Skip to main content

Year in Rock 2011 Nominee: Red Hot Chili Peppers

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
Brendan's Death Song

From: I'm With You
Released: August 30

When you've been both as innovative and successful as Red Hot Chili Peppers have been in their close to 30-year career, making a new album can be a somewhat tricky proposition.  On one hand, there's a desire to continue to push the envelope; having been one of rock's most unique success stories, their inherent weirdness is one of the things that enamor them to so many people.  On the other hand, there's immense pressure not to go too far off the grid; the last time they did so (1995's oft-overlooked One Hot Minute), it was considered by many to be a colossal failure simply because it was different.  Granted, much of the credit for that album's perceived sea change falls on the departure of guitar phenom John Frusciante; indeed, when he returned for the 1999 follow-up Californication, it was welcomed with open arms by fans and critics alike.  The criticism of the band since then has been that, though they have dabbled in new styles (most notably on 2003's By the Way), they've largely chosen to play it safe in their musical choices (most notably on 2006's sprawling, 28-song soundalike Stadium Arcadium).

So, when Frusciante left the band for a second time, the Chilis saw an opportunity to tinker with their sound again for I'm With You.  New axeman Josh Klinghoffer brings with him a built-in catalyst for change, and the tones he brings to the fold are noticibly sparser than Frusciante's.  He can still bring the funk though, and shows flourishes that recall Frusciante's best moments sporadically throughout the album.  However, RHCP don't try to reinvent the wheel on I'm With You; they seem to be right up on the edge of the box, but most of the time choose not to venture outside of it.

When they do, though, the results can be astounding, as they are on Brendan's Death Song.  Born out of a jam session the band had the day they learned of a good freind's passing, it absolutely soars.  It's raw, emotional and organic, three things which one can argue the Chilis haven't been in a very long time.  It's the hands-down highlight of an album that would rather continue their recent history of inoffensiveness than continue to cement a career built on innovation.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Year in Rock 2025

  Alright, I've got some explaining to do.   By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but:   a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2013 Nominee: Arctic Monkeys

ARCTIC MONKEYS Do I Wanna Know? From: AM Released: September 10 That Year in Rock 2012's Single of the Year R U Mine? ended up on this album is pleasing, and it fits the motif well enough. But R U Mine? isn't what makes Arctic Monkeys' fifth album an Album of the Year contender. Sweaty, sultry and pulsing with sexual energy, AM is the kind of record that's just as effective whether you're chilling out after a long day, staring into a mirror prepping yourself for a late night clubbing session or setting the mood for some escapades in the boudoir.
Post a Comment
Read more

Year in Rock 2023: Album of the Year #10-1

Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up!  What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs. 10 MILITARIE GUN Life Under the Gun June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista Highlights Very High Will Logic Never Fucked Up Once Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years. 9 ...
Post a Comment
Read more