Chili Peppers spice it up in revival of their glory days: 3.5/5 stars

Artwork+by+The+Sound+Factory.

Artwork by The Sound Factory.

By Michael Gorman

“The Getaway,” released June 17, is exactly the revival the Red Hot Chili Peppers needed. After the failed 2011 release of “I’m With You,” fans wondered if the band they had grown to love had changed after decades of exceptional music.

For the Chili Peppers, “The Getaway” marked a switch in their style, in part due to their new producer, Danger Mouse. He replaced producer Rick Rubin, whom the band had worked with since 1989. Overall, the switch to Danger Mouse has been a success, as the production behind the album is a huge step up from Rubin’s work.

“Goodbye Angels” is the best song on the album, taking listeners back to the glory days of the band. Although the entire song is fantastic, the last minute is when it goes from great to incredible. Flea, the band’s longtime bassist, performs an exquisite riff which leads into one of the greatest finales of his career.

The inconsistent nature of the Chili Peppers makes for several inferior songs, mixed in with the classics. “Dreams of a Samurai” fluctuates between heavy metal guitar and soft vocals too often, disrupting the flow of the album and ending it on a negative note.

As a whole, “The Getaway” was a success, but the hit-or-miss style of the Chili Peppers ultimately prevents the release from standing out.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5