Unlimited Love

Following the tour for their eleventh album, The Getaway (2016), the Red Hot Chili Peppers began writing their next album with guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. However, singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea, were unhappy with their progress. They wondered if they could involve their former guitarist John Frusciante, who had recorded several albums with the Chili Peppers but left in 2009 and moved into making electronic music.{{cite web|last=Flood|first=Alex|date=2022-02-04|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers: "We feel fresh, like a new band"|url=https://www.nme.com/big-reads/red-hot-chili-peppers-cover-interview-2022-unlimited-love-3152682|access-date=2022-02-04|website=NME|archive-date=February 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204172522/https://www.nme.com/big-reads/red-hot-chili-peppers-cover-interview-2022-unlimited-love-3152682|url-status=live}} Frusciante said: "Flea had put the idea [of rejoining] in my head and I was sitting there with the guitar thinking that I hadn't written any rock music in so long. Could I still do that?"

On December 15, 2019, the Chili Peppers announced that, after 10 years, Frusciante had rejoined, replacing Klinghoffer.{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=2019-12-15|title=John Frusciante Rejoins Red Hot Chili Peppers; Josh Klinghoffer Exits|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/john-frusciante-rejoins-red-hot-chili-peppers-josh-klinghoffer-927387/|url-status=live|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215222846/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/john-frusciante-rejoins-red-hot-chili-peppers-josh-klinghoffer-927387/|archive-date=December 15, 2019|access-date=2020-04-18}} In an interview, Klinghoffer said there was no animosity: "It's absolutely John's place to be in that band ... I'm happy that he's back with them."{{cite web|date=January 23, 2020|title=Josh Klinghoffer calls firing from Red Hot Chili Peppers a "pretty simple" decision|url=https://consequence.net/2020/01/josh-klinghoffer-chili-peppers-firing/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124133745/https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/01/josh-klinghoffer-chili-peppers-firing/|archive-date=January 24, 2020|access-date=December 15, 2021|publisher=Consequence}} Flea said separating from Klinghoffer had been difficult, but that "artistically, in terms of being able to speak the same [musical] language, it was easier working with John. Getting back into a room and starting to play and letting the thing unfold… was really exciting." After reuniting with Frusciante, at his request, the band played through songs from their first three albums.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-01 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers: 'People misbehave and make mistakes. They don't know better' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/01/red-hot-chili-peppers-people-misbehave-and-make-mistakes-they-dont-know-better |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401085141/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/01/red-hot-chili-peppers-people-misbehave-and-make-mistakes-they-dont-know-better |url-status=live }} The drummer, Chad Smith, said Frusciante "wanted to reconnect with the band that he fell in love with”, and Kiedis said the exercise was about getting "back to basics" and playing together without expectations.{{Cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Kate |date=2022-04-01 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers: 'People misbehave and make mistakes. They don't know better' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/01/red-hot-chili-peppers-people-misbehave-and-make-mistakes-they-dont-know-better |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401085141/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/01/red-hot-chili-peppers-people-misbehave-and-make-mistakes-they-dont-know-better |url-status=live }}

On February 8, 2020, Frusciante performed with the Chili Peppers for the first time in 13 years, at a memorial service held by the Tony Hawk Foundation for late film producer Andrew Burkle, son of billionaire Ronald Burkle.{{Cite web|title=Watch RHCP and John Frusciante Perform Live for the First Time Since 2007|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/watch_rhcp_and_john_frusciante_perform_live_for_the_first_time_since_2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212103648/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/watch_rhcp_and_john_frusciante_perform_live_for_the_first_time_since_2007|archive-date=February 12, 2020|access-date=2020-02-09|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca}} Shows were scheduled for three festivals that May,{{Cite web|title=After COVID-19's over, prepare for a hug from Flea|url=https://www.933thedrive.com/2020/03/20/after-covid-19s-over-prepare-for-a-hug-from-flea/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308170835/https://www.933thedrive.com/2020/03/20/after-covid-19s-over-prepare-for-a-hug-from-flea/|archive-date=March 8, 2021|access-date=2020-04-12|website=93.3 The Drive|language=en}} but were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|author=|title=Hangout Music Festival 2020 canceled due to public response and hysteria in regards to COVID-19|url=https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/03/31/coronavirus-florida-2020-hangout-music-festival-canceled/5099357002/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412132045/https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2020/03/31/coronavirus-florida-2020-hangout-music-festival-canceled/5099357002/|archive-date=April 12, 2020|access-date=2020-04-12|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}

