It’s official: the Peppers have matured. They have taken off those famous socks, put their clothes back on and have released By the Way (Warner), an album that is remarkably simple and subtle.
The opening title track harkens back to the funk-rock mould that got many fans hooked on the Peppers. But then, from track two, This Is the Place (ominous lyrics — “can I kiss your dopamine”, “I don’t want to give it to my baby’s kid” — over a plain, laid-back beat) it’s a much more serious approach, with Anthony Kiedis soulfully ruminating about life and love.
There are simple pop songs (Dosed, The Zephyr Song), innocent ballads (I Could Die for You) and uncomplicated rock tracks, such as the want-a-woman sentiment of Warm Tape and Venice Queen. These are offset against tracks such as Throw Away Your Television with its catchy backbeat and the fun, foot-tapping Cabron, probably the least serious track on the album — with its percussion shakers it could easily have been recorded by a mariachi band. On Don’t Forget Me there is almost a heady Doors-like trip-rock sound.
Some might find the album too laid-back (dare I say boring?), but it’s still a solid and laudable effort. And it’s not only about their music that the Peppers are serious. The CD booklets are printed on recycled waste and wood fibres harvested from none other that Sappi South Africa.
Green Day: Shenanigans (Warner)
An album of outtakes, cover songs, B-sides and oddities, most having the typical Green Day pop-punk-with-a-catchy-melody sound. They do passable covers of the Ramones and Kinks, DUI is pure naughty-boy punk-rock, but some tracks like Do Da Da just don’t get anywhere. Ha Ha You’re Dead would serve well as a singalong soccer-team anthem. It’s fun, but not fantastic. — Riaan Wolmarans
John Mayer: Room for Squares (Sony)
Looking a bit like Tobie Maguire on the cover pic, this Atlanta singer and songwriter’s debut is a collection of earnest-sounding folky pop and ballads, now and then diverting into a lazy lounge groove, with Mayer’s raspy voice conveying lots of feeling. Good stuff to contemplate in a smoky coffeehouse. — Riaan Wolmarans