Jul 13

Jul 13 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Unlimited Love

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Unlimited Love
Release Date: April 1st, 2022
Label: Warner Records

Review by Jared Stossel

Nearly a decade ago, guitarist John Frusciante stepped away from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Filling his position was Josh Klinghoffer, an admirable guitarist and very worthy musician (and he’s currently killing it on the road with Pearl Jam.) But even diehard fans knew that there was something you couldn’t deny about the collaboration between Frusciante and his fellow bandmates (vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, and drummer Chad Smith). There was electricity, lightning in a bottle that was captured during those first few Chili Peppers albums. After a brief respite, Frusciante returned to the fold and the Red Hot Chili Peppers produced Unlimted Love, their twelfth studio album, and first record with the aforementioned guitarist since 2006’s massive Stadium Arcadium.

Clocking in at nearly an hour and fifteen minutes, there is quite a bit magic to be found in the tracks that make up Unlimited Love. Producer Rick Rubin has also returned to the mix, helping bring out the formula that has made the band so special in years’ past. The first three tracks (“Black Summer”, “Here Ever After”, and “Aquatic Mouth Dance”) are all different, yet manage to feel like a cohesive collection of songs. Flea’s bass tracks are both performed and mixed exceptionally well on this album, reminding you why he is truly one of the greats, infusing each track with a healthy dose of funk rock before the full band kicks in. The composition of “Aquatic Mouth Dance” features the full band firing on all cylinders as a horn section permeates the soundscape. “Not The One” brings the energy down before heading into “Poster Child”, a name-dropping escapade that finds the band at one of the funkiest snapshots in years. Drummer Chad Smith is a standout here, every hit of the drums like a shot of adrenaline.

“The Great Apes” features a brilliant solo from Frusciante, sure to enthuse and cause stadiums to roar with applause on their upcoming run of North American tour dates. “It’s Only Natural” and “She’s a Lover” illustrate the chilled-out atmosphere that the Chili Peppers have strived to create on Unlimited Love before bursting into “These Are The Ways”, a rock track evoking images of California summers that this band’s music has been accompanying since the early 90s. This track was one of my favorites, feeling like it was plucked out of the run of late 90s/early 2000s. “Whatchu Thinkin’” features some of the best musicianship from the band, with Kiedis’ vocal delivery and Frusciante’s guitar work accentuating it. “Bastards of Light” begins with electronic accoutrements before Kiedis shows off his vocal prowess as the band carries a track comprised of a mix of both acoustic and electric instrumentation.

One of the downsides to Unlimited Love, however, is the length. All the songs that follow “Bastards of Light” are good, but it makes the album feel far too long. I’m sure that more of the hardcore Chili Peppers fans will disagree with me, and that’s perfectly fine. For me, it just felt like it went a bit too long. With that being said, songs like “One Way Traffic”, “Veronica”, and “White Braids & Pillow Chair” are quite good, with “Veronica” featuring the trippy nature of Frusciante’s reverb-filled guitar. From here, it feels like an extended jam session as the band their way through “Let ‘Em Cry” and “The Heavy Wing”, before culminating in “Tangelo”, the calmest moment on the album. This song works as an excellent conclusion to Unlimited Love, as a choral arrangement and strings soar in the background, with Keidis brings forth one of the most poignant lyrics on the album. The notes begin to fade out as the buzz and hiss from the recording studio are all that remain. Cutting out to total silence, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have informed the world that they are indeed back, ready to take on the world.