After working with Danger Mouse on The Getaway, the Chili Peppers brought in Rick Rubin, who has produced several of their most successful albums. Rubin said seeing their first rehearsal after Frusciante's return made him cry: "It was so thrilling to see that group of people back together because they made such great music for so long and it really hit me in an emotional way."{{cite web |last=Flood |first=Alex |url=https://www.nme.com/big-reads/red-hot-chili-peppers-cover-interview-2022-unlimited-love-3152682 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers: "We feel fresh, like a new band" |website=NME |date=2022-02-04 |access-date=2022-02-04 |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204172522/https://www.nme.com/big-reads/red-hot-chili-peppers-cover-interview-2022-unlimited-love-3152682 |url-status=live }}

Rehearsals were halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They resumed in 2021 at Rubin's Shangri-La studio in Malibu, with around 100 new songs to work on. The band recorded almost 50 tracks, with the band intending to release 40 of the tracks as one album, spread over seven physical discs.{{cite web|url=https://mixmag.net/feature/john-fruisciante-red-hot-chili-peppers-brian-eno-tim-reaper-new-album-jungle-breaks|title=JOHN FRUSCIANTE: "JUNGLE IS MY FAVOURITE KIND OF MUSIC EVER|work=MixMag|last=Moore|first=Ralph|date=October 18, 2022|access-date=October 19, 2022}} The band's label, Warner Records, resisted this release strategy, with a "compromise" being reached where the band split thirty-four songs across two separate studio albums. The second album from the Unlimited Love recording sessions, Return of the Dream Canteen, was released on October 14, 2022.{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=2022-07-24 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers announce second album of 2022, Return of the Dream Canteen |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/red-hot-chili-peppers-new-album-return-of-the-dream-canteen-1387388/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=2022-07-24}}

Reviewers described the album as funk rock{{cite web |last=DeWald |first=Mike |date=March 28, 2022 |title=ALBUM REVIEW: Red Hot Chili Peppers unleash the funk on 'Unlimited Love' |url=https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329182515/https://riffmagazine.com/album-reviews/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love/ |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |access-date=April 1, 2022 |work=Riff Magazine}} and alternative rock.{{cite web |last= |first= |date= March 29, 2022|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers, 'Unlimited Love': Album Review |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-album-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401013549/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-album-review/ |archive-date=April 1, 2022 |access-date=April 1, 2022 |work=Ultimate Classic Rock}}{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2022 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers coast on new album 'Unlimited Love' |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402054320/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-review/ |archive-date=April 2, 2022 |access-date=April 2, 2022}} NME said it shared the "melancholic riffmaking, anthemic choruses and softly-sung melodies" of Frusciante's previous work with the Chili Peppers, but introduced new "grungey" and acoustic elements.{{Cite web|last=Flood|first=Alex|date=2022-02-04|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers: 'We feel fresh, like a new band'|url=https://www.nme.com/big-reads/red-hot-chili-peppers-cover-interview-2022-unlimited-love-3152682|access-date=2022-02-04|website=NME|language=en-US|archive-date=February 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204172522/https://www.nme.com/big-reads/red-hot-chili-peppers-cover-interview-2022-unlimited-love-3152682|url-status=live}}

