To commemorate their 2012 induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,
the Red Hot Chili Peppers knocked out a six-song covers EP of classics from previous inductees to the Hall of Fame. Half of these are live and half were recorded in the studio, but the bigger surprise is that half are pretty, soft, and sweet, the band taking a stab at the wide-eyed innocence of
Dion's "A Teenager in Love," gamely harmonizing on
the Beach Boys' "I Get Around," and, strangest of all, turning
the Ramones' "Havana Affair" into a jangly little pop tune. Elsewhere, they stomp through
David Bowie's "Suffragette City," approximate Neil Young & Crazy Horse's gait on "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere," and hit
Iggy & the Stooges' "Search and Destroy" with just a little bit too much precision. Apart from that odd revision of "Havana Affair" there are no re-interpretations here, but
the Chili Peppers' warm-hearted gusto is appealing even when they don't quite pull off their chosen cover with panache. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine