics resonate as a genuine confession, revealing a softer, more contemplative side to the band's persona. Overall, Kiedis's lyrics on the album strike a balance between raw passion, emotional honesty, and playful exuberance. ### Music Musically, **Blood Sugar Sex Magik** is a perfect blend of funk grooves and hard rock riffs, with elements of punk and hip-hop. The album's sound is characterized by Flea's slapping basslines, John Frusciante's eclectic guitar work, Chad Smith's powerful drumming, and Kiedis's rhythmic, sometimes rap-like vocal delivery. - **Guitar Work**: John Frusciante's playing is a standout throughout the album. He avoids traditional rock guitar soloing in favor of rhythm-focused riffs and melodic fills. His use of space and dynamics, especially in tracks like "Under the Bridge" and "Breaking the Girl," adds emotional depth. Frusciante also employs a variety of effects, such as wah-wah pedals and delays, creating a psychedelic edge to the music. - **Bass and Drums**: Flea's bass playing is iconic on this record, from the funky slap of "Give It Away" to the more melodic approach on "Breaking the Girl." His ability to switch between being a rhythmic foundation and a lead instrument gives the album a distinct groove. Chad Smith's drumming complements Flea's playing perfectly, with a solid, driving rhythm that propels the songs while allowing for moments of improvisation. - **Song Structures**: The songs on **Blood Sugar Sex Magik** often follow unconventional structures, mixing funk jams with hard rock choruses and mellow, introspective verses. This is evident in tracks like "The Righteous & The Wicked," where the dynamic shifts keep the listener engaged. ### Production Produced by Rick Rubin, **Blood Sugar Sex Magik** marked a turning point in the Chili Peppers' career in terms of production quality. Rubin's influence can be felt throughout the album in the way he balances rawness with polish. - **Recording Process**: The band recorded the album in a mansion that was reputedly haunted, which contributed to the album's unique atmosphere. Rubin encouraged the band to embrace a looser, more spontaneous approach, and many of the tracks were recorded live. This approach gave the album a raw energy that contrasts with the polished sound of many mainstream records at the time. - **Sound Quality**: The production brings out the best in each instrument. Flea’s bass is always prominent without overshadowing the guitar, and Chad Smith’s drums have a powerful punch. Rubin's minimalist approach avoided over-layering, allowing the music to breathe and the band's chemistry to shine through. ### Themes The album explores themes of sensuality, struggle, spirituality, and introspection. Its content can be divided broadly into the following thematic categories: - **Sex and Sensuality**: Tracks like "Suck My Kiss," "Sir Psycho Sexy," and "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" dive into hedonistic themes with exuberance. This isn’t just about physicality, though; there is also a mystical and almost ritualistic approach to sensuality in the way the songs are presented. - **Addiction and Isolation**: The most poignant theme is addiction. "Under the Bridge" reflects Kiedis's struggle with heroin addiction and his feelings of isolation from the rest of the band and the world. The song's success helped raise awareness about substance abuse and showed that rock music could tackle personal struggles with sincerity. - **Spirituality and Transcendence**: There are moments of searching for something greater than oneself, both musically and lyrically. "Breaking the Girl" touches upon difficult relationships and finding meaning beyond personal struggles. There’s a sense of catharsis present in the music that suggests the band's desire to transcend their physical and emotional hardships. ### Influence and Legacy **Blood Sugar Sex Magik** significantly influenced the alternative rock scene of the 1990s. It helped solidify the fusion of funk and rock, paving the way for other bands like Rage Against the Machine, Jane’s Addiction, and Primus. The album's success also catapulted the Red Hot Chili Peppers into mainstream recognition, setting the stage for their later mega-hits in the 2000s. - **Impact on the Band**: The album's commercial and critical success transformed the Red Hot Chili Peppers from a cult band to international superstars. Frusciante's guitar work became iconic, influencing a generation of guitarists, and the song "Under the Bridge" remains one of the band's most recognizable tracks. - **Impact on Popular Music**: It marked a shift away from the hair metal and glam rock trends of the 1980s, favoring a rawer and more authentic rock sound. The album's blending of genres encouraged other artists to experiment with genre fusion. This trend towards diverse musical influences became a hallmark of the 1990s alternative rock scene. ### Pros 1. **Diverse Musical Style**: The album's ability to mix funk, rock, and hip-hop while still sounding cohesive is one of its biggest strengths. Each track brings something different, keeping the listener engaged throughout. 2. **Strong Musicianship**: Flea's bass lines and Frusciante's guitar playing are particularly notable. Their interplay is tight and creates a dynamic foundation for the songs. 3. **Honest and Raw Lyrics**: Anthony Kiedis's lyrics are some of the most personal and honest of his career, addressing issues like addiction, love, and sensuality with genuine emotion. 4. **Memorable Tracks**: With songs like "Under the Bridge," "Give It Away," and "Breaking the Girl," the album contains some of the band's most iconic songs, which have stood the test of time. 5. **Rick Rubin’s Production**: The production quality enhances the band's raw energy without compromising on clarity, allowing the emotion and spontaneity of the recording sessions to be felt. ### Cons 1. **Inconsistent Lyricism**: While some tracks feature deep and introspective lyrics, others, such as "Sir Psycho Sexy," lean heavily into more juvenile, sexually explicit territory, which might detract from the album's overall maturity. 2. **Overly Long Runtime**: At over 70 minutes, the album feels a bit bloated. Some tracks, especially towards the end, could have been trimmed to make for a tighter, more impactful listening experience. 3. **Not for Everyone**: The rawness and funk-punk fusion might not appeal to all listeners. Some might find the sexual themes off-putting or excessive. 4. **Stylistic Limitations**: Although the band fuses different genres effectively, some of the tracks feel formulaic in their funk-rock structure, which could seem repetitive to those who are not fans of the style. ### Conclusion **Blood Sugar Sex Magik** stands out as one of the most important rock albums of the 1990s, not just for its commercial success but for its musical innovation and emotional depth. Its fusion of genres, raw lyricism, and exceptional musicianship set the stage for the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ future, helping to define a new era in rock music. While it has some inconsistencies, the album’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, earning its place as a classic that continues to influence musicians across genres.

This is a really Good album even if the Chilli pepper sound has been run into the ground

Las guitarras del álbum son muy interesantes. Es lindo ver cómo nace un género del cual se derivan muchos sub-generos. Lo único que frena el máximo rating es que sea un disco doble, porque se hace algo pesado escucharlo del tirón

Just too long. Under the bridge carries this to a 4.

Not a huge fan of RHCP, but this record is solid as a rock, if a little long.

I had this CD back in the day. Listening again is a trip down nostalgia lane. Even though the lyrics alternate between nonsensical and vulgar, the bass and guitar hold up well. It might not be the best music, but I like it. I was reading about the song I Could Have Lied. Apparently it's about Anthony's breakup with Sinead O'Connor. What?! Strange times the early 90s.

I don't think this is their "best" album, but it's got quite a variety on here: funk, rock, ballads, etc. My first listen was not great because I wasn't ready for it and the explicitness was overwhelming, but with another listen or two, I'm impressed with the breadth and capabilities here. Interestingly, our previous album (Jefferson Airplane, Surrealistic Pillow) was Jefferson Airplane's second album, and they had to leave a track off their first album because it contained the word "trip" which made their record label. Now compare that to this album, especially Sir Psycho Sexy.

Nostalgia Alert! What an album. That bass.

Well, okay, but here where it says, "What I got you gotta get and put it in ya," how about just, "What I'd like is I'd like to hug and kiss ya." Classic Chilly Willie, 4.2 stars

Sounds like a RHCP album! Good stuff, would be a 5 if they cut it down by like 25 minutes.

RHCP er sgu et sjovt band. Jeg har langt mere været på Californication. Faktisk har jeg aldrig hørt hele BSSM før. Men singlerne kender jeg selvfølgelig til hudløshed. Jeg var godt underholdt, uden at det er mit nye yndlings album.

This album is far too long to give it a reasonable number of plays. But I felt that the record would repay further lsitening, seems to be a diverse set of songs.