The Red Hot Chili Peppers announced Unlimited Love on February 4, 2022. The first single, "Black Summer", was released on February 4, backed by a music video directed by Deborah Chow.{{Cite web|last=Strauss|first=Matthew|date=2022-02-04|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers announce new album Unlimited Love, share video for new song 'Black Summer': Watch|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/red-hot-chili-peppers-announce-new-album-unlimited-love-share-new-song-black-summer-listen/|access-date=2022-02-04|website=Pitchfork|language=en-US|archive-date=February 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204205742/https://pitchfork.com/news/red-hot-chili-peppers-announce-new-album-unlimited-love-share-new-song-black-summer-listen/|url-status=live}} It became the Chili Peppers' fourteenth number-one single on the Billboard charts and their 26th top-ten single on the Alternative Songs chart.{{Cite magazine |last=Rutherford |first=Kevin |date=2022-03-29 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers Extend Alternative Airplay No. 1 Record With 'Black Summer' |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/red-hot-chili-peppers-extend-alternative-airplay-record-black-summer/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-03-26 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=March 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330063742/https://www.billboard.com/pro/red-hot-chili-peppers-extend-alternative-airplay-record-black-summer/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Rutherford |first=Kevin |date=2022-02-16 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Black Summer' crowns rock & alternative airplay chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/red-hot-chili-peppers-black-summer-tops-rock-alternative-airplay-chart/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-03-26 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=March 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326223609/https://www.billboard.com/pro/red-hot-chili-peppers-black-summer-tops-rock-alternative-airplay-chart/ |url-status=live }} The band previewed the new album by releasing "Poster Child" as a promotional single on March 4, backed by a music video directed by Julien & Thami,{{Cite web |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=2022-03-04 |title=Listen to Red Hot Chili Peppers' new song 'Poster Child' |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-red-hot-chili-peppers-new-song-poster-child/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US |archive-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304105748/https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-red-hot-chili-peppers-new-song-poster-child/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/red-hot-chili-peppers-share-new-single-poster-child/|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers Share New Single 'Poster Child'|date=March 4, 2022|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=April 1, 2022|archive-date=March 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324103755/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/red-hot-chili-peppers-share-new-single-poster-child/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-04 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers – Poster Child (Official Music Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHWfCzS5uQ |access-date=2022-03-06 |via=YouTube |language=en-US |archive-date=March 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311064317/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHWfCzS5uQ |url-status=live }} followed by "Not the One" on March 24.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-24 |title=Listen to Red Hot Chili Peppers emotional new song 'Not The One' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-red-hot-chili-peppers-new-song-not-the-one-3189851 |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=March 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325155506/https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-red-hot-chili-peppers-new-song-not-the-one-3189851 |url-status=live }} "These Are the Ways", the second single, was released on March 31 with a music video directed by Malia James.{{Cite news|url=https://www.howardstern.com/news/2022/04/01/anthony-kiedis-runs-from-the-cops-in-red-hot-chili-peppers-these-are-the-ways-music-video/|title=Anthony Kiedis Runs From the Cops in Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'These Are the Ways' Music Video|website=howardstern.com|access-date=2022-04-01|archive-date=April 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406091351/https://www.howardstern.com/news/2022/04/01/anthony-kiedis-runs-from-the-cops-in-red-hot-chili-peppers-these-are-the-ways-music-video/|url-status=live}}

