Rocktrospectiva: The Vibrant And Commercial Success "Mother's Milk" Turns 35

 

Released on 16 August 1989, "Mother's Milk" was the fourth studio album for the American band Red Hot Chilli Peppers, after de death of Hillel SLovak and departure od Jack Irons, the released set a new beginning for the band, regropued with John Frusciante and Chad Smith, indeed, Frusciante influence altered the sound of the band by placing more emphasis on melody than rhythm, under the production of Michael Beinhorn, the band played heavy metal riffs as well as overdubbing, although there was fought between producer and John Frusciante because of this. 

The album spawned three singles an original cover of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground", "Knock Me Down" and finally "Taste The Pain", this helped the album to reach No. 52 on Billboard 200 as a result, the record became a great commercial success for the band, although the critic this time wasn't too positive despite this album was a major achievement for the band. 

 

The situation for the band was kind of loose, indeed the 1987 album "The Uplift Mofo Party Plan" was the last album with the orignal members of the band, then Slovak died of a heroin overdose and left he band in complete shock, they tried to found a quick replacement and after several guitarists, they finally chose a teenager John Frusciante thanks Flea who found on young player a talented and knowledgeable musician, so the band went on tour with Frusciante and Peligro on drums, unfortunately Peligro had his own drug problems, and despite he collaborated to co.write "Stone COld Bush", "Taste The Pain" and "Sexy Mexican Maid", he was fired in late November 1988, so the band decided to hire a new drummer and found that replacement on Chad Smith, so the new line-up was ready in December 1988. 

The recording sessions were far different, using many songs which had been already written and in some cases even recorded, so the pre-production started in January 1989, starting with "Taste The Pain" then moved with "Knock Me Down", by February 1989, the band entered the studio to record the album, this was helpful because the producer forced the best possible the band in order to obtain a hit record, and this was a counterpoint because Beinhorn was desperate to produce a hit, this create several foughts between the producer and the rest of the musician especially with Frusciante.

The final results was a blend between funk metal, alternative metal and funk rock, a total amount of 13 tracks made the final election, and definitely "Knock Me Down" was the most radical track on the whole album, with introspective lyrics analizing Slovak's death and the devastating effect drugas can have on life, even thought the track integrates the band typical punk influences, but asserts heavier emphasis on melody and harmonics that lead into more alternative territory.

The brillaint "Higher Ground" became another song that helped the band achieve international success. Originally written and recorded in 1973 by R&B singer Stevie Wonder, the track was, according to Flea, a perfect cover for the band, the lyrics are great. Especially as far as the situation that the band has been in, as far as state of mind, for the past few months. That song is really about raising and uplifting yourself spiritually. The instrumental "Pretty Little Ditty" was one of the few songs that featured no guitar layering; Apter notes that the song is "a dreamy, sweetly stoned instrumental featured deft picking and strumming from Frusciante, intertwined with blasts of trumpet from Flea. 

The song "Taste the Pain" reflects a more meditative and melodic theme, similar to "Knock Me Down." Frusciante introduces psychedelic guitar progressions in the verse, while the lyrics touch on themes of love and loss. Other tracks such as "Stone Cold Bush" presented topics of prostitution, "Subway To Venus" was another highlight showcasing Flea's interpretation on trumpet, "Magic Johnson" was a track created to honor the basketball player, and "Nobody Weird Like Me" increases the punk and hardened the sound that marks the next tracks sounds such as "Stone Cold Bush" and the brilliant "Knock Me Down", the record finishes with "Fire" a curious weirdo cover of Jimi Hendrix recorded by Irons and Slovak, and finished with "Sexy Mexican Maid" and "Johnny, Kick A Hole In The Sky". 

The album was the most commercially succesful the band ever had before, but received mixed reviews from critics who were unimpressed with the excessive distortion found throughout the album. However, it was praised and called it a pivotal album for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the album was everything the band had hoped for, and a little more besides, an energetic and fun restatement for the band, helping to paved the band's the road they will follow and what will come next, empowered their creativity that led the band to create the massive "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" a couple of years later, 

Red Hot Chill Peppers "Mother's Milk" track list:

1. Good Time Boys

2. Higher Ground

3. Subway To Venus

4. Magic Johson

5. Nobody Weird Like Me

6. Knock Me Down

7. Taste The Pain

8. Stone Cold Bush

9. Fire

10. Pretty Little Ditty

11. Punk Rock Classic

12. Sexy Mexican Maid 

13. Johnny, Kick A Hole In The Sky