The Red Hot Chili Peppers have almost finished work on 'New Dynamic,' the group's tenth studio album and long-awaited follow-up to 2006's 'Stadium Arcadium.'
Work began on the album in late 2009, when the band ended its two-year hiatus. It wasn't until the summer of 2010, however, that the Peppers finally began recording in the studio, alongside producer Rick Rubin, and with a fresh face in the lineup. New guitarist Josh Klinghoffer replaced John Frusciante in 2009 after Frusciante revealed that he decided to leave the band during the hiatus.
With Klinghoffer on board, the band set about putting together an album after a lengthy break that saw plenty of change. During the hiatus, lead singer Anthony Kiedis became a father, while bassist Flea enrolled in music theory classes at USC.
According to Kiedis, all this upheaval strongly influenced the recording process. "I think that during the writing of this record I have been the most open-minded and refreshed than I have been in a long time," Kiedis told Spin. "I guess that comes from a much-needed hiatus and becoming a father."
Flea's studies also added a new dimension to the Peppers' studio experience. "Before, some of our jams were a bit hit-and-miss," Kiedis continued. "On this record, a decent number of songs were actually thought out and planned in a way we had never done before. That is, with Flea's new knowledge of music theory, we explored the writing process with a bit more precision."
'New Dynamic,' meanwhile, is an admittedly tentative title, but it has decidedly unique origins. According to Kiedis, the group settled on the title when a friend "was reminiscing about one of his legendary acid trips, and told us that he had been playing a sold-out show to the planets and moons, and his Number One hit was, well, that title."
Lenny Kravitz has released 'Come On Get It,' the first single from his forthcoming album, 'Black and White America,' due out this summer.
'Come On Get It' is a return to form for the rock icon, relying heavily on American funk and soul. Recalling the Motown sound of the '60s and '70s, Kravitz channels James Brown's vocals with throaty screams all over slinky, Parliament-inspired horns and buzzy synths.
Using the words "come on get it" as a tag at the end of each sexually charged line, Kravitz drives the song forward with all the seriousness of a true lothario, belting such lines as: "I feel like a canine / Come on, come on and get it / Can I eat from your vine / Come on, come on and get it."
For the 2010-2011 season, the NBA and TNT have featured the song heavily in their recent TV commercials. The spots show live footage of Kravitz and his band performing on an urban basketball court with fans looking on from outside the chain-linked perimeter, and are intercut with quick shots of the NBA's biggest stars and most action-packed highlights.
Kravitz has also been tapped to perform 'Come On Get It' at the 2011 NBA All-Star game on Feb. 20. Rihanna and Josh Groban are slated to sing at the event, as well.
Kravitz's career has spanned over 20 years and several mediums, including an award-winning performance for his role in 2009's 'Precious'. He has sold over 38 million records, and amassed four Grammys. With 'Black and White America', his ninth studio album, he will venture forward with a new label deal with Roadrunner and Atlantic Records.
