10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Albums
9. Mother's Milk
Mother's Milk is the first record featuring what would go on to become the seminal line-up of the band, with the introduction of the powerful drums of Chad Smith replacing Jack Irons and the manic riffery of teenage prodigy John Frusciante assuming guitar in the wake of the tragic passing of Hillel Slovak. The album is far from perfect, with the band themselves generally lamenting the production of Michael Beinhorn, pushing the group in a funk-metal direction popular at the time.
However, when things coalesce, the album is a hell of a lot of fun. It is borderline impossible not to groove to the band's rendition of Higher Ground, while Stone Cold Bush, Knock Me Down and an energetic cover of Jimi Hendrix’s Fire supply even more in the way of pure, raucous fun.
Pretty Little Ditty shows the instantaneous chemistry that Flea and Frusciante shared, weaving guitar and basslines together, playing off one another, complimented by a tasteful horn section, in a beautiful instrumental piece. Mother's Milk is not a profound, deep album, but the Good Time Boys defy you not to enjoy it.