Following John Frusciante’s second and final departure from the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2009, many fans questioned whether the multi–platinum funk–rock superstars would be capable of crafting new material without their guitarist of almost 15 years; his virtuosic soloing and colorful harmonies carried the band through five of their most celebrated studio albums.
Those concerns can be laid to rest with the arrival of I’m With You, the group’s tenth studio album and one of their most impressive efforts to date. The album highlights the group’s unwavering creative energy and sees them bouncing back from the abyss of a two–year hiatus, bravado intact.
New guitarist Josh Klinghoffer plays with a gusto that resembles the bluesy panache of departed axman Frusciante, while also incorporating his own unique style of textural and melodic weaving into the 14–song set. Though the album doesn’t necessarily see the band exploring any new sonic directions, it boasts an impressive assortment of the group’s already iconic sounds, from the slap bass–infused party–starting grooves of their 1991 breakthrough, Mother’s Milk, to the intricately arranged soft-rock ballads of 2006’s double LP, Stadium Arcadium.
The opening track, “Monarchy of Roses” starts amid a chaotic sequence of scattershot drum fills and squalls of feedback–heavy guitar. Frontman Anthony Kiedis sings about promises and dreams through an overloaded mic, producing a hazy layer of vocals atop Klinghoffer’s brash power chords. Then, with the pop of a snare drum, the song emerges from its nebulous form into a merry, propulsive chorus with the Chili Peppers sounding tighter, livelier and downright funkier than they have in years.
Flea’s commanding, lead–like bass playing provides the structure for “Factory of Faith,” over which drummer Chad Smith lays down a powerful and tasteful beat. The closing segment of the song finds Klinghoffer using a wah–wah pedal and picking at lightning–paced speed, creating an upbeat, syncopated jam that’s bound to make anyone start bouncing around in place.
The album’s most emotional moment comes with the tear–jerking ballad “Brendan’s Death Song,” a tribute to deceased friend and club owner Brendan Mullen, which may be the group's finest non–funk track since 2002’s poignant “Venice Queen.” “Like I said, you know I’m almost dead/You know I’m almost gone,” sings Kiedis, with Flea’s percolating bass and Smith’s artful cymbal work gradually building tension underneath.
I’m With You is still a far cry from the Chili Peppers’ past albums, with a record like Blood Sugar Sex Magik seeming like a product from a completely different band. But bands do mature, and though the Chili Peppers will always cling to their staple punk–funk sound, they are in many ways beginning to conquer new musical horizons. To say the album is a complete creative rebirth may be an overstatement, but judging by the strokes of genius on the album, one might be just around the corner.
4/5 Stars Red Hot Chili Peppers I'm With You Sounds Like: Freaky–style punk gone soft with age. 99–Cent Download: "Monarchy of Roses" Good For: Partying in nothing but tube socks.
