Red Hot Chili Peppers/ Unlimited Love

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Red Hot Chili Peppers/ Unlimited Love

Genre: Funk-rock/ alternative 

Label: Warner Records

Rating: ** 1/2

The new Red Hot Chili Peppers album Unlimited Love has a few comebacks to its credit. Guitarist John Frusciante returns after his 2009 departure, replacing Josh Klinghoffer. Producer Rick Rubin is back after a decade. And this is their first studio album after The Getaway in 2016.

Naturally, expectations are high, but that's where the problem lies. A few tracks into the album, and things seem to to ramble on, often seeming like pale outtakes of the older gems. It seems 17 tracks is a bit much, and there's nothing half as anthemic as 'Under The Bridge', 'Give It Away', 'Californication', 'Scar Tissue' or 'Snow'. 

Individually, the musicians have their moments. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis gets straight to business on .the opening track 'Black Summer' with the lines, "Cremation takes its piece of your supply, the night is dressed like noon, a sailor spoke too soon, and China's on the dark side of the moon".

Bassist Flea, a gamechanger in his own right, shines on 'Aquatic Mouth Dancer' and 'It's Only Natural' - he even plays trumpet on 'Let Em Cry'. Drummer Chad Smith is consistent all through, and Frusciante displays many touches of brilliance, with appropriate fill-ins.

There's the mandatory reference to California on 'White Braids & Pillow Chair', the typical RHCP funk-rocker in 'One Way Traffic' and mood-shifting ballads in 'Veronica' and 'Tangelo'. And there's the track 'Poster Child', mentioning Adam Ant, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Duran Duran, Sid Vicious, Motorhead and Chubby Checker in awe. "The seventies were such a win, singing the Led Zeppelin", sings Kiedis.

Yet, despite its strong moments, the album suffers from a lack of cohesion. There's a lot of regurgitation of old tunes, and the X-factor is missing. There's individual wizardry, but little lasting appeal. The dazzle of 1990s albums like One Hot Minute, Blood Sugar Sex Magic and Californication is missing. These may be chili peppers but they aren't red hot enough.