Customer Reviews

By the Way [Vinyl]

5 star:		(417)
4 star:		(139)
3 star:		(74)
2 star:		(52)
1 star:		(29)

 

 

Lately I have heard many MANY people slinging mud at the Red Hot Chili Peppers calling them everything from "sellouts" to "no fun anymore". While earlier outings such as "The Uplift Mofo Party Plan" and "Mother's Milk" are what got me into the Chili Peppers in the first place, if they were still trying to churn out the same exact funk-punk that they did in the 80's I am certain I'd be bored to tears with them by now. I relish the fact that no two Chili Peppers albums really sound the same, and even appreciate the greatly panned "One Hot Minute" for its own unique style (I certainly wouldn't have minded hearing a second album with Navarro on guitar before he took off). As far as them being sellouts...whatever. I used to be one of those brainless sheep that called every band with a hit single "sellouts" until I read Henry Rollins's "Get in the Van," where he said that Black Flag were considered sellouts for (among other things) cutting their hair, not playing every single song the audience requested, playing songs that were longer than 3 minutes, and...horror of horrors...RELEASING ALBUMS. People who accuse bands of selling out should be taken every bit as seriously as an Anna Nicole Smith film festival.
This album, while maybe not as close to the typical idea of "fun" as albums where the boys rapped about sex and partying, is indeed a treasure. I'll admit I wasn't too crazy about it at first, but upon repeated listenings I found myself unable to listen to anything else for weeks. My personal favorites are the block of "This is the Place," "Dosed," and "Don't Forget Me." Other gems include the Living Colour-esque "Midnight" (seriously, imagine Corey Glover singing the chorus), the Latin-flavored "Cabron", the irresistably bouncy "On Mercury", and of course the two singles "By the Way" and "The Zephyr Song." The only thing about this album that I was a bit upset about is the fact that Flea's bass gymnastics have completely taken a back seat this time around. His contributions are much more subtle than on previous records and his breathtaking slaps and pops are sorely missed. This is an Anthony and John album all the way. But on the plus side...this is an Anthony and John album all the way! Anyone who's heard and enjoyed John's stunning 2000 solo effort "To Record Only Water For Ten Days" (easily one of the best albums of that year) knows what an unrivaled genius John is now that he's said good riddance to heroin. His sublime guitar play and experimental synth work snake their way all over this album in the aforementioned tracks and others such as "Warm Tape," "Venice Queen," and "Tear."
No fun anymore? I suppose that all depends on your idea of fun. If you're looking for something to blast at your next house party amidst kegstands and random hook-ups, look elsewhere. By the Way affects you in a much different way, but is by no means boring or not fun. Pick it up and listen to it at least twice before you pass judgment.

This album is amazing, i just bought it at 10 o'clock this morning, and i bet i will not be able to stop listening forever....the chili peppers are the best, i don't give 5 stars often but this album definantely deserves it, you can tell the chili peppers put so much effort into making this album enjoyable...my favorite reviews are the ones that go through all the songs, so here's the tracks one by one and what i think of them:
1.) By the Way: You've probably heard this one by now, but this songs cannot be overplayed, john's funk guitar, and flea's nice slap bassline complete the song over anthony's rapping and soul singing
2.) Universally Speaking: A nice little ballad with smooth vocals and rythamic guitar and bass
3.) This is the Place:...an awesome output by the chili peppers, as flea plays one bass line through the whole song, all the other peppers are playing off it with sweet effect and smooth backround vocals by john, a masterpiece
4.) Dosed: Nice double guitar work here, a very catchy tune that will be stuck in your head (in a good way)
5.) Don't Forget Me: Beautiful chords, great vocals, and a nice job done on the rythem side by chad and flea, i love the drums in this song!
6.) The Zephyr Song: I love how diverse the chili's can get, this almost has a latin hip hop flavor to it..but then it changes and john's vocals come in, and it's amazing!
7.) Can't Stop: My absolute favorite song on this cd, john's playing a bass line!, or it sounds like that, then flea takes over with it later in the song, and how do they make john's ohhhhh ahhhh's sound good over funk?, i don't get it, but it's great, and then the chorus comes in, unexpected, and it's amazing, i hope they release this song, because everyone deserves to listen to this song
8.) I Could die for you:...A nice intro in this song, and then it starts up, and a nice, a very full sound for a slow song, which makes it very enjoyable
9.) Midnight: As the orchestra starts, you think...wait?, what happened, but it works with the song, who ever's idea this was...i like it, and another wonderful song comes out of it...rock on chili's
10.) Thrown Away Your Television: You hear the bass line and you say...."yeahhhhhhhhhhh" and the chili's go tribal style, but stay themselves, a foot tapping song that you can't just stop playing, very very very very catchy
11.) Cabron: We go latin again, as kiedes roll's his r's on cabrrron, and john's guitar is awesome, nice 1-5-8, bass line, but there are play-off on it which is nice, and chad bangs away on a samba style drum beat
12.) Tear: My second favorite song on the cd, pretty close to can't stop, it's a complete masterpiece, so many things happen in this song, you wonder what happened in the begginnging, when it started, and beautiful backround vocals too
13.) On Mercury: Wow, what a change from the last song, you're all sad after 'tear' then a ska sort of song, it's great, too great, it's sooooo awesome, omg, this song it up there with can't stop, haha, i can't decide
14.) Minor Thing: Good song, nice bridge in this song, with oohhhhhh goin on in the backround which completes it, wow,,, too many good songs here. haha
15.) Warm Tape: Interesting intro in this song, but i love it still....haha, and then it goes into the acoustic chorus which perfects it
16.) Venice Queen: How could the cd end any better? A beautifully arranged song, everything is perfect, the balance, the riffs, it's so complete

