It's over 10 years now since the Red Hot Chili Peppers' revived their career with Californication. They have had a string of hit albums since then, although the last was in 2006 with the bloated double album Stadium Arcadium. Thankfully, I'm With You is a much more focused album than that one and has some decent tunes. Unfortunately, the loss of guitarist John Frusciante, who left the band before the recording of this album, has left a giant hole not properly filled by new man Josh Klinghoffer. The album is full of mid-tempo, middle-of-the-road classic rock tracks that anyone familiar with latter day Chilis will identify with. The difference between I'm With You and Californication or By The Way is the absence on this album of Frusciante; his nuance and melodicism is sorely missed. The tracks pass by in a haze of sameyness, the band knowing which buttons to push but the spark missing. Professionally executed but lacking in inspiration, I'm With You is the sound of a band that has run out of ideas.
Top Tracks: Brendan’s Death Song, Ethiopia
Rating: 6/10
Release Date: 30 August 2011
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