I DONT EVER WANNA FEEEEEEL the power of equality- 5 if you have to ask- 8 breaking the girl- 5 funky monks- 5 suck my kiss- 5 i could have lied- 4. its just not that good. mellowship slinky in b major- 5 the righteous and the wicked- 5 give it away- 5 blood sugar sex magick- 7 under the bridge-... 10. im sorry. my go to karaoke song naked in the rain- 7 apache rose peacock- 5 greeting song- 6 my lovely man- 5 sir psycho sexy- 8. im sorry. too fucking long though theyre red hot- they certainly are. 7 hi im toby and i like the red hot chili peppers *im booed off stage.* overall i dont particularly care for 80% of their music but the parts i do like i really like

Maybe too long 8/10

Sorry but this slaps a lil. Detracting one star because of all the problematic lyrics I'm sure I missed while listening to this at work

Should have ended after Under the Bridge. Still good though

Ja heel vet

It's hard not to nod and tap along with the Chili's at their best, they're all on point on this. I feel John Frusciante gets overlooked a bit because Flea is so cool, but he's a good guitarist. Lyrics are surreal, cheeky and fun Not 5 stars for me as it's pretty long and not every song is good but decent album

Interesting instrumental parts, cool, unexpected riff styles Like how the album blends together, minimal breaks between tracks. Like Breaking the Girl a lot. Has a psychedelic feeling to it. I Could Have Lied is great too, like the mellow outro Righteous & the Wicked reminds me of Faith No More a little bit, with some of the vocal fills. Under the Bridge is a good shakeup with the different intro and more relaxed instrumentation. Also enjoy the female supporting vocals on the second chorus. Love the bass and guitar tones on Naked in the Rain Knowing their later work, (i.e. Californication, Dani California, Snow), this album is a lot more raw, in the best way possible. Liked the second half a lot more. Could have been a tighter, more concise package. Mix is lacking a bit, good stereo separation, but medium compression level. Not much DR to be found here. Instruments sound good, are blending well together. Appreciate the clear bass tones, it cuts through crisply Favorite track: Breaking the Girl

Old school RHCP. This album has great licks from both Flea and John, and the result is an album that truly defined the RHCP funky rock sound. Some of it can be repetitive, but there are classics on this album that to this day are played by cover bands and karaoke rooms alike.

It’s fine

High energy funk with plenty of lyrical creativity. Several gems in here.

This is the definitive album from the funky punks of City of Angels. They came to the attention of most of us when they they appeared in a Red Hot Chili Peppers poster photo taken in the famous crosswalk across from Abbey Road studios, wearing nothing but socks covering their family jewels. Their cover of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" on their album MOTHER'S MILK would give glimpses of what kind of performance and song arrangements they were capable of, but they would not breakout in the world's consciousness until the release of this album. Their music brought everyone from skater punks to funk purists together. Favorites: All-time classics "Give it Away", "Suck My Kiss", "Blood Sugar Sex Magic", "Under the Bridge" and lesser known tracks "Breaking the Girl" and "Naked in the Rain". To those who keep calling it white rap, you are missing the point. It is and was SoCal funky punk.

this is pretty damn good!

The funky punk Chili Peppers develop their more melodic side and become more approachable. The approach is a bit more diverse than previous endeavors. Still plenty of energy here, but they're learning to control it, modify it, and use it better. They’ve simply matured as songwriters and as a band. I don’t really care for all the sex lyrics, but some songs can still be fun vocally. The silly and downtrodden lyrics are what I prefer here. The music of this band does the heavy lifting for me - particularly the interplay between Flea and Frusciante. Man those guys can play…they have interesting lines and interactions throughout the whole album. I loved this album when I was younger but don’t revisit much, often feeling I’ve outgrown the content matter. Given that I don’t care for most lyrics (or actively dislike them) it’s still hard not to rock and funk out to a lot of these songs.

Nice and funky. Not as good as Californication for me though

Such a funky album! Liked it much better on the second listen than the first.

Say what you will about the Chili Peppers, but this album is great. Does get a little long (classic 90’s bloat) and the album would be improved by removing the title track, “Apache Rose Peacock”, “The Greeting Song”, and “My Lovely Man” (yes, I know it’s the Hillel tribute). But that doesn’t do much to dampen this album’s greatness.

I picked up this cassette the same day as Ten by PJ. Was at the moment alt/grunge started to take over my musical world.

Favorite Track: Under The Bridge

Great

Serious funk, I really enjoyed listening to it. However, this is a perfect example of a bloated album preventing a potential classic.

Thoughts before listening: I used to love the Chili Peppers and this album (although Mother's Milk was always my favorite from them). I very rarely listen to the band anymore for some reason though. Their songs are iconic for sure, but they just seem juvenile or something. Maybe its just that their later output became increasingly silly and poppy. Review: Man I have so much nostalgia built up around this album. RHCP were great musicians, especially Flea and John Frusciante, and this album sounds great. Anthony Kiedis' lame raps and lyrical subject matter have not aged well, although I remember really liking them 30 years ago. This album is full of massive hits ("Breaking the Girl", "Give It Away", "Under the Bridge", etc) as well as some deeper cuts that remain classics ("Suck My Kiss", "Sir Psycho Sexy"). This might be one of those albums that wouldn't get as high a rating from me if I didn't grow up listening to it, but thanks to nostalgia, I will give this 4-stars.

I remember getting this album originally and listening to the crap out of it. I'm not the biggest RHCP fan but the instrumentation is just so bloody good that it makes up for AK who I am not personally a big fan of.

It brings back great memories. Although I find it a bit repetitive in terms of rhythm and melodies. Anyway, the RHCP are a group I always listen to with great pleasure ;-)

Um álbum que define o que é RHCP: uma mistura vibrante e enérgica de gêneros e influências, indo desde os solos únicos de rock do Frusciante, rap nas letras do Kiedis, o funk clássico do Flea ou fragmentos de jazz do Chad Smith. Com suas 17 faixas, os Peppers passeiam por reflexões sociais como nas iniciais "Power of Equality" e "If you have to ask", relacionamentos na fantástica "Breaking the Girl", além de se permitir falar de baboseiras que não levam a lugar nenhum em "Apache Rose Peacock". Com tantas músicas, tem que se elogiar a transição entre elas, com destaque especial para a sensacional de "Suck my Kiss/I could have lied", que ajudam a manter o álbum coeso apesar de tanta experimentação. Entretanto, apesar de tantos méritos, a duração é um problema. Por volta de "Naked in the Rain" e a já citada Apache, o álbum perde fôlego e começa a soar repetitivo, com ideias sendo reexploradas sem tanta inovação que marca o grupo. Lampejos de criatividade ainda existem na reta final, mas o cansaço começa a pesar, afetando um pouco o fator replay desse ótimo disco.

Absolutely filthy baselines from flea on this album. The guitar and drums are solid and funky as usual but the bass really stands out. Anthony alternates between being the perfect vibe for the music and kind of annoying. Especially on this album some of the lyrics are unnecessarily sexual. Under the bridge is obviously great and the rest of the album works for me when I’m in the right mood

Really good blend of hard rock and funk, with a bit of rap thrown in. Great guitar work and the bass line drives everything forward. Only complaint is I think they probably could have cut 15 minutes to make the total even stronger.

Nik Radmore introduced me to this and it changed my musical world! This melodic and arrogant funk rock mix was an elixir to 15-year-old me. It still holds strong today (the bass and guitar lines are amazing), though it does sometimes feel quite juvenile and pretentious. In my old age I find the slower acoustic-driven songs more palatable. Highlights: Sir Psycho Sexy Under the bridge I could have lied. Funky monks

It's easy to goof on the Chili Peppers, and in almost every case it is warranted. Their songs are terribly overplayed on radio, the lyrics are juvenile, and Anthony Kiedis plain sucks. I'm not going to sit here and preach about how this album is some masterpiece, but it is GOOD and it does rise head and shoulders above all the other garbage they've released in the 25 years since BSSM. If you can manage to listen to this without the weight of all the music that came after tainting it, this is a great record. The good: pop on just about any random song and it's easy to get lost in the groove. There are obvious standout tracks like Under the Bridge, Give it Away, I Could Have Lied, etc... but most of the deep cuts are great too. The bad: this is one long album and it wears out its welcome long before the end of its 75 minute runtime. Even back in the 90s when I listened to this regularly I was skipping a lot of songs in the back half. Should have been 13 or 14 tracks max.