Buy this cd, or you will be deprived, this cd is worth 100 bucks, every song is awesome, just take my word for it, from the first reviewer, amazing!

"By the Way" is, undeniably, a stellar album, representing yet another tremendous offering from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It easily equates its predecessor, "Californication", in terms of its accessibility and the consistency with which it displays quality musicianship and meaningful lyrics. As always, Anthony Keidis' wonderfully unique vocals are complemented expertly by Flea's mastery of the bass guitar, Fruisciante's great guitar performances and Chad Smith's rhythmic drum beats. It is understandable, then, that, in a similar vein to "Californication", all 16 of the album's tracks are excellent, and are not let down by any pointless `filler' tracks.
However, the Chili Peppers appear to have significantly stretched their musical boundaries since "Californication", as "By the Way" manages to encapsulate an earnestness and emotiveness that the band has rarely revealed to its legion of fans. While the album retains the band's raw edge, especially through hard-hitting songs such as catchy first single "By the Way" and the bittersweet funk tune "Can't Stop", it also introduces a wealth of songs based around beautiful vocal harmonies and soaring melodies. Moving ballad "I Could Die For You" illustrates this point perfectly, as it stands as among the most beautiful three minutes in the Chili Peppers' recording history. Thankfully, the band has definitely not transformed into a soppy, dull, Train-esque rock act. Even the album's most tender moments either maintain a degree of intensity or are balanced out by more unrefined moments, such as those involving rapping and chanting. For instance, the juxtaposition of Keidis' aggressive rapping with moving vocal harmonies in "Minor Thing" culminates in an aurally appealing contrast.
All in all, after careful consideration of the album's 16 superb songs, I would have to say that "Midnight" is my personal favourite. It is a rocking, lyrically-rich, orchestral monster of a song that is home to one of the Chili Peppers' most powerful, uplifting choruses to date. The album attains five stars from me for this song alone; its fellow 15 stand-out tracks make this album worthy of much more than just five stars.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are unquestionably the greatest band that has ever lived. Evolving in a storybook-like fashion from having sold roughly 25,000 copies of their debut album, to the 13 million Californication accumulated. The band has experienced countless line-up change, heartbreaks, and tragic upheavals, giving the foursome a bleak future. 20 years ago, not a single person could have foretold this. By the Way came at a time when music begged for originality and uniqueness. It is lush, poignant, and immaculate; By the Way evokes fascination in all, as to what the band has transformed into.

It begins with "By the Way", one of the only numbers on the entire album which have preserved the once quintessential funk and rap-driven verses. It is vastly discrepant to those of the other recordings found on the album, and is, thus, misleading. The intricate song structure evolves from mellow, harmonious and humble beginnings to a brazen verse and impeccably bridges into a melodic chorus. "Universally Speaking" follows. It's instantly apparent that this song has very few things relative to that of it's predecessor. The song has a sort of Doo-whop feeling as it bridges expressively from the verse into a 60's-type chorus.

