Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Dark Necessities” [Song Review]

It’s been nearly five years since we’ve heard anything new from the legendary Chili Peppers, not exactly an unexpected gap considering the band’s more recent tendency to take its time between releases. If like myself you’re a big fan, you were probably just as excited to see their new single “Dark Necessities” drop this week; the first track from their forthcoming eleventh studio album, The Getaway. The song features all the classic elements of a great Peppers song; funky, infectious bass licks from Flea, solid backing from drummer Chad Smith and typically endearing gobbledygook from singer Anthony Kiedis.

What really makes this song work, like most other Chili Peppers tracks, is the funk. The band received some flack on recent albums from straying away from their more funky roots from the late ’80s and while “Dark Necessities” doesn’t come close to that benchmark, the group seems more than comfortable letting Flea do his thing on this track. It’s also nice to hear that Anthony Kiedis sounds essentially the same as he did on Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik, some 25 years after its release. “Dark Necessities” may not be a classic, but it’s a solid modern rock track from a band that is still nice to have around, even after all these years.

Run Time: 4:59
Release Date: May 5, 2016

Check out the track “Dark Necessities”