Search - Aerosmith :: Nine Lives (Bonus CD)

OVERLOOKED POWERHOUSE OF AN ALBUM!

Boss Fan | Take a Right at the Light, Keep Going Straight Unt | 07/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What an album!



This is an underrated masterpiece that no one would call one of Aerosmith's best albums when compared to hit-laden fare like "Pump" and "Toys in the Attic," but that's only because it never got the attention it deserved. In a perfect world this album would have been embraced as every previous Aerosmith album was (it is far better and more eclectic than it's predecessor, "Get a Grip," which was a monster smash, their last as of this writing); but thanks to a relative lack of anthems, as well as radio and record companies moving away from pushing new music from classic artists, this artistic firecracker was virtually ignored.



Seriously, some 30-plus-year-old acts have put out some of their best, most critically albums in the twilight of their careers, but radio and their record companies would rather push the latest pseudo-rock trend band or slut-turned-singer than give this music a chance. You can't blame them when even their own fans constantly say stupid stuff like, "I like their old stuff," but never give the new stuff a chance. Why? Cuz they didn't hear the latest hit on the radio. A vicious cycle. If their was any justice Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising" would have had as many radio singles and sold as many copies now as "Born In the USA" did in 1984. And that's just one, big example (also see every album from Tom Petty in the last 10 years - just dumped into the market place with no support from the record company, or at least nothing close to the support they once gave).



But I digress. It didn't help Aerosmith that, like a lot of great albums, this came out a time when teen-pop, boybands, rap-rock, the Latin invasion, and every other gimmick of a music style was being force-fed to the public. There was just no room for good old rock `n roll. It's amazing how much the musical landscape changed in the 3 years between this release and "Get a Grip," and what an effect it had on Aerosmith's, not just sales, but PR. They were the toast of the town and sold a bazillion records; 3 years later they were brushed off.



But the music certainly stands on its own. "Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)" and "Pink," the two, albeit minor, singles are great, typical Aerosmith rockers that were probably as good a choice as any to represent this album to the fans. Again, it would have been great if the record company and radio pushed them enough to allow them to be heard. (Not too many probably remember that "Hole in My Soul" was also a single, but faded fast, even by the short-shelf-life standards of the other tracks.)



As good - and Aerosmith-ish - as these two songs are, there are deeper cuts. "Taste of India" maybe the best Aerosmith song you have never heard. And like "Taste," "The Farm" takes a straight-forward rocker and pumps it up with experimentation, overdubs and different musical styles all ricocheting off each other. The result is an exhilarating, original, and artistic blend that is as experimental as anything Aerosmith has ever done, yet as undeniably Aerosmith as anything they have ever done. The boys really took the phrase "everything but the kitchen sink" to heart on this one. The "Wall of Sound" approach is not just implemented here; the thing is climbed, conquered and blown up. Phil Spector would be proud. See the two aforementioned songs, the title track, "Falling in Love...," "Something's Gotta Give," and "Attitude Adjustment" for proof. These songs make for a sonic boom of an album.



Electric guitars are all over the place on these tried-and-true Aerosmith rockers, but for an album that is so diverse within individual songs, the tracks themselves are a diverse collection of tunes. There is also a handful of standard ballads (what we get for making "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing" their first and, so far only #1 single) and then there are songs like "Ain't That a Bitch," "Fallen Angels," "Kiss Your Past Goodbye," and "Full Circle," that fall somewhere in between. They are technically "power ballads," I guess, but to label them just that is to do them a grave injustice. Aerosmith's biggest strength as writers has always been their ability to cleverly turn standard phrases and clichés on their ear. They can craft a whole song out of cleverly stitched together double entandres. It's a shame that few have heard some of the terrifically cynical, self-depreciating, sarcastic, sly and defiant lyrics that are peppered throughout this whole album. "Don't give me no lip I got enough of my own," Steven Tyler deadpans on "Falling in Love..." "Nine Lives, puss and booty," he sings on the title track (hint: it's less about a cat than, well, you know). And "The Farm," "Fallen Angels," and "Pink" are all, unto themselves, full songs of this kind of thing. Even if you disagree this album is an ultimate effort by Aerosmith in its entirety, do yourself a favor and just listen to the lyrics and appreciate all the lyrical poetry and prose they drop here. As written, this album might make for the best rap album that ended up a rock record.



I love this alum!



This is an album that, with maybe just two or three others in my CD collection, slips into the back of mind for a while and then one day I'm scanning my collection for something great I haven't heard in a while and it always jumps out at me. Then it fades back into my collection to wait until it is needed again (it's the Batman of my CD collection). Every time I put it in again it's like discovering it for the first time. In a way, maybe that is reason enough to be okay with the fact this album was not over exposed.



Maybe.

"

One Of My Favorite Albums

Amy Lynn | Pennsylvania United States | 02/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ive been an Aerosmith fan for most of my life and I picked this album up around 97 and have loved it since the moment I first played it. I think this is a very under-rated Aerosmith Album. It deserves more credit than it gets. It dosent sound as much like their regular stuff and thats what makes it so special. It has lots of Eastern sounding accents and a bluesy feel about it. Some of my favorite tracks are 'Fallin in Love', Taste of India and Aint that a B*itch. The sound is distinctive and they rock harder than ever on these tracks. I rank this one up their with the classics Pump and Permanent Vacation. Definitely worth a listen if you have an open mind and dont mind a different and distinctive sound."

A Sweet Taste of Aerosmith

... | Montreal | 02/28/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"From the opening of the album, there's no doubt that Steven Tyler is back and singing his considerable lips off. Not quite as hard as some of their earlier releases, with "Nine Lives" Aerosmith makes their most radio-friendly album in years.There are several standout songs on this one, including the opening title track and the beautiful ballads "Falling in Love" and "Hole in my Soul". The exotic "Taste of India" and the strangely sexual "Pink" also received significant air-time, and the entire album fed off the success of the previous "Get a Grip" recording.My only gripe with the album is some of the weaker tracks later in the lineup... although not bad they're just not up to the level the album starts off with, and took me a few more listens to become accustomed to. Needless to say, the 3 or so weaker tracks don't detract significantly from the album, and when Aerosmith is on they are absolutely fantastic.All told, it's a very enjoyable record from a group I've come to expect a lot from over the years. Aerosmith has matured as much as they're capable of, and grown into their role as Rock'n'Roll icons. Their almost childlike enjoyment of all things carnal is definitely in evidence here, so whenever you're in need of a positive "Attitude Adjustment" just pop this disc in and let it roll."