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Pepper's CD more like cucumbers
By Jesse Wheeler
The latest Red Hot Chili Peppers album entitled "By The Way" is a definite and unexpected different direction for the L.A. rock group.
Released mid-July, the first single from the album is the only redeeming quality of the whole album, with the rest being a whimsical journey to nowhere. "By The Way" is the follow-up to the highly successful 1999 release "Californication," which welcomed back guitarist Hillel Slovak's successor John Frusciante, and was followed by a tour with the Foo Fighters.
The first single to hit airplay happens to be the title track, "By The Way," sounds like the traditional Chili Peppers we are used to. It carries the familiarity akin to the smell of grandma's home cooking of the good old Peppers and their style we have come to know since 1991's hit "Blood Sugar Sex Magik." In fact, I believe "By The Way" could have been an outtake from "Californication."
The rest of the album has an array of slow and depressing songs like "Don't Forget Me," and "Midnight." When you think of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, you think sexy, funky, fun. This album is a depressing, flat and cold effort, much like the album's back cover, which features the band in what looks like a funeral. Rick Rubin, who has been the band's producer since 199, has said that this was a totally new direction for the band and a chance to grow from the traditional fare.
It would be believable to say that fans ranging from average to avid would say that this is quite a shock in a world of bands today trying to stray from the formula that made them enjoyable in the first place.
Usually this means the kiss of death. An example off the top of my head would be Weezer's "Pinkerton," which served as a bucket of ice water in the face of die hard Weezer fans and propelled the band into obscurity for more than five years. Life support for Weezer was the "green" album in 2001. Bottom line is, Weezer still hasn't fully recovered.
"By The Way" features some small beams of light such as "Can't Stop," "Cabron," and "Universally Speaking."
"Can't Stop" has some of the old-school funk intact. Though it is slower, it is indeed intact and ends abruptly before proving a point.
"Cabron" is an interesting Latin-infused ditty about growing up in a neighborhood controlled by gangs. Put together like a mariachi band, lead singer Anthony Kiedis belts out,"Cabron, Cabron," with the soul of a true mariachi singer.
with bass player Flea on trumpet, "On Mercury" sounds like a ska song.
"Universally Speaking" is an interesting song that sounds a cross between Tom Petty and Moby, but unfortunately nothing like the Chili Peppers. Had I heard this song in a blind listen I would have assumed singer Anthony Kiedis had hooked up with Moby for a side project. The rest of the album sounds more like the Luke Warm Cucumbers than the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The sad truth is in the mechanics of the album involving the potential of every single band member. All have been used in the past as an instrument within themselves. Producer Rick Rubin has completely robbed legendary bassist Flea and drummer-extraordinaire Chad Smith from their full range of talents. The band has been reduced to a utility state of mind, which is a sad thing for the fans that look for Flea's funky licks waltzing with Smith's pounding drum style. It as if they were put in a time-out and are made to be more sedate.
The guys of the Red Hot Chili Peppers are currently on tour in Japan and Australia. "By The Way" debuted on the Billboard charts at number two and are currently maintaining this position at press time. The title single is being played in heavy rotation on many different radio stations across the country.
While these are all pluses for sales, mark my words: come winter of 2002-2003, this will be an album found in pawn shops and used CD stores everywhere. Hard to swallow, I consider this album to be the worst of their career so far.
But don't lose faith quite yet. Let this blow over and give them a chance on their next album.
My prescription: enjoy the "By The Way" single, listen to "Californication" and "Blood Sugar Sex Magik," and call me in the morning.
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