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Rocks
Aerosmith
Columbia Records, 1976
REVIEW BY: Alfredo Narvaez
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 01/29/1999
(Editor's Note: The reference that Al makes in thefirst paragraph was to Bob Pierce, the alias I wrote under for twoyears; I had just reverted to writing under my real name, and Aldecided to have some fun with me. - CT)
Checking the Daily Vault Reviews Archives (copyright andtrademark owned by Mr. Bob Pie....oops) I was very amazed to seethat no one had tackled this album. After all, not only is itconsidered one of Aerosmith's best (many think it IS their best),but it's one of those albums that looks back and still soundsfresh. The problem was, after coming into the limelight thanks to Toys In The Attic, the band didn't come out with moreradio-ready singles. You know, more stuff like "Walk This Way" and"Sweet Emotion." Taking that aside, this album, I would say, ISbetter than its predecesor. I'll tell you why.
1) Tighter focus: After Toys' success, the band could have gone on and released abig piece of dung. It's not unusual for bands to let up afterhitting it big. It happens. Instead, the band went back and crankedout more and better material. Stuff like "Back In The Saddle" and"Rats In The Cellar".
2) Total effort by band: I know that from Day One, Aerosmith hasnever exclusively written their material within itself. Yet here,every member of the band contributes to, at least, one song. (Noteto Aerosmith: Get together in a closed room and YOU write thesongs. Let everyone into it.) From Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton's"Sick As A Dog" to Joe Perry's "Combination" to the multi-written"Home Tonight." Sure, they had some outside help, but you can sensethis was the band's album.
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