ERIN JACKSON
The Manitoban (University of Manitoba)

rating: ★★★

WINNIPEG (CUP) — After a five-year hiatus since the release of the highly criticized double album Stadium Arcadium, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have a lot to prove with their latest release, I’m With You.

The album marks yet another shift in the revolving door of the band’s guitarists. It’s out with John Frusciante, whose colourful harmonies and spine-tingling solos have dominated the band’s sound for five albums, and in with newcomer Josh Klinghoffer.

Klinghoffer is not a total newbie to the band. A friend and collaborator of Frusciante’s, the 31-year-old toured with the band as guitarist/keyboardist for the Arcadium album. But moving from the sidelines into the spotlight is no easy task. Replacing the band’s most beloved guitarist means you have big shoes to fill.

Klinghoffer takes to the challenge with ease. Even though he is Frusciante’s replacement, Klinghoffer is certainly not trying to replace Frusciante. Instead, he plays it safe, adding his own sound to the new tracks and holding his own in songs such as “Monarchy of Roses” and “Did I Let You Know.”

As for the well-seasoned trio — Anthony Kiedis, Michael “Flea” Balzary and Chad Smith — the two-year break from the band seems to have done them good.

While Flea spent his time scratching up on his music theory skills while studying at the University of South California, Smith toured with hard-rock band Chickenfoot. The result: a circuit of rhythmic gymnastics that moves between slow intricate melodies and addictive funky bass beats. Flea’s catchy bass lines in “Factory of Faith” and “Dance Dance Dance” help keep the album upbeat.

Kiedis’s lead vocals are as unmistakable as ever, with lyrics that range from the ridiculous to the enlightening. “She was the cutest thing I ever did see / A drink in her hand and I don’t mean tea” from “Even You, Brutus” and the child-like “E-I-O-I-E-I-A” from Ethiopia are among the characteristic nonsensical lines of the singer.

The band continues their increasingly mellow sound of the last decade with emotive songs “Police Station” and “Brendan’s Death Song.” The latter is a poignant tune lamenting the death of friend Brendan Mullen, and is arguably the best on the record — perhaps even good enough to, dare I say, rival the Blood Sugar Sex Magik hit “Under the Bridge.”

With over 60 minutes of music, the Chili Peppers’ tenth studio album, produced by Rick Rubin, has Kiedis claiming they are a “new band.” But fear not diehard fans, I’m With You is stamped with the RHCP’s signature sound. Just don’t count on them getting the socks back out.

With the experimental sounds of “Even You, Brutus” and “Happiness Loves Company,” the band proves they are not done evolving yet. The record is a mish-mash of what the Chili Peppers do best with subtle instrumentation of other music styles — including a mid-song trumpet solo, melodic piano and African-funk-inspired bass.

The new tracks have fans hailing the album as a “come-back” for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. My question is — who says they ever left?

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Image: supplied