Return of the Dream Canteen

Did You Know?

• The album's artwork was created by French artists Thami Nabil and Julien Calemard, who had previously made a music video for "Poster Child" from Unlimited Love.
• In honor of the Los Angeles Rams' victory in Super Bowl LVI, the band released a limited edition vinyl in the team's colors with a Rams sticker.
• Of the 48 songs recorded during the sessions, 12 remain unreleased, including a song called "Comedy Store."

Background and recording

The Red Hot Chili Peppers wrote and recorded Return of the Dream Canteen during the same sessions as Unlimited Love (2022), which marked the return of guitarist John Frusciante after a ten-year absence. Nearly 50 songs were recorded with producer Rick Rubin and engineer Ryan Hewitt. The band initially intended to release 40 tracks as a single album spread over seven physical discs, but Warner Records resisted this strategy. Drummer Chad Smith stated that the band felt they had too many good songs to withhold, and that the material was not a collection of B-sides. The band sequenced both albums to be distinct listening experiences.

Writing and composition

John Frusciante recorded multiple keyboard and synthesiser overdubs across the album's 17 tracks, drawing inspiration from Brian Eno's work with Roxy Music. He used effects and studio techniques to alter the band's performances, including delays, reverbs, and synths on lead vocals. Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith discussed Frusciante's love of electronic breakbeats from hip hop, jungle, drum and bass, and UK garage music. Frusciante played Smith a series of short breakbeats, and Smith incorporated these influences into his drumming. The drumbeat for "Peace and Love" was inspired by a breakbeat from Isaac Hayes' "Breakthrough." The album's title, Return of the Dream Canteen, was described by vocalist Anthony Kiedis as representing "a well of creative prosperity," noting that the COVID-19 pandemic gave the band ample time to write and record without rushing.

Promotion

The album was announced during the band's Global Stadium Tour on July 23, 2022, at a show in Denver, with pre-sales offering limited edition vinyl versions. The first single, "Tippa My Tongue," was released with a music video on August 19, 2022, and was first performed live on January 14, 2023. The second single, "Eddie," inspired by musician Eddie Van Halen, was released on September 23, 2022, and was first performed on October 9, 2022, at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. "The Drummer" was released as the third single with a music video on October 14, 2022, and was first performed on January 14, 2023. The Global Stadium Tour, which began in June 2022 in support of Unlimited Love, continued in support of Return of the Dream Canteen in January 2023 and concluded in July 2024.

Critical reception

Return of the Dream Canteen received generally positive reviews, with a Metacritic score of 69 indicating "generally favorable reviews." Rolling Stone praised Frusciante's performance, highlighting his parts on "Eddie" and "Handful." Consequence noted that some moments felt diluted due to the band's rapid release schedule. Gerrod Harris of The Spill Magazine described the album as "a weirder and far more experimental record" compared to Unlimited Love, with pop influence taking a back seat. Guitar World readers ranked it the 5th best guitar album of 2022.