August 30, 2011

As I predicted in last week's video, there has been a lot going on this week (i.e. new college), and a video would be out of the question. But I do have a moment to write a little bit here so there isn't a huge gap in the story. My brief thoughts on the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album "I'm With You":

I thought this album was really good. From the moment it began, I felt all the energy, passion, and drive that I feared RHCP would lose. They totally lived up to standards. "Monarchy of Roses" is a great lead-off song, and it set my mind at ease straightaway. From here, the album stays fairly consistent in terms of energy and dynamic, with a few ups and downs. Enough that it doesn't get boring, but not so much that it loses coherency.

"Look Around", "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" and "Goodbye Hooray" all appear in the middle of the track list, and I think this is where the real heart of the album lies. I initially questioned the use of "Rain Dance Maggie" as the album's lead single because it is a somewhat flat song. However I have come to realize that, since the rest of the album has plenty of energy, "Maggie" fits into the flow easily. It is really a solid song, despite the low-energy feel it brings.

The album finishes strongly enough, and I am left totally satisfied. I don't think any of these songs will be instant hits, I doubt very much whether any will be chart-toppers, but I don't care. RHCP have rediscovered the art of the album, and have made a point of showing the musical world that, decades be damned, they still hit hard.


Final note for the week: my schedule is shaping up in a way that makes Tuesdays a much better day for "Got Music?" episodes than Mondays. So expect videos every Tuesday, not Monday. That is all...