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THE REVIEW
The Red Hot Chili Peppers started their career in the eighties presenting themselves as a funky group mixed with quite hard rock. Around the mid-nineties, the drug problems of a band member, the great John Frusciante, led the band to change guitarists and make an album different from the previous ones, "One Hot Minute". In this album, rock outweighs funk, and pop can already be glimpsed.
In ninety-nine, John returns, and "Californication" comes out, a great album, in my humble opinion. The album highlights John's guitar, which makes a great return, but perhaps, considering that the album is basically made up of strong rock melodies, the little hint of pop is too out of place. The album I am going to review marks a change in the Red Hot's career.
"By The Way" is indeed a rock pop album, completely different from the previous ones, introducing a new type of music from the Red Hot. It's a test for the Red Hot, who want to experiment with pop and attract the audience with a simple and intuitive rock. The album presents excellent tracks, especially the first three. The others are all similar with robust pop rock, more pop than rock ballads, and true pop pieces.
"Can't Stop" and "The Zephyr Song", two great singles, are the best songs on the album. The first one impresses with effective rock, a great chorus, and Antony's excellent voice that never stops, creating a very lively atmosphere. The other is striking for being an excellent example of pop music, made by a great band, notable for its sweetness of the melody and the guitar solo that is not usually found in pop songs, as this one might seem.
An album, in conclusion, different from the previous ones, experimenting with pop rock and, in my opinion, succeeding fully in the experiment, offering the listener a great album, catchy, well-constructed, and above all, entertaining.
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Summary by Bot
The review explores Red Hot Chili Peppers' album 'By The Way', highlighting its departure from earlier funk-rock sound towards a more pop rock style. The author praises standout tracks like 'Can't Stop' and 'The Zephyr Song' for their catchy melodies and well-executed pop rock elements. The album is viewed as a bold and successful experiment, offering listeners an entertaining and well-crafted collection of songs.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983, known for blending funk, punk and psychedelic influences; core figures include Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante and Chad Smith.72 Reviews
Other reviews
By Rivo
By The Way is a weak album, predictable, almost commercial. At times really boring.
Perhaps this is what happened to John Frusciante, the magical soul of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who has produced excellent work since returning to the group but may have run out of the 'spirit' of the past.
By miro
Behind his rebellious persona there’s also a sensitive individual, reflected in the melodies of his album.
They managed to change their style significantly, without miserably falling into the commercial, making them even greater.
By 2Torri
In By The Way, they have become so commercialized that they would have been better off releasing a Greatest Hits like everyone does after years of success.
The time has come to hang up their instruments.
By let there be rock
Listening to Kiedis’s voice being all romantic at forty doesn’t feel great, even though the song is beautiful, but, damn, you’re the Red Hot Chili Peppers, you can’t do such a song!!
In all the Chili Peppers’ records, the great Balzary always made himself heard, but here, he’s not there, Flea’s bass isn’t heard!!
By RHCP87
"By the Way," seen as the work of a group of people seeking new sounds, arrangements, and melodies, seems like an album solid and rich with beautiful melodies and rhythmic accompaniments.
Frusciante did what no one else would have done, which is to focus his sound on more melodic tones, completely deviating from the blues base.
