Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Getaway
- FaceOff - עימות חזיתי
- Jun 17
- 3 min read
On June 17, 2016, "Red Hot Chili Peppers" released their eleventh studio album, "The Getaway".
This album marked a notable shift for the band—a deliberate departure from their long-standing collaboration with Rick Rubin, and the embrace of a more ambient, textured production under Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) and Nigel Godrich. It was also their second and final studio album with guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, and a moment of transformation in both sound and spirit.
At the time of the album’s recording, "Red Hot Chili Peppers" were still processing the mixed reception to "I’m With You". The departure of John Frusciante had forced the band into unfamiliar creative territory, and while Klinghoffer had already proven himself a worthy musician, the chemistry still felt in transition. With "The Getaway", the band attempted a new path forward—not through their old funky bravado, but with introspection, sonic polish, and subtle reinvention.
Danger Mouse replaced Rick Rubin for the first time since 1989, giving the album a cinematic, synthesized tone. Nigel Godrich (known for his work with "Radiohead") added atmospheric layering to the mixing. The recording featured orchestral arrangements, understated percussion, and groovy yet restrained basslines—most of them written by Flea in collaboration with Danger Mouse on piano. The writing process leaned more into melody and mood than rhythmic punch, opening new doors for Anthony Kiedis’ more personal lyrics.
The album opens up with the title track "The Getaway", and it is already clear that the band takes a more subdued route, with the echo-laced guitar, haunting synths, the pulsing drum machine-like sound and Anna Waronker's backing vocals. The song speaks of love, memory, and escape, all wrapped in restraint rather than explosive energy.
"Dark Necessities" starts with melancholic piano lines and Flea’s trademark groove bassline. Together with the clap sound and lush strings, all grounding the emotional weight of Kiedis’s confessional lyrics. The song became the band’s 13th number-one hit on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
"We Turn Red" is one of the few tracks that harken back to their earlier funk roots. It brings in a looser, quicker tempo and rap-style verses. Still, the production holds it back just enough to keep the album’s overall mood consistent.
"Goodbye Angels" emerges as one of the most cinematic tracks, beginning softly and exploding into a towering crescendo. Klinghoffer’s guitar work shines here—ambient and immersive, ending in a searing solo that shows just how much ground he covered in his final moments with the band.
"Sick Love" stands out as one of the most emotionally transparent songs, with piano assistance from Elton John which was also co-written by John and longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin. With clear nods to "Bennie and the Jets", it plays like a heartbroken letter from a man acknowledging his own toxic patterns. The vulnerability is refreshing, and the Stones-inspired sway makes it instantly memorable.
"Go Robot" turns the funk into a disco daydream—tight bass lines, electronic textures, and processed vocals. Kiedis’s quirky delivery fits well within the song’s danceable atmosphere, showing that "Red Hot Chili Peppers" can still have fun without returning to chaos.
"Dreams of a Samurai" closes the album with a sprawling, seven-minute epic journey that fuses psychedelia, jazz, and brooding rock. It’s one of the band’s most adventurous closers—a surreal curtain call that lingers long after it fades.
Unlike previous records that danced on the edges of chaos, "The Getaway" is a more carefully composed and emotionally coherent album. The chemistry between Flea and Chad Smith remains tight, even as they tone down their playing in service of atmosphere. Josh Klinghoffer becomes the album’s secret weapon—painting each track with subtle melodic color. Kiedis, now in his fifties, dials back the rapid-fire bravado for a more introspective, restrained tone.
The shift in production style is perhaps the album’s biggest statement. Danger Mouse and Nigel Godrich avoid the raw energy of past albums and instead build lush, layered soundscapes. Pianos, strings, vintage synths, and ambient effects all merge into a moody, rich environment. While this choice may alienate fans of "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" or "Californication", it offers a welcome evolution for a band that could’ve easily stagnated.
The album was certified Gold in multiple regions and sparked a world tour that would become Klinghoffer’s last with the band before the return of John Frusciante.
While it doesn’t redefine the band’s legacy, "The Getaway" provides a needed breath of fresh air in their discography—an emotionally resonant, sonically lush entry that finds "Red Hot Chili Peppers" shedding their skin without losing their soul.
For listening: Spotify, Apple Music
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