My Amazon Reviews: Red Hot Chili Peppers "By The Way"

[blackleatherbookshelf]

Mild Peppers,
3 Out of 5 Stars

It takes seven songs in to "By The Way" before the familiar popping base of Flea and the rapping howl of Anthony Kiedis. The first six tracks? Gently melodic songs that play out as cool, focused. I guess we should have seen this coming from the muted blue colors in the soft art cover; this is the Peppers cooling off after the fiery "Californication." There's plenty of decent songs on "By The Way," problem is, there's nothing excellent. The songs come off as self-searching, introspective and slow. The title song and the "Warm Tape" are the best of the ballads here. But the band's always worked best under the operative "Red Hot" part of their name. This is like asking for the espresso burrito and finding out they put cool ranch on your meal.

Comments

[blachubear.livejournal.com]

I remember I bought the CD, I didn't play it. The only songs I remember were the title track & "Can't Stop"(which was the bigger hit & best song off the album, the guitar riff is a killer). I think they pushed in the studio by Warner Brothers.