Music Banter - By The Way - Red hot Chili Peppers (2002)

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Track 1: By the Way (9.5/10)
Starts the album out very strong, with a very pop like song. Also now one of there most famous songs.

Track 2: Universally Speaking (9/10)
A very upbeat and happy song, which is not always easy to find with the Chili Peppers. All seems to fit together very well in the song, and shows Anthony Kiedas continually getting better with his singing abilities.

Track 3: This Is the Place (8.5/10)
Very catchy song, with extremely good lyrics about AK’s life. Exactly what one would come to expect from the Peppers at this point in time.

Track 4: Dosed (8/10)
Another happy upbeat track, that will cheer anyone right up. Each band member does a geat job of making it all fit, especially the simple beat that Chad employ throughout.

Track 5: Don’t Forget me (9.75/10)
My personal favorite on the album. John Frusciante’s guitar playing with effects is absolutely incredible, and makes for a spectacular live performance. This song again shows AK’s improvement vacally since Californication.

Track 6: The Zephyr Song (9/10)
An incredibly catchy track, that catches your ear from the second it starts. Is definitly very pop like, which is not at all a bad thing for them. They did the genre a lot of good with this song.

Track 7: Can’t Stop (9.5/10)
A completely different sound than any other song on the album. The closest they get to there older music before Californication. Although different fits in well, and definity improves the album.

Track 8: I Could Die For You (8.5/10)
Another solid song, that is very upbeat and positive. Is clearly another sign of the Pepper changing there style, and slowing down. Less crazy fast jam tracks.

Track 9: Midnight (9/10)
One of my favorites on By the Way, because of AK’s good lyrics, and JF’s great guitar playing that seems to fit in perfectly with the song. Also JF’s background vocals are becoming more and more present.

Track 10: Throw Away Your Television (9.25/10)
My second favorite track on the album. Lyics are great, with a very true message. Also Chad Smiths funky beat fits very well with vocals and the heavily effected guitar playing by JF. (And great live song)

Track 11: Cabron (8/10)
Not one of my favorites on the album, but stil a solid entertaining track. Kind of a new aprach for them.

Track 12: Tear(8.5/10)
Good song, that fits well where it is on the album. Great display of vocal harmony which was majorly implimented on By the Way.

Track 13: On Mercury (7.5/10)
Probably my least favorite on the album. Still a good song, but does not fit to well with everything else. Many other Bsides were better than this song.

Track 14: Minor Thing (8.5/10)
Good track that fits in well, and brings AK’s back a little bit to his old style. Another good example of the vocal harmonies with Ak and JF. (great solo in it also)

Track 15: Warm Tape (8.5/10)
Not one of the best on here, but still very good song, that also fits in well with the By the Way theme. Sounds much different than any of there older music.

Track 16: Venice Queen (9.25/10)
One of the Chili Peppers best songs to date. About a friend of theres who died, and they could not have made a better triute. Song is wonderful in every way, and is great performed live.

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Overall Score: 140.25/160 (B+/A-)

Reason: My second favorite album ever made, only after there previous one Californication. They did improve vastly though in many ways. First off, the vocal harmonies are very good on all of BTW, and Frusciante’s guitar playing is much more varried and full of effects than any of his previous music. Many of these songs are great live, and open for JF to solo. Ak’s really got much better vocally, which is one reason thi album is so good.

Ps: The Bsides are also extremely good. (RHCP have over 50 bsides, all of which are great.)