Red Hot Chili Peppers: I'm With You (2011)

If there's one thing you can say about the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album, I'm With You, is that it certainly does exist and that it sounds like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Even with the loss of longtime off and on again guitarist John Frusciante the band's sound hasn't changed much but it does not go into the heavy psychedelic direction that Frusciante often drove them with good results. New guitar player Josh Klinghoffer is perfectly acceptable as a rhythm player but I'm With You lacks almost anything distinguishable in the guitar solo department (with the exception of the outro on "Goodbye Hooray"). On the positive side, Flea and Chad Smith remain a very potent rhythm section. Whether it's exploring African beats ("Ethiopia"), disco (lead single "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie," "Monarchy of Roses,") or the mid-tempo radio-friendly songs the Chili Peppers' have thrived on for years ("Look Around," "Happiness Loves Company") there's usually something interesting going on in regards to the bottom end. The same can't be said for vocalist Anthony Keidis. This may be a completely personal feeling and many others will likely disagree but his loverman shtick seems completely forced and annoying at this point. He does get in some very nice moments (especially on the celebratory tribute to a recently deceased friend "Brendan's Death Song") but really, he's just doing Anthony by the numbers. At this point there's probably not anywhere for him to go as a vocalist other than what he's previously done but mostly he just seems to be there, singing and to a lesser extent rapping. In fact the best way to describe I'm With You as a whole is that it's just there, available to be listened to but not something that demands attention. It's certainly not a terrible album but it's very unlikely that it will stick in your brain.

Rating: 3

Track Listing:

1. "Monarchy of Roses" (4:11)
2. "Factory of Faith" (4:20)
3. "Brendan's Death Song" (5:38)
4. "Ethiopia" (3:50)
5. "Annie Wants a Baby" (3:40)
6. "Look Around" (3:28)
7. "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" (4:42)
8. "Did I Let You Know" (4:21)
9. "Goodbye Hooray" (3:52)
10. "Happiness Loves Company" (3:33)
11. "Police Station" (5:35)
12. "Even You Brutus?" (4:01)
13. "Meet Me at the Corner" (4:21)
14. "Dance, Dance, Dance" (3:45)