10 Overrated Rock Music Albums Of The 2000s

There’s plenty to enjoy about By The Way. Spearheaded by thoughtful and musically gifted guitarist John Frusciante rather than the shirtless dynamo Anthony Keidis, the album injects jazz influences to create more of a laid back sound than the Chillis’ usual frantik funking. They were pushing forty now and couldn’t carry on playing white, naked funk forever (though they’d try their level best).

But while the change in direction was commendable, it also led to some pretty dull music that didn’t suit the abilities of all the members. "The Zephyr Song" is pleasant enough but, alongside “Universally Speaking”, it could almost be elevator music, and the jazzy ponderings aren’t really in Keidis’ wheelhouse as a charismatic but technically limited singer.

“Throw Away Your Television” is one of the lamest tracks the band has ever done (and that’s saying something), a didactic song about the horrors of mass media that could have been written by a 14 year old. “Cabron” is melodically lovely, but has Keidis attempting to ape another culture - always asking for trouble.

Had this been a Frusciante solo effort, it may be easier to enjoy, but this album seems to play against whatever strengths the band still had this late in their career. No disaster, but for an album that shifted eight million copies, there’s not much to latch onto.