Noise 101 – CD Reviews for September 8th
Red Hot Chili Peppers
I’m With You
Warner Bros.
A lukewarm offering, I’m With You lacks the sizzle or spice of the Red Hot Chili Peppers past work.
The band’s 10th record likely suffers from sky-high expectations following a five-year hiatus. Still, there’s no excuse for being so overwhelmingly generic.
Legendary bassist Michael (Flea) Balzary still provides classic funk abound. However, too many loopy, formulaic melodies create a watered-down sound.
The first single, “The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie,” epitomizes the album’s sheer blandness.
Lead singer Anthony Kiedis slogs through a ho-hum chorus: “She told me to/And showed me what to do/How Maggie makes it in her cloud.”
Even the standout track, “Brendan’s Death Song,” a tribute to deceased L.A club owner Brendan Mullen, drags on a little too long.
This album likely proves departed guitarist John Frusciante was the chili’s secret ingredient all along.
– Bryan Weismiller