Josh Mattingly, Assistant Editor
The Red Hot Chili Peppers began as a group of inseparable friends and quickly
molded into a musical force to be reckoned with. The group has come a very long
way since their first set of albums.
However, since Blood Sugar Sex Magik, the group has adopted a more mature approach
to their music.
The Chili Pepper’s latest effort, By the Way, is hard evidence of the
band’s experienced musical talent. Sixteen tracks of beautifully intertwined
harmonies and melodies spin a tonal tapestry of humbling emotion.
Soft, mellow guitar sounds complement the creative but simple bass grooves,
accompanied by a smooth beat as the velvet-soft touch of the vocals wrap the
listener in a warm world of comfortable blue.
The guitar parts of the album display the true talent of John Frusciante and
his remarkable ability to bounce back from the pit of heroin-hell to which he
fell shortly after joining the band. His talent is spread across a large variety
of instruments and specialties.
An excellent use of acoustic guitar and good old-fashioned electric featuring
heavy “wah” has become a standard for this young artist. Frusciante
even plays bass on one track of the album confirming his credibility as a knowledgeable
musician. He has all but mastered the signature Chili Pepper’s sound and
become a vital force within the band.
Flea’s bass genius continues to amaze every ear that has the pleasure
of sampling it.
The grooves of By the Way are simply perfect. Every note of every line seems
to have been carefully contemplated months in advance to be just the right note
at just the right time, making the album flawless in a human sort of way.
Backed by the simple thumping of Chad Smith, the drums and bass blend together
as if they were one instrument pulsing forth the exceptional rhythm that is
By the Way.
Completing the ensemble are Anthony Kiedis’ vocals which have never been
better. His voice seems to come from deep inside of the music, holding every
thing together as if his voice were the very fiber of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
fabric.
Like all of the other elements of the music, Kiedis’ vocals fit beautifully
to complete the puzzle that creates the modern masterpiece.
When all of the elements come together, the product is a retro-sounding classic
for the modern day. The heart sighs as the songs create a mellow, humbling feeling
that warms the soul and brings a grin to the lips.
It comes as a breath of fresh air between all of the nu-metal and pop that dominates today’s airwaves. The Red Hot Chili Pepper’s By the Way is an excellent piece of work by a most excellent band in a less than excellent market. By the Way is simply music to my ears!
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Article prepared for web by J. Wheeler 6-Sept-2002