"This Is the Place" has to be one of the most beautiful tracks on the entire album. It begins with a modest base line (which is played throughout the entire song), and gives way to Chad's lustrous drum beat and Anthony's masterful lyrics; it contains some of the best song-writing I have ever seen, though one never knows what he is actually alluding to. John comes in with a seemingly invisible guitar segment; all until the chorus, when it brings through stunning life altering sounds. The most notable segment is the conclusion, when Kiedis sing unwaveringly, and John pounds furiously on his guitar. "Dosed" follows, which is elegant, wispy, and, for some reason, makes me feel as if I were in an Arctic blast. Four guitar lines run luxuriantly through the song.

"Don't Forget Me" has the most intricate and zealous guitar-playing I have ever heard. Like "This Is the Place", the exact same base-line is played perpetually until the conclusion. Anthony's haunting and ubiquitous voice resonates in your mind, as John picks masterfully at his guitar. Following the first and second choruses, astonishingly intricate solos are given by Frusciante. Each one is an ecstasy of euphoric delirium, executed with impeccable perfection. "The Zephyr Song" comes next, and seems as though it were lifted directly out of the 70's. It's psychedelic nature stands out wondrously.

"Can't Stop" is, without a doubt, my favorite song, ever. It starts fast paced, but somewhat quiet, until it reaches the climax. An amazing bridge to the verse is played by John. The verse is far better than the chorus, as Frusciante provides majestic backing vocals. Amazing song. "I Could Die for You", the shortest song on the album, is hard to describe. It's elegant and beautiful and gentle in it's nature. The track is quiet, yet perky and alive, as though driven by an enveloping, fervent, fanatical force. "Midnight" is another gem. The sounds which it engages have rarely been seen elsewhere. It is so unique, as each one of the songs are. Melodic and lush, bare and unsparing. "Throw Away Your Television" is the funkiest number on the album, though certain sections imply an innovative sense, and as though one were experiencing a whirlwind of nuance and jet speed illustriousness.

"Cabron" is an experimental track, which has a tang of Latin influences, hence the name, and is played exclusively on an acoustic guitar. It is another vastly dissimilar song which contradicts much of its colleagues. "Tear", a striking and lethargic (and long) song is an unexpected tribute to the Beach Boys. A magical trumpet solo is performed by Flea, which allows the song to prevent itself from becoming lost on the record. "On Mercury" is, if there had to be one, the weakest track on the entire album. The faux ska sound simply sparks too much turmoil between the songs it surrounds, and does not fit in with the grand message which By the Way is attempting to articulate.

It is succeeded by an outstanding track, however: "Minor Thing", which shows, blatantly, how much Kiedis has evolved as both a lyricist and a singer. His compelling and spellbinding voice gives way to the enchanting, enthralling and captivating guitar playing given by John. "Warm Tape" is possibly the most mysterious and inexplicable track the Chili Peppers have ever produced. The sound is difficult to describe, as it seems to squirm in a sensual manner, unlike anything ever created.

The final and longest song on By the Way, "Venice Queen", may be the most meaningful. It's mellow and windy intro gives one the sense of walking in a forest, while the bitter cold wind attacks you from all angles. It defines beauty, yet is as unforgiving as an astringent stone. Anthony comes in perfectly and begins singing in a depressed and crestfallen manner. Until, however, the song completely turns around and kicks itself into high gear. Near the halfway mark, it turns from a glum ballad to a driven acoustic melody, alluding to the death of Gloria Scott, a woman who aided Anthony in the fight against drugs. John provides majestic backing vocals, to make this song an amazing stand out.

So, if you took the time to read why By the Way is the best album ever recorded, you'll purchase it. Carefree.

