Music Monday: Red Hot Chili Peppers “I’m With You”
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I’m (mostly) With You, RHCP
Five years have passed since Red Hot Chili Peppers released a new album. “Stadium Arcadium” was a double album that was pretty good, but it had it’s share of weak moments. In fact, it’s been since “Californication” since I’ve enjoyed an RHCP album track by track. And of course, nothing they do can ever touch the absolute greatness of 1991‘s “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” which cemented my love of this band. Other than hearing “Fight Like A Brave” on the radio, by first real exposure to the band was when “Mother’s Milk” came out. I played that CD to death in 1989.
I’m With You
So now it’s 2011 and we have “I’m With You“. First on this list is the departure of John Frusciante, who joined the band during the “Mother’s Milk” era. He had left before, for a time, but this time, he called it quits for good. Replacing him is Josh Klinghoffer, who is not only a close friend to John, but had been the band’s main guitar tech since 2007. A natural selection if you ask me. Bass and drums haven’t changed, with Flea being the master he’s become in the almost 30 years he’s been with the band. And Chad Smith, who also moonlights on the skins for the supergroup Chickenfoot, still know the beats to add to the other musicians in this funk/rock band.
Track Listing
- Monarchy of Roses
- Factory of Faith
- Brendan’s Death Song
- Ethiopia
- Annie Wants a Baby
- Look Around
- The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
- Did I Let You Know
- Goodbye Hooray
- Happiness Loves Company
- Police Station
- Even You Brutus?
- Meet Me at the Corner
- Dance, Dance, Dance
The album kicks off with “Monarchy of Roses” which has many classic elements of the band’s sound and style. The next six tracks have more of a feel like that found on “Stadium Arcadium” and “By The Way” Not too many rough edges, like what made “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” such a gritty album. There are parts like in “Look Around” that pick things up nicely, with Anthony Kiedis’ rap vocals showing he hasn’t lost it. Glimmering reminders of Frusciante’s guitar playing and how it’s rubbed off on Klinghoffer. This is much different than when they brought in Dave Navarro for “One Hot Minute” which changed the sound more than loyal fans were expecting.
The lead single from this album is “The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie“, which is quite a departure for a lead single, having a good amount of the upbeat tempo that this band is capable of producing, but lacking the ultra party jam that a song like “Give It Away” rules with.
The last half of the album is a bit mixed. “Did I Let You Know” and “Goodbye Hooray” show that this new lineup work together quite well. Things slow down a lot on the final four tracks. Not really ballads, but just smoother moments of the music winding itself down. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s quite the drop off in sound. The final track “Dance, Dance, Dance” is a disappointing end, almost like it was thrown in at the last minute. Easily the weakest track of the album.
Summary
Overall, it’s a really good effort. I like the general flow of the album, but there’s some missing moments, most of it the obvious change in guitarists. Josh Klinghoffer is worthy and really good, but he needs another album to really erase the memory of Frusciante.
Anyone else have this new album? Post your thoughts and opinions below in the comments.
Haven’t gotten it OR really listened to it, yet. Nothing will beat the old shit, though, as you said.
Yeah, Blood Sugar Sex Magik is tops. Hard to beat.
I’m really looking forward to listening to this. Oddly I was a little underwhelmed with Stadium Arcadium. Well, to be fair, I don’t think I really gave it that many listens. Californication and By The Way were so very very good, I really should go back and give it a fair go. Looks like I have a lot of Chili Pepper songs in my future. I can’t wait.
I was a bit underwhelmed as well. Double album, lots of songs… some really good ones, but as a whole it lacked something. By The Way was good and Californication was very very good.
I haven’t heard this yet. I love them, so I need to listen soon.
It’s not bad and it’s got it’s strong points for a new album with a new guitarist.
On first listen I have to say that I really like it. Monarchy Of Roses was a nice surprise as you don’t really expect anything electronic from the Peppers. That was the standout track for me. As with all albums I expect my faves to change the more I listen to it. I expect this album will be on heavy rotation this week.
Nice to hear you liked the first tracking of the album. It’s grown on me, that’s for sure.
I agree with you that I have been underwhelmed by RHCP’s albums of late. Californication was good and is actually the last album of theirs I paid for (the rest came from the library), but it cannot hold a candle to BSSM. However, NOTHING they’ve done is better than Mother’s Milk. That was my introduction to them and I played my way through three copies of that CD. I murdered the damn thing.
This album is actually very good and I’m surprised by that. They’ve tried alternate sounds in the past and I feel they never quite worked but do here for whatever reason. I like the keys and horns in one or two tracks and feel that Chad is a very good replacement for John. Much better than Arik or Dave were. And I agree with KevinAZ that “Monarchy of Roses” is a fantastic leadoff track.
I remember you talking about your love of Mother’s Milk and the greatness of that album. There was something about BSSM that put it over the top of MM for me. This new album is pretty good, given the time and new guitarist. And all 3 of us agree that “Monarchy of Roses” is a strong lead off track.