You should definitely check their documentary "Funky Monks". I'm not sure if it has been released on dvd, but it documents the "BSSM" recording in that Malibu house you mentioned. I enjoyed the film a lot and it features a still-fresh Frusciante, right before breaking down. Although the general impression is that Frusciante's two first solo albums are crap, the truth is I love them, specially "Niandra Lades..." on Birdman. Sad that it's out-of-print.
I thought the Peppers were relatively fresh during their "Freaky Styley" / "Uplift Mofo Party Plan" period. That's also when I saw them give a good concert here in Holland, albeit very brief at under one hour (that was Frusciante's 20th birthday if I'm not mistaken, so it must have been a concert in support of "Mother's Milk", an album I have never liked; but the concert still rocked.) Their style got stale rather soon, though, and by the time they started touring "BSSM" I think they had already lost it - I have seen them a couple of times in the period '92-'93, and all these concerts were bad in the extreme. Lousy playing, uninspired stage presence, increasing reliance on gimmicks (Flea in his underwear and that kind of thing), short concerts at ever increasing venue sizes and ticket prices. I now consider them one of the most overrated bands in existence. I will actually turn off the radio when one of their songs is on. I almost hate them as much as I hate the Smashing Pumpkins, another serious contender for most overrated act ever. To me, nothing of the funk-metal era holds up nowadays (including Living Colour). The only band that I think is still interesting is Faith No More, but I don't think they were ever really interested in making funk metal, at least they weren't anymore when their masterpiece "Angel Dust" came out. And then there's Primus, who, sadly, have never managed to surpass "Frizzle Fry" in my opinion... The reception of Frusciante's solo records is strange... Some of the avant-garde crowd love them, including some friends of mine who are into "deep listening" and field recordings... Frankco
--- francko.lamerikx@philips.com escribió: >
I now consider them one of the most overrated bands in existence. I will actually turn off the radio when one of their songs is on. I almost hate them as much as I hate the Smashing Pumpkins, another serious contender for most overrated act ever.
I think their records from "One Hot Minute" on are bordering on the ridiculous. I'd rather not mention the Smashing Pumpkins. They're no longer working, right? (please say they're not!)
To me, nothing of the funk-metal era holds up nowadays (including Living Colour). The only band that I think is still interesting is Faith No More, but I don't think they were ever really interested in making funk metal, at least they weren't anymore when their masterpiece "Angel Dust" came out. And then there's Primus, who, sadly, have never managed to surpass "Frizzle Fry" in my opinion...
We had a long discussion here a while ago. I think the problem with them (and particularly with Les Claypool) is that they've always been doing the same stuff, over and over again, even in Claypool's sideprojects. The downside of it is they lost their sense of humor along the way, more exactly in "Pork Soda", and what came after is just a dull version of what they did before.
The reception of Frusciante's solo records is strange... Some of the avant-garde crowd love them, including some friends of mine who are into "deep listening" and field recordings...
They were absolutely weird albums. I don't know to which extent they were truly honest or whether those stories about drug-abuse and "surrender to worlds of personal demons and unstoppable artistic creation" were 100% veracious. The guy's looks have changed remarkably, so it's obvious that something wrong happened. "Niandra Lades" gets slightly boring by the end, but I found "Smile From the Streets You Hold" (Birdman Records, now out-of-print) to be fascinating in some strange way. If it wasn't honest, the guy deserves an Oscar. Best, Efrén del Valle ___________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - Nueva versión GRATIS Super Webcam, voz, caritas animadas, y más... http://messenger.yahoo.es
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francko.lamerikx＠philips.com