0093624880646. Pre-Owned: Good condition. CD. There s truly enough warmth and good vibes to go around on Red Hot Chili Peppers 12th full-length Unlimited Love. Not only did the band re-form their seminal lineup welcoming guitarist John Frusciante back into the fold after a decade-long absence but they also reunited with longtime production guru Rick Rubin who was swapped out for Danger Mouse on their last album 2016 s The Getaway. With the gang back together there s a palpable joy born from the energy of four buddies just having fun in the studio. Extending their 2010s maturation without losing sight of their funk roots Unlimited Love finds the Chili Peppers in jam-band mode focusing more on sonic moods surreal lyricism and the journey itself not a mainstream hit-fest like turn-of-the-millennium smashes Californication or By the Way. For tastes of that era lead single Black Summer comes closest sliding alongside Otherside and Californication on the Chili Pepper karaoke singalong list. The remaining 16 tracks can be split between body-moving funk jams and atmospheric mind-expanders the latter of which almost always benefit from a killer Frusciante solo. Those funky cuts are showcases for Flea whether he s dropping a bouncy bassline on the low end on Here Ever After or squiggling through Anthony Kiedis elastic delivery on Whatchu Thinkin . To that end Kiedis lyrics are at their most imaginative and sometimes inscrutable here like a shirtless mustachioed Dr. Seuss (the psychedelic music history lesson Poster Child and engrossing storytelling on Veronica are two standouts). While the songs don t jump out as much as on past efforts getting lost in the tunes is part of the appeal of Unlimited Love. From the surprise appearance of jazz horns on the slinky Aquatic Mouth Dance and the creeping synths on the quirky Bastards of the Light to the heavenly Frusciante moments that elevate otherwise average tracks like the midtempo Not the One or It s Only Natural these unexpected flourishes perk up the proceedings and grow more endearing with each listen. For those in search of more immediate gratification the crunchy jam She s a Lover bouncy singalong anthem One Way Traffic and uplifting The Heavy Wing are highlights while These Are the Ways is a climactic standout a full-bodied jolt of energy that crashes to a close with a gritty gnashing breakdown. Despite the overall trippy and feel-good nature of the set there s enough for fans of any past era to find an entry point and enjoy the ride. ~ Neil Z. Yeung Rovi