(Columbia)
If the current crop of rock musicians is depressing you, or if you think your money isn't buying you much entertainment, then get out and get Nine Lives, the latest, greatest album from Aerosmith. When Da Boys from Boston are on a groove, their albums rock. Nine Lives was two years in the making, getting that groove. Manager: fired. Producer's work: discarded. Substitute drummer's work: discarded. Despite dire predictions, when the band got together with new producer Kevin Shirley (silverchair, Journey), the groove was there, 13 tracks ripped out, and Nine Lives is possibly the best Aerosmith album yet.
First of all, it's good just to hear them again. Steven Tyler's vocals are as sharp as ever. Cool lyrics have the trademark Aerosmith sexual double meanings that leave you smiling and the sticker people confused. The rest of the guys? They are absolutely right on. Lead guitarist Joe Perry still smashes those solos although they don't seem as plentiful here or mixed high enough for Perry fans. Brad Whitford is still one of the best rhythm guitarists around, and Joey Kramer sounds like he is playing with sticks of dynamite. Tom Hamilton gives a solid bass underpinning to every song. The music and the vocals and the lyrics are perfect. A number of listens are needed to get everything so you won't be setting this cd aside after one play.
Leading off is "Nine Lives" which is a real Aerosmith rocker. This one has got to be a single sometime. Next up is "Falling In Love (Is Hard On Your Knees)", the first single. It's getting a lot of rock airplay now so if you aren't singing along with Steven by now, you might try the Alternative Section. "Hole In My Soul", "Kiss Your Past Goodbye" and "Full Circle" are midtempo ballads that remind of "Crazy" - but hotter. Then there are some new kinds of sounds for Aerosmith: the punky "Crash", the industrial (Joey Kramer on the trashcans) "Something's Gotta Give", the eastern "Taste of India", and "The Farm" with Wizard of Oz samples. Aerosmith tries out this and that, but everything still has great rock roots. Nine Lives will lift your spirits because as Joe Perry says, "We don't play mope rock. We're here to entertain."
The US disks have an enhanced cd section which is a lot of fun to play with. This is an interactive section, not just text and pictures to look at. You can play along with the band using your space bar or your virtual pick (available free through the web site). You get a rating as you move through the song, like "miserable" or "too laid back" showing you it ain't easy to keep up with Joe Perry. If you like rock and Aerosmith, then you'll love their latest album, Nine Lives.
