Aerosmith - Honkin' On Bobo

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Free Music Notes for Honkin' On Bobo

Free Music Review: A Masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars

Excellent, hard-driving rocker to start the album. It's a traditional first song on an Aerosmith album, but it also sets the tone for Bobo's bluesy feel.

2. Shame, Shame, Shame

Very fun song. Extremely short, but this is one you could picture hearing while swing dancing in the '40s or '50s. Steven does a great job on the vocals and Tom and Joey keep the rhythym moving. Just wish it was longer!

3. Eyesight To The Blind

This song establishes that Honkin' On Bobo is a true blues project. Very genuine and raw: I picture myself in a smoky New Orleans bar when I listen to this tune.

4. Baby Please Don't Go

From the live performances, I didn't think BPDG was as heavy and hard rocking as it's turned out to be. This is a truly blistering song: it's so heavy at the end that it's bordering with overbearing, but the boys keep it in control just enough. This track is a masterpiece: if you go back and listen to the Big Joe Williams version, you realize how difficult it must have been to turn this into a hard rock/heavy metal song. Fantastic.

5. Never Loved A Girl

Many think The Grind is the obvious Top 40 single, but I think this one would play even better on the radio. It really hooks you off the top and pulls you in, and I think Steven's vocals haven't sounded better since some of the Nine Lives recordings. Full of emotion, style, and when you listen to it: it sounds like a true Aerosmith work.

6. Back Back Train

Atmospheric, but Back Back Train doesn't do much for me overall. Joe's lyrics are intentionally devoid of emotion, but I actually think it detracts from the song. It's still very effective musically, and the female voice is haunting.

7. You Gotta Move

Definitely catchy and hip shaking. However, I think the very beginning could have a harder edge and pull you in more effectively. If it was a tad shorter, it could be radio material, however. I think the song is very good, don't get me wrong, but I also think it could have been great.

8. The Grind

Here's why I like The Grind. It fools you at the outset into thinking it's a blues song, then shifts into a ballad, but stays raw and hard (that sounds raunchy, sorry) long enough to prevent being an IDWTMAT or FAWH. This could be a big single *and* help the album because it's got the feel of a traditional Aerosmith hit, but it will also make average listeners think "hmm...Aerosmith sounds a little different, I wonder what their new album is like." I think this should be single #2 or #3...I'm hoping they'll release Never Loved A Girl as well.

9. I'm Ready

WOW. This is my favorite song on the album, by far. Talk about a risky song to cover: this could have been a disaster if approached any differently than the boys approached it. Tom, Brad, and Joe are completely in sync the whole way through, and Steven's vocals are stinging. After three listens, I was hooked on this song, I can't stop listening to it. Different? Yes. But this one stays with you.

10. Temperature

Another genuine blues song. Kind of blends together with I'm Ready and Eyesight in some respects, and doesn't exactly stick out, but another solid tune nonetheless.

11. Stop Messin' Around

Is this a great rock 'n' roll song or what? It's so great to finally hear a studio version, and it doesn't disappoint, that's for sure! Honestly, I think this is the most polished song on the album...it's so much better than I thought, and Joe really sounds like he's having a blast. Again, this is just a great rock 'n' roll song, and Aerosmith's been doing this one for so long, that they can almost claim it as their own.

12. Jesus Is On The Main Line

I feel like I'm in a baptist church in Arkansas when I put this one on. Another risky tune, and it certainly isn't for everyone, but this really shows the depth and conscience of Aerosmith's musical ability.

Honkin' On Bobo is finally the '70s throwback we've all been waiting for. It's the first step into gaining back the rock and roll credibility the band surrendered for musical success, although I believe PV, Pump, GAG, and Nine Lives are all superb albums that shouldn't be penalized for being successful. However, IDWTMAT, Just Push Play, and the Super Bowl halftime was really sending Aerosmith in a direction where people could make a valid argument that they were over-the-hill "sell-outs."

Honkin' On Bobo ends that criticism. This is a true rock band, and an American musical treasure. Congratulations to the band for taking a big risk, and knocking everyone's socks off.

-Tom

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