Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
By The Way, This Is Amazing, February 14, 2007
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.
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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Change is a good thing, August 23, 2002
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.
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33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Too good to be true, July 9, 2002
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 completeBuy 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!
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