By The Way

Posted by: Simon Matthews on 11 July 2002

Is the name of the new Red Hot Chilli Peppers album.

I ended up buying it on CD as vinyl will not be available in the UK until the end of the month. A record company ploy I think, attempting to get die hards to cough up twice - bastards!! I will keep the HMV receipt and swop formats when the LP arrives - Ha!

Anyhow, the album is long, coming in at around 70 minutes. Production is thin and not at the recording standards set by blood sugar sex magic - maybe vinyl will be better. Never mind because first impressions are really great. Kiedis sounds on top form, well structured songs and the sound is really melodic with John Frusciante's understated guitar really driving things along. Even Flea has curbed some of his George Clinton leanings for the better.

In conclusion, if you used to like this band but have felt they lost the way this album is a solid return to top form, however with a more melodic, melanconic edge. Recommended
Posted on: 11 July 2002 by Simon Matthews
Sonny

Third/forth listen in and I am really getting into
it.

I have DJ shadows new one on double vinyl. I need a decent listening session at home to get familiar. I have listened to the first four numbers and it sounds really interesting with loads going on. I will copy it onto CD and get it in the car which is a nice way to 'bed in' a new album. More new music than free time at the moment.
Posted on: 12 July 2002 by Thorsten
recently i saw a concert of rhcp on tv. DISGRACEFUL.

either anthony kiedis had too much drugs in his veins or none at all. this guy can not sing at all. i really love rhcp and most of their records. i love the melodies and thought kiedis was a talented singer. not without the help from the engineer, obviously.

he was out of pitch, far out of pitch. bad articulation. i could not believe it. i suffered four or five songs only to find out that it were not my ears that are not working properly but kiedis.

surely some of you have seen rhcp live. can you agree/disagree? but he was bad beyond debate. the band though was playing very well, btw.

and i was close to spend 50 bp on a festival ticket only to see rhcp. thank god i could not make it. i would have been soooooo disappointed.

do not get me wrong. a band does not have to be as perfect on stage as on the record. on the contrary: bands who sound on stage as on the record almost always bore me. but a certain level of craftmanship can be expected. i mean kiedis was really, really bad.

(still head shaking)
Posted on: 29 July 2002 by greeny
Just got this CD (By the Way) and agree with most of what's been said. Content is great, superb songs stc but the production has much to be desired. The vocals are much too forward(for my liking) to the point that they almost take the paint off the walls. There is also several places where distortion is clearly audible.