When the Red Hot Chili Peppers released Californication in 1999, many people said how they had changed and they were no longer the band that they were...well they were right, and By the Way basically seals the deal. They are no longer the immature funk band that gave such albums as The Uplift Mofo Party Plan and Blood Sugar Sex Magik, they are now a middle aged rock band, with their focus on vocal harmonies and playing for the song and not to impress, now i'm by no means saying that they dumbed down their playing for this album, because their music is still impossible to emulate, they just have a different style of playing. The album opens with the title track and first single, By the Way, sounds like an outtake off of Californication, figures why it would be the first single. This album holds many differnt styles such as the 60's pop sounding Universally Speaking, the acoustic Don't Forget Me, and the ballads I Could Die for You and Midnight, the latter being one of the strongest songs on the album. They also have some funk inspired songs such as Can't Stop which is great and Throw Away Your Television which is not so great, probably the weakest song on the album. For the most part the band is more mellow and moody now then they ever were, songs like Warm Tape and Doesd show this. Dosed also features guitarist John Frusciante singing as well as Anthony Kiedis, which gives the song a great effect. The harmonies on this album are definately some of the best i've heard in my life. They also have the psychadelic pop of The Zephyr Song which is also the latest single and one of the best songs on the album as well as the ska influenced Lemon Trees On Mercury, and the Californication inspired Minor Thing which is one of the best rock songs i've ever heard. The album closes with Venice Queen which is a total masterpiece, definately don't overlook this song because it starts slow. This album in my opinion is the perfect showcase for where the Chili Peppers are at right now, Anthony Kiedis' vocals are more powerful then they've ever been, John's guitar playing is amazing as usual, but im tempted to say better than ever, also tempted to say that this is his album, Flea's bass playing is great, not that i needed to say that, and Chad's drums are very powerful and compliment the songs very well, this is definately a must own album, from one of the greatest bands of our time.

By The Way is the 8th studio album by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and one of their best. Although many regard it as the "big change" that so many bands seemed to be going through, change is not always a bad thing. In fact, musically By The Way is superior to their other albums. Don't get me wrong, I loved the old Chili Peppers and the intense funk and punk fusion they created (there's still some left), but after loving and devouring this album, I can proudly say I love the new Chili Peppers with their noticeable musical growth and unstoppable talent.

I always feel that reviews are helpful in deciding whether or not to buy an album, or just to truly understand an album you can't quite figure out. So I've written my own track-by-track review that I hope will prove helpful.

1 The title track "By The Way" is the first taste of the new album. It begins with a guitar and bass harmony and mellow vocals, but quickly jumps into a new energy with Flea's rumbling bass, John's rhythmic muted guitar, and Chad's explosive drumming. It's enough to get you up and jumping. Anthony's single-word and rapping verses are an interesting combination, but you soon find yourself rapping along. I love the rockin' sing-along chorus and the harmony we often hear between Anthony and John. An instant classic.

2 "Universally Speaking" was written by Flea (I discovered this while watching an interview with John) and is an upbeat song with a constant snare hit. I don't particularly love the verses, but then enters the magnificent chorus. The sweetness of Anthony's voice and John's catchy ooohs save the song for me. There's also a very simple guitar solo on the outro that's definitely worth listening to.

3 A haunting song about drugs, "This Is The Place" puts Flea's bass in the spotlight. I like the spacey guitars on this one along with the almost spoken vocals on the prechorus. "Can I isolate your gene, can I kiss your dopamine..." Great lyrics. Nice and different song.

4 "Dosed" begins with a dreamy 4-guitar part that is beautiful, catchy, and the perfect background to this romantic song. Built around the melodic vocals, Anthony does a wonderful job singing his heart out that you forget how long you've been listening to this relatively lengthy number. Dosed ends with John playing his own variation of the vocal melody on his guitar: a great way to end a pop gem.

5 Flea introduces "Don't Forget Me" by playing chords on his bass, a technique I have never heard up until now. Chad has some impressive drumwork on this song too. A combined effort of Anthony's echoing vocals and John's fast picking/scratching technique give the song a strange and dizzy feel. The chorus has some pretty heavy drums, and it's almost sounds like the Peppers are screaming, but not in a harsh way. This is a concert favorite of theirs.

6 "The Zephyr Song" features a great catchy and memorable guitar riff that John delivers with emotion. Anthony's vocals really capture me and are set perfectly to the guitar rhythm. To be honest, at first I absolutely hated the chorus. It has grown on me a bit, but it just seems a little too poppy/cheesy to fit in. Chorus aside, a great put together song.

