On Spotify, there is a playlist called Beer & Wings. This features “Cold Beer. Hot Wings. Great Rock.” There is music I don’t like on this playlist but quite a lot I do! It features typical bands like Led Zeppelin & AC/DC, through to Foo Fighters. A band on there that definitely have this vibe is Red Hot Chili Peppers. Today I’m reviewing their classic By The Way album.

This is the eighth album by the group, released in 2002. It is quite a departure from their previous work. They were mostly known for a high-energy funk and rap-rock sound. When guitarist John Frusciante joined the band in the late 80s, his songwriting influence led to mellower sounds explored on albums like 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik and 1999’s Californication. By The Way dives deep into this different sound.

Frusciante is credited with writing most of the album’s melodies and arrangements, even extending to the bass lines. This led to tension between him and crazy virtuoso bass player Flea. However, the record is now regarded as one of their finest works. The lyrics from Anthony Kiedis are also more reflective than before.

The album is certainly my favourite by the band due to this shift in style. Frusciante was heavily inspired by The Beach Boys (doo wop harmonies are all over it) and Johnny Marr’s guitar work in The Smiths which I love. Almost all of the songs have big major key parts which I greatly appreciate.

I have so many favourite songs on this album. It contains some of their biggest hits such as the title track, “The Zephyr Song” and “Can’t Stop.” Other favourites of mine include the exotic “Cabron,” and ska-influenced “On Mercury.” The tracks “Minor Thing” and “Warm Tape” also feature incredible melodies. The former especially has so many catchy and ethereal parts, with a rip-roaring guitar solo.

I do think the album is a good introduction to the Chili Peppers, as their quite bizarre funky sound can be a bit much for new listeners. The album has almost no funk, which is odd. I would say the title track, “Can’t Stop,” and parts of “Minor Thing” are the only ones with hints of their usual sound. The album really formed the sound of the rest of their career. Even though every album since has had its fair share of slap bass and funky licks, their music has increasingly had a more tuneful and almost haunting quality.

*I love the album cover, with its neon sign

I am also a big fan of their underrated 2022 album Unlimited Love. It features a wealth of major key pop rock tracks such as “Here Ever After,” “The Great Apes and “She’s a Lover,” and lovely ballads like “It’s Only Natural.”

There are also some rather complex songs on Unlimited Love. “These Are the Ways” ranges from a quiet and melodic verse to a dynamite chorus and grungy outro. “Bastards of Light” goes from a weird electronic verse, to a country rock chorus and hard rock bridge. Finally, “White Braids & Pillow Chair” is a soft ballad with a galloping surf-rock outro, and “Let ‘Em Cry” even has some reggae flavour. The only songs I don’t like are “Aquatic Mouth Dance,” with the free-jazz trumpets, and I’m not a big fan of “Poster Child” and “The Heavy Wing.”

Overall, By The Way is an incredibly consistent album that I would highly recommend. The only track I dislike would be “Don’t Forget Me.” I just don’t like the chord progression and tempo, I find it quite dirgey. As usual for them, the album is a lengthy 16 tracks, which I wouldn’t have any other way (Unlimited Love has 17). The guitar work on By The Way is some of Frusciante’s best, and drummer Will Ferrel, I mean Chad Smith, is great as usual (you can spot this in the picture). It is great Saturday morning relaxing music, like much of their discography for me. Thanks for reading.

9/10 (Unlimited Love – 8/10)