Real Men Don't Kill Coyotes, they listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers....

I'd love to do an introduction...but then again what hasn't been said about the Red Hot Chili Peppers? The kings of funk have been going strong for nearly 20 years now, a figure that no one could have possibly conceived when they started up, or even when they released a song like "Give It Away"...but they're still here, and still huge. After garnering more mainstream attention in the decent By the Way, the Peppers decided to compile a sequel to "What Hits?!" (a collection of their greatest hits on EMI records), aptly titled "The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Greatest Hits", which is a collection of their hit singles on Warner Brothers Records, which of course includes the song that just about any casual fan can name off the top of his or her head. Kicking off from Blood Sugar Sex Magick all the way up to By the Way, the Chili Peppers guide you through their funk-laced history with plenty of great songs.

Still, as always there's going to be complaints about the tracklistings. Obviously, the majority of songs being represented in the compilation are from Blood Sugar Sex Magick and Californication, which is fine with me for the most part. Alot of people aren't too happy with the number tracks off the Californication album, but it does make sense for them to put it on here since these were mega-hits along with the album, and most are really good songs, too. Still, as many have already adressed, there's a lack of tracks from One Hot Minute...bad or not, it still had some great songs in the form of Aeroplane and Warped, which are missing from the tracklisting. Instead in it's place are songs like Road Trippin' and Universally Speaking, which weren't huge hits, and the latter of which at least for me isn't that good of a song at all. I'd rather have seen the song Can't Stop if they wanted another song to represent their latest album, By the Way. Another minor complaint is that the ballads and slow songs are too close to another track-wise, giving the album an overall slow pacing and feeling. While just about every one of the ballads kick major a*s, it's hard to listen to them back to back to back without losing some energy. Obviously, the harder and more energetic tracks are numerous, but I think that the tracks should have been rearranged a bit differently to give the album a more lively nature. Not to say that it's boring, it's a great listen, but it feels a bit slower than it should. Nothing too serious though.

Anyway, I've had my 15 minutes of rambling, so why not get to the tracks? RHCP's Greatest Hits kicks off with their mega-hit from Blood Sugar Sex Magick, none other than Under the Bridge. Anthony Kiedis enters with his smooth vocals and Frusciante adds in his soft guitar lines as the song slowly builds up to a great climax. While it starts out slow and ballad-like, it's never depressing and somehow upbeat and fun...and a great listen.

Things kick into high gear with the next track, the ultra-funky Give It Away. Kiedis starts rapping along with some inspired bass work from Flea and great beats from Chad Smith, along with some great guitar work by Frusciante. The lines are goofy and random, but the song is just so fun that it's hard to resist. Flea's basslines are simple yet extremely effective, as everything clicks here in this a*s-kicking funk song. I've always considered Smith to be one of the most talented yet underrated drummers in rock music, and this song is proof of that. If you listen to it, the beats are simple but give the song so much energy it's ridiculous. There's plenty of great musicianship to go around in this song, which is why it's so great. Any band that tried to cover this would probably fall flat on their faces, and that's why the Chili Peppers are so great.

The album then delves into two of the slower and deeper songs from Californication, the album-titled track and Scar Tissue. Californication is an excellent song by all means. Flea lays down some great basslines that are complimented by Frusciante's awesome laid-back riffs. The drumming is great as well, utilizing alot of quick snare rolls and taps that are very effective. Flea and Kiedis are the shining in this song, as the vocals are spot on, forceful and powerful yet soft and not out of place, while Flea's basslines progress the song perfectly. But of course, this song is most well-known for it's videogame inspired music video, which you can check out on their "Greatest Hits and Videos" CD, another CD with an absolutely ingenious name. I couldn't have come up with a better title myself. Seriously, what the hell would I call it? If the band called me up and asked me to name it, I'd probably get nervous and call it Californication, causing mass confusion and burning of my effigies across the nation. Phew...that was completely random and pointless, wasn't it?

Scar Tissue is my personal favorite from Californication because of the vocal arrangements that are so poppy yet awesome. The background vocals are utilized perfectly here and really make the song. Kiedis's vocals are also right on, and anyone who thought this guy couldn't sing (I don't know why) will be convinced with this song. Frusciante's guitar solos won't go down in rock history, but they do alot for the song, which is really all that matters. The guitar solos are beautiful, make musical sense, and are pretty much stunning. I love random and wild guitar solos as much as the next drunk rocker, but this is a prime example of what a great guitar solo is. But that's me.

The next song, Soul to Squeeze was recorded for a film soundtrack and therefore not on any Chili Peppers albums...well, until now. This is an added bonus for people buying the CD. While it's not officially a new song, I don't know who is going to jump in their car and buy the Coneheads Soundtrack to get this song, so this is a pretty good addition. Soul to Squeeze has alot in common with the previous two songs, carried along by Flea's excellent basslines and Kiedis's smooth vocals. While I'm not big on three slower songs back to back to back, with quality like this it's tough to argue. The song features some great verses and an awesome chorus that pulls it all together making Soul to Squeeze a definite highlight track. Just take a listen to the musicianship alone and you'll be blown away. The song is a bit of a downer with some sad, but well-written lyrics, but the excellent music makes it seem more energetic and fun to listen to than it seems on the lyrics sheet.

Where I go I just don't know,
I got to got to gotta take it slow,
When I find my peace of mind,
I'm gonna give you some of my good time...

Okay, okay...now it's time to rock out with some really HARD ROCKIN' HITS...no...wait...it's Otherside. Not to say this is a bad song at all, it's one of the best from the Californication CD, but it should have been placed somewhere away from the three other slower songs, since this is the point where the pace of the CD is dragged down a bit. The lyrics are obscure and interesting, but don't seem random as some of the songs that Kiedis raps on on, and instead has a sort of dark ring to it. Should I mention the cool music video on this video-less collection of Greatest Hits?

