‘I’m With You’ delivers familiar sounds that comfort listeners

On August 29, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released their latest album, “I’m With You.” The album comes after the band went on a two-year hiatus to mentally regroup.

This is the band’s tenth studio album, the band’s first since 1995’s ”One Hot Minute” that did not feature guitarist John Frusciante. Frusciante quit the band for the second and final time in 2009, he was replaced by the band’s former touring guitarist Josh Klinghoffe.

Adding a new guitarist was a risk to take but surprisingly Klinghoffe added a new dynamic to the album. Instead of RHCP usual in-your-face guitar chords that Frusciante played, Klinghoffe added a more subtle sound.

Their new album features 14 songs that take you on an emotional joyride.

The first track, “Monarchy of Roses,” is an album opener that RHCP has come to perfect, an upbeat funk rock tune that includes tribal drumming, that will be resurrected later in the album in my favorite track “Ethiopia.”

The song “Look Around” is the album’s most energetic track. The handclapping emphasizes drummer Chad Smith’s bouncy rhythms as lead vocalist Anthony Kiedis raps like their signature style in the early 1990’s. This song will definitely make the audiences at their live shows very happy.

“The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” is the lead single, its sound stays true to RHCP’s funk heavy sound but with Klinghoffe as an addition, a fresh take on their signature style is produced, giving the band a new edge.

The album’s most aggressive track has to be “Goodbye Hooray.” It is definitely one of my favorite fist-pumping songs.

On another note, “Police Station” is one of the longest tracks on the album and is both lamenting and melancholic.

It demonstrates Kiedis talent as a songwriter to cause listeners to experience the suffering he felt while writing.

As the title implies, “I’m With You” is a title of a letter from the band to itself, said Kiedis in a VH1 interview. It is a token of appreciation to the fans that have stood by the band through many line-up changes and reassures that the band is still important without Frusciante. Klinghoffer has a stabilizing effect on the band and has helped ensure that Kiedis, Smith and Flea will be rocking out until they are physically incapable to do so.

Overall I would give the album a 3.5 out of 5. I felt that the band played it safe with the compilation of songs.

Although having a new guitarist added a new flare I was expecting more from them but I was comforted with the familiar sound that they never lost.

3.5/5