I think this band has not changed in 20-some years. They have cranked out Permanent Vacation 1-7. It's a shame when such a groundbreaking band finds a formula and then just mashes it into the ground.

And I may be the only one in the world, but Rock in a Hard Place is my fav (He's a witch - BURN HIM!!). Seriously, When the Lightning Strikes, Bitch's Brew, etc were some of the hardest things they recorded. And I think Jimmy Crespo had at least a little to do with that.

I really like this band up through Permanent Vacation.

Some of the more commercial stuff after that lost me.

Nah, Night In The Ruts had less filler and just as much heavy stuff. But I gotta respect a guy who love Lightning Strikes the most. Too bad you aren't an elephant.

I could be....Just close your eyes....

I love Rock in a Hard Place too, sax! Great album - that was the first tour I saw them on!

Count me in as someone who digs ROCK IN A HARD PLACE. That disc is underrated as hell. Come on folks, "Lightning Strikes" = :metal: !!!

On another Aerosmith related note, the newspaper tells me that today is Steven Tyler's 60th (!!) birthday. Way to go Steve!!

The only Aerosmith I like is the 70's stuff. I hear some of their stuff these days and to me it's a joke.

Yeah, a lot of people do seem to remember only the hits. I once played to a friend of mine (who's a big rock/metal fan, but mostly only hits) Round and Round and Nobody's Fault, and he couldn't believe it was Aerosmith. The heaviness aside, Steven Tyler also sang with a deeper, blusier tone. You can't get much different than a tune like Magic Touch (which I still love).

Whenever people ask me to recommend any Aerosmith (and it happens all the time, let me tell you), I always point them to Gems. Yea, it's a compilation album, but it's not the big "hits" that most common folks would know. And it's got some of their heaviest material of the 70's. Great place for people starting an Aerosmith collection.

Good point, McFly.

Gems or Greatest Hits.

Aerosmith's original greatest hits is one of the few GH collections I would recommend to anyone.

My only pet peeve is the radio version of Kings & Queens.

I dig the band...really love the old material....up through PERMANENT VACATION...Hell, Even PUMP wasn't to bad....they lost me on 'GET A GRIP" which was just a poppier "PUMP" and EVERY SINGLE sounded the same...as has every single they've release since 1992....

Sad....

Their new album is supposed to have a cover of Deep Purple's "Highway Star". I wonder if the rest of the album will follow suit.

Aerosmith was a staple in the old neighborhood...We butchered alot of the tunes by them in various garages trying to learn our instruments. They brought alot to the table and if you listen to the first 5 lps that is very evident. I seen them quite a few times in the mid to late 70's and aside from the Cal Jam 2 show, most of the concerts were bad performances. It showed me that getting wasted and going onstage really wasn't a kewl thing and later when they cleaned up....well the performance aspect got way better, but the tunes went downhill. I too dig RIAHP alot... Anyone else a fan of The Joe Perry Project ? Any opinion of Whitford / St. Holmes ?

Laterz

Every band has classic periods i suppose, thank god Aerosmith gave us 6 classic albums in a row.

Like a James Brown funked up Rolling Stones with the r&b driven motor of the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin's dirty Chuck Berry derived hard rock guitars. The original 'Lizard Kings'. I could probably only name a handful of rock n' roll bands that even come close to holding a candle to 70's 'Smith.

They've lost they're edge. Whatever happened to caring and integrity in music. They pander to middle aged housewives much like that of Rod Stewart. A guy who like Aerosmith produced 8 amazing rock n' roll albums with the Faces and solo in the early 70's and then descended to corporate music machine malaise. Sold his musical soul, betrayed his talent. Aerosmith are suffering from the same fate of their influence.

Aerosmith should make a great rock n' roll album, no concessions to selling units and the like. I know they have it in them. Perry fire out some dirty Chuck Berry riffs and Tyler bring some James Brown shake appeal and sex. Now that's what i would like to see.


James B. Joe Perry Project is great. Although i wish Perry sang the whole time.

I really dig that Whitford/St Holmes album. Derek has a very under-rated voice, and Whitford is just a flat-out genius!

I'm a big fan of them. I love their 70's stuff and after that they released a few things that caught my eye, like Done With Mirrors. Not much they have anymore that is anygood. I think.

Love these guys. I agree that Night In The Ruts and Rock In A Hard Place are two of their best albums, really heavy.