It is going to take me a bit to get through Aerosmith. I really want to study and get to know this band on a deeper level, get to know them beyond their hits, which it seems like that’s all classic rock radio stations seem to play, which I don’t blame the classic rock stations, however, I want to get to know them on a deeper level, get to know Aerosmith for their non-hits. “Dream On” is once again becoming a viral classic, in large part due to Blacktop Mojo’s insane cover of the song, which is well on its way to hitting four million hits on YouTube. Well, screw it, here’s the cover.
Here is the review of the album, what I’m going to do is immediate reactions to the songs as they play throughout.
The first track starts off with “Make It”, to be perfectly honest, off of this album I’ve only heard “Dream On” and “Mama Kin”, and I immediately notice the guitar work that Joe Perry and Brad Whitford in which has their intense riffs mixed with a blues vibe to the music. The transitions at around the 2:22 mark are seamless and Steven Tyler definitely doesn’t sound overproduced. This is Aerosmith with a raw unpolished sound, it has such a garage classic rock feel to it.
The track “Somebody” has a killer blues vibe to it. I can tell that it’s about the desperate feeling of finding that special someone and Steven Tyler does a great job of conveying that message. It quickly helps remind myself that Steven Tyler has quite a versatile voice for classic rock, pop, and especially blues. A fun fact: This song was the B-side to the “Dream On” single, which I thought was pretty cool to learn about. It’s a nice touch of Steven Tyler doing some vocal improvisations with Joe Perry’s guitar work.
The self-titled album seamlessly transitions into “Dream On”. Who can forget the intro, when people hear the intro, lighters and cell phones(well lighters back then), immediately illuminate in the crowd as Steven Tyler croons along. The odd thing that I’ve noticed while examining this song was the cymbal and drum arrangements by one Joe Kramer. It’s intricate, yet it drives the song. This song is an all-time classic and an Aerosmith concert staple, so much so that it was one of the anthems for the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing. #BostonStrong
“One Way Street” is yet another sassy track that really allows Tom Hamilton on bass and Joey Kramer on the drums to shine in the rhythm section. I argue that in this track when really get to hear the vocal prowess that Steven Tyler has trademarked in his vocals, with his trademarked screaming and rhythmic screeching. So far, I enjoy this track immensely. The guitar work that Joe Perry showcases is impeccable, yet it serves the song, honestly, it’s one of the best guitar solo work I’ve heard from Joe Perry.
“Mama Kin” starts off with a dirty rhythm section possessed by Hamilton and Kramer, Whitford and Perry do an impeccable job of intertwining their guitar work, I really dig this version of Aerosmith that seems to be paying homage to old school blues. The chorus is catchy as all get out.
Overall, this album showcases Aerosmith at their raw talent. It has such a garage rock feel to it, friends getting together to jam out, and it showcases the band with pure raw talent. It doesn’t sound overproduced either, it was Aerosmith at their pure rawness, and a total homage to their blues roots, especially in the song “Movin’ Out”. I also appreciated the cover of “Walkin’ The Dog” by Rufus Thomas, which really showcased their raw power. It’s plain to see why this record sold two million copies in the United States alone! Madness To Creation gives this an 8 out of 10 star rating!
