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RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - By The Way
As many music lovers have had the honour of watching the Red Hot Chili
Peppers mature over their long, illustrious and often troubled career,
for the first time listener it is probably best to get into the RHCP
realm via Blood Sugar Sex Magic. With By The Way you get
that "been there" feeling but still detect a passion for their music and
life in general, however world-weary and battered. The lads are far from
becoming old farts preaching about the things they've done & survived.
Anthony Kiedis' absolutely distinctive voice stands out as the RHCP
trademark without a doubt, but would not be complete without the guitar
of John Frusciante, drums of Chad Smith and bass of Flea (which is not
as prominent in this recording as others) - those basic four rock elements
still the best when it gels like this. With their past sense of silliness
making way for a more focussed but still passionate musical expression,
the album of masterfully constructed rock songs proves the important position
this quartet plays in the ever disillusioning music industry. Without
even trying they still retain their trademark sound and sense of funky
groove while a more seasoned and laid back attitude comes to the fore,
illuminating the energy (& vice versa). The 16 tracks on By The Way
is produced by bearded eccentric Rick Rubin - you know, the Def Jam
/ Def American / American Records guy who produced many of the Chili's
albums as well as varied artists like early Beastie Boys, Slayer
and Johnny Cash - what a job! To get back to new Chili's
listeners, if this is your first encounter as opposed to their ground
breaking above mentioned album, this recording will no doubt serve as
a great document of where they are right now and still impress the pants
off you - enough to delve into their back catalogue.
5 / A
- PB
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