Aerosmith
Music From Another Dimension
Columbia Records
Aerosmith walks the
line between pleasing
those who long
for the band’s ’70s
sound and fans who
first heard them blasting ‘90s pop ballads
on a soundtrack. On Music From Another
Dimension, they seem to have given guitar
heads something to chew on.
The guitars are up front and in your
face, essentially cementing Joe Perry as
the “rock star” guitarist. On “Out Go the
Lights,” Perry plays an incredibly visceral
and powerful solo, while the bluesy swing
of Brad Whitford proves he belongs in the
category with Richards when it comes to
giants of rock rhythm guitar. To help get
that old-school swagger back, the band
brought in über-producer Jack Douglas,
who might be the only one to have successfully
captured Perry’s and Whitford’s tones
over the years.
On the other hand, “What Could
Have Been Love” and “Can’t Stop Loving
You” are typical Tyler ballads: wordy lyrics,
sappy choruses, and a country star
(Carrie Underwood) cameo. Even with
all the firepower that Whitford and Perry
contribute, some of the tunes fall flat. At
their core, Aerosmith is a rock band that,
at times, has been seduced by pop music.
Now is the time for them to do the seducing.
—Jason Shadrick
Must-hear track: “Out Go the Lights”