Aerosmith — 鈥楳usic from Another Dimension!鈥�
I鈥檓 an old-school Aerosmith fan. It was love at first listen after I picked up a copy of 1975鈥檚 鈥淭oys in the Attic鈥� with songs like 鈥淲alk This Way鈥� and 鈥淪weet Emotion.鈥�
I鈥檝e had the opportunity to see Aerosmith perform twice. Both concerts were the loudest shows I鈥檝e ever attended. For me, loud is a very, very good thing. 鈥淢usic from Another Dimension!鈥� is Aerosmith鈥檚 first album of new songs in 11 years. With all that has happened with the bad boys from Boston the last few years, I wondered if they would keep their swagger or become a campy version of days gone by as illustrated on the new album cover. Early in 2010, a rift between guitarist Joe Perry and frontman Steven Tyler threatened the band鈥檚 future as the band held auditions for a new singer and Tyler joined 鈥淎merican Idol鈥� as a celebrity judge. Fortunately, fences were mended and Tyler rejoined his band mates for a 15th studio album. Producer Jack Douglas was brought back on board for the new material after overseeing such classic albums like 鈥淕et Your Wings,鈥� 鈥淭oys in the Attic,鈥� 鈥淩ocks鈥� and 鈥淒raw the Line.鈥� Douglas, who has been called Aerosmith鈥檚 sixth man because of his close relationship with the band, brings out the best in the boys as they deliver their strongest effort since 1989鈥檚 鈥淧ump.鈥� The opening number comes out smoking as the band sounds like Cheap Trick from the classic 鈥淗ello There鈥� as Perry fires off a sizzling riff and Tyler announces, 鈥淗ello, hello, hello.鈥� 鈥淥h Yeah鈥� follows with a Rolling Stones-style guitar riff and soulful lead and backing vocals. 鈥淥ut Go the Lights鈥� has the attitude and electricity of the Black Crowes鈥� 鈥淭he Southern Harmony and Musical Companion鈥� album before lead singer Chris Robinson went all hippie on us. 鈥淲hat Could Have Been Love鈥� is an infectious power ballad following the blueprint of 鈥淚 Don鈥檛 Want to Miss a Thing.鈥� 鈥淐an鈥檛 Stop Lovin鈥� You鈥� features country singer Carrie Underwood and is sure to deliver a likable crossover appeal for country music fans and die-hard Aerosmith fans. Joe Perry takes the microphone on the rousing 鈥淔reedom Fighter,鈥� with Johnny Depp on backing vocals. Tyler and Perry are at their best on rockers 鈥淟egendary Child,鈥� 鈥淟over Alot鈥� and 鈥淪treet Jesus,鈥� as they channel the raw and gritty feel of 1976鈥檚 鈥淩ocks.鈥� With all the band members in their 60s, 鈥淢usic from Another Dimension!鈥� proves that Aerosmith is back in the saddle again.