7 "Can't Stop" is my favorite song on the album, one of my favorite songs by the Peppers, and one of my favorite songs in general. When listening, it gives me such an energy rush it's unbelievable. The fun and funky guitar lick is only matched by Flea's outstanding basswork. Anthony provides a funk feel to his rapped verses, and out of nowhere comes John's backing vocals that somehow work with everything that's going on. Then the chorus breaks in and the instruments suddenly change direction. And it's good. It's really good. The ending is superb too. Hardly overrated by any means, this is what the Red Hot Chili Peppers are all about.

8 "I Could Die For You" brings out the more melodic and calm side of RHCP. A charming love song with sincere vocals and a true melody makes it a worthwhile listen. The prechorus is what gets stuck in my head the most though. Overall a nice softer song.

9 "Midnight" begins with a collection of strings and you think, what are they possibly gonna do here? But when they end and you hear a spooky combination of wind and feedback along with John's beautiful chords, you breathe a sigh of relief. Anthony's vocals once again are the song's strongest aspect. A unique and uplifting song.

10 "Throw Away Your Television" brings back the funk that was missing on the last two songs with a little bit of a tribal feel. Flea's bass as you might expect is constant and what really makes the song. Chad's drumming also shines through and is a perfect accompaniment to the bass. Nothing too strong vocally here, but what's there works enough. John's bleepy "Tom-Morello-anti-guitarish" solo at the end is good too.

11 In "Cabron" the Red Hot Chili Peppers live up to their spicy name and go latin! I never would have guessed how well they could pull it off. John's acoustic guitar is just as fun and impressive as his electric, and Chad's drumming provides most of the latin feel. Anthony's vocals are distinct and feel new and different (Rolling his r's in Cabron is a real treat). A song that definitely grows on you and becomes an album favorite.

12 "Tear" the slowest song on the album still stands strong as Anthony's sad vocals create the emotion. It's long, but with the help of a great guitar solo, and even a trumpet solo, the songs feels complete.

13 "On Mercury" puts the Peppers in ska mode and a new instrument is played throughout the song (harmonica maybe?). Nothing too impressive Flea-wise but Anthony puts his funky vocal style to work here. The backing vocals on the chorus are a little spooky. A very weird but cool track.

14 "Minor Thing" is an incredible song that has everything it needs to be another favorite track. Beginning with a nicely rhymed verse by Anthony, the song is graced by John's beautiful array of chords and Chad's perfect drumming. Flea at one point has a buzzing bass line complimented by a funk verse that Anthony never fails to deliver. The one line chorus "It's just a minor thing, and I'm a minor king" is still pretty and filling.

15 "Warm Tape" is the perfectly awkward title to this perfectly awkward song. It opens with Flea providing the melody, Chad with short drum fills, and a strange but almost annoying effect in the background. This song however contains my favorite harmony between Anthony and John in the second verse, and boy do they sound perfect together. The chorus doesn't really fit in with the verses, but its good anyway. The harmony is what you should really look for, and makes this track meaningful.

16 The last track "Venice Queen" I think of as two separate parts, due to the sudden change in music at around 2:45. The first part has an incredibly catchy and rhythmic guitar lick. The weird but cool affects in the background give it a surreal feel. Anthony's voice matches the guitar flawlessly and John helps vocally too. Too soon, the music suddenly changes as John strums an acoustic. A good rock ending and G-L-O-R-I-A is fun to sing along to. You can hear this stunning album come to its end.

My sentiments are summed up in the title. In my mind, they keep getting better. This album may not have the same profile as BSSM or Californication, but we have an album that embodies musical artistry. let's go through it song by song.