8.5/10. It features a nice blend of funk and rock. I like its sound. :)

This is one of the records that marked my youth. How cool it was when I saw RHCP for the first time, live!

7/10 - some classic bangers some I didn’t like at all

Un autre album très cohérent, leur son est assez inimitable, entre la basse plutôt funk mais très rock à la fois, et l'élocution et la voix particulière du chanteur. Entre sensualité et violence, ça illustre bien le titre de l'œuvre.

Some bangers, some not so bangers, John is a funky funky gentleman

3.5

I am not the biggest RHCP fan, but this album varies from genre to genre, it has some amazing songs, and it is very funky. I enjoyed it a lot!

My dislike of the constant radio play of Red Hot Chili Peppers is renowned but I hope to be objective on this particular album which is the time period was revolutionary. Listening to Give It Away was like listening to proof of alien life. Everyone wonder what it means to Suck My Kiss, and I used to have Under the Bridge on every mixtape, especially the make out tapes though now that doesn’t seem appropriate. I don’t know if there is a bad song on here. This album was a strong representation of the stylistic blending RHCPs are known for and heavily influenced the ‘90s. In every music fans collection should be this album.

This is not my favorite Peppers album. I only got to know the band in 1999 with Californication and was enthusiastic about their music. The earlier stuff and this album are a bit unwieldy for me. Maybe it's also because of the white hip hop parts, which I usually can't do much with. There are also some great tracks on the album. I can listen to Under The Bridge in particular over and over again. 4/5

Great album with some great hits! And I do enjoy 90s alt-rock. Didn’t really have any songs that were too bad, although my opinion is the album length hurt itself a bit. Even with a nice variety of sounds and styles I did get a bit bored. Probably would be a 5 star rating if it was cut down to even 45-50 minutes but as it was, 4.25/5

Red Hot Chili Peppers seem to be a band defined by three specific eras: 1) The early period where their music was just awful; they were clearly a band still figuring things out, and were on a record label willing to give them a few chances. 2) Their commercial and artistic peak (starting with this album); where everything seemed to click for their sound, their voice, and their songwriting. 3) The bland years; pretty much anything from Stadium Arcadium up to today is all pretty forgettable and generic. As if they're just in autopilot mode and are happy enough with that. 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik', you could argue, is RHCP at their best. I personally think you could take any album from this one all the way to 'By The Way' and there would be a valid reason for each one to be ranked on equal footing. I suppose where this one shines is in the fact that it still has that raw old school Peppers sound, but they have finally smoothened out the edges to clean things up. If I was ranking this album just based on the first 11 tracks alone, this would have been an easy 5. You get so much packed into them, it’s not even funny. Bass slaps galore, funky ass guitar riffs, hard hitting drums, and Anthony showing just how much range as a vocalist he has when he wants to show it off. Rock ‘n’ roll, funk, almost post-punk esque, and some surprisingly great ballads fill those first 11 tracks. From the loose 'The Power of Equality' opener, the beautiful slow tempo 'Breaking The Girl', 'I Could Have Lied', to the big hits 'Give It Away' and 'Under The Bridge'. You honestly couldn't ask for a better explosion of music from any band; and I'm not even that big of a RHCP fan. Then the album shows its only problem: at 17 tracks 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' is just a little too bloated. It feels like a good 3-4 tracks towards the end could have been trimmed out to improve on the overall experience. Not that they're bad songs, it just feels like they were out of new ideas by that point. It causes a damn near perfect LP to lose the steam they worked hard to build up. It's still damn good overall, though: 4/5

Good fun

Good to listen to this again!

the best funk rock album of all time.

August 21st, 2024 HL: "Give It Away", "Under the Bridge", "The Power of Equality", "Suck My Kiss", "Breaking the Girl", "Funky Monks" It's strange, sometimes I hear a Rick Rubin produced record, & I consider it worse off. But then I hear something like this, or Raising Hell by Run-DMC, & I think wow, he should produce everything To quote another anonymous review: "It feels like something a chubby middle school kid would listen to before he puts on a fedora and goes to the school dance, where he just stands in the corner judging the kids who are having fun" I resent that, sir! I was not chubby in middle school But I did once think they were one of the great rock bands, though my Chilis of choice during middle school was part Californication, part Stadium Arcadium. I still think they were among the best to fuse rock and funk music, though I concur you could shave 15 minutes off B.S.S.M. and it would be just fine. To (mis)quote Community: Look, eventually, you hit a point of diminishing returns on the horniness

162/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑

Albums that are too long for their own good seems to be the theme of the week. I kinda sorta remember 1991 and tons and tons of chili peppers tshirts...not knowing who they were. Flea kicks some serious bass lines on this album, and seems to the the standout on a lot of the sub par songs. Overall the album has a great sound for the time, but is pretty repetitive. 3.5 & rounding up to 4.

I didn’t care for RHCP when they hit the scene. Under the Bridge is one of the most annoying songs from the early 90’s. The album is not as obnoxious as I expected, too long, but not unlistenable.

They always sound like the Chili Peppers but they know how to mix things up enough to keep an album interesting, which is very appreciated.

I remember listening to this one back in my early teens. Enjoyed. 4/5

cool

How embarrassing to find out you like the chili peppers in twenty twenty four

Songs on here I will enjoy forever

It’s a classic for some. I like them. I don’t love them. I never thought they did something so great everyone should love them for it. When Kedis is singing about being hard, it’s weird and awkward. I wouldn’t want to listen to those kind of lyrics with other people. “Under the Bridge” is by far my favorite.

One trick ponies but injected new life into the rock scene. Funky hits to make it an enjoyable enough listen.

Can't sit still with this one. Although a tad too long.

Strange Album with some Bangers in between

punk funk

Sinto como se tivesse vendo a fecundação do "Californication".

Weird but good weird.

Not my absolute favourite, but pretty good

great album but not there best

Thought that I never liked RHCP, but turns out I never liked RHCP's overexposure. Probably should have listened to this 30 years ago before I talked all that trash about them.

No soy muy de los Red Hot.

Funky bass lines. Fun songs. Classic album.

~Nostalgia~ for the hits probably making me rank this higher than I should.

This was good but a bit long. I enjoyed give it away and under the bridge

Under the Bridge & Give it away now Typischer alternative Rock 4/5

Het zal wel heiligschennis zijn, maar ik heb niet eens zoveel met de Peppers. Wat is dat toch? Want op zich leveren ze ook hier puik werk af, met hun klassieker Under the bridge er ook nog bij. Het zal het ruwe randje wel zijn, dat me steeds uit de luisterervaring haalt. Maar ook een mager 3,5-je is hier een vier, dus vooruit.

It was a good album, I suppose. Feel like it dragged a bit in places but it was good.

Tendria 5 estrellas si no fuera tan largo y los temas del deluxe nuevos no me gustan tanto. Pero hard el disco.

A classic

These songs all feel so long. Sometimes it works, but other times it just feels unnecessary. I’ve heard a handful of songs off of this album before, so it’s nice to get to hear those again. It reminds me of high school, which is weird because this album came out 20 years before I finished high school. But it makes me think of playing Rock Band with my friends, hanging with Ryan, and having fewer stresses in my life. Sir Psycho sexy is still a trip. I don’t know that I’d go back and listen to the whole album all the way through all that often, but I enjoyed this revisit.

A little plodding but has a fairly distinct sound for a debut. Lots of good jams in the middle. Mixing rock, funk, psychedelics, 90's buzz ballads. Definitely listen to the singles. They get better as they go along.

Some great songs and a decent album. One I hadn’t heard all the way through before but I am glad that I have now.

Very diverse Love the guitars and the drums Favourite song was definitely under the bridge

Wonderfully funky. Reminiscent of a carefree summer afternoon.

Some of their best tracks

Great album, and great production. Worthy to be on this list, hopefully californication is on it too.

I am stoked about this one. Haven't listened to this album all the way through in a while. This album does in fact hit, solid rock throughout.

Awesome album, didn't sound dated. Played it to death in the 90s

Their best

Listened to this while walking Pickles and Herman on a beautiful, although hot Saturday morning. Just finished call last night. Right now I have 2 more days of call before I go to the floor. I realized I really like the Perrpers music but I can not stand Kendra’s voice. I do still like several of the hits.

