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Rating:
THE REVIEW
If you leave a bottle of wine open, even the best one, let's say a Brunello di Montalcino, it fades.
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 The Way" is a weak album, predictable, almost commercial. At times really boring.
Do you remember the explosive start of "Californication" with the liberating scream? Do you remember "Give It Away" or "Suck My Kiss" from the album "Blood Sugar Sex Magic" which stands to music as Dante stands to literature?
Lovely the closing song "Venice Queen," psychedelic and touching. Not bad the title track of the album, also for the stunning video that accompanies it on MTV.
But between track 1 and 16 one risks yawning several times. And I find myself in the morning in the shower regretting the great personalities of recent decades of American music, J Mascis, Billy Corgan, Black Francis, Greg Dully...
Ah, the tauromachia...
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Summary by Bot
The review describes Red Hot Chili Peppers' album By The Way as weak and predictable, lacking the creative spirit of earlier works. While it praises a few tracks like 'Venice Queen' and the title song, the overall impression is one of boredom and disappointment compared to classics such as Californication and Blood Sugar Sex Magic.
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 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.
By Jack Darko
"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."
"An album... succeeding fully in the experiment, offering the listener a great album, catchy, well-constructed, and above all, entertaining."