1. By The Way: It's a good song and it grows on you, but this was a little misleading to how the album turns out to be. but a good song that combines the superb basslines of flea to john's sweet melodies. 8.5/10

2. Universally Speaking: It has a soothing note, but tends to drag on a little without changing the dynamics of the song. this way it can get boring and i find it is the worst song of the album. 6/10

3. This Is The Place: This song starts slowly but then turns into a song that will stick in your head. It's all good fun. 7/10

4. Dosed: By far the most mellow track in the whole album. Old skool chili fans will hate this, but is one that you can fall asleep to, such is the calmness of it. All the world's problems can fall away after listening to this. 7/10

5. Don't Forget Me: One of the best in the album. Starts off with Flea's incredible basslines and goes into John's superb tunes. AK's lead and John's back-up vocals are awesome. All in all, this just combines so well. 8.5/10

6. The Zephyr Song: Beautiful song, especially when you watch it with the video. Another song where you can just sit back and relax to. 8.5/10

7. Can't Stop: The best song in the album for mine. Combines the funk of old and the pop of new into a fantastic song. You won't be able to ge this out of your head. 9/10

8. I Could Die For You: The album shifts back to slow and mellow. But this is another song you can relax to. Anthony's lyrics are beautiful, and keeps the melodies rolling. 6.5/10

9. Midnight: One of my favourite songs in the album. In all four corners, this song captivates you with its beauty. Starts off with an orchestra and ends with John's sweet tones. 8.5/10

10. Throw Away Your Television: Initially, I didn't like this song, but it grows on you. Flea is more involved here and it sounds a bit more like the chilis of old. I prefer the version of this song in the 'Live At Hyde Park' album. 7/10

11. Cabron: Extremely fun song. You could mistake this for a Latin American song. Very catchy. 7/10

12. Tear: Good lyrics but lacks a sufficient beat. Chad has little involvement and it feels that it doesn't have any climax that songs should have. Seems like the band didn't know if it should be catchy or mellow, and ended up in a mediocre void between. 6/10

13. On Mercury: Another beat-catching track that makes you beat along with it. Similar to Cabron with its association to Latin music. 7/10

14. Minor Thing: Sensational song with all members playing a noticeable part. Anthony's lyrics and voice are fantastic, John's guitar riffs and harmonies are elegant, Flea does his job without fuss and Chad is heavily involved. The ending is outstanding. 8.5/10

15. Warm Tape: Pure chillout track. It goes a long way in summing up this album. Has a consistent beat yet is soothing. 7/10

16. Venice Queen: Ends the album with a bang. Starts very mellow but expands to be a very catchy tune. Lyrics are beautiful. John is especially noticeable with his clinical guitar riffs and his sweet backup vocals and harmonies. Lovely. 8/10

This album would probably score less than BSSM or Californication, but it is by far the most thoughtful and reflective album put out by the Chilis. One ought to be thankful that an album like this came out because a lot of ppl don't want to hear another album sounding like their previous work. the chilis keep us interested with their ever evolving music. therefore, i give by the way 7.5 out of 10.

Well, the Chilis have all but abandoned their roots in the hedonistic funk of the 80's here, with almost all of the lecherous innuendo of old being thrown out of the door in favour of graceful melody. This, I should immediately point out, is not entirely a bad thing. The band have already proven themselves far more than funk-metal brawlers: Anthony Kiedis seems to have been born to sing on this album, with John Frusciantes haunting backing vocals adding a soulful twist to proceedings. Here, we have Beatles and even Beach Boys influences creeping in, resulting in the band churning out their most mature, polished and thoughtful work. The title track is a good representation of the entire record: low key funk with a chorus to die for, gorgeous vocal melodies which are utterly compelling and emotive.
Elsewhere, 'This is the place' and 'Dosed' would not have sounded out of place on 'Californication', while still following the new Chilis blueprint of more mellow, low key numbers giving way to a spectacular chorus.
The albums highlight however is undoubtedly the glorious 'Dont Forget Me', a true mastepiece which sees the simplest of guitar riffs from Frusciante overlaid with some incredible vocals from Kiedis and, predictably now, incredible chorus.
Later on, 'Cant Stop' lulls us with its fairly up-tempo introduction, before dropping us back so carefully into the new style Chilis sound that we do not even notice the transition.
'Midnight' and 'Tear' introduce more of the same while still keeping the massively high standard of songwriting in place, whilst 'Cabron' and 'On mercury' remind us of the Chilis genre sprawling talent, being as they are more bizzare sounding numbers.
Toward the end, the album seems to start sounding a bit similar, hence the loss of a star. Despite the genius of the songs included, a bit more diversity would not have been amiss. This aside, the record is a must buy if you like 'Californication', and while more established fans may grumble about 'selling out', the fact remains that you wont hear a more beautiful or triumphant album all year. As a long time Chilis fan, I was overjoyed by this release, no matter how far the band have come.
A must buy.

