Adventures In Stereo

I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at underappreciated albums and the first album to get the Adventures in Stereo Revival is Red Hot Chili Pepper’s 1995 release ‘One Hot Minute’.

One Hot Minute is the first and only Red Hot Chili Peppers record that featured ex-Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro.  Coincidentally it also found the band on a darker, richer vein of form than they had been on their previous albums (and indeed the records that followed).

Although there is no denying that ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’ will remain the highlight of their career, ‘One Hot Minute’ is its equal.  But, it will forever be discarded by ‘fans’ of the band who dislike its ‘experimental’ sound.

For those fans who discovered the ‘Chili Peppers following the success of Californication and By The Way, One Hot Minute is bound to disappoint. It’s dark and edgy and although it plays unlike anything the band produced before, or after, Navarro’s stint you can’t help but feel that something doesn’t quite fit.

The lead-off single, ‘Warped’, was certainly an indication of what to expect. The band had never sounded so full or heavy. The instrumentation is busy, which seems to highlight the musicianship of the band more than their other records (though there’s no denying that Flea always brings his ‘A’ game to the table). This is evident throughout much of the album.

Navarro turned the band on its head. Turned them into something more than the band they were (or the pop band they would become), but it just wouldn’t work out.

There’s definately a different feel and atmosphere surrounding each of the album’s tracks.  But that’s no bad thing.  One Hot Minute is a great record. Possibly the record that they needed to make in order to exorcise their demons.