Photo courtesy of Red Hot Chili Peppers Facebook page
By Brooke Bernard
Earlier this month, Red Hot Chili Peppers released their first album in 5 years titled Unlimited Love– and yes, they’re still singing about California.
If you were to take little bits and pieces of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ previous 11 albums, what you’d get would be Unlimited Love. This album truly feels like a culmination of all their discography to date. It’s classic Chili Peppers through and through.
Unlimited Love features the long awaited return of guitarist and angel among men, John Frusciante, who hasn’t recorded an album with the Chili Peppers since Stadium Arcadium was released in 2006. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have cycled through many guitarists in their nearly 40 year run, but Frusciante has had the most influence on their signature sound by far, and is a favorite member among fans (myself included).
Unlimited Love is over an hour of delicious funk rock that is sure to make the synapses in your brain do a little dance. Take Flea’s groovy baselines that pierce through the ears to the heart, Frusciante’s tear-worthy, soulful guitar riffs, and Anthony Kiedis’ nonsense lyrics, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a great RHCP record.
This record transcends genre and time, in the way that it appeals to listeners of all generations. From infectious rap rock tunes like “Poster Child” and “One Way Traffic”, to headbanging future classics like “Black Summer” and “These Are the Ways”, to gorgeous melodic ballads like “Veronica”, Unlimited Love has something for everyone.
With that being said, here’s the thing I’ve come to learn about Red Hot Chili Peppers: either you get it or you don’t. And if you get it, you really get it. So if you’re like me, and can’t stop addicted to the shindig, chances are you’ll like Unlimited Love.
We can all rest easy now knowing that the greatest funk rock band of all time has claimed their throne once again. In Frusciante, we trust!