Red Hot Chili Peppers
By The Way
On Sale Now
For $13.48

When you examine the cover of By The Way, the new release from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, prepare to be startled with just how composed, normal, mature and… well, old they look. What the? Sweaters, jackets, collars… and not a tattoo in sight. When you listen to the LP, however, you might realize that (and in a public spotlight, no less) these guys turned from sporadic drug abusers with a penchant for public nudity and unruliness into… well, I shouldn’t pretend I know them, but… I mean, suddenly Flea, Anthony, John and Chad all look like a wild time means pulling up to the self-service pump instead of full. But when you hear how refined their latest album is, you won’t care how little they resemble the sock wearing (everybody wears socks… just not on their…) party lads who used to be known almost as much for their disorder as for their adept musical skills. Good luck getting this one out of your head.

On By The Way, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers continue their desertion from the bass driven funky thrash rock that made them an underground favorite with earlier more raw albums like The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987), and Mother’s Milk (1989), and eventually (with the help of developing a much more singles-oriented sound) gave them a place in mainstream rock history with one of the most influential and complete albums of the past decade or two, 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik. With each release the band seems to embrace a poppier approach, and By The Way is the strongest example of the more agreeable sound the Chilli Peppers continue to strive for. Rather than try to replicate the once-in-a-lifetime pinnacle masterwork captured on Blood Sugar, the band gracefully develops a less distinct but highly effective sound that integrates a more tender and mature musical approach with captivating lyrics and appealing melodies. This doesn’t mean the album is fluff music- the lyrics are actually quite appealing and reflect the growth the band has developed through its notorious hard times. As a result, the work is a perfect balance of catchy riffs mixed with darkness. By the way… this album is the Chilli Peppers’ best since Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

The title track, “By The Way,” is the opener and first single, fitting both roles perfectly. The cut foreshadows the rest of the album- it possesses vintage Chilli Peppers’ attitude, with Anthony Kiedis spitting out raps over a fleabass (the heavy, brutal slapping is so distinct it might as well have its own name), but the song finds a graceful transition to a chorus boasting surprisingly excellent harmony. This is essentially how the album goes- the band echoes a strong Beach Boys influence with constant harmony and even showcasing a similarly blithe but subtly reflective blend of music and lyrics. Musically, the Peppers also display a Beatles influence in creating sixteen songs that have plenty of depth to them but also work well on a commercial and radio level.

Essentially, By The Way has a much needed mainstream pop/rock feel to it, but thankfully the band creates a great sounding album without abandoning their distinctive grit, attitude, and the often thorny reality they’ve had to overcome since becoming a band. Most of the songs aren’t anything to crowd surf to. John Frusciante will never again reach the level of guitar playing/writing he did on Blood Sugar, but his riffs are unassumingly consummate, and when combined with Flea’s always untamed but somehow still restrained and melodic bass, the result musically is a unification of versatility and intricacy. Keidis’s congested but gentle voice produces an amiable sound that fits the surprisingly moving and elegant music as well as a bra on a mannequin.

There’s barely anything on the album to object to, although Keidis gets a bit preachy sometimes. The Red Hots pull out all the tricks on this one, but still manage to stay from pretentiousness. Their well known devotion to one another can be heard on the album- it’s impossible to name the instrument the others follow. You can almost hear the boys having fun. However, their approach is serious, and the result is not spectacular, but quite satisfying. From the subdued tender balladry of “Dose” to the boldly salsa flavored “Cabron,” these guys prove they’ve established a certain level of discreet mastery when it comes to putting together albums. “The Zephyr Song,” supposedly the band’s next single evokes a certain face of tranquility, whereas “Can’t Stop” allows some of the trademark Chilli Peppers attitude to be unleashed in a funky and sonic way. The Neil Youngish “This Is The Place” touches upon the eternal issues of battles with drug addiction and also covers some vague sexuality (I mean, they’re still the Chilli Peppers), where as “Universally Speaking” showcases a tenderness for love and life that Keidis is having less and less difficulty expressing lyrically.

A good adjective for this one is… charming. The band doesn’t try to change the world, they just make you walk around singing their songs. Buying this one’s a no-brainer… this is one of those albums that almost any kind of rock fan must have.

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