.....and my initial reaction is decidedly mixed. I dunno, but it doesn't seem to be as good as Californication, even though I fully expected them to be less funky and more melodic. Yeah, the ska song sounds really out of place.

It's not bad, and some songs like "Cabron", "Dosed", and of course the first single are quite catchy. But I'll have to delve into it a bit more.

You guys in the US get it tomorrow, eh?

I plan on getting this Tuesday (at BB for their 1-day price of $9.99) and was wondering if anyone out there who has listened to it already has any opinions on it? I've only heard the title track thus far.

By the way and Californiacation are there worst 2 albums..."By the way" being the worst.

They have definitely worn out their welcome.

Ummmm....did you see my thread? My opinion of it is in there.

Really? I thought Californication was their best album to date.

Well....of course it is just my opinion...and who the hell am I

Compared to everything up to and including BSSM, I think they are their worst two albums.

I liked Californication a lot. Not their best, but it was solid and very well done. As far as I'm concerned, the SONG By the way is just a b-side of Californication and the rest of the crap on the album By The Way doesn't exist to me at all. Pure garbage.

I listened to it some more, and IMO it is definitely not warming up to me much. How the hell this got a 4-star review from Rolling Stone, I don't know (but then, they gave 2-stars to Tori Amos' best album, Boys for Pele, so go fig).

So far I only like 4 songs off of it: Dosed, Cabron, By the Way, and Minor Thing. But none of them even measure up to Californication's best songs, nor earlier RHCP works. Sigh.

I know...I'm just giving you a hard time.

Listening to the new album right now. I think my two favorite songs are Universally Speaking and Cabron, but the whole album is good.

I think I like Universally Speaking the least. In fact, I hate that song. The only ones I like are By The Way, Zephyr, Can't Stop, Cabron, On Mercury, and Venice Queen. The rest stink.

Fair enough.

the only songs that i've warmed up to in the slightest way are Cabron and Can't Stop. the other songs just meld together into noise. not catchy. not funky. just blah.

and i thought i'd like to add that One Hot Minute was quite a dud, IMO. a few songs were good, but Dave Navarro's rough style stole their funk and it seems that he never gave it back... BSSM is a solid album beginning to end, which is hard for any band to accomplish... but everything since that album has been a letdown, IMO. therefore my expectations for By the Way weren't too high to begin with.. i was hoping to be impressed, but alas alas alas.

-di doctor-

I would say the first 10 songs are good. Most songs remind of Beatles music, but in a good way. Still need to hear the last half.

great album, flea is brillaiant on the bass and i love that album cover.

The problem with the album is that, while it is clear RHCP is trying new things, it sounds really unoriginal. "Universally Speaking" sounds like a terrible 2nd-rate Pulp cover band. And that ska song - *shudder*. Even "Dosed" which I admit to liking, sounds like the BeeGees, especially the harmonizations near the end. And I never would have thought I'd use that description for a RHCP song.

Grim, I have to agree with you on what you said. I'm happy that the band is experimenting and changing its sounds but on the other hand I don't know what they were thinking with some songs. I really dislike the ska song (On mercury).

After giving the album a thorough listen, I would have to say my favorite songs off it are: By The way, Can't Stop, Midnight, Throw Away Your Television, Tear, Warm Tape, and Venice Queen. I'm used to getting RHCP albums that are good all the way trough but some of these songs I don't know if I want to hear again (On Mercury, Cabron) and others are just plain blah. Maybe the sonsgw ill grow on me, but I'm not going to force it. A decent effort from the Chili Peppers but possibly the worst of their albums in the past 10 years.

great album...i like californication better but this is great and frusciante is a guitar god on this...flea is also kick ass

I love the album.

Their mellowed sound is based on melodies and I think the whole thing is good as was Californication.

One Hot Minute had some great singles but the the second half of the album is lousy and sounds thrown together.

BY THE WAY is combines the great melody and the rap but then that formula is abandoned on the rest of the album. Maybe that was to try and hook in their previous audience.

Californication was alright but this new one is ZzzzzZzzzz. I put Blood Sugar Sex Magik in the cd player to be reminded how great they were 10 years ago. It's not a total pooch screw like that godawful No Doubt Rock Steady cd but it's nothing to get excited about either.

bloodsugarsexmagik is there BEST... One hot minute a couple of good songs( like the first half) and lreally iked SHALLOW be thy GAME...Californication was REAL GOOD...BYtheWAY is listenable/GOOD....my best 3 songs
By the way
this is the place
On Mercury

Ok, I've listened to the album several times over the last week and I can honestly say that I think it's a wonderful album. Very mellow and melodic. That said, I like 11 of the 16 songs:

By the Way
Universally Speaking
Dosed
The Zephyr Song
Can't Stop
Throw Away Your Television
Cabron
Tear
Minor Thing
Warm Tape
Venice Queen

Whatever you say, pal.

They are still great, just a different band. Some of you need to open your ears and give it a few more listens. 'By the Way' is a terrific album: melodic, consistent, and Kiedis' voice has never sounded better. I never thought I'd say this when I was rockin out to 'Uplift Mofo Party Plan' back in the day, but the RHCP have indeed matured and at times sound absolutely Beatles-esque(just listen to 'Tear'). A big from me.

Er...yeah. What idiot in their right mind would think sounding like the Beatles, the best band of all time, was not good?