Maybe you’ve listened to them alongside their 26 million other monthly Spotify listeners, or maybe you remember their bassist’s appearance as a kidnapper in the 2022 Disney+ series Obi Wan. One thing is certain: the Red Hot Chili Peppers are one year away from being active for four decades. 

In spite of this, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, Flea and John Frusciante return with a single named “Tippa My Tongue” off of their upcoming double album Return of the Dream Canteen dropping on Oct. 14.

With a lifespan significantly longer than the average superstar band of the ‘90s, the sound of the Chilis has evolved far from the energy-driven songs like their 1991 hit “Give It Away” to the lonesome, laid-back funk of their recent 2022 album Unlimited Love. Seeing as the latter released last spring, Return of the Dream Canteen will be the second album released by the band in a single year. 

However in their newest release, it seems that the band has begun to yield both of these sounds into something new, fresh, faithful to their roots and quite psychedelic. 

That might be the greatest asset to this song, as we’ve seen the ferocity and mellow sides of the band’s music blended together into an outburst of confidence that the boys haven’t put out in years. Their confidence is probably best supported by John Frusciante’s return to the group in 2019 after a decade-long hiatus. 

When listening to the song, some elements shine through as a direct love letter to what makes the band such an anomaly in the musical industry; this is a band taking their ideas and running with them. Nowhere else in the modern music scene will you see a band this prominent that rolls rock, funk and rap elements so uniquely into their songs.

Anthony Kiedis’ lyrics are, albeit controversial, a hallmark of the Chili Peppers’ sound, something that doesn’t change in their newest release. With lyrics that can both resonate with the listener and make them scratch their heads, there isn’t any other songwriter who would straight-faced be able to sing:

“Well, I’m an animal /

Something like a cannibal /

I’m very flammable /

And partially programmable.”

The band has said themselves that much of their sessions for this song and its upcoming album blended together with Unlimited Love. So while this piece is a departure from their last albums’ tone, we can possibly expect some tracks on the upcoming album to be a return to the more relaxed sounds of their most recent work. 

Overall, if “Tippa My Tongue” leaves any impact on the listener, it would be to signify the vast journey the band has taken to this point, and the creative directions they want to take for the future. 

Personally? I seriously dig this track and can’t wait to see where they go next!