Finally, we get the first upbeat song in a while, in the form of one of my all-time favorites Suck My Kiss, a song about sex that seems random and energetic, like all great Chili Peppers songs. The energized riff and drumbeats from Smith kick this song into high gear, and of course Flea kicks some serious a*s as well. Kiedis shows that he's a better rapper than Eminem as he goes line after line of innuendos and that all too famous line from the song title. The guitar solo is also great, but above all what makes this song for me is how funny I find it. I don't know...I just seem to visualize a room with a bunch of 70 year olds listening to Kiedis yell "Suck my kiss!"

"What did he say Martha? Those sick children! I'm tellin you...music these days"

Me and my twisted sense of humor...

We finally head into the Chili Pepper's latest album, By the Way and their biggest hit, By the Way. This song is a perfect example of how much the band has matured musically. The song is still as fun and crazy as any song off Blood Sex Sugar Magick but it features some advanced vocal arrangements, lyrics, and overall musicianship that wasn't on that album. By the Way kicks off with a mellow intro as Kiedis sings Standing in line / To see the show tonight / And there's a light on / Heavy glow/ By the way I tried to say
I'll be there..., as the song goes full blast into a mix of some techno stylings and rapping by Kiedis, almost like the b*stard child of Californication and Blood Sex Sugar Magick. The verses are reminsicent of material off Californication, while the rapping brings back memories of former albums. A really fun song, and another great track to sing along too. While Flea doesn't get to show off much, the musicianship as a whole is impressive here, and this one wasn't a surprise hit as all, considering how well-performed and produced it was.

From By the Way back to Californication, Parallel Universe is next. The verses feature some laid-back rapping by Kiedis, but the chorus is by far the selling point of this album, with a hard rock chorus that comes so unexpectedly you may be kicked wide awake if you have the volume on too loud.

Breaking the Girl is next, which I've never been much of a fan of. Although the drumming is awesome, there's nothing that really sticks out here except for the use of a flute which is pretty interesting. It's not a bad song, but nothing amazing and none too energetic. It also feels odd following Parallel Universe. A decent song, but in a Greatest Hits album it doesn't really compare with the rest on here, at least for me.

Next up is the only song from One Hot Minute, the awesome My Friends, which as many reviewers have pointed to, is pretty much a reworking of Under the Bridge. But hey, is that really a problem? Dave Navarro offers some great work on the acoustic guitar, while Kiedis steals the show with his emotional and inspired lyrics with some great backups too. While many people feel that Under the Bridge is a better song, I see the two as equally good, with My Friends being a more calculated hit than Under the Bridge. The musicianship is great, and the acoustic guitar really works here. After hearing an obscene amount of bands make the acoustic guitar look like some kind of novelty item last year and the year before that, it's great to hear a song that puts it to great use....again.

Next is the only EMI song on the album, the Chili Peppers biggest pre-Warner Brothers hit. The rock n' roll heavy cover of Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground...and while overplayed still hasn't lost it's edge. One of the few great cover songs, this song has that rare ability to make just about anyone move along with the beat. Mixing Stevie Wonder's great lyrics with the Chili's funk and punk makes for a great song and an obvious album highlight.

The next two songs are Universally Speaking and Road Trippin. I'm not a fan of Universally Speaking although after a few listens I didn't think it was bed, but it's definitely not an album highlight. Road Trippin' features some great lyrics and vocals by Kiedis, but isn't that spectacular either. Still, I think the lyrics are pretty impressive here.

Road trippin' with my two favorite allies
Fully loaded we got snacks and supplies
It's time to leave this town, it's time to steal away
Let's go get lost anywhere in the U.S.A.
Let's go get lost, let's go get lost...

The two brand new songs, and the most likely selling point of this album for hardcore fans follow next.

Come on God, do I seem bulletproof?

Fortune Faded kicks off with an energetic riff, an awesome song that impressively ranks up there with some of the better work the band has done. The verses feature some great riffs and basslines from Flea while Kiedis raps along, while the chorus is even better, using an acoustic guitar to give a totally different feel. The backup vocals are again spot-on and great, as Fortune Faded makes it mark both musically and lyrically.

While many Red Hot Chili Peppers fans will find Fortune Faded the better of the two songs, I personally find the next track, Save the Population to be the gem of the album, or at least the better of the two songs although I'm in the vast minority. The song isn't funky or hard rockin, but instead very different, featuring some downright amazing guitar work by Frusciante, which in the chorus perfectly mixes with Kiedis's voice to make one of the most captivating choruses I've heard in a while. Frusciante steals the show with his guitar work which almost seems surreal and spaced out...and just perfect. Kiedis's vocals really shine here too, as they are powerful on the verses and perfectly poppy on the chorus. While most of you are probably going to think I'm crazy, I think Save the Population is plain awesome.

Pistol and its pawn
Sailing through the lexicon
A pistol landed hard
Blood and border lines be drawn
Take another bottle down to proper lam the shrew
Make another awful sound to rap the gothic through
History so strong...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits is obviously not perfect, missing a few key tracks, but as far as Greatest Hits Compilations go, the Red Hot Chili Peppers nailed it pretty well. Few, if any of these songs will dissapoint anyone that even remotely likes the band, and the new tracks are far from the lopped together efforts that some bands use to sell their records, instead it's material that seems inspired and worthy of recognition. There's not much more I can say about this album, but then again, if you're going to buy it, you won't need me to tell you how good it is.