10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Albums
3. By The Way
The most melodic of any RHCP album, By the Way is also arguably the most dominated by Frusciante. Details of the recording process have elucidated unhappiness on Flea’s part with regards to Frusciante exerting an overbearing influence on the creation of songs, and while this results in a wonderful album, it is certainly felt; Frusciante’s beautiful harmonies abound this record, he even sings the chorus on Dosed almost entirely himself, and Flea’s basslines take more of a backseat than ever.
Keidis is introspective for the most part, on Dosed and I Could Die For You in particular. Iconic choruses abound here, such as the title track and Zephyr Song, as well as all-time great riffs like Can’t Stop. Bonus track Bicycle Song is so good you will wonder how it never made it onto the record, as with other B-sides from the era, such as Eskimo.
By the Way may be one of the least outright fun, free-spirited offerings of the band's discography, but it is hard to deny the quality throughout. Don’t expect to be able to groove along to it as much as Blood Sugar or even I’m with You, but if pure emotion is what you’re looking for, By the Way has it in spades.