Aerosmith - Honkin' On Bobo
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Free Music Notes for Honkin' On Bobo
Free Music Review: Aerosmith at their 70s best
Hit: 5 Stars
Since Aerosmith's comeback in the 80s, fans have been crying themselves hoarse, urging the band to go back to making the mind of music that took them to the pinnacle of their success in the mid 70s. Professional song-writers, and outsiders helping with arranging songs saw Aerosmith diverging from the sleazy, no-holds barred music they were known for, and headed towards mainstream rock. MTV only encouraged this trend. Aerosmith did produce a lot of good music in this period, but decided that it was time to go back to their roots and do an album like the old times.
They got back their old producer and regained their old magic. This album in my opinion is the best they've put out since the 1977 classic 'Rocks'. Every song rocks.
People might be put off by the fact that only one song is an original, while all the others are covers of old blues numbers. A lot of people might also not want to hear Aerosmith 'doing the blues'. But this album is infact Aerosmith putting the blues in an entirely new perspective.
The album starts off with a bang with the riff-roaring 'Roadrunner', and keeps the beat with 'Shame Shame Shame'. Following this is 'Baby Please Don't Go' - really pushes the tempo. Do not play this song while driving!! It slows down for a while with an amazing rendition of Aretha Franklin's 'Never Loved a Man' (retitled 'Never Loved a Girl' of course!). Guitarist Joe Perry then takes over the lead vocals, and plays his heart out on 'Stop Messing 'Round', one of the best guitar interplay put on view by Aerosmith. JP also sings on 'Back Back Train'. A very dark sounding song, which you'll find impossible to put out of your head. Fans of Aerosmith ballads such as 'Cryin' and 'Hole in my Soul' will be very pleased with Steven Tyler's vocals on 'The Grind'.
In all, the album is very polished, yet retains the crass grittiness that makes Aerosmith America's greatest Rock n' Roll band. Great guitar interplay for the connoisseurs. Thumping drums and Tom Hamilton's bass give the band great groove. And Steven Tyler is at his screamin' best, on the vocals, and on his harmonica, giving this legendary band the vibe that makes them the best in the business.
Free Music Review: The Halcyon Days Revisited!
Hit: 5 Stars
Just when I had written these guys off for selling out they reunited with producer Jack Douglas and created their best album since "Rocks". The new disk focuses on cover tunes instead of original material. Most of the tunes are blues covers or early rock and roll tunes. Even though there are some blues covers on the disk, they rock! Blues purists will balk but even though Aerosmith's music was blues influenced, the influences came via the second generation of British blues. The Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, and early Fleetwood Mac appear to be more influential than Muddy Waters anyway. I do not know if it was the presence of Jack Douglas or lack of pressure for coming up with new hit material but the band sounds more inspired than they have in a number of years. I have seen them in concert a few times and the new disk sounds more like the excitement they can generate in concert. There are no clinkers and the songs themselves are all interesting. My favorites include Bo Diddley's "Road Runner", Big Joe Williams "Baby, Please Don't Go", and Mississippi Fred McDowell's "You Gotta Move" and "Jesus Is On The Main Line". The sass that Steven Tyler injects into the songs is great. He also plays a lot of harmonica on the album. Joe Perry and Brad Whitford add a bluesy tinge to the proceedings with their vast