martindavey87
Released in 1985, ‘Freaky Styley’ is the second album by funk rockers the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and follows on from their 1984 self-titled debut. I didn’t really like that album, although there was nothing in particular that I disliked, it was just a case that none of the songs did anything for me. So going into this one, I had literally no expectations, and that was probably the best thing I could have done. Because as it turns out, I was in for a pleasant surprise!
The band is still completely “out there”, but the songwriting here has improved vastly, and while I thought their previous outing was a completely incoherent mess of an album, everything here flows really well. There is a palpable energy, with every song displaying non-stop enthusiasm and excitement. Perhaps it’s the drugs, or perhaps just the sheer passion these guys share. Either way, you can tell this is a band having fun. The musicianship here is exceptional, with particular praise to bassist Flea, who really brings the funk elements, and vocalist Anthony Kiedis, whos blend of rapping and singing brings out his tongue-in-cheek humour and in-your-face attitude.
With highlights including ‘Nevermind’, ‘American Ghost Dance’, ‘Jungle Man’, ‘Catholic School Girls Rule’ and the ridiculous ‘Sex Rap’, this is a massive step up in quality for the Chili Peppers. While much better things are to come, ‘Freak Styley’ is raw, dirty, and full of boundless energy, making it a pure joy to listen to.
