Return of the Dream Canteen
| Red Hot Chili Peppers
Return of the Dream Canteen
Return of the Dream Canteen is the thirteenth studio album by the American rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on October 14, 2022, through Warner Records as a double LP and single CD. Produced by Rick Rubin, it was recorded during the same sessions as the band's previous studio album, Unlimited Love, released earlier in 2022. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Pitchfork
The funk-rock band’s second album of the year is a surprisingly introspective set filled with references to forgotten actors, classic bands, and, most tellingly, decades-old Chili Peppers songs.
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Rolling Stone
Red Hot Chili Peppers Serve Up 75 Minutes of Pretty Good Leftovers.
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NME
On their second album release of the year the Californians break new ground, but bury these new discoveries with tired old tricks.
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Metal Planet Music
‘Return Of The Dream Canteen’, produced by Rick Rubin, is magnificent in its mellifluous meanderings; one moment riff-driven the next possessing the chilled-out surf-drenched beach ambience. It’s, naturally, funky but maturely inquisitive; pushing boundaries yet remaining a short strike from home. Assured to conclude the Chilis have kept their promise of not playing it safe with this release. Dividends have been reaped from the seeds sown from those productive sessions. A fine point in history.
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Consequence
Red Hot Chili Peppers Prove The Love Is Truly Unlimited on Return of the Dream Canteen.
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Ultimate Classic Rock
Band members have said Return of the Dream Canteen isn't a leftovers LP, and there are enough fully formed songs here to prove them right. Still, weeding out some of the lesser numbers would have made a tighter album. But doing things halfway isn't in the Red Hot Chili Peppers' nature.
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AllMusic
Meanwhile, the sparse, drawn-out closer "In the Snow" detours with a spoken word, stream of consciousness flow from Anthony Kiedis. Like its sibling Unlimited Love, Return of the Dream Canteen benefits from the positive energy of these four friends just having fun in the studio, and is designed for listeners to plug in and bliss out without any expectations of mainstream-ready fare.
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Spill Magazine
Return Of The Dream Canteen, on the other hand, is a collection of music with creativity for art’s sake as the first priority. Ultimately two sides of the same coin, Return Of The Dream Canteen is a modern take on the dirty, bare bones funk and quirky melodicism the Red Hot Chili Peppers are known for with another latter career highlight that will thrill for its sheer unpredictability and audacity.
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Riff Magazine
Red Hot Chili Peppers stay prolific on ‘Return of the Dream Canteen’.
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Clash Magazine
The band promised that they weren’t going to play it safe with this record, and it seems to have paid off.
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Sputnik Music
In the end, I wouldn’t say Return of the Dream Canteen is better overall than the previous effort. It might have a couple of higher sonic peaks, but suffers from similar flaws. Obviously, one hour-long album with the strongest tracks recorded in the past couple of years would have been enough for a stronger comeback.
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The Upcoming
The production is crisp and sharp. It sounds big, but not a moment is lost; every beat is highlighted. Kiedis is in fine voice but really this is Frusciante’s show. His guitar is high in the mix, given room to be playful and inventive while being responsive to the vocals. The album is too long and could definitely have done with a tighter edit, but it reminds listeners why the Chilis have had such longevity: they’re really good musicians and they’re interesting.
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Dig!
With the eclectic and exhilarating double-album ‘Return Of The Dream Canteen’, Red Hot Chili Peppers pick up where ‘Unlimited Love’ left off.
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Evening Standard
Memorable melodies are hard to come by too, which means that the songs that stand out most are the ones that don’t sound like yet more generic Chili Peppers funk jams. My Cigarette is nicely spooky with its stark electro beats and a jerky little sax solo. Next time, hopefully they’ll wait a little longer for real inspiration to strike.
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The Oswegonian
In all honesty, it is safe to say that this album tops “Unlimited Love.” The instrumentals are equally powerful as the vocals, sometimes a step higher but without being overbearing. It is clear that a lot of love and care was poured into its creation, where the band asserts that quantity and quality can coexist.
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Flood Magazine
Languid, jamming, and psychedelic, the group’s second LP of 2022 is more elastic than its immediate predecessor, and more spacious than anything since Californification.
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Music Matters Media
Strictly speaking, there isn’t a bad song on Dream Canteen, but it still might serve as another example of the Chili Peppers giving us too much of a good thing all at once.
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Cryptic Rock
It is clearly obvious that these songs were recorded the same time as Unlimited Love just by the mood alone. However, Return of the Teen Canteen is a strong standalone album with a plethora of smooth and catchy songs. Spreading calmness, whether the lyrics are rapped or sung by Anthony Kiedis, each word is worth listening to closely. Additionally, the outstanding bass line of Flea, which carries a hint of Jazz, will guide you through each song. Return of the Dream Canteen carries so much more than you will be able to grasp on the first time listening… so take your time and enjoy this album.
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Commedia
Although "Return of the Dream Canteen" is nowhere near as exciting as the band's previous records, it should leave Chili Peppers fans satisfied. It is on par with “Unlimited Love.” There are many highs, a few lows and a lot of tracks that end up in the middle ground. They have proved that they have the power to release incredible music even at this stage of their career. Also, the band is not done yet saying that they plan on releasing more music soon in the future. What will it sound like? Probably more of the same, for better or worse.
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XS Noize
The individual performances of the band's members shine through, with Frusciante the standout, but the album struggles from a lack of energy at times, instead choosing to stick in a funk-heavy safe zone. As I concluded with my review of Unlimited Love, their latest album also lingers and has little sense of direction. A reminder that sometimes less is more.
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B-Sides
Containing 17 tracks, this album was long and immersive. It flows from track to track, regardless of if the listener chooses to listen to its songs in order or press shuffle. If you’re looking for a collection of songs that are funky and groovy, this is definitely a solid choice.
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The Visionary Boss
Red Hot Chili Pepper's Return of the Dream Canteen is a cathartic, vibrant, kaleidoscopic trip. The best way to describe the seventeen-track album is "mass confusion in a mason jar." One moment you're jamming out in a desert, next you're grieving the unrequited, then you're like botanical blooming out of a hollow carcass.
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Louder Sound
Red Hot Chili Peppers continue red hot creative streak.
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Exclaim!
Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Return of the Dream Canteen' Is a Compelling Mess.
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Liverpool Sound and Vision
An album that is a marked improvement on its predecessor, but which still lacks any of the emotional drama that the band were once lovingly associated with; it is the fight that is missed, and as with any artist, the inevitable route to decline is one paved with good intentions.
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The Slate
“Return of the Dream Canteen” is a good album but definitely not the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ best. The fact that over half the album is just “ok” brings its impact down significantly, but as a fan of the band it is great to see them continue to branch out in style of music.
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Music Waves
Return Of The Dream Canteen" is an album that will undoubtedly speak more to musicians adept at jamming than to hardcore Red Hot Chili Peppers fans.
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