Red Hot Chili Peppers
I’m With You
(Warner Bros.)
I have followed the Red Hot Chili Peppers for a long time. I’ve listened to the music, read the books, and seen the side projects. A few things contribute to the long life of RHCP. First they don’t really care what anyone thinks. They have been around a good long time and if they want to make a record, they will.  And if they don’t want to, then they won’t. Their music can range from long and low ballads to high octane quick mixes. And above all, they always remain funky. I’m With You is a combination of all these things. It’s an album of decent size that took a lot of care and patience to make. This is also where the new guitarist, Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced John Frusciante, debuts. The transition is a smooth one because Klinghoffer sounds pretty damn close to Frusciante. I’m With You is a mixed bag. There’s lots of good and maybe a little not-so-good. The songs are vibrant and dynamic and the funk is all there.
“The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie†is a classic RHCP song. It has the funk beat, whinny lyrics, and kick start bass. “Brendan’s Death Song†is probably my favorite. It is slow and long, almost reaching six minutes. If you wait patiently, you are rewarded with a moving piece that is hard to listen to just once. The song is haunting and gripping. The only thing I kept getting stuck on where the riffs and beats from past songs. There were actually moments where I would be listening to a new song but start singing an old one. It became a little tongue-tied and confusing.
