Album Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You

Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You

Now I’m not the biggest RHCP fan but must admit I have spent many lazy afternoons listening to what’s probably my favourite album of theirs, Californication.

During the 2 year hiatus after touring for the award winning album, Stadium Arcadium, the band members took some time to do their own thing:

RHCP: Josh Klinghoffer, Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith

Lead singer, Anthony Kiedis has reportedly been working on an HBO series called Spider and Son.

Flea studied music theory at the University of Southern California; went to Nigeria with Damon Albarn’s African Express and toured with Thom Yorke’s Atoms For Peace.

Drummer Chad Smith recorded and toured with hard rock supergroup, Chickenfoot, alongside Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Michael Anthony; whilst two-time ex-Chili Pepper guitarist, John Frusciante continued with his solo career and released his tenth solo album, The Empyrean.

On-again off-again guitarist, John Frusciante

John left the band for a second time, after being a fundamental part of the group for over 20 years and was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer, who has worked with the band on several occasions before. 

This vital change in band structure and Flea’s recent African inspiration can definitely be heard on the new album, I’m with you, released 26 August this year.

Their first single, The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie reached number one on Billboard.com but listening to this song left me feeling like I had attended a seminar on types of laundry detergents. The little guitar - what I am guessing is a solo - sounds so out of place that Uncut magazine stated it sounds like it was pasted in as a joke by the studio’s tea boy.

Tracks Monarchy of roses and Factory of Faith have a more ‘funk’ feel to them and groovy bass lines that we have come to expect from Flea.

Ethiopia and Look Around maintain the more recognizable RCHP sound, and follow the popular sound of Give it away and Californication.

Goodbye Hooray is the rock jewel of the album. Josh steps up to the red hot plate and Flea's bass solo is delectable... 

Did I Let You Know confirms the recent African influence with a trumpet solo that sounds almost local, female backing vocals and an afro drum beat that is apparent on Dance, Dance, Dance as well. Something else was also confirmed by my hubby as I was listening to this song.

Anthony rhymed:

I wanna lean on you, get Jan and Dean on ya,

It's time to sway a little mass perception

I like your cheeky well, so mose and peaky and,

I think the world could use a clear connection...

And The Drummer replied, “They are singing about kak again.”

This is true for most of the Pepper’s lyrics but there are a few songs that sound like more than just the ramblings of a hippy on an acid trip. Rick Florina from Artistdirect stated that: 'Police Station is the most vibrantly visceral visual that the band has ever conjured’ and ‘the song paints a vivid portrait of loneliness and failure that's as tearjerkingly infectious as 'Under the Bridge' but with another two decades of instrumental intricacy infused at heart.’

Bass virtuoso, Flea

Brendan’s death song and Meet me at the corner are also two of the songs that seem a bit more layered. The piano heard in Even you Brutus?, Happiness Loves Company and throughout the album is played by Flea, further demonstrating that the band has broadened their creative horizons.

Overall, I’m with you has a more relaxed feel to it and the approach is different to conventional RCHP. But is takes nerve to experiment with different musical styles at the risk of disappointing fans. The album is more complex and deserves some respect for the artists’ development. However, if you are buying this album in search of some good ol’ Red Hot Chili Peppers, you will be disappointed.

GothGirl