Red Hot Chili Peppers - By The Way Review
Posted by Yabba Dabba on 09.05.2002
The Chili Peppers are back and grown up with a mellow album.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are once again back at the top of the world of rock. Old fans of the Chili Peppers might be surprised by their latest effort entitled By The Way. Long gone are the days of the cock-sock boys, replaced by an older and wiser band. By The Way takes the mellow, poetic parts that were hinted at in Californication (their last album) and expands on them. The songs on By The Way are obviously from a group who has grown up substantially. However this does not mean the Peppers are any less funky or catchy than before! A track-by-track examination shows the album to not only have its melodic softer sides, but also a few great rock songs:
1. By The Way – The title track and first single is a great opener as it is completely different from anything the Peppers have done before. If the listener can’t accept that this album isn’t just Blood Sugar Sex Magik rehashed then perhaps he or she shouldn’t continue listening. Probably the most rock-oriented song on the album.
2. Universally Speaking – A very watery sounding song with great harmonies from Flea and 2 guitar solos from John. Sounds like a great Beach Boys song.
3. This Is The Place – Anthony Kiedis’ vocals just MAKE this song. One trend the whole album tends to have is Flea and John providing haunting background vocals as Anthony belts out the main or raps out some lines and this song is no exception. Most likely will end up being a single off the album.
4. Dosed – This track starts the collection of more mature sounding Peppers tunes. Once again the harmonies of Flea and John (including John doing part of the main vocals) with Anthony make this song extremely beautiful and artistic while still being catchy as hell.
5. Don’t Forget Me – While Anthony’s vocals might make other songs, this one definitely revolves around the music. Anthony’s screams almost act as another instrument and compliment the wails of guitar perfectly (with several solos).
6. The Zephyr Song – Most likely the next single from the album, this track seems to stand out more than any other. Once again the simple background harmonies provided by John and Flea turn a catchy rock song into an artistic experiment.
7. Can’t Stop – This track is the first funky song from the album. Unlike older simple funk songs about love or nature from the Peppers, this one is much more complicated both musically and lyrically. The opening guitar rift is just a killer hard rock rift and as usual the background harmonies turn a simple rock song into an ethereal piece of art.
8. I Could Die For You – A sad and simple song and a great example of the new direction of the band.
9. Midnight – Continuing in the direction of the last track. The space sounding guitar and harmonies compliment Anthony perfectly once again.
10. Throw Away Your Television – Just a great old school funk song from the band. A killer base line with Anthony free-styling leads into exotic space guitar for the chorus and then goes back to the simple funk.
11. Cabron – Just a little number that shows a bit of the Latin influence in LA on the band. Just too freaking catchy, you’ll be humming it all day.
12. Tear – Once again, the vocal harmonies turn a simple song into a beautiful soft song.
13. On Mercury – Another stand out song, might be a future single. A fast funk song with slow harmonies, who could have guessed?
14. Minor Thing – A possible radio hit. This track probably sums up the whole album as a whole better than any other if for no other reason than it has a funky rift with a haunting slow chorus with great backgrounds, a fast rap interlude and a couple great guitar solos.
15. Warm Tape – A jam straight out of the 1960s hippie era.
16. Venice Queen – Another jam about love that goes over 6 minutes; a great way to end the album.
The Chili Peppers obviously haven’t lost a step in their ability to write catchy rock songs. As I’ve repetitively said already, the surprising vocal harmonies from Flea and John give the album a completely different feel. If you liked Californication more than Blood Sugar Sex Magik then you will most likely really enjoy this album. Its great to see these days a band who made a hit album and then has continually made better and better albums which go in completely new directions. By The Way shows how absolutely great of a band the Peppers are together. None of the songs would be as good as they are now if it weren’t for each individual’s contributions.
The 411: An album full of catchy, but mellow sounds from a band maturing together.
