Aerosmith: Get Your Wings - 1974
Aerosmith's next two albums became a little bit more professional, varied and appealing each time. This was the first of them...
Same Old Song And Dance is a gloriously riffy opener, augmented by some kick-ass brass from The Brecker Brothers. It is pretty much blueprint mid-seventies US hard rock in four/five minutes. It is loud, riffy and chugging. I have read some criticisms of the drum sound somewhere. You won't get any here. It pounds away nicely for me, thanks.
The marvellously-titled Lord Of The Thighs has a vaguely bluesy, funky rhythm to it and a great rolling drum sound that matches the riffs every step of the way. It is an early example of rock served up with a slightly funky edge. The band were said to have developed a "dirty funk" sound and while I can sort of understand the description i.e. there is a greasy, sleazy undertow to the music, it sure ain't really funky, is it?
The sound is definitely getting more grubbily appealing as the albums go by, however. Maybe it is developing that "something" I was saying I was looking for in my review of the group's debut album. It certainly wouldn't have had me letting my hair grow incredibly long and donning a pair of tight leather trousers in 1975-76 though. Not punk enough, not individual enough. Listening to it now, however, I'm really enjoying it.
Spaced is suitably a bit spacey in its fuzzy sound but it doesn't get in the way of the classic riffage served up here. More of the same is gifted to us on the infectious Woman Of The World. I love the bits where the sound gives way, leaving just the drums and then the guitars crash back in. Proper heavy rock. It sort of lays down the foundations for so much subsequent "heavy metal". I love the vocal, drums, guitar bit around 3:43. You gotta love the blues harmonica bit near the end as well, haven't you?
S.O.S. (Too Bad), apparently, stands for Same Old Shit. Some cynics may level an accusation like this at this album. Not me, though, this is another copper-bottomed stonker of a rocker. It riffs it up marvellously and Steve Tyler's vocals are powerfully impressive. There is a bluesiness to this, lurking under its huge riffs and pounding drums.
The best track on the album, in my opinion, is the attractively rockin' blues cover Train Kept A-Rollin'. It rocks, it rolls, it chugs, it thumps. Check some of those searing guitar interjections. The drum and guitar interplay mid-song bit is magnificent, deep rock.
Seasons Of Wither is a comparatively slow pace, big rock ballad (each heavy band had to do at least one per album, didn't they?). Dn't worry, though, riffing is back on the muscular closer, Pandora's Box.
Now, where did I put those leather trousers?