Under the bridge

funky but too many tracks

This has to be their best album. Definitely what I grew up listening to. This is such a classic.

under the bridge so fucking fire. it’s kinda crazy how you can tell that that’s the one that was meant to be popular. Lots of humor and fun moments, definitely sounds different than anything else i’ve listened to on this list so far so big ups top 3 - under the bridge, i could have lied, the power of equality

Very fun

I have always thought this album way too long, and in particular trailing off badly after Under The Bridge. You know this time round, listening in two separate sessions, the second half is pretty good too. I'm upgrading this to a four generously tho is prob a 3.75. Key to the RHCP's I've always thought is to think of them as a rock band. Funky they really aren't, the drumming is pretty square four to the floor most of the time, but that's ok.

It’s funny, I always thought Red Hot Chili Peppers were uninteresting overall, their music just never inspired me in any way, but upon getting to relisten to this album, an album I haven’t heard in over six years, I found myself enjoying quite a lot and doing away with those old attitudes I had. I think as the years have gone by, I’ve grown more of an appreciation for music as a whole and I was able to get more out of this than the me from six years ago. That’s always a positive thing.

It’s got my favourite RHCP tracks but they would really be a better band without Anthony Kiedis

Pretty solid, idk if I’m a huge flea fan tbh

Perhaps the defining album in the Red Hot Chili Peppers discography, Blood Sugar Sex Magik is a monolithic funk rock motherload, bursting through with the kind of infectious, feel good, dumb fun exuberance that one often thinks of when it comes to the band. While that may be substantial enough for the average RHCP fan, the problem arrives when it comes to the structure. Blood Sugar Sex Magik is too long for its own good. While the grooves and the vibes throughout justify its existence, some songs off this album (Naked in the Rain, My Lovely Man, Funky Monks) could have been best made into b-sides or vault tracks and their inclusions only turns this album into a needless slog towards the end. Of course, the middle portion of the album (I Could Have Lied through Under the Bridge) is the worthwhile centerpiece of the whole shebang and is worth the price of admission. Overall, while the fallout of the album's success has permeated itself into the Peppers' ongoing lore, it can't be denied that Blood Sugar Sex Magik was what convinced listeners that the Chillis' were here to stay for good. Favorites: The Power of Equality, If You Have to Ask, Breaking the Girl, Suck My Kiss, I Could Have Lied, Mellowship Slinky in B Major, Give It Away, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Under the Bridge, Apache Rose Peacock, Sir Psycho Sexy.

Super fun album, really enjoyed listening to it. Bopping my head the whole way through. Flea is just a legend.

This album was the first time I noticed RHCP back in the day. Their blend of funk, rock, rap, and slappin bass was fresh then and still is now. I don’t listen to RHCP much. They aren’t “my guys”so to speak, but I do usually enjoy this album, Californication, and Stadium Arcadium. Rick Rubin pushed these guys in a beneficial direction. I Could Have Lied is a wonderful song and often overlooked gem. Under The Bridge is a plentifully looked gem and probably underrated anyway. Drugs and fame tore the band apart several times and even led Anthony Keidis to think his mustache looks good. But somehow they keep going. Shave the stache Anthony.

Funk/alt rock. Man if I had one word to describe this album, it's hedonistic. Just over the top funky grooves, insane performances from everyone involved. And somehow I just wasn't into the whole thing. Probably due to the length, over an hour and it's got some definite filler. But man do the big songs hit. Full of classic RHCP songs, but even the deeper cuts I didn't already know we're on the same level or even better. It's varied in style but they're all weird and fun. Honestly just writing about it makes me want to rate it a bit higher than I was going to. I loved this album, it's a classic in rock history and the band is pretty close to my heart. How could I not love it. Will revisit for sure. Light 4.5/5

In relistening to this album, I appreciate the truly unique sound RHCP cultivated. A lot of the lyrics are pretty cringy though and it's really only their hits that have ever made a dent with me. The other overly funk songs tend to gel together for me and make the album a bit of a slog. It's a 4 (maybe 4.5?) because the highs are soooo effin high.

This was good! On my first listen I only really liked the singles, but on the second I started to like the whole thing

Das war doch mal wieder ein gutes Album:) Tatsächlich kannte ich sehr vieles von der Platte aber nicht alles. Insgesamt ein super Ding, mag RHCP auch sehr, mein Lieblingsalbum scheint es aber nicht gewesen zu sein. Natürlich sind da Riesenhits von denen drauf, ich fand ein paar Tracks nicht sooo super. Deshalb 4,49 von 5.

- Rick Rubin did it again. - Ähnlich wie bei den Foo Fighters habe riesengroße Sympathien gegenüber den RHCP. Grundsätzlich ist Mucke aber nicht so zu 100% meins. Ich LIEBE viele Songs von denen, auch über die Hits hinaus, würde mir aber glaube ich sehr selten jetzt einfach "irgendetwas" von denen anmachen. - Das Album ist häufig richtig geil und ich glaube auch mein lieblings Peppers Album, aber für mich im Ganzen einfach zu lang. - Breaking the Girl glaube ich mein Favorite von der Platte, aber auch die Hits holen mich total ab. Stellenweise hört man, dass sich Rage Against the Machine eventuell von den groovigen und crossover Licks haben für ihr selttitled inspirieren lassen. - Wie vorher erwähnt denke ich am Ende jedoch irgendwann: "Ok, genug gefunkt" 4/5

- RHCP gehören von Zeit zu Zeit immer mal wieder zu meinen meistgehörten Interpreten. Gerade mit Californication, By The Way und Stadium Arcadium verbinde ich viele Wochenenden, die ich mit Leo zusammen bei meiner Oma verbracht habe - Das Album habe ich noch nie komplett gehört, kenne aber natürlich die Hits - Auch hier kamen stellenweise nostalgische Erinnerungen hoch, denn teilweise hört man den klassischen RHCP Sound schon. Aber einige Songs haben mich hier echt überrascht, weil sie diesen noch nicht haben. Fühlt sich erfrischend an - Insgesamt einfach eine mega Platte, die fünf Sterne "spare ich mir aber dann noch für andere Platten von RHCP auf" - 4,25 / 5

Bueno

Ah, college.

Now this is peak Peppers. Smply put, it's the best and completest realization of their funk rock sound. It's true I haven't heard their entire discography, but I really kinda doubt anything else could match up to this. Just check "Give It Away"—besides my fondness for its Weird Al parody, if it mentioned California it'd be **the** Peppers song; the one to hear to see what they're all about. Although, all that said, I **do** kind of prefer CALIFORNICATION. Maybe I'm just a bit more fond its alt.-ier sound, I'unno. Plus, I'll acknowledge that it could be because I'm less familiar with this album, but there **is** a point where when it's not either of the songs parodied in "Bedrock Anthem", it **does** kind of blend a little for me? At least, I wouldn't be able to tell you what each song specifically sounds like aside from two or three. But I'll still maintain: this is the RHCP album to check out first. It's pure Peppers, and it doesn't get anymore red hot than this.

Skate pop punks do funk. It is easier to point out which tracks don't work: the title track is a sweet title but the song is a dud. "Naked in the rain" and "The Greeting Song" are also similarly blah. The rest of the album rocks. 4.3 stars rounded down.

7/10. Some really bad stuff on this album held it back a lot to nearly a 6. But there was a lot of good ones as well: If you have to ask, Funky Monks and Under the Bridge all made the 5⭐️ list.

I of course know the hits. But I’ve never sat down and listened to a whole album. Some weird stuff, but overall very enjoyable.

Musically and lyrically iconic, a revolutionary album to come to insane popularity in the thrawls of grunge and g funk. BSSM remains a reminder that within the trendy music good music can be hiding in plain sight. Frusciante, Flea, and the new guy Chad Smith struck the motherload with this album and set the chili peppers up for success (only to be taken away later by the resignation of the same Frusciante). Now for the bad, sonically this album sounds as clear as a waterlogged earbud from 500 yards away. How on earth was this production green lighted or even let alone praised. Its pre loudness war but so overly compressed the dialetics in Kiedis accent don't even come through. It sounds all slurred and muted. Also, as a certified chili peppers superfan I can tell you not a single person I know considers "The Greeting Song" or "They're Red Hot" as a part of this album. And the deluxe bsides of Little Miss Lover and the Castles Made of Sand cover as true misses by the record company. Still this album charted well and holds up. 4 stars solely based on sonic qualities.

pretty genre defining at the time, heavy bass. I liked it.