As the godfathers of the rap/metal and funky punk rock, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have expanded their musical capabilities with each album they have so masterfully crafted. With 'By The Way', they have reverted to a more lay-back harmonizing pop approach. Like true musicians, the RHCP are not handicapped and held down by one genre and style. If it wasn't for their talent of creativity, would people still know who they were 20 year later?

Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante, and Chad Smith have all grown and matured musically since the release of their first album together, 'Mother's Milk'. This 1989 release included covers of Stevie Wonder(Higher Ground) and Jimi Hendrix(Fire). In 1991, 'Bloodsugarsexmagik'(best RHCP album) was introduced to mainstream and became a huge success with hits like "Under The Bridge" and "Give It Away". The next time this same RHCP would be together was on the 1999 'Californicatoin'. This hallmark of their career proved that they were not dead. Their music has taken a complete turn from the previous albums, and it further degresses on the latest release. Here's a rundown on the tracklist:

1. By The Way - Perfect blend of "old" and "new" school Chili Peppers. The verse has the same funky slap bass, in your face punk rap of the early RHCP albums. The melody and harmony of the chorus brings in the influence of 'Californication'. Definitely the 'hardest' song on the album.

2. Universally Speaking - Chad Smith pounds away on the snare as this song is a more relaxed and laid back track. Flea and Frusciante's background vocals harmonize perfectly with Kiedis' heart-felt singing.

3. This Is The Place - Flea's bassline runs throughout the song like a train through a tunnel. Frusciante's guitar compliments every note emotionally created by this phenomenal track.

4. Dosed - Frusciante's harp-like guitar picking emphasizes the romantic theme of this beautiful love song.

5. Don't Forget Me - Flea's bass strumming creates a melancholy mood for this deep and sorrowful song.

6. The Zephyr Song - Kiedis' exhibits a serene and sincere performance, backed by the vocal of his fellow bandmembers. The harmony is yet again what separates it apart from all other RHCP albums.

7. Can't Stop - Truly the best song on the CD. It brings back the trademark funky raps but this time it is filled with clean lyrics and a supporting vocal cast.

8. I Could Die For You - Soft, and lovely ballad.

9. Midnight - Orchestrated strings intro. Definitely a change for the RHCP, but excellent song.

10. Throw Away Your Television - Flea and Chad show their chemistry of bass and drums in this percussive jam.

11-12. Cabron/Tear - (Listen to them) very hard to recognize the RHCP if not for Kiedis' distinct voice.

13. On Mercury - This song flashes back to the "ska" era with No Doubt and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

14. Minor Thing - Another classic Chili Peppers with an infectious rap line.

15-16. Warm Tape/Minor Queen - These 2 concluding tracks make us wonder what direction the RHCP will take in the future.

In conclusion, this album is highly recommended to all the true fans of the RHCP or anyone who likes rock/alternative music.

I'm not exactly a huge fan of RHCP but I do like some of their songs, mostly from their previous album "Californication". I wasn't even planning on buying "By the Way" but as I heard the title track more and more, I grew to love the song. I knew I had to get the album. I have heard quite a bit of RHCP's earlier music back in the early '90s, late '80s. I definitely like the band's recent material. I just can't get into their more raw, hip hop infused rock music. I like the more mature sound that the Chili Peppers have obviously developed in the past few years. I really loved how the Chili Peppers did a 180 and incorporated orchestral strings in "Midnight" and flamenco guitar in "Cabron". I especially dug "Cabron". Anthony's voice sounds so rich and warm. "Dosed", "Tear", and "The Zephyr Song" are two of the most gorgeous RHCP ballads I have ever heard, and to be honest I have never been wild about their ballads up until "Californication" and now "By the Way". Those three tracks are simply stunning to listen to. Despite my dislike for the band's earlier music, I always did think that Anthony Kiedis had a awesome voice. He sounds better than ever on "By the Way". I am all for growth in a band's sound, especially for a band that has been around for as long as the Red Hot Chili Peppers been. To expect the band to keep churning out "Blood Sugar Sex Magic" is awfully selfish for fans. "By the Way" is just a awesome rock record. Probably the best rock record in mainstream music right now.