‘Mother’s Milk’ a healthy brand of high-energy funk, ‘righteous music’
October 5, 1989
Mother’s Milk, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is one of the more refreshing albums of the year, or for that fact the last 25 years. They will simply knock you out with their brand of high-energy funk. The album cover alone is worth buying the album; check it out.
The first track “Good Time Boys” throws everything at you. Flea, the bassist, formerly of FEAR, tosses some incredible bass lines. You better duck because if it hits you, it’ll hurt. The tone for the album is set when they sing “We’re the best of the West and the West is ours”.
I couldn’t believe it when I heard it. They actually cover Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground”. Flea slaps some mighty mean bass here.
“Subway to Venus” is the Beastie Boys meet James Brown. What more could a person want.
I guess Flea is a big Los Angeles Lakers fan so they wrote “Magic Johnson”, as basically a tribute.
The absolute best bass lines of all time are all contained in “Nobody Weird Like Me”. Not bad guitar work for an 18 year old genius.
“Knock Me Down” has a video in which their friends Fishbone appear. The song has a 70’s tint which is turned unbelievably cool. The Chili Peppers can do anything and this is proof.
The woman-folk aren’t going to like this title very much.”Stone Cold Bush” is pure rock-n-soul. Once again Flea signs this one with his bass work.
“Punk Rock Classic”is just that. It’s a basic three chord prototype. Listen for the surprise at the end of this one, it’s hilarious if you don’t like Guns ‘n Roses.
The best song on the album is “Sexy Mexican Maid.” The only way to describe it is to imagine yourself in a sky-blue Catalina low-rider cruising down the Sunset Strip with your hand just over the wheel and your arm around your woman.
“Mother’s Milk” is one of the best albums of the year, with one of the best bass players in the world. Anyone with any taste whatsoever is going to love this gem.
As Flea states on a promotional poster – “Righteous music must prevail, Mother’s Milk is good and healthy”.