The Chili Peppers performed their first show to promote the album at the Fonda Theatre on April 1.{{cite web|url=https://www.audacy.com/kroq/contests/listen-to-win-tickets-to-an-exclusive-chili-peppers-show|title=Listen to win tickets to an exclusive show with the Red Hot Chili Peppers|work=audacy.com|date=March 5, 2021 |access-date=April 1, 2022|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401195514/https://www.audacy.com/kroq/contests/listen-to-win-tickets-to-an-exclusive-chili-peppers-show|url-status=live}} This was followed by performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live!{{Cite news|url=https://abc.com/shows/jimmy-kimmel-live/news/schedule/jkl-schedule-for-03282022|title=Jimmy Kimmel Live Schedule for the Week of 3/28/2022|website=abc.com|access-date=2022-03-26|archive-date=March 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326134019/https://abc.com/shows/jimmy-kimmel-live/news/schedule/jkl-schedule-for-03282022|url-status=live}} The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show|title=This Week's Guests|website=nbc.com|access-date=2022-03-29|archive-date=May 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530042917/http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/filters/games|url-status=live}}The Howard Stern Show, at Amoeba Music and at the Yaamava' Resort & Casino in April{{Cite web |date=2022-02-28 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers to Perform Two Songs Live for Upcoming Stern Show Appearance |url=https://www.howardstern.com/show/2022/02/28/red-hot-chili-peppers-to-perform-two-songs-live-for-upcoming-stern-show-appearance/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=howardstern.com |language=en-US |archive-date=March 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306001019/https://www.howardstern.com/show/2022/02/28/red-hot-chili-peppers-to-perform-two-songs-live-for-upcoming-stern-show-appearance/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2022/03/30/how-to-get-tickets-for-red-hot-chili-peppers-at-amoeba-music-in-hollywood/|title=How to get tickets for Red Hot Chili Peppers at Amoeba Music in Hollywood|date=March 30, 2022|work=dailynews.com|access-date=April 1, 2022|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331172257/https://www.dailynews.com/2022/03/30/how-to-get-tickets-for-red-hot-chili-peppers-at-amoeba-music-in-hollywood/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://nz.finance.yahoo.com/news/red-hot-chili-peppers-first-130000696.html|title=RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS FIRST TO PERFORM AT ALL NEW YAAMAVA' THEATER|date=April 15, 2022|work=msn.com|access-date=April 15, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421093643/https://nz.finance.yahoo.com/news/red-hot-chili-peppers-first-130000696.html|url-status=live}} and at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/red-hot-chili-peppers-stevie-nicks-the-who-lead-2022-new-orleans-jazz-fest/ar-AASZ6bo?ocid=BingNewsSearch|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Nicks, the Who Lead 2022 New Orleans Jazz Fest|date=April 8, 2022|work=msn.com|access-date=April 8, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421093643/https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/red-hot-chili-peppers-stevie-nicks-the-who-lead-2022-new-orleans-jazz-fest/ar-AASZ6bo?ocid=BingNewsSearch|url-status=live}} in May. A scheduled appearance at the Billboard Music Awards was canceled.{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2022/05/11/red-hot-chili-peppers-drop-out-of-2022-billboard-music-awards/|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers drop out of 2022 Billboard Music Awards|date=May 11, 2022|work=nypost.com|access-date=May 12, 2022}} SiriusXM launched the Whole Lotta Red Hot channel on April 1. The channel features track-by-track commentary on Unlimited Love and an exclusive concert for subscribers later in the year.{{cite web|url=https://ktla.com/business/press-releases/cision/20220329NY06528/red-hot-chili-peppers-to-launch-exclusive-siriusxm-channel/|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers to Launch Exclusive SiriusXM Channel|date=March 29, 2022|work=ktla.com|access-date=March 29, 2022|archive-date=April 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413184330/https://ktla.com/business/press-releases/cision/20220329NY06528/red-hot-chili-peppers-to-launch-exclusive-siriusxm-channel/|url-status=live}}

On June 4, the Red Hot Chili Peppers began a global stadium tour, starting in Seville, Spain and that will continue into 2023 in support of Return of the Dream Canteen. The shows are supported by acts including the Strokes, A$AP Rocky, Beck, Haim, St. Vincent, Anderson .Paak, Nas, Thundercat, King Princess and Post Malone.{{Cite web |last=Hussey |first=Allison |date=2021-10-07 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers reveal 2022 tour dates with the Strokes, Haim, St. Vincent, more |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/red-hot-chili-peppers-reveal-2022-tour-dates/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217223446/https://pitchfork.com/news/red-hot-chili-peppers-reveal-2022-tour-dates/ |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 6.3/10{{cite web |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers: Unlimited Love: Twelfth studio album from the veteran Californian alt.rock band produced by Rick Rubin and with guitarist John Frusciante since 2006's Stadium Arcadium |url=http://anydecentmusic.com/review/13234/Red-Hot-Chili-Peppers-Unlimited-Love-.aspx |website=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=16 May 2023}}

| MC = 71/100{{cite web |title=Reviews for Unlimited Love by Red Hot Chili Peppers |work=Metacritic |access-date=March 31, 2022 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/unlimited-love/red-hot-chili-peppers |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331175435/https://www.metacritic.com/music/unlimited-love/red-hot-chili-peppers |url-status=live }}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/unlimited-love-mw0003664801|title=Unlimited Love – Red Hot Chili Peppers {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=April 1, 2022|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331171843/https://www.allmusic.com/album/unlimited-love-mw0003664801|url-status=live}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = B{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-album-review-1848695977|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers trade easy hooks for surprising depth on Unlimited Love|website=The A.V. Club|last=Bogosian|first=Dan|date=April 1, 2022|access-date=April 1, 2022|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401113133/https://www.avclub.com/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-album-review-1848695977|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Clash

