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Flea Don't Sound Like Flea No More...

#62
agreatheight said:
+1 to Kiedis recycling the same tired crap in each new song. He has never been a super strong singer, lyricist, or melody writer, but the new direction they have taken really puts the focus on what he is doing, and there isn't anything to it. I hate to say it, I had trouble even listening to the bass past that lazy bit of songwriting. If he had the BSSM magic tone on that, it wouldn't have mattered to me. At all.
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Agreed. Anthony is without a doubt the weak link in the band. I always feel disappointed to see an incredible piece by the rest of the band get bombed with his typical silly lyrics and childishness. He's gotten MUCH better of the years though for sure. Californication was a really quality song in terms of writing. But his role was always to compliment everyone else in the band, which was pretty cool and unique. But now, Flea doesn't want center stage anymore, and overall, the band just points the spotlight towards Anthony, and it seems wonky. They'll play a slow repetitiveness riff and you're expecting him to do something about it, but it just sounds... empty.


I can't say I disagree with Flea's decision to law low. For 20 years he packed so much energy and detail into EVERY piece he played, you got to change it up some time.
 
#63
They lost me after One Hot Minute and never regained my interest. Kiedis just became a way to overbearing element in their sound, imo. He oversings and I find his lyrics to be trite. I listened to the new song hoping for the best, as I do every time they come out with something new. They used to be one of my favorite bands, but when I hear his caterwaul singing lyrics like "wanna rock you like the '80's, cockblocking is not allowed" the only reaction I can have is...next. Thanks for stopping by, you won't be residing in my player.
 
#64
I feel a lot of the people in this thread would change their tune if they were expected to continuously play the exact same thing for 25 years. Has anyone considered that maybe nostalgia is making them have unrealistic expectations from a group of musicians?
 
#65
JimmyM said:
I liked it. Sheesh, it's one song out of what? 12? Seriously now...I'll bet most of you said the same thing when "Under The Bridge" came out, and that album turned out to be the biggest one they've had and full of the usual fare. Wait till the whole album comes out to decide if Flea has changed or taken a momentary diversion for a song.
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Exactly! Everyone is saying how the new album is complete crap but no one has heard it except for one song. Wait until August 22nd then make judgment.
 
#70
Flea_full.jpg
 
#72
bassinplace said:
They lost me after One Hot Minute and never regained my interest. Kiedis just became a way to overbearing element in their sound, imo. He oversings and I find his lyrics to be trite. I listened to the new song hoping for the best, as I do every time they come out with something new. They used to be one of my favorite bands, but when I hear his caterwaul singing lyrics like "wanna rock you like the '80's, cockblocking is not allowed" the only reaction I can have is...next. Thanks for stopping by, you won't be residing in my player.
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This times 9000.
 
#75
I like it, good groove, the bass line drives the song, great tone. I also like to see the progression of music a musician or band makes over time. It would seem to go from very heavy on the "hey I'm a bad@$$ with something to prove, check this $#!^ out" very busy more technical playing to more listening and asking "how well does this fit within the context of the song".

I think some of the disappointment comes from unreasonably high expectations and the fact that most of us get locked in to the music we listened to in our teen years. It is probably the time when most of us started first started to form our own opinions about music and bass playing. And what had the biggest impact on us? The things that stood out the most and made the biggest impression tended to be more of the "I'm a bad@$$" type of stuff.

Does anyone here like, the Who, Yes, Rush, Zeppelin, Sabbath, Chili's, Metallica? Notice how the lack of more recent bands gives you a good indication of my age? It's hard to get away from what you grew up listening to. Which are your favorite albums from these bands? I'm guessing their earlier stuff when they were still closer to the "check me out" part of the spectrum. And how old were you when you first heard them?

Sex Magic, Zep II, Moving Pics, and Master will always be my favorite stuff in those styles, I've heard em and played em a ton but I also enjoy some of their newer stuff for what it is, a progression down the path of becoming more experienced musicians, and still lots of very good stuff after. I've already listened to them a ton and can always go back and listen whenever I want. I also listen to and enjoy a lot more different styles of music now too. There is a lot of great stuff out there to listen to and enjoy if you open up your ears and your mind. It's also a good way to keep from becoming one of those guys you find on CL who won't play anything written after they turned 25 and thinks that everything since is crap. They don't seem to work as much as those that continue to listen, enjoy, and grow as musicians.
 
#78
He still sounds more like Flea than I do. :hiding: But although his sound has a changed a bit he still sounds like Flea to me. I didn't think the song was that great (not all the horrible either), but I'll wait to see what else they got in the bag.
 
#79
jmattbassplaya said:
I haven't checked out any of their new stuff besides that one single they released. Personally, I'll pass. I think they lost their mojo right at the beginning of Californiacation.
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yeah.

to me, the early stuff was cool, but blood sugar sex magic is the only worthwhile record. before that is to punk-ish for me, everything after that is too pop-ish to me.

haven't heard his new thing yet, though.
 

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