One realizes that this certainly
cannot come under the title forgotten
as it was only released on the 5th March
2001, but I think you’ll find that classic
is a word that will be used a lot in conjunction
with this master work of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
So here we are with Aerosmith’s 543rd
album (actually their 13th Studio album,
not counting live albums and compilations)
and it’s situation normal, good old guitar
rawk, sexiest lyrics, and more sass than
you can shake a stick at.
These days they’re even a little bit fashionable
in a kitch sort of way, and the world’s
premier lounge lizard Steve Tyler might
even be cool in a “What a great guy! Is
he still alive” kinda way. But does the
music still cut it, of course it does,
it’s the original Toxic Twins, these days
they can do no wrong.
It’s difficult to separate Aerosmith from
their glorious / inglorious past, - one
that’s seen more revivals than West side
story. For better of worse the stalwart
Boston quintet carry a load of preconceptions
that are impossible to shake. At the end
of the day as an out and out dance rock
band they wipe the floor with all the
competition. After two rather below par
albums in “Get a Grip” (far too many slushy
ballads) and “Nine Lives” (Aerosmith as
if written by numbers) the original American
bad boys of Rock ‘n’ Roll have come storming
back with “Just Push Play” four years
in the making, but it was worth every
minute.
If comparisons still have to be made between
Aerosmith, and The Rolling Stones, Steve
Tyler playing Mick Jagger to Joe Perry’s
Keith Richards, then if “Get A Grip” was
Steve’s album and “Nine lives” was a management
album, “Just Push Play” is definitely
Joe Perry’s album. As soon as the guitar
solo on opening track “Beyond Beautiful”
kicks in, all down and dirty, the guitarist
has stamped his authority on this collection
of fine Funk/Hard rock songs.
The guitar solo on penultimate track “Light
Inside” is probably the best studio take
that Perry has ever laid down and would
bring a tear to his nemesis eye Jimmy
Page, such is it’s cool.
If this 12 – song set was the product
of young 2001 upstarts, would it of caused
so much of a public commotion, the only
answer to this is ABSOLUTELY! Working
with co-producers and song collaborators
Marti Frederiksen and Mark Hudson, Aerosmith
have forged an album that gracefully fuses
70’s hard rock grit with contemporary
gloss.
The funk – infused likes of first single
“Jaded” and the insistent “Drop Dead Gorgeous”
best demonstrate the formula that Aerosmith
have settled on for now, as the beat carries
you over Tyler’s patented screech and
the no nonsense grind of the four instrumentalists.
Definitely a contender for rock album
of 2001.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
