“I’m with you”. Red Hot Chili Peppers’ last studio album review

A new stage in the career of legendary band Red Hot Chili Peppers began in 2010, when Josh Klingoffer joined to the band. From the beginning of the career in the band Josh Klingoffer was backstage guitarist, he traveled with the team and repeatedly replaced John Frusciante during concerts. At that time the “peppers’” fans did not know almost nothing about young talent guitarist, but the founders of the band represented by Kiedis and Flea reported that after a long break they are planning to conquer musical tops  and Klingoffer will work with them on their next album. Since then, with bated breath, we were looking forward to the release of their next album with lyrical name “I’m with you”.

The release of the album occurred at the end of August 2011 and immediately caused a lot of controversy. Fans of guitar mastery John Frusciante compared a new guitarist with their old idol and criticized the guitars in the new tracks (Ed .: In December 2009 John Frusciante left the band). And melomaniacs enjoyed another turn in the evolution of their favorite funk alternative rock band. However, around the good old “peppers” brewed serious hype again, which in general were happy everyone who had passion to their previous works.

Certainly, the song “Monarchy of Roses” opens the album and deserves special attention. On my mind, we also should pay attention to the compositions “Look Around” and “Factory of Faith”, because these tracks remind me the classic Red Hot Chili Peppers with their “Californication” and “Stadium Arcadium”. Frankly, after listening of the whole records, I was a little disappointed. Despite the fact that Kiedis played with words successfully, as usual, Flea pleased with their bass delights, while Rick Rubin skillfully coped with the mixer, feelings after listening remained ambivalent.

On the one hand, I was glad to hear the band, which once turned my ideas about quality music. But on the other, I felt that this album is short of something. Probably these guys became victims of theirs longtime perfectionism. At the peak of popularity they created unforgettable melodies, on which whole generations have grown. But now, after so many years, they have to repeat these achievements at least, but they have not.

Surely, the release of the “peppers’” new album exited millions of fans all over the world. But we can’t disagree that “I’m with you” frankly does not haul to the level which the Red Hot Chili Peppers had reached some 10 years ago.