One of the most influental bands in rock and roll history, the Red Hot Chili Peppers had been MIA for the past 3 years, a very uncommon feat for a band that had just come out with such a successful dual-album, Stadium Arcadium and just got off an equally as successful tour. Though this MIA may of began because of that tour. Ex lead guitarist, John Frusciante, believed that RHCP had become too mainstream. He first joined the band in 1988 when the band was very popular on the LA club scene, but not much else where. After the mega success of the Grammy-winning Stadium Arcadium, Frusciante wanted out. He didn’t think it was enough about the music. Frusicante was an incredible asset to the band and they still stay in touch, although he was eventually replaced with Josh Klinghoffer, who they toured with on the Stadium Arcadium tour. The band spent almost all of 2010 writing songs for their much anticipated new album entitled I’m With You

The first single off of I’m With You came out when I was in Israel this year, so two of my best friends from Jersey, also RHCP fanatics and I spent all day listening to The Adventures of Raindance Maggie.

This was the first time the waiting pandemonium of Chili Peppers fans could finally express their opinions on the new band. I’m glad they did a simple music video so people could see the new chemistry of the group and I think it’s great, Anthony Kiedis and Michael “Flea” Balzary have been best friends since Fairfax High in LA so they have really great natural chemistry and they’ve been with the incredible Chad Smith since 1988 and he hasn’t left the band since. Though they had toured with Klinghoffer, they had never written music before.

“I thought about different guitar players and stuff, but it really came down to the fact that Josh is family.” – Flea.

Now for the good part, the review of the album. Monarchy Of Roses recently became the second single off of this album and that is something Anthony has been vocal about wanting. The song starts off with a scratchy-voiced Kiedis singing with a very prominant drum line, followed by the guitar sounds of Klinghoffer. Then the bass kicks in and the song really comes together at the chorus. I’m definitely a fan of this song and although it is very different, it’s a great preview of the entire album and what’s coming from the Chili Peppers. Fuiscanate was always known for his sick guitar riffs and beautiful harmonies but I think Klinghoffer does great in this album especially with his unique voice and the harmonies to Kiedis’s voice gives me chills.

I’m not going to be talking about all 14 songs cause that’d just be crazy so I’ll only talk about really specific ones that I think showcase the renewed Chili Peppers and the album. So the next song I’m going to talk about is the ballad called Brendan’s Death Song. Brendan was the owner of one of the clubs that the Chili Peppers would always play at in LA and he really gave them their first leg into the LA music scene. As stated in one of the above video’s with the interview of Kiedis and Smith, Brendan’s Death Song was one of the songs immideatly written during the writing process. This song is a great tribute to their dear friend and the lyrics really describe and express their great friendship.

If I die before I get it done will you decide?
Take my words and turn them into signs they will survive,
Because a long time ago I knew not to deprive.
It’s safe out there now your every where just like the sky,
And you are love, you are the lucid dream you are the ride
And when you hear this you know it’s your jam it’s your good bye 
                           -Brendan’s Death Song

The lyrics are beautiful and this is a wonderfully written song. Though it is a ballad to their dear  friend it still has a strong drum beat that you can tap your foot to. The melidious lyrics flow so easily and the bridge at the end to the drum solo and guitar riffs keep up the rock edge to the album.

Happiness Loves Company is the third song I will be reviewing. Flea is playing the piano on this song and it’s very noticable in the begining especially but throughout the entire song. He played the piano on Stadium Arcadium album as well as I’m With You. When I first heard this song I thought one thing, The Beatles. I think the peppy and upbeat tune that just makes me want to tap my foot and bob my head is a dead give away of why I thought this. This song is all about being happy and loving what you have, so it also has a great message. The other percussions that were used on this album were also very prominant on this song. I really like when Kiedis is doing his old school rapping/fast talking that he pretty much only did on earlier albums like Freaky Steakly and Mothers Milk while the other members of the band are doing a “ba-ba-ba-da-da-da” in the background. That really excintuates the great drum beat.

The final song I’m going to be talking about, appropirately is the last song on the album: Dance, Dance, Dance. The guitar plucked notes at the begining and then repeated with the bass open up for a reall great, fun song. Then the guitar changes as the drums are added and Kiedis’s voice comes in. I can tell that Klinghoffer was really comfortable when they wrote this song, as it probably has the most harmonies in this album. He’s singing behind Kiedis almost the entire song and adding in oooohhh’s and aaaaahhhh’s throughout the entire song. The song makes me want to go to a Mexican night club and dance all night until about 2/3 into the song when the instruments really pick up. Then next verse is followed by a bunch of different percussions being added, giving the song a really fun “this is the last song of the album so lets have as much fun as possible” type of feel. The song then ends with a really cool and calm note that is a great ending for the album. So as a great ending to my post, I present to you Dance, Dance, Dance by the greatest band ever, The Red Hot Chili Peppers.