Five star

THE Chili Peppers have followed up 1999's Californication with a blinder of an album which has to rate as one of the best this year.

Taking a cleaner, mellower approach than before and a somewhat rueful look at life, fans who still yearn for the band's early riff-driven output might feel a tinge of disappointment.

But fans of just plain-old good music should appreciate this for what it is.

The opening song and current single By The Way is such an addictive blend of melodious chorus and funky screwball verse that there is a severe temptation to rewind it immediately.

But that would be a mistake, for what follows is some beautiful songwriting.

Don't Forget Me, Universally Speaking and Dosed for example are atmospheric ballads of the first order which sound almost eerie.

Most of the album indeed has that same sort of atmosphere, the songs sharing a common feeling without sounding samey.

Can't Stop and Throw Away Your Television are still pretty funky though, while Warm Tape should win a prize for quirky originality.

This is a must-buy.

JS