10BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

(1991)

Leaning harder into the funk of funk-rock than any of their peers, the Chilis’ defining moment finds John Frusciante drawing as much on Parliament-funkadelic and Sly Stone as Hendrix. It turned out that playing James Brown riffs with a grittier tone and a drummer who wanted to be John Bonham was a winner. Frusciante’s angular soloing on Suckmykiss and the graunching string bends of Giveit Away explored how percussive lead guitar can get, while Under Thebridge is the best anyone has appropriated Hendrix’s combined lead-rhythm style. Amps? You don’t need one – John did most of this straight into the desk.