| rev3score = 9/10{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers – Unlimited Love|work=Clash|last=Miller|first=Isabella|date=March 31, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331110245/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love|url-status=live}}

| rev4 = Classic Rock

| rev4score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/the-red-hot-chili-peppers-are-back-and-it-sure-feels-good|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers – Unlimited Love|website=Classic Rock|last=Stubbs|first=David|date=April 1, 2022|access-date=April 1, 2022|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401000531/https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/the-red-hot-chili-peppers-are-back-and-it-sure-feels-good|url-status=live}}

| rev5 = Evening Standard

| rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Smyth|first=David|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-review-new-album-b991497.html|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers – 'Unlimited Love' review: Friends reunited find their mojo|website=Evening Standard|date=April 1, 2022|access-date=April 1, 2022|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331235204/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-review-new-album-b991497.html|url-status=live}}

| rev6 = Exclaim!

| rev6score = 7/10{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/red_hot_chili_peppers_unlimited_love_album_review|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers Rekindle Their Fire on 'Unlimited Love'|website=Exclaim!|last=Hudson|first=Alex|date=March 31, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401053756/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/red_hot_chili_peppers_unlimited_love_album_review|url-status=live}}

| rev7 = NME

| rev7score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Shutler|first=Ali|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-3194872|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers – 'Unlimited Love': perhaps their most sprawling yet consistent album|work=NME|date=March 31, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331104431/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-3194872|url-status=live}}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8score = 6.2/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love/|title=Unlimited Love|website=Pitchfork|last=Sodomsky|first=Sam|date=March 31, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2022|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331074120/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love/|url-status=live}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany|date=March 31, 2022 |title=The Red Hot Chili Peppers Return to Their Californicating Glory With 'Unlimited Love' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/the-red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-1330017/ |access-date=March 31, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331210803/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/the-red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-1330017/ |url-status=live }}

|rev10 = Under the Radar

|rev10score=5/10{{cite web |last1=Kersey |first1=Kyle |title=Unlimited Love |url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/unlimited_love |website=Under the Radar |access-date=16 May 2023 |language=en |date=4 May 2022}}

}}

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, Unlimited Love has an average score of 71 based on 20 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone gave the album four out of five stars, writing: "more than anything, this record feels like a coming home. There's a certain magic that happens with these four musicians, and Frusciante's absence always leaves a piece of the puzzle missing." Ali Shutler of NME gave the album four out of five stars, writing that "there's a lot to 'Unlimited Love', both in scale and ambition. It’s at once familiar – without being boring – and fresh." Clash rated the album 9/10, with reviewer Isabella Miller describing it as a "celebration of union, friendship, and life, all manifested across 17 tracks."{{Cite web |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers – Unlimited Love |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=Clash |date=March 31, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331172134/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love |url-status=live }} In a glowing review, Paolo Ragusa of Consequence praised the lyrics and musicianship, writing that it is "fascinating to hear a band nearly forty years into their career try to reach their audience in a different way."{{Cite web |date=2022-03-31 |title=For Red Hot Chili Peppers, Love, Life and Friendship Are in Unlimited Supply: Album Review |url=https://consequence.net/2022/03/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-album-review/ |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=Consequence |language=en-US |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331175809/https://consequence.net/2022/03/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-album-review/ |url-status=live }}

Some critics found the album mediocre; Steve Beebee of Kerrang! wrote that "It's a good record; just not a great one...There are, however, way too many tracks that miss their marks, trying to supplant the old energy with wisdom; the magik with maturity."{{Cite web |title=Album review: Red Hot Chili Peppers – Unlimited Love |url=https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-anthony-kiedis-flea-chad-smith-john-frusciante/ |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Kerrang! |date=April 2, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403134342/https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-anthony-kiedis-flea-chad-smith-john-frusciante |url-status=live }} Sam Sodomsky of Pitchfork gave it 6.2 out of 10, saying the band "[balanced] the risk of self-parody with the need to live up to people's nostalgia, knowing they've already written the music they'll be remembered for but still wanting to keep the ride going".{{Cite web |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers: Unlimited Love |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love/ |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331074120/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love/ |url-status=live }}

