the peppers have been known to cover many bands through out their time(their first big hit was a cover)so it is fiting for them to finally release a cover album.most of this stuff can be found on either their studio albums or imports but it is still cool cause of the book of rare photo that comes with it.not a place for new fans to start out but it's a good cd for a fan of cover songs(i really wish they included their cover of the ramones blitzkerg bop on their...oh well)-jason harshman

Their energy permeates every song, especially the covers! Once you hear them you can never go back. I love Stevie, but higher ground is just that.

they absolutely rock

A collection of covers by the Red Hot Chili Peppers-- mostly previously released-- blending studio and live recordings, "Under the Covers" makes for a unique and fun portrait of the band.

The Peppers are a fearless cover band, tackling everything from Hank Williams to Robert Johnson to Jimi Hendrix to Sly and the Family Stone without flinching. One thing that can be said about them is that they make everything their own-- even though this was recorded over a span of eight years, there's a remarkable sense of consistency to the sound and the music, with everything being assimulateed into the Chili Peppers' funk/punk sound-- Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" sits comfortably next to Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground". There's a remarkably high level of consistency. But more importantly, it's still really quite listenable.

But nonetheless, it's important to note that most of this material is available elsewhere, with seven tracks drawn from albums (and one further added as a bonus track to an album) and four b-sides (including the one added to "Mother's Milk"). That leaves basically two previously unreleased songs-- it's hard to justify spending an enormous amount of money for this, and it causes me to dock the rating because this lacks value.

Admittedly, nothing will deter fans, but if you're more casual, this is only worth getting if you have cash to blow or see it cheap.

"There are only two kinds of music...good and bad or soulful and non-soulful..." You'll find good and soulful music through the whole album. You won't believe it till you listen. (From a RHCP fan, but more a MUSIC fan)