Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You

The funk-rock kings are back with their tenth album and here's what I thought of it:

Not many bands are still going when it gets to the tenth album. Even fewer are considering completing their third decade together, with only two of the founding members. Even fewer still would have recovered from the departure of semi-godlike guitarist John Frusciante. But the Red Hot Chili Peppers just keep on going.

Almost thirty years on from their eponymous debut, the Chili’s are at it again tenth studio record ‘I’m With You’, and it cements their status as their funk-rock kings. After 2006’s technicolor all-consuming 28-song compendium that was last album ‘Stadium Arcadium’, 2011 sees a much more compact 14 tracks and a more restrained Peppers (complete with new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer), and it makes for a very enjoyable listen.

There are moments where ‘I’m With You’ threatens to become very good. ‘Factory of Faith’ is a prime example of the Chili’s infectious funk along the same vein as ‘Suck My Kiss’, while ‘Look Around’ bounces around with a spritely enthusiasm, as does Africa-influenced ‘Ethiopia’. The best comes in ‘Goodbye Hooray’, with an excited performance, a climbing chorus and pacy from the off for the killer track.

Along with this, there are some touchingly heart-rending moments. ‘Brendan’s Death Song’, written after the death of close friend and promoter Brendan Mullen early in the recording process, is chillingly poignant and creates a triumphant mood rather than a downbeat one. The emotional ballad ‘Police Station’ (a story of the L.A. Police) and the apologetic ‘Meet Me At The Corner’ (Meet me at the corner and tell me what to do/Cause I messed up on you) come in just behind.

Past these highlights, the songs slink by seamlessly but not with much impact. Their funk rock is here as that familiar touchstone (bobbing opener ‘Monarchy of Roses’, contagious first single ‘The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie’ and effortless closer ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’ good examples of this), but on the most part it is easy listening; agreeable, not hooking.

Take ‘Did I Let You Know’ for instance. Gleaming production and extremely poppy, full of luscious guitar licks and with Klinghoffer’s colder falsetto backing to Anthony Kiedis’ expert vocals, it’s pleasing but it’s not ensaring. Substitute in any of the baroque march ‘Happiness Loves Company’, the chugging ‘Even You Brutus?’ or ‘Annie Wants A Baby’. They’re good, not great.

‘I’m With You’ sees a solid if unspectacular return for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Fine moments and a band with a lot left to offer, but with perhaps more thoughtful experiments than stadium-rocking hooks on their tenth time out. Still, it seems nothing can floor Kiedis and Co. just yet.

Good effort, and here's my favourite track 'Goodbye Hooray'.

NWR