Rolling Stone (7/25/02, p.71)
- 4 stars out of 5 - "...A near-perfect balance of gutter grime and high-art aspiration....With the accomplished, insanely melodic BY THE WAY, RHCP dive headfirst into the pop realm that their 1999 single 'Scar Tissue' hineted at..."Spin (1/03, p.72)
- Ranked #25 on Spin's list of 2002's "Albums of the Year" Spin (8/02, pp.61,2)
- "...They may have made the years best rock record....BY THE WAY's sonic vibrancy, as well as its maturity, sounds like a band being reborn..." Entertainment Weekly (7/12/02, pp.81-2)
- "...An even more refined version of the Chili Peppers....the music is more earnest and lofty...with a cushion of Beach Boys pop harmonies here, a somber string-section intro there..." Rating: B Q (12/02, p.68)
- Included in Q Magazine's "The 50 Best Albums of 2002." Q (8/02, p.118)
- 5 stars out of 5 - "...They are at the peak of their game. They're also at the peak of everyone else's game. A fantastic record, full of wonder." Uncut (9/02, p.118)
- 3 stars out of 5 - "BY THE WAY presents a band who have mellowed and matured with unusual benefits to their music...jangling guitars, sunshine pop...allied to discreet electronic trim..." CMJ (8/16/02, p.7)
- "...Complex vocal harmonies and slick arrangements....the Chili Peppers are still making some of the best music of their career..." Mojo (Publisher)
(8/02, p.95)
- "...The strongest Chili's album since 1991's BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK..." NME (Magazine)
(7/13/02, p.36)
- 8 out of 10 - "...By and large, very good..." | 
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