Mark Richardson of the Wall Street Journal said the album lacked energy and purpose, and that it "features their classic sound but little that's new or exciting".{{Cite news |last=Richardson |first=Mark |date=2022-03-28 |title='Unlimited Love' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers Is the Group's Mildest Album Yet |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/unlimited-love-red-hot-chili-peppers-flea-anthony-kiedis-chad-smith-john-frusciante-11648505354 |access-date=2022-03-29 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329073306/https://www.wsj.com/articles/unlimited-love-red-hot-chili-peppers-flea-anthony-kiedis-chad-smith-john-frusciante-11648505354 |url-status=live }} Phil Mongredien of The Guardian described the album as "bloated and self-indulgent ... with barely a memorable melody or thought-provoking lyric among its 17 tracks".{{Cite web |date=2022-04-03 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers: Unlimited Love review – bloated and self-indulgent |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/03/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-review-bloated-and-self-indulgent |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=April 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405075644/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/03/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-review-bloated-and-self-indulgent |url-status=live }} Ryan Leas of Stereogum found that, aside from some highlights, "the crime of Unlimited Love, with all its weight within RHCP's narrative and all the excitement some might've felt, is that the bulk of the album is just completely unmemorable".{{Cite web |date=2022-03-30 |title=Premature Evaluation: Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Unlimited Love' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2181300/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love/reviews/premature-evaluation/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=Stereogum |language=en |archive-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331170946/https://www.stereogum.com/2181300/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love/reviews/premature-evaluation/ |url-status=live }}

The music video for "Black Summer" won the Best Rock award in the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards and the band was also nominated for Group of the Year. The band now has 30 nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards since 1990 and these are their first nominations since 2006 when they were nominated for "Dani California". The band also received the Global Icon Award and performed at the awards show.{{Cite web|title=Best Rock Video|url=https://www.mtv.com/vma/vote/best-rock|access-date=July 26, 2022|website=mtv.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers to Receive Global Icon Award and Perform at 2022 MTV VMAs|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/red-hot-chili-peppers-to-receive-global-icon-award-and-perform-at-2022-mtv-vmas/ar-AA10QjS0|access-date=August 19, 2022|website=msn.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers Perform "Black Summer" / "Can't Stop" | 2022 VMAs|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES91RiD1W7k|access-date=September 17, 2022|website=YouTube|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=FULL LIST: Winners, MTV Video Music Awards 2022|url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/list-winners-mtv-video-music-awards-2022/|access-date=September 17, 2022|website=Rappler|date=August 29, 2022 |language=en}} They also received a nomination for Best Rock Band at the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards.

The band was nominated for three American Music Awards for Favorite Rock Album (Unlimited Love), Favorite Rock Song ("Black Summer") and Favorite Rock Artist.

The album was a worldwide commercial success, debuting at number-one in 16 different countries including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Scotland, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States.

In its home country of the United States, Unlimited Love was the band's second number one on the Billboard 200, and the first since 2006's Stadium Arcadium album selling 97,500 equivalent album units. It marked the longest gap ever between number one albums since Celine Dion waited 17 years and nearly eight months between number one albums. Unlimited Love had the largest week, by equivalent album units and album sales, for any rock album in over a year since Paul McCartney's McCartney III album in January 2021. The sales for Unlimited Love were boosted by various vinyl variants and special editions of the album. The album sold 38,500 copies on vinyl which were the largest sales week for an album on vinyl in 2022 and the second largest sales week for a rock album since 1991.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-10 |title=Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Unlimited Love' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-billboard-200-albums-chart-debut-1235057502/ |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Billboard |language=en |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410213228/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/red-hot-chili-peppers-unlimited-love-billboard-200-albums-chart-debut-1235057502/ |url-status=live }}

