Album Reviews
View A near-perfect balance of gutter grime and high-art aspiration, the Rick Rubin-produced By the Way continues the Peppers' slow-motion makeover. The band pioneered the funk-rock-rap hybrid thing in the Eighties, and then, beginning with BloodSugarSexMagik and its single "Under the Bridge" in 1991, began moving away from the genre's stultifying repetitions. Slyly, without doing anything drastic to alienate their core audience, the Peppers have shed their early devices -- the jerky raps, the faux-P-Funk rhythms - that were once innovative but quickly became the stock tools of every rap-metal hybrid in the land. Along the way, the Peppers' songs got more intricate, acquiring string riffs and heroic guitar counterlines, and pretty soon this band of loutish love thugs became the alt-rock Aerosmith (minus the screeching-and-beseeching power ballads), creators of music that could be at once credible and commercial. The transition has been so gradual that those who were on the scene in the rowdy Eighties followed right along and stayed as the band made its lunge toward art.
On By the Way, these reformed groove savants head out on an even more radical pursuit, chasing that elusive moment of giddy, unspeakable bliss most often found in the work of Brian Wilson and the Beatles. They don't only want to reference that kind of writing, though -- they work to take the songs there. Singer Anthony Kiedis' utopian love themes and hot-oil sex scenes have been raised to a Pet Sounds level of refinement. The hooks, most from the pen of guitarist and budding auteur John Frusciante, are sweet but never syrupy. The Peppers have never been this consistent: Even the seemingly mindless songs come with consciousness-expanding bridges instead of just salacious vamps, and they toss out sprawling existential questions ("Is it safe inside your head?") as often as they strive for tidy answers.
By the Way would be notable just for its parade of relentlessly catchy melodies: "This Is the Place," "Midnight" and the karmic allegory "Universally Speaking" are three of maybe eight tracks persuasive enough to own the radio this summer. Several others venture down unusual alleyways -- the suitelike "Venice Queen," the Latin gallop "Cabron," which advocates peace in a gang-run neighborhood -- and two or three, if omitted, wouldn't be missed. But here is where the band's years spent perfecting the deep-funk groove have paid off: Even the few obligatory mawkish ballads are delivered as though they were urgent bulletins from some metaphysical front line, with an intensity rarely heard on multitracked recordings. Anyone can build a song around a simple command such as "Throw Away Your Television"; the Chili Peppers take that idea, lash it to a romping beat that recalls the Ellington orchestra's 1930s-vintage jungle jumps, and turn it into something positively galvanizing, the seed of a get-off-the-couch revolution.
Similarly unexpected references turn up throughout By the Way -- Kiedis stretches his voice into some Beatlesque psychedelia on "Universally Speaking" and contributes to a Beach Boys chorale on "The Zephyr Song," which is as close as this band has come to conjuring pure California sunshine. And even the more "typical" Chili Pepper rumbles -- such as "Midnight," which finds Kiedis urging, "Mix it up until there are no pedigrees" -- are not exactly boilerplate retreads. They're smart extensions of the identifiable brand, examples of how to expand an already distinctive sound and evolve, organically, without going too far. It's one thing to mix things up until the pedigrees are obliterated. It's another to do what the Chili Peppers have done: Gather disconnected sounds and ideas from all over the map into something that's cohesive and bold, and, despite its mongrel origins, couldn't come from anyone else.
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Review 1 of 12
WittyName15 writes:
This album always gets mixed opinions, because the Peppers by this point began playing a different style of music. This album contains almost none of the funk / punk combo they were known for playing up until this point, and rather contains a more melodic style of music.
While some fans prefer the earlier funkier stuff of Blood Sugar, some also prefer the more melodic style, however, from my point of view, it's hard to not love it all.
In my opinion, this album is the second best work by the Peppers, Blood Sugar Sex Magik being first. The change in style, whether preferred or not, is still as great as anything that came before it. It was well received by many critics. I recommend this album for anyone who really wants to see (or hear rather) the musical development of the Chili Peppers from funky music to softer music.
May 3, 2008 07:24:31
Review 2 of 12
ugenesfun writes:
I have to admit, I believe these guys went down after One Hot Minute. This is probably my least favourite album of theirs.
Don't get me wrong, there are some great track on there, but the majority of the songs seem to be trying to recreate Under The Bridge. As I said before, there are some good songs, for example, Venice Queen, Midnight and Mercury.
Even though I prefer funky Chili Peppers, I can not stand Can't Stop. It seems to be trying to produce their old funky stuff whilst still appealing to commercialism.
I understand that the Chili's have moved on their old stuff.
I just hope they know when to give it up.
