The last time the Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded an album without long-time guitarist John Frusciante the resulting effort, 'One Hot Minute', was probably the most underwhelming album of their career - especially considering it was sandwiched in between their two biggest successes 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' and 'Californication'. I'm With You in only the band's second release since 1989 not to feature Frusciante wielding the axe and unfortunately his signature guitar-lines are sorely missing from this collection. Newcomer Josh Klinghoffer does an admirable job in trying to replicate Frusciante's style, but ultimately it's too jarring a transition and 'I'm With You' doesn't rank amongst Red Hot Chili Peppers' best.
Not only is the first record without Frusciante since 1995, it's the first release since 2006's 'Stadium Arcadium' which marks the largest gap between Chili Peppers albums in their 25+ year history. Now that the band are all in their late forties, perhaps it would be too much to expect an album every two years and regular world tours but this album is too close to moving the band from the edgy rock band they've always been recognised as to a middle of the road rock act trading on their former glories.
The individual elements which have always made the Chilis stand out among their peers are still evident, though. There isn't a better rhythm section in mainstream rock music than the Flea / Chad Smith tandem and Anthony Kiedis' voice hasn't lost its ability to soar above the music created by his bandmates but songs like Rain Dance Maggie and Brendan's Death Song lack any of the spark that was present on their other records. It seems they were more concerned with filling every inch of the sonic landscape, perhaps to paper over the cracks of Frusciante's non-participation.
This is not to suggest that this is a poor record by any stretch of the imagination. Police Station is a lovely ballad and Ethiopa is as similar to the funky grooves which characterised their early career as anything else they've put out in the last ten years. While it's a welcome return to record store shelves from one of the most culturally important bands of the last 20 years when all is said and done, 'I'm With You' won't be the album that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are remembered for.
