REVIEW: RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS -RETURN OF THE DREAM CANTEEN

3.5/5

17 Again.

Still slapping that bass at 60. Today, one of the greatest bassists of all time, Michael 'Flea' Balzary celebrates his birthday. Many happy returns like 'Acid For The Children' ( I mean rereads of your amazing autobiography, I don't condone kids dropping LSD. That is not the school trip I suggest they go on). The Red Hot Chili Pepper lifer and accomplished actor (from 'The Big Lebowski', to 'Boy Erased' and most recently Star War's 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' show) most recently tweeted, live from the preseason, that this year's Laker team stinks (so far, he's not wrong) after appearing on Hulu's 'Legacy' documentary on the Buss franchise as a superfan like fellow 90s musicians of Los Angeles Times, Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube. Some critics have said the same thing about his team's latest album (for the most part they're wrong).

Time to check your sense of smell in these times, because if anything, this album's the s###. Mere months after the famous Red Hot logo gave us 'Unlimited Love' in downtown neon, they are already back like they or John never left for all those years. The Chili Peppers' 'Return Of The Dream Canteen' is worth getting a tray for in their Hollywood Walk Of Fame galaxy, far, far away. In this city of stars there are none quite as recognizable as frontman with the funk jam, Anthony Kiedis, 'The Drummer' that looks like Will Ferrell (but is forever, the one and only Chad Smith), the bassist that itches and Frusciante who returned after the capable Josh Klinghoffer gave them 'Dark Necessities' in harmony with an Olivia Wilde skateboarding music video for 'The Getaway'.

Don't worry, darling. This album is as cohesive as said director is 'Booksmart'. By the way, this is the second album of the year from RHCP to feature 17 tracks (or Rick Fox or Andrew Bynum worth, for those in the know). Proving their love really has no limits like a club classic from 2 in the 90s. A lucky strike of a 13th album, just in time for Halloween for a monster act that's best fancy dress comes in a tube sock. All from sessions with the great Rick Rubin that yielded around 50 tracks. So you know there is some quality control as the Peppers heat up like a late, great DMX calendar debut. But we could go for album number three, too.

You see, with catchy singles on the 'Tippa My Tongue' like acid for the twins, Aerosmith like artwork and 'Peace and Love' this canteen is legendary as the Eddie Izzard 'Star Wars' Death Star one that deserves its own Disney + series. Warner gives it to us with no parental advisory sticker, doubling-up for the second time this year. Recorded at the Shangri-La studios in Malibu, California, sure it could have been shorter. But the 'Shang-Chi' Marvel movie could have taken some advice from the 'She-Hulk' finale too. And we still loved 'The Legend Of The Ten Rings' like we do this fab four, Californian modern day Beatles, coming together again. You know when it comes to Sinatra's sound, to be Frank, it all sounds the same, but so good you could just hit shuffle on Spotify and let it play? Well, the same will be said and heard for the Chili's once it's all said and done.

But 'Peace and Love', we hope that day is a storm drain length away, like Schwarzenegger spinning that shotgun on DA CHOPPER! There are standouts and new sounds here that sound beyond 'Unlimited'. Rendering this more than a B-side or throw away album. More, one that will grow traction in ensuing years of throwback nostalgia. 'My Cigarette' is simply smoking like Brad Pitt dipping 'Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood' and 'La La La La La La La La' is the eighth wonder, fresh standout like the 'Oh La, La' of the late, great Coolio. Rest in paradise. C U when we get there.

A wealth of material, making up for the ten-year absence of dear John, their heart and ours in kind truly grows fonder in these forlorn times like these. Where we're losing too many like Foo Fighter Taylor Hawkins and, in turn, ourselves. The Van Halen inspired 'Eddie' pays tribute to another great, all whilst these legends cement their own lyrical legacy. From 'Reach Out' to 'In The Snow' like "hey oh", before Winter sets in like the coming thrones. Nothing is 'Fake As Fu@k' here (don't @ me) with odes to 'Bella' in all her beauty. On a rush of blood to the head on 'Roulette', Kiedis gives us one his coldest plays, rapping, "The college years were lean, well/Coming out but maybe not so clean, my love/And if I stay much longer/My feelings for you, they might get much stronger, now/A Motorola coma/Sleep your way into a deep diploma, girl/At the dormitory/You've come to pour me one of your best stories, girl." One of the greatest wordsmiths any game has seen.

Sure, this is a 'Handful', but 'Shoot Me A Smile' because this will last to the 'Afterlife' like "long live the King/The young grows old with his buffalo spring." It's worth of 'Bag Of Grins' for your 'Copperbelly'. Taking us home on...erm, 'Carry Me Home', where they lament and urge us to notoriously, "Kick down the doors that you don't understand/Please, don't lose sight of this generous plan/Blinded by prisms, we wind up in court/I'm folding chairs while you sold yourself short/She's about to redefine the way/Reminded me to say the other way was right/She's in a place to pray for me/And now we've got to flash the funky light-a/You've got your way and it seems I've got mine/Both gonna die at the very same time." This is B.I.G. like Puffy. Happy Birthday, Flea. Even in this comeback town, they don't write returns like this. It's all a dream. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Tippa My Tongue', 'My Cigarette', 'La La La La La La La La'.