Classic

Blood Sugar Sex Magik and about 7 songs more than we needed. 4.1

This shit is somewhat iconic but I must say some of the lyrical content did clear my sinuses. It was a bit long but reaallly funky

I gotta say, Blood Sugar Sex Magik was an album i really enjoyed even more so than Califronication. The songs here were just that slight bit more funky and more full of themselves. The guitar and bass work on this album is just incredible with some of the most wild solos from both instruments. The album is a bit long but that didn't discourage me too much from really having fun with this album. This album is a fun and funky time that i can see why a lot of people really like it. Best Song: Breaking The Girl Worst Song: They're Red Hot

Cool. Hot. Funky. Rock. Standouts: Breaking the Girl, Suck my Kiss, Give it Away, Under the Bridge, 4/5

Is this the quintessential non-grunge early 90s alt rock album? It’s hard to say if this sounds like it to me because this was the sound at the time or if this album defined that time. It’s really good and yet I still always can’t stand something about RHCP.

Love the funk elements and some of the singles like Under the Bridge are classics. Suffers a bit from its attempts to be edgy that haven't aged amazingly. Largely a great album though with just one or two skips along the way.

rough, better than the newer albums

This is essential California rock. The story behind the making of the album definitely enhances the album but it just was a hit and miss. I liked every other song. Under the bridge was way better in the context of the album rather than just the famous single. Funny ending 😂 Favs: Breaking The Girl Suck My Kiss Under the bridge (obvious pick) Give it Away

Instrumentals on point. Fun vibes. Nostalgia. I can't help but rate this album high.

I thought this record was great! Lots of less obnoxious funky jams with some killer riffs throughout. Songs like Righteous & The Wicked are heavy as hell! Who would have thought? Under the Bridge in the middle to break up some of the fast paced jammers. I really enjoyed this listen and must say it's improved my prior thoughts that this band is entirely overrated (still a bit overrated though).

4.5

Great album. This was my first exposure to RHCP, and though elements of some of their other albums stand out, this is the one I prefer to the others. I love that in Pandora, though I never seeded a channel with RHCP, they come up on many of my channels.

I get why the Red Hot are so hot, great album

the amount of funk dripping off this album is unparalleled. The creativity and musical dexterity of these musicians is clear.

I really like how one song goes seamlessly into the next one, and I didn't even get that bored of the album even though it was over an hour

Great band, great album

My first RHCP album. I'm somewhat familiar with bassist Flea, and their big song "Californication" but aside from that, I had no idea what to expect. They've always been that incredibly popular band that I've just never gone out of my way to check out. The opening track was certainly something. Sounds like a sick socially conscious hip-hop track of the time, something akin to Public Enemy or Beastie Boys and the bass line sticks out here (and on most of the album). Here's the thing though, I thought this was a single gimmicky thing, but quite a bit of the album is like this. It's half rap rock, with aspects of funk weaved in and half more traditional alternative rock. And honestly, I kinda liked it. The alternative cuts are quite enjoyable, especially the gorgeous "Breaking the Girls", which has these nice flutes filling the sound in the background. It's a very varied album, with no distinct style being put on display by any of the members, they just sort of adapt their playing to whatever weird direction the song goes in. "I Could Have Lied" is another pretty good slow ballad-type song. "Under the Bridge" is a pretty famous song by them, funnily enough, I've only ever heard it from a Mos Def song that sarcastically spins it. It was a decent song, but not my favorite of these alternative tracks, I will say the vocals shine, especially in the second half. I think the album's at its best when the guitar, bass, and drums are driving these powerful funk-rock beats. "The Greeting Song" and "Suck My Kiss" may be the best examples of this, with an incredible guitar solo thrown in on the latter. Flea's slap bass sounds great on a song like "Naked in the Rain". I have mixed thoughts on the long psychedelic penultimate track "Sir Psycho Sexy", on one hand, I enjoy its laid-back vibe but on the other hand, it doesn't justify its length. It was at a point in the album where this formula was already starting to get tired. I honestly like the brief closer quite a bit more. Anthony Kiedis as a vocalist may be my only point of contention with this album. There are songs where his rap-rock style borders cheesy but is still generally enjoyable. His vocal riffs can range from incredibly catchy like on "Give it Away" to insufferable like on the following title track. He's pretty expressive though and adds a lot of character, fitting snuggly in this album's mix. He's a pretty entertaining lyricist, sometimes it sounds like he's rapping about utter nonsense. I like the strange imagery on "Apache Rose Peacock", one of my favorite songs here. It does all these weird genre tropes without *really* sounding like it's parodying them. It's all quite cheesy at times but in a mostly enjoyable way. The album's also pretty long and does grow somewhat tiresome near the end, but I think it does a good enough job of maintaining its energy. Wasn't expecting this but it was a fun album with a lot of character.

classic 4.5/5 listened 3x

Fantastic listen and one of the better chili peppers albums

Slaps like flea in the bass

If You Have to Ask, then just Give It Away. I felt like I was Naked In the Rain when I listened to this.

As much as i want to slate this...i had a hoot. They really were good before they became blandrock

de lo mejores que escuche por ahora

I remember loving RHCP as a kid. By the time I was a teenager, they were putting out what I consider garbage. This might be their last good album before the poppy mess started, as I haven't heard the one they released just after. Everything from Californication on is fucking garbage, but this album holds a special place. Lots of great tracks, mix of funk and rock, some iconic hits. 4.2.

No soy muy de los Red Hot.

Pretty decent

Lot of fun and a ton of energy. I need to go thru the discography so I can understand how it changes from their previous stuff. Rating: 4.2

For better or worse, there’s nothing quite like Red Hot Chili Peppers — and both options are on display in this album. On one hand, songs like Breaking The Girl, Give It Away, and Under The Bridge sound as fresh and relevant now as they did 30 years ago. On the other, the juvenile lyrics featuring clumsy sexual metaphors and constant references to Keidis’s dick are cringeworthy and tired. The secret sauce to the Chili Peppers is, undeniably, Flea. He has a very distinct way he plays the bass, and is responsible for the very non-alternative rock sound on this record such as the orchestral arrangements, trumpet and violin. Although I think the last half of the album drags it down a bit, at their best, RHCP are in a league of their own, and for the majority of this record, they’re undeniably at their best.

classic after classic

Love these guys

I'm guilty of ever so often bemoaning the current lack of sexual forthrightness in our media, something we'd get so often in the horny 90's. Even the Disney movies were all about sex back then. But I can definitely see in this album the way taking it kinda far makes it sorta cartoonish. And I feel more and more distant from the horniness, the 90's in the rear-view mirror looking more and more like the 60s or 80s. Sonically and thematically distinct. Old. But I still kinda love these guys. "Under the Bridge" gives me a mostly-imagined memory of it playing in the kitchen of a boardwalk pizza place while they're cleaning up.

Musically speaking, this album is incredible. I am NOT a huge fan of Mr. Kiedis' lyrics and a bit burnt out on Suck My Kiss and Give it Away, having grown up with them in the 90s. That said, not all songs are created equal on this album. While it's their strongest catalog offering IMO, there's still some duds. Could probably have shaved a few tracks off and had a much more dense banger to dud ratio. Standout Tracks: Breaking the Girl, Suck My Kiss, Give it Away, Under the Bridge, Sir Psycho Sexy

It was fine. Some songs felt repetitive but would be good for working out

Great discovery

Pleasantly surprised with this one, mistook RHCP as a classic US rock band with some classics but this album makes me reconsider, very good very good

Actually enjoyed the project. Is a very good album with great sonority but it lacks a bit with originality. I'll give it a 3.5/5.

I think this is the album held up as RHCP Prime. Solid offering but not my favorite one of theirs.

