Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Getaway

Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Getaway
2016
Spotify

After all this time, and so many albums, it really would be hard for the Chili Peppers to do something that is not distinctly them. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are often criticized for always sounding the same, but if you take a step back you realize the simply sound like themselves. It is a style that they created and really no bands come to mind that have successfully imitated. So when we arrive at this new album The Getaway we are more than prepared for the sound that we are going to hear. The bass will be slapped, the guitar will do some fluttering about, the drums will be spot on and Anthony Kiedis will deliver his half singing half rapping half poetry vocals. The Chili Peppers are so deeply themselves that it pours through their music filling every inch. This album however feels a bit darker slightly more somber than their previous outings. This is not a record celebrating the bright funky side of Los Angeles, instead it is more about those quiet moments of personal introspection. This record more tip toes through a groove then it does hit you in the face with it. There are times like on "Goodbye Angels" where they let loose and burst in to an all out Chili Peppers sound, but that is the rarity on The Getaway. 

This record certainly cannot be called a reinvention, but it does feel like a more aged version of the Peppers but they still have that tight hold of the cosmic joke of it all. Kiedis' lyrics often side on the comedic just to let you know they still don't take themselves all that serious. However besides the opener it does not seem like any of these tracks will end up being all time greats. They are still immensely talented, but the sound they created just does not connect like it used to. Danger Mouse's production is also on display here. His more laid back style brings an even-ness to the record where the Peppers would usually take things to a more manic level. A song like "Encore" is so minimal for a Red Hot Chili Peppers tune that you almost can't believe that it is them, almost. The final track "Dreams of a Samurai" is a haunting look at our own mortality and has an almost psy-rock vibe that really bring the record to a nice close. While The Getaway is not going to blow fans away and probably won't bring in a new group of listeners it still is a pretty great album from a band who constantly look to make more great music. And I ain't mad at it.

7.6 out of 10