In the United Kingdom, Unlimited Love debuted at number one, becoming the band's first chart-topper in 11 years since 2011's I'm With You.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/red-hot-chili-peppers-score-fifth-uk-number-1-album-with-unlimited-love__35708/|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers score fifth UK Number 1 album with Unlimited Love|publisher=Official Charts Company|last=Smith|first=Carl|date=8 April 2022|access-date=11 April 2022|archive-date=April 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411172241/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/red-hot-chili-peppers-score-fifth-uk-number-1-album-with-unlimited-love__35708/|url-status=live}} Unlimited Love sold 27,426 units in its first week, 20,989 of which came from physical formats. Digitally, the album sold 2,315 downloads and streamed 4,122 album-equivalent units.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/charts-analysis-red-hot-chili-peppers-land-fifth-no-1-album/085596|title=Charts analysis: Red Hot Chili Peppers land fifth No.1 album|website=Music Week|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=8 April 2022|access-date=11 April 2022|archive-date=April 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408164138/https://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/charts-analysis-red-hot-chili-peppers-land-fifth-no-1-album/085596|url-status=live}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Unlimited Love

| all_writing = Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante and Chad Smith.

| title1 = Black Summer

| length1 = 3:52

| title2 = Here Ever After

| length2 = 3:50

| title3 = Aquatic Mouth Dance

| length3 = 4:20

| title4 = Not the One

| length4 = 4:26

| title5 = Poster Child

| length5 = 5:18

| title6 = The Great Apes

| length6 = 5:01

| title7 = It's Only Natural

| length7 = 5:33

| title8 = She's a Lover

| length8 = 3:41

| title9 = These Are the Ways

| length9 = 3:56

| title10 = Whatchu Thinkin{{'-}}

| length10 = 3:40

| title11 = Bastards of Light

| length11 = 3:38

| title12 = White Braids & Pillow Chair

| length12 = 3:40

| title13 = One Way Traffic

| length13 = 4:10

| title14 = Veronica

| length14 = 4:28

| title15 = Let 'Em Cry

| length15 = 4:23

| title16 = The Heavy Wing

| length16 = 5:31

| title17 = Tangelo

| length17 = 3:37

| total_length = 73:13

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese CD bonus track

| extra_column =

| title18 = Nerve Flip

| length18 = 3:06

| total_length = 76:19

}}

Red Hot Chili Peppers

• Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
• Flea – bass (all tracks), piano (track 4), trumpet (3, 15)
• John Frusciante – electric guitar (1–16), backing vocals (1, 3, 5–9, 11–14), co-lead vocals (16), synthesizer (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17), Mellotron (5), acoustic guitar (11, 14, 17)
• Chad Smith – drums (1, 3–16), percussion (2), tambourine (1, 4), bass (2), shaker (5, 7, 15)

Additional musicians

• Cory Henry – organ (5, 15)
• Lenny Castro – percussion (5)
• Mauro Refosco – percussion (3, 8, 10, 11, 13)
• Nate Walcott – trumpet (3)
• Josh Johnson – saxophone (3)
• Vikram Devasthali – trombone (3)
• Mathew Tollings – piano (1, 6)
• Aura T-09 – backing vocals (4)

Production{{cite web |title=Unlimited Love Credits |url=https://redhotchilipeppers.com/music/unlimited-love/credits/ |website=Red Hot Chili Peppers |access-date=26 May 2022 |archive-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704100643/https://redhotchilipeppers.com/music/unlimited-love/credits/ |url-status=dead }}

• Rick Rubin – production
• Ryan Hewitt – mixing, recording
• Bernie Grundman – vinyl mastering
• Vlado Meller – CD and digital mastering
• Jeremy Lubsey – CD and digital assistant mastering
• Bo Bodnar – engineering
• Phillip Broussard Jr. – engineering
• Jason Lader – engineering
• Ethan Mates – engineering
• Dylan Neustadter – engineering
• Jonathan Pfarr – assistant engineering
• Chaz Sexton – assistant engineering
• Chris Warren – band technician
• Henry Trejo – band technician
• Lawrence Malchose – studio technician
• Charlie Bolois – studio technician
• Gage Freeman – co-ordinator production
• Eric Lynn – co-originator production
• Sami Bañuelos – band assistant

Imagery

• Clara Balzary – photography
• Sarah Zoraya and Aura T-09 – design

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Unlimited Love}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=Unlimited Love|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2022|certyear=2022|access-date=October 4, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Red Hot Chili Peppers|title=Unlimited Love|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=2022|certyear=2023|id=18693-982-2|access-date=February 3, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|type=album|2573243|name=Unlimited Love}}

{{Red Hot Chili Peppers}}

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Category:2022 albums

Category:Albums produced by Rick Rubin

Category:Red Hot Chili Peppers albums

Category:Warner Records albums