Red Hot Chili Peppers

When a reviewer cites a band's "maturity," it frequently means the group has exchanged spontaneity and freshness for calculation and predictability. That's certainly the case with the Peppers, whose latest has generated raves from easily pleased scribes even though it's basically two discs' worth of been-there-done-that-better-in-the-past. Stadium features loads o' material, but prolificness is no substitute for creativity.

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• John Frusciante
• David Gates
• Anthony Kiedis
• Celebrity News

"Dani California" sets the stage for what follows: Not only is it melodically, vocally and lyrically tired, but the most memorable riff John Frusciante offers up is one from "Purple Haze." Not that Frusciante's the biggest problem here. While his solos on the likes of "Readymade" qualify as classic-rock pastiches, too, at least they give off some heat. The opposite is true of watered-down funk exercises such as "Tell Me Baby" or the drippy "If," during which Anthony Kiedis gets in touch with his inner David Gates. This last number is so feeble it should be put to bed with a glass of warm milk and a sterilized bedpan.

If that's maturity, you can have it.