Jan 24, 2008 18:45:45
Review 3 of 12
therollingtonedeaf writes:
Want a pop album?Want a pop album that has substance?Yearn for a pop album that wasn't made for mainstream/commercial success?Then,by George,get this album right now.One may speculate as to why or even how the Chili Peppers managed to even go throught the process of creating a straight up pop album,but who honestly a shit.This album puts those mainstream strip-tease dancing bunnies to utter shame."By The Way"will have you dancing in no time and by the end of it,you'll wondering "Are these the funky white boys from California who donned socks on their Banana trees?".The euphoric "Dosed" does wonders in the melody department.The layers of beautiful guitar work just fit together almost perfectly."The Zephyr Song"portrays the Chilli Peppers at their poppiest.The album even goes all the way to Mexico with "On Mercury" and "Cabron",two songs that will have a mexican flair about them.Don't let this turn you off as these are two songs that prove the Chili Peppers' versatility in the music department.By "Minor Thing",you'd have returned from Mexico and be back in the warm California-like setting as John Frusciante sings Beach Boy-like vocals.The finale "Venice Queen" remains a fitting tribute to a good friend of the band and quite a treat,as the song switches from its melodic riff driven nature to an acoustic whirlwind.The band even rocks it out on "Can't Stop"which is reminiscent of their funk-rock era,yet retains the melodic elements of their latter years in its chorus.The hit-or-miss lyrics are here,however these have become an integral part of the whole Chili Peppers experience.In the end,i got to say the melodic groove of the album makes up for its lack in perfection.But then again,what is perfect?
Dec 2, 2007 10:33:05
Review 4 of 12
Topanga1951 writes:
I have only recently discovered this group. Having been turned off to the rap-style sound of their earlier work, and in looking for something "new" for my library, I happened across this album. Wow! I can't stop listening to it. Truly a Southern Cali sound, to me more reminiscent of the Eagles than others. I heard "Dosed" for the first time and was blown away. Anthony Kiedis has a real Bernie Leadon quality to that very pure voice. Every tune on this album got me hooked. I was soon on my way to Stadium Arcadium. I find it really exciting to "discover" new music like I have with this group where I have previously dismissed them as not worthy. This album definitely ranks as one of my all timers.
Oct 6, 2007 04:53:08
Review 5 of 12
AAtheCritic writes:
The Red Hot Chili Peppers just Can't Stop.
This album floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.
Sep 15, 2007 15:21:51
Review 6 of 12
EinarBeinhard writes:
By the Way is even more pop-crafted than Californication; John Frusciante lets his talent for coming up with sweet-tunes and guitar-oriented melodies run wild as By the Way becomes an album just as strong as Californication. The album is filled with fabulous songs and Anthony Kiedes has grown into something magnificent as he sings with more power than he's done since his narcotical-sins of "Under the Bridge". And although most of the funky style is gone, the band still creates loops and gems that's filled with rhythmic excellense. The fantastic title-track is a sort of summary of all the things Red Hot Chili Peppers has been doing threw the years; hanging on the street, talking about sex, looking cool etc. By the Way is a brilliant album, and it's a delight listening to it as the sweet-tunes of "Dosed", "Zephyr Song" and "Universally Speaking" rolls fantasically along with the more rock-oriented "Minor Thing", "Throw Away Your Television" and "On Mercury". By the Way is one of Red Hot's simply best albums and is highly recommended for everyone preferring the late Red Hot years, and for that matter; this is already their favourite from the first place. Highlights: "By the Way", "The Zephyr Song", "Minor Thing".
Jan 16, 2007 02:22:31
Review 7 of 12
ByTheWayistheone writes:
By the Way to me is by far the Chili's best album. It was a John Frusciante masterpiece with all of his ideas coming through in the songs. To me there is not a weak track. My favorite by far is Don't Forget Me. I also really like Tear and Dosed. But then there are songs like The Zephyr Song,Can't Stop,By the Way,Universally Speaking,On Mercury and Venice Queen are some of the very best songs they have ever written. This is an album i could listen to no matter what mood I am in. Of all of the 400+ CDs that I own, this is in my top 5 for sure. I am happy Frusciante had so much input on this one, it is just the right change from the amazing Californication and just the right sound to prepare people for Stadium Arcadium. A timeless masterpiece!
Jan 11, 2007 08:35:00
Review 8 of 12
kmiller2087 writes:
heya moasi :-p by the way is awesome. cant stop, which wasnt even mentioned on here, is my all time favorite song, neither was by the way. the peppers are definitely slowing it down, ever since californication.
Oct 10, 2006 12:30:43
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