The alternative-funk-experimental rock group, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, just released a new album on August 26th! It is called "I'm with you", and sure enough, it does feel like a very personal album. Regrettably, before I reviewed this album, I knew very little about the Red Hot Chili Peppers, other than their song "Californication." However, I will do my best to do this band justice because this album really changed my perspective on the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The first I heard of the Red Hot Chili Peppers was from my older brother in the 90's. At the time, it just seemed like another popular band that boys could rock out to as a collective gang of rambunctious teens, similar to how Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" is such a popular rift for first time guitar players. In my mind, as a child, they were in the same category as Coldplay and the Barenaked Ladies.
Although Coldplay and Barenaked Ladies are also known as alternative bands, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have something different to present to this table of alternative music. They have defied the tests of time (lasting since 1983), released up to nine albums (not including this one), have gone through ten different members, and come out strong with the current members: Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, and Josh Klinghoffer. They've also won 7 Grammys and sold over 65 million albums worldwide.
So after researching their history, I thought I should try and understand the album inside and out.
The album cover is a little confusing. Damien Hirst, a controversial British artist, designed the cover art. It is a Fly on top of a pill that says, "I'm with you". In an interview with Spin Magazine, Anthony Kiedis said, "It's an image. It's art. Iconic. We didn't give it its meaning but it's clearly open to interpretation." Sadly, my interpretation is that it's just a fly on a sugar pill.
So, what is inside "I'm With You"?
With fourteen new songs, there has to be at least one favorite for everyone. My favorite song on the album thus far is "Ethiopia." Its staccato vocals and instrumentals added with brief verses of fluidity leave a person bobbing and swaying their head to the beat and music. If anything, the songs on this album are a great way to wind down and just chill. The acoustics feel like a relief, something desired in this world of auto-tune and robotic mixes.
Their song titles are enough to make you curious as to what's in the song.
1. "Monarchy of Roses"
2. "Factory of Faith"
3. "Brendan's Death Song"
4. "Ethiopia"
5. "Annie Wants a Baby"
6. "Look Around"
7. "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie"
8. "Did I Let You Know"
9. "Goodbye Hooray"
10. "Happiness Loves Company"
11. "Police Station"
12. "Even You Brutus?"
13. "Meet Me at the Corner"
14. "Dance, Dance, Dance"
