Soooooo, my friends. The legendary Red Hot Chili Peppers are back. With their now tenth studio album, the four musical geniuses led by Anthony Kiedis know how to captivate their fans once again. The title sounds promising. "I’m with you" is simply inviting. And of course, I couldn't miss this invitation.
The cover is a bit confusing at first glance. It shows a small pill with a housefly sitting on it. Well, what could that mean? Let's get to the bottom of this together. CD inserted and pressed play.
Monarchy of Roses – What is this??? The song starts in total chaos but immediately transforms into a driving drumbeat and a very catchy vocal line. Slowly, my speakers fill with the gradually following instruments. It sounds a bit like it's coming from a phone. Suddenly, the sound explodes and the song begins in the best funk style. Just how you know the Peppers. In the interludes, there are some psychedelic vocal effects that definitely make an impact. It must sound really good through headphones. The usual poetic lyrics seem to deal with a lost love of Anthony.
Factory of Faith – A groovy start. Anthony begins with nice spoken vocals. I feel the urge to dance growing stronger within me. The second song isn't even over, and I'm already completely under the spell of the Peppers. The lyrics address the female fans. In the chorus, there are invitations like "Marry me and tell everyone." A really nice, groovy number.
Brendons Death Song – Starts with calm, acoustic sounds that remain so. A very beautiful piece whose lyrics, as expected, deal with the theme of death. A very lovely vocal line that immediately invites you to sing along in the chorus. This shows that even choruses with a lot of lyrics can stick in your mind if used correctly. And that absolutely happens here. The ending really opens up nicely and makes you crave more.
Ethiopia – A song that is probably dedicated to bassist Flea's son. It starts with a nice bass intro. When the rest of the band joins in, it becomes progressive. A slightly crooked beat that runs like a red thread through the entire song. Great number!
Annie wants a Baby – Starts again with a bass solo. It remains really nice and groovy. By now, I can't sit still anymore and have to sway the whole time. The chorus is again perfect for singing along. The lyrics tell the story of a woman who set out to explore the world, had her experiences, and ultimately ended up with a desire for a baby. A beautiful, catchy number.
Look around – Sex! Sex! And more Sex! Both the lyrics and the song itself. Nice and groovy as always, pleasant spoken vocals. And a text that... Well... You better read it yourself! The chorus is once again a sing-along. The interlude with female vocals and endlessly great groove just blows me away. One hit follows another here. Fantastic! What songwriting!
The adventures of rain dance Maggie – Here, the theme of sex is also prominently featured. The groove remains the same. This personally appeals to me a lot. This is just a typical Peppers number. It sticks in your head, invites you to dance, it's pure sex, and creates a good, chill vibe. The interlude this time features psychedelic guitar delay. Sounds good! Nice song!
Did I let you know – The theme remains the same. This number also knows how to stick in your head. They opted for a similarly groovy guitar melody here. The chorus is so far the best on the album. After the second listen, you can sing along at the latest. A few brass instruments also come into play here. You get the feeling that a mega party is happening in the CD player. Simply class! The guitar solo is perfectly timed with the drumming. Amazing! A beautiful ending, this already has a jazz character.
Goodbye Hooray – Starts with a very offset beat that immediately invites you to dance again. The guys are now going full throttle in Peppers style! The chorus is again really catchy, a broad sound that fills the entire room. If sound had a color, I would be in my private disco in the living room right now. Here too, the interlude is again the highlight of the song. Incredible! A real cinematic experience! At times, I feel as if I am weightless, like underwater. But the chorus pulls me by the hair out of the cool depths and hurls me through its acoustic whirlwind! The song ends as quickly as it began. So far the highlight of the album!
Happiness loves company – Interesting title. It begins with deep piano tones. It becomes significantly more relaxed now. Kiedis's voice stands out particularly here. The groove in the singing is simply incredible. Many of you can't even begin to imagine how hard it is to execute something like this SO well. The chorus comes along casually and almost invites you to... yes... to SWAY!
Police Station – There are also downsides when you plunge into countless relationships. I think the lyrics deal with this theme. The song itself starts very, very quietly. A very emotional piece. A jazz ballad. Again, a beautiful, catchy chorus. Kiedis's vocal power shows itself here from one of its best sides. It's always the same. Usually, the slow pieces are the ones that contain the most emotional energy. So it is here as well. The interlude comes with an angelic piano melody and fully infuses me as a believer of this album! The ending opens everything up again: chords, heart, and soul. To then pull them into a vortex of space, time, and sound with the returning, beautiful piano tones paired with guitar delays. And takes everyone along, whether they want to or not. Wonderful number! For me, this song is now the highlight.
Wait a moment. Before I continue writing, I need to listen to this fifty more times. "Please hold on, your reviewer will be available shortly."
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Soooooo! Here I am again! Isn't that great? No? Anyway! Let's continue!
Even you, Brutus? – Great lyrics. Very emotional. Addressed to a woman the cult singer encountered. Absolutely poetic and worth reading! The song starts with a somewhat dark scale. But when the singing begins, everything changes. Man, this is divine! Powerful, tight, and grooves like crazy!
Meet me at the corner – Reminds me a bit of Otherside. Relaxed groove in the verses. Very nice drumbeat changes. It's a real adventure to follow the individual instruments. It's simply unbelievable how perfectly every element fits together here. Songwriting of the highest order. Can it get any better????!!!!!
Dance, Dance, Dance – Starts very calmly but already with a bassline that makes me want to dance again. Just looking at the title of the song is uplifting! And that's exactly what this is about. Say Hello and Dance!
Soooooooooo, my friends. That's it with "I’m with you". Definitely one of the biggest highlights of this year. Not just musically. Red Hot Chili Peppers are simply a way of life. I am very glad that they didn't completely break up after the split.
This time, however, I will not give a grade. The Peppers are simply the Peppers. Nothing more needs to be said! I wish everyone a lot of fun listening. It's worth it!