Great guitars and beats, lyrics leave a lot to be desired

3.7/5 Best Track: Under the Bridge

There are some great songs on here and there are a lot of filler funk songs that all kind of sound the same. The album is pretty long and the songs are really long on top of that. I would have really enjoyed it if it was just the great songs and not filled with so many forgettable ones. Once again an album I loved as a teenager that I now don’t feel as fondly for. 7/10

Love under the bridge. Much chiller than I expected.

Awesome album that got pounded into my brain while working stick at Sam Goody. Can’t stand the singles off this any more due to overexposure but there’s great tracks on it still.

If yapping was an album. Still good tho

give it away give it away give it away now

Enjoyed the album a lot. I've heard it before but I really listened to the lyrics and "The PowerPoint of Equality" might be one of my favorites tracks.

Unique 90’s alt rock album. Guitar is amazing on this record. Has some of RHCP’s best songs. Feels bloated at times.

Classic Red Hot Chili Peppers

Classic album. I'll admit I have a personal bias for Stadium Arcadium but this album is also absolutely fantastic. I love how seamlessly they can mix genres into one thing. Under the Bridge is an all-timer.

At this point they were not the devil they are now. Indeed, if this were a 10-12 track album I'd probably give it's punky Parliament vibes all the stars. As it is it's a little bit indulgent, but good fun.

Played this one a lot

Haven't been a big RHCP fan over the years but I do enjoy some nice bass from Flea, this album was no exception. Was also surprised this album had so many of their hits.

Classic 90s, but it seemed a little stunted compared to their little bit later stuff. Feels like I remember it being a few bpm faster.

Not my favorite album by RHCP but still... Some awesome songs on it.

While I was only familiar with the radio hits when this album was first released, it's now been in my semi-regular rotation for the past 20 years. Great album.

A big part of my late high school life. This bastard was on repeat for a long time. In recent years the allure of the Chili Peppers has waned thanks to the nonsensical lyrics. I think I could have recounted every song without listening at all.

Groundbreaking. So many hits and so much range in one album.

What a bop. My appreciation for RHCP has only grown over time and I’m better for it. These guys know how to jam.

Anthony Kiedis can't really sing, but he does the best with what he's got. I always forget their funky roots. My nostalgia might be rating this a bit higher, but I feel each song has mostly its own feel. They have the signature RHCP sound for sure, but break the mold for I Could Have Lied, Breaking the Girl, Under the Bridge

"whatever happened to humanity?" I better stop with the pull quotes now before it gets out of control. this record is really good. such funk. Right as grunge is hitting big and everyone is slam dancing or mosh pitting this is probably the only caucasian record that came out in 1991 that you could actually dance to. Sir Psycho Sexy is my favorite track. the bubble bass is outstanding

when John Frusciante became John Frusciante.

4 - This definitely needs editing down, some filler songs in there, but when its good it's great

I remember my brother having this album and loving it. It's a lot funkier than I remember and I'm into it. Did a lot of toe tapping to 'If you have to ask'. Loved the funky guitar in 'I could have lied'. Nice to listen to some RHCP back catalogue. Also quite liked the fact it was a longer album with lots of tracks. So hard to know whether you genuinely like a song or just like its familiarity. I gave under the bridge a reload, and it made me wonder whether I'd do that if I didn't know it so well. FOOD4THOUGHT. I really liked the last track 'Castles Made of Sand' Probs my fave album so far... (Of four) It's a high 4/5.

Good album. Leading up to the next album which is a killer

yeah! schon damals toll - kannte vor allem das „best of“-album. und auch heute noch gefällt der bass und die gitarrenriffs.

Damn good

Parts of this are the old ho-hum generic RHCP funk, and parts are pure genius. Under the Bridge, gee, what a corker. Almost a 5, but not quite the consistency required.

Great album - 90s grunge not my style but this one I like!

Yeah

4.3 Probably should be a 5.

An album that hit me at the right time and right age.

This album is super nostalgic for me. My high school boyfriend and I listened to this almost exclusively for a long time. I love the bass and funk.

Maybe it’s the nostalgia talking but it’s just very fun. Sure it’s immature and some of the lyrics are genuinely god awful but it’s a good time

In the words of Krist Novoselic, “White boy funk sucks!”. Only, this record has some really strong moments. The first 10 tracks or so are amazing. I think this record suffered from bloating which was typical of the CD era. Cut off some of the tracks at the end and this album would be a lot better. Oh, and John Frusciante is the obvious highlight of this band. His guitar parts are so insane.

It's hard to underestimate this album's significance to 90's rock. But having in mind the length of the album (17 tracks), I find most of those 17 cuts quite same-y. I like the overall sound of the album, especially adore Flea's bass playing. The highlights for me are The Power Of Equality, Suck My Kiss, The Righteous and the Wicked, Under the Bridge and Sir Psycho Sexy.

A strong debut album with a tasteful blend of alt rock, hard rock, and neo-funk. These guys came out of the gate swinging hard and fast

The music is great, the lyrics are stupid, the album is about twice as long as it should have been. This is a great album to play along with as a drummer. Chad Smith has a great style. He knows what notes not to play. That's rare and more difficult than you think. Favorite song: Breaking the girl.

Much more eclectic that anticipated. There are a lot of clear references and inspiration from hip-hop to funk all while maintaining a clear cohesion and unique sound of their own. I really loved how each song segued into the next. Lyrically, I thought there was a really good mix between meaningful ideas and weird, fun nonsense.

Poor John must have back issues from carrying this band so hard

I didn’t think I’d like the album while listening to the first song, but it started to grow on me a lot while I was listening. There were a few songs I really enjoyed and a few I didn’t like. I will definitely have to look more into this genre and more of Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Classic Chili’s sounds and words

Well, that was an experience. Look I love the Chilis but this was just not even close to their best album. They had some solid songs on here, Breaking the Girl, Under the Bridge, I Could Have Lied, but that was completely offset by the brain-numbing experience that was the 8-minute, 16-second long atrocity that was Sir Psycho Sexy. I mean that song is up there with The Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands by Bob Dylan for worst song I've heard so far, this one mainly because of the lyrics, the Dylan one because of his voice, and the fact it's so freaking long. Overall you can hear where the band will be going, which is Californication and By the Way which are both vastly superior to this so there's that I suppose. Any Chili's album before Californication is not worth your time and this album is proof of that. I'm going to give it four stars but that's only because I cannot give it 3.5 which is what it deserves.

When you think of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, this is the album you think of. Great sound with the signature machine gun cadence and the funk guitar on many tracks. Some experimenting that makes the music unique. Many songs include explicit lyrics (which brings my replayability score down), but the sound is so awesome, this album still scores an extremely high 4.

Great album, I had the greatest hits RCHP growing up. I love give it away no, under the bridge, and blood sugar sex magik. The rest of the album take it or leave it.

Punkish rock and a bit of country

87/100 First time listening start to finish. Starts to sound a little repetitive after a while but an incredible album with some of their best songs and great deep cuts. Not sure if better than Californication, will have to relisten.

New songs that I did not know. Lots of psychedelic guitar solos..overall a good album

actually kinda fire i haven’t listened to much of rhcp besides the radio

7/10 - Funky sound - weird lyrics - Average singer

Ah

I was in middle school when this dropped and it was totally different from most of what I was into at the time. It holds up well for me, nostalgia bias and all, it's well done.

I'm not intimately familiar with RHCP's discography, but I can't imagine they've got an album that tops this one. So much to love here (including the criminally underrated "The Greeting Song").

I'm not the biggest fan of RHCP, but this album is a 90s staple. Reminds me of living in my college dorms with MTv always on everywhere you turned. Great times.

I remember listening to this album and wishing I could play bass like Flea. Still have that dream, actually.

Þetta er svakalega gott funk rokk. Smá erfitt stundum að setja fingur á það hvaðan þetta sound kemur. Örugglega bara geðveikin í aulanum og perranum Kiedis blandað með funky shittinu í Flea. Virkilega gott stöff og mér finnst platan flott heildarverk sem ég get alveg hlustað á aftur og aftur.

Gríðarlega hressandi fönk. Ógleymanlegir smellir. Of mörg lög, en dobbel albúm var vinsælt á þessum tíma.

Some songs like Apache Rose Peacock sounds like rap and it was pleasant. Nice album, also 1h19 of music hell yeah

-rap rock continues -bass -second album in the migration toward mainstream radio -move toward introspections -high school topics and attitudes are still there -the last few songs start to sound repetitive, lose originality, and blend together -Jimi Hendrix covers on the reissue are a nice addition and are pretty good

Didn't realise this album was so old! There's some great tracks that still sound very current in here. Overall Chilli Peppers are a bit of a guilty pleasure for, I enjoy it enough to listen but can't help but notice how pop and sage some of it is played.

The last good Red Hot Chili Peppers album. I credit Rick Rubin for its almost-perfect production. I was really into this when it first came out. I had even pre-ordered it from the shitty record store near campus, since I knew they weren't cool enough to carry it on their own. But... about a hundred other killer albums were released around that time and BSSM was quickly left behind. After this album, RHCP leaned hard into their proven formula, and it was all "Sex, California, Heroin, California, Sex, Heroin, Sex, California, Sex, Heroin, California, Heroin, California, Sex, Sex, California, Heroin, California, Sex, Heroin, Sex, California, Sex, Heroin, California, Heroin, California, Sex, Sex, California, Heroin, California, Sex, Heroin, Sex, California, Sex, Heroin, California, Heroin, California, Sex, Sex, California, Heroin, California, Sex, Heroin, Sex, California, Sex, Heroin, California, Heroin, California, Sex, [REPEAT FOR THIRTY YEARS] from there.

This albums has some of their biggest hits and it is so funky but always felt it was a little too long but it is peak Chili Peppers and one of the most important 90s albums. However I still find myself listening to Californication more.

Classic though it may be, I do get somewhat tired when I get near the end. It’s good, but too much of the same at times. The aspect that keeps me engaged is the playing of Chad, John and Flea. That musical ensemble is just amazing, and while I think Kiedis is the best match for the Peppers, he is far and miles away from my favourite singers/frontmen. The album however is very influential and really set the bar for bands in the scene and bands coming up! 8,5 out of 10

It's a toss up for me on whether or not this is a better album than Californication so suffice it to say I liked this.

I've listened to this album many times and there is a tonne of great material on it. Unfortunately there is some fat that should have been trimmed, especially in the final third.

I'm a big admirer of the RHCP and have listened to this album multiple times before.

Several fun songs.

Well balanced with the hits carrying the album. True 90s through and through. 75%

80% of this album is so good, but the other 20% ranges from middle of the road to borderline grating.

I forget how many good songs are on this album when they are stacked up one after the other. I used to be a hater on the RHCP but the older I get the more they are undeniable. Easy listen. Will listen again.

I have new appreciation for this album. Always heard the singles but never in the intended context. Pretty dang cool

Heard before Saved 11/17 Top track: Under the Bridge

This might be a 5 start album without Anthony Kiedis obnoxious vocals on every other song. Kind of a guilty pleasure for me

Classic

Innovative and fun, full of energy and youth. California, California, California

4/5. More exciting songs on this than I was expecting. The hits rock (Give it away can get old), but there are some others on here that stand out and are re-listens. A nice run from top to bottom, nothing stands out as out of place and they are comfortable with their sound while still experimenting which is what makes this more solid than other releases. The driving force is Flea on his bass, putting that out front is the smartest decision in music history, what a great choice.

This album is like a Sriracha T-Shirt. I loved them in middle school and early high school, and they are still okay but not my favorite. Sort of the word 'dope' of albums.

1 star for Chad Smith, 2 stars for John Frusciante, 2 stars for Flea, -1 star for Anthony "Sittin' on a sack of beans, Sittin' down in New Orleans" Kiedis.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik was the album that finally saw RHCP finding their way into more melodic based songwriting - no doubt thanks to the invaluable contributions from one Mr. Frusciante. It took them 70+ minutes to get there which, considering songs like “Apache Rose Peacock” and “The Greeting Song”, is obviously a bit too long. But the end result is still one of the most iconic records of the entire 90’s - even considering the majority of those damn lyrics.

A little bloated

Impressions: This is a banger. I liked Red Hot Chili Pepper’s sound but this album is a bit dragging. Favorite tracks: The Power of Equality, If You Have to Ask, Suck My Kiss, Give It Away, My Lovely Man, Sir Psycho Sexy Rating: 4/5

Favorite Tracks: The Power of Equality, If You Have to Ask, Breaking the Girl, Funky Monks, Suck My Kiss, I Could Have Lied, Mellowship Slinky in B Major, Give It Away, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Under the Bridge, Sir Psycho Sexy

"Under the Bridge" - perfectly tragic and timeless song to represent the raw emotional struggle with addiction for about 3 minutes, that could do without the uplifting (?) choir section added on toward the end. "I Could Have Lied" - the best guitar work I've heard from John Frusciante's whole career and makes a strong case for being one of the all-time great solos. A few more excellent tunes, some fun/catchy elements, and others that haven't aged well or weren't especially memorable in the first place. The album overall has its highs and lows, but the highest highs of ICHL are well worth any rough patches to get there. RIP Sinéad O'Connor

High rating for under the bridge

schiebt

Pretty catchy, good riffs and grooves Lyrics are melancholic

Just a blast, probably only the middle of the pack in terms of my RHCP album ranks but Kiedis' energy is off the walls, and that's saying a lot for him! Great mix of funk and guitar solos, every band member gets multiple opportunities to shine. Favorite Tracks: Breaking the Girl / Suck My Kiss

My favorite RHCP album. Always felt this one captured them at their peak. Breaking the Girl is the track on this one that stands out. As always, Flea's bass lines are epic.

The album that made them and the song that was played non stop on MTV and the radio

One of my favourite albums, mostly for nostalgia and Chad Smiths drumming on point.

Much prefer btw and sa but this is a real turning point album where you can’t start to hear the transition from funky to melodic, great stuff

Muita pedrada e umas músicas random, 70min de álbum é covardia Tirasse umas 5 musicas era perfeito

Eu gosto pra caralho desse álbum, mas se ele fosse mais compacto ia ser 12/10 Tem muitas músicas que parecem ser só filler

After a re-listen I feel fortunate that I had this album available to me as a coming of age outlet. Comes out swingin’ and never lets up.

This has some *iconic* 90s sound. I couldn't tell you what that is. Maybe like unfiltered and underproduced? All I know is that it sounds like the 90s. The talent of the musicians is pretty clear. And I feel like they also really like their own style. So the musicianship is just really good.

A couple bangers

Very funk, very rhcp

I had only ever heard the typical songs from this album but surprisingly it was a fun listen and the flea can seriously shred a bass.

Initial Thoughts: Sick. I'm a fan of RHCP and I'm sure I'll enjoy it. Final Thoughts: What else is there to say that this really embodies the sound of this band. You have a bunch of different and unique songs as the album plays. Each member really has a distinct style that blends really well together. I'm 'eh' about his rapping, he has some lyrics that are really good, but I personally don't like his rapping style. All in all I enjoyed the album.

This is a great funk album but could be a 5/5 if they dropped some of the filler and made it shorter. Stand out tracks - Breaking the girl - Suck my kiss - I could have lied - Give it away - Under the bridge

4.5

Bomb album

Trevligt, inte mycket att säga.

good one

Discovered I like the singles more than the other stuff.

A very fun and heavy album. The last funk rock album didn’t impress me much but I get why these guys are (were?) kings of the genre. Best song: Give It Away

. My favorite songs were not surprising: 1. Under the Bridge 2. Give it Away 3. Suck my Kiss 4. Funky Monks Has the funk/punk/rock/rap fusion that has made Red Hot Chili Peppers so famous. Great album, 3.5 stars. 1. "The Power of Equality" 4:03 3* Sounds like RHCP, but softer, repetitive. Not bad, not great. Sounds under-produced. 2. "If You Have to Ask" 3:36 3* Kind of a bad parody of gangsta rap at the time, but weak. Flea's bass lines are solid, guitar is good, but this feels under-produced again. The levels are off. Vocals are good but the rap is reverbed and that's not great. 3. "Breaking the Girl" 4:55 4* Great production, song, melody. Well produced. Favorite song so far on the album. 4. "Funky Monks" 5:22 3.5* Produced well. Sounds like RHCP! Great guitar/drums/vocals and bass of course. Haven't heard this one before I don't think. Sounds like a jam. The bridge "you are not alone..." seems a bit flat though. 5. "Suck My Kiss" 3:36 3.5* Produced well, but sounds super similar to other songs on the album. Better vocals, but produced softer than it should be. I remember hearing this one but it isn't a standout. 6. "I Could Have Lied" 4:04 4* Good slow song, good vibe. 7. "Mellowship Slinky in B Major" 3:59 4* Sounds like Give it Away. Bass line slaps so hard. 8. "The Righteous & the Wicked" 4:07 3* Not bad. Not great. 9. "Give It Away" 4:42 5* A classic. Bassline, guitars, rapping, vocals all top notch. 10. "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" 4:31 4* Chill, fun vibe. 11. "Under the Bridge" 4:24 5* My favorite song on the album. 12. "Naked in the Rain" 4:25 3* Bouncy, vocals are a little weak, but great guitar and bass. Vocals sound too quiet. 13. "Apache Rose Peacock" 4:41 3* Okay 14. "The Greeting Song" 3:13 3* Okay 15. "My Lovely Man" 4:39 3* Okay 16. "Sir Psycho Sexy" 8:16 3* Very RHCP style. Good bass line with a cool effect on the sound. Produced better than many of the other songs on the album. Cool ending. 17. "They're Red Hot" Robert Johnson 1:09 3* Swing style. Vocals a little on the weak side. 18. "Little Miss Lover" Jimi Hendrix 2:39 4* Great guitars in this, vocals are strong. Nice solo. Vocals are reminiscent of Hendrix's style. 19. "Castles Made of Sand" Jimi Hendrix 3:19 4.5* What a nice remake of a Hendrix song.

It's good, of course. First time hearing it all the way through, and I liked it.

Listened Before? N This album is a victim of my aversion to overplayed radio songs. A victim, as in, I don't listen to it anymore due to the overplayed-ness of a couple of songs here (notably Under the Bridge, and Breaking the Girl)... BUT... I must say those songs are much better when taken as part of the whole. This album is absolutely AWESOME. The funky-ass sound and mixture of instruments is pure genius. I'm going to re-add this to my library. I do agree with some reviewers (and the band) that this is likely the best album they'll ever record. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Suck My Kiss

*Californication* popped up a few days ago, and long story short, I wrote that it aged far better that I would have expected it to. So much better that I gave it a perfect grade. Today, it's the turn of Red Hot Chili Peppers' *other* major work within its discography. Now the question is: did *Blood Sugar Sex Magik* age as well as its younger sibling? Let's do a track-by-track survey: opener "The Power of Equality" is a prefect rendition-through-live-instruments of the sort of track Public Enemy--quoted in the lyrics--could have written around 1991. The only difference is that Kiedis raps about his "white ass" at some point, emphasizing the importance of black music on him and his band, yet taking into account the risks of cultural appropriation. Nice touch, Anthony. Then, "If You Have To Ask" draws from Parliament/Funkadelic, furthering that visible influence of black culture on the proceedings. Too bad that track is a more meat-and-potatoes affair compared to the opener, as fun as its mock-female-background-vocals are. Fortunately, 3/4-metered "Breaking The Girl" quickly follows, and that waltzy, dreamy-yet-lively cut is still a gem more than thirty years later (with those wonderful flutes sound being a huge part of its timeless flavor). "Funky Monks" then returns to less intense, more conventional funky shenanigans. Bonus points for the way that funk riff is played in such a laidback and sleazy mannner, though, giving it an almost "delta blues" air that's particularly evocative. The song is about groupies, continuing a batch of tunes about Kiedis's sexual obsessions. Which leads us to instantly memorable *Suck My Kiss*. Frusciante's guitar playing is electric in all senses of the word there, as in all the tracks before. I like sudden 180-degree-turns in my favorite albums, and great ballad "I Could Have Lied" offers me that--even though, in retrospect, the song is just a draft for later hit "Under The Bridge" (more on that later). "Mellowship Slinky..." and "The Righteous &The Wicked" then return to RHCP's usual funk-rock antics, but they only feel like fillers before "Give It Away", as if the listener had to bide their time in a waiting room before the real deal. I agree with most reviewers here, by the way--and I already felt that at the time of this album's release: this CD is too long, and producer Rick Rubin, as great as his influence was on all the wonders of this album, should have pushed for *more* self-editing so as to give birth to a shorter, neater affair. And so here comes "Give It Away", a devilish jam for the ages. Flea's bassline is obviously insane in it, as is the backwards-played guitar part (?) on the bridges. What a hit! The title track then follows, and it's a slow, sly, devious number, with quiet-loud-quiet dynamics that make it a great heavy track, owing as much to funk as to hard-rock classics. Ballad "Under The Bridge" then concludes that perfect trilogy right in the middle of the album. I don't need to say more about that song, there's a good reason everyone and their mothers know it. And that good reason can be summed up in four words: perfect verse, perfect chorus. I should probably stop that track-by-track listing now, because nothing after those three back-to-back songs I've mentioned in my last paragraph reaches their incredible heights. Take out Flea's slapped bassline, "Naked In The Rain" would still make a nice lead single for Stone Temple Pilots or even Pearl Jam, though. The mere fact that it's only a deep cut in this record is a testament to RHCP's abilities. And then, after that, there are still very good moments in the tracks "Apache Rose Peacock", "The Greeting Song" and "My Lovely Man"--even though those good moments are interspersed with less memorable ones. As for "Sir Psycho Sexy" the real closer of this album (before that one-minute wink to both Robert Johnson and the band's name), let's be fair: that other homage to the band's former producer George Clinton is obviously a jam that goes on for far too long--even though its psychedelic conclusion, courtesy of that mellotron (?), here coupled with Frusciante's neat guitar riffing, is well worth your time. I haven't really talked about Kiedis's lyrics in this review. I understand why a lot of reviewers in here complained about its supposed dumb / awkward / hackneyed moments. Yet I think it's pretty unfair to judge Kiedis with the standards you would use to judge Bob Dylan or Kendrick Lamar, instead of the ones needed for Funkadelic's jams and funky moodpieces, for instance. There's a general sense of fun and hedonism in those lyrics that could lead youto dismiss them as shallow banter, sure. But there's also some sudden surges of anxiety or even existential self-questioning. Plus, there are some socially-conscious lines of thought once in a while, in keeping with the large old-school hip hop influence on those songs. And in that context, Kiedis' lyrics still sound diverse, rich and interesting, as "funny" as they look on the page, without the music to support them. So let me do the maths here: out of the 16 real tracks (not counting outro "They're Red Hot"), you have: - Five *stellar* numbers - Around six good to excellent songs - Around five filler tracks that could have easily been left off on the cutting floor (with the eight other songs from the session Rubin and the band left aside, according to sources--two of which are included in the spotify link, if ever you're interested about them). So if you take into account the weight of the stellar songs and add a *small* bonus point because of them (plus the fact that a double album can't harbor only highlights anyway), you'd have a 12/16 grade here, translating to a 3.75/5 one for the purposes of this list of essential records. Now add the cultural importance of this commercially successful rock-rap LP, as well as its influence for the rest of the nineties, and I think it's reasonable to round things up to a solid four-star mark (or a 9/10 grade for more general purposes). *Blood Sugar Sex Magik* aged less well than *Californication*, and is therefore one notch under it. But I still think it's an "essential" record. It's odd to do something as supposedly rigorous as maths for such a jammy and sensual LP. But when you can't think whether a record is "a king or a pauper", maybe you need to channel your subjectivity (and potential nostalgia) through something like maths to be a little more convincing. I very well understand why some folks--especially younger millenials and zoomers--would find *Blood Sugar Sex Magik* quite dated at first glance, and so why they would feel like its inclusion in this list is unwarranted. I'm just trying to suggest one thing to those younger listeners: go beyond this album's excessive length and topsy-turvy tracklist. If you manage to do that, chances are that you'll find out there's still a very good record there somewhere. Number of albums left to review: 420 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 268 (including this one). Albums from the list might* include in mine later on: 142 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 176

Great rock album with strong bass, elite drumming, and nonsense lyrics. A few throwaway tracks that could have been omitted, but the classics on here are classics for a reason.

It holds up alright. Some definite bangers in there.

Fine!

probably not my favourite RHCP album but still good

Feels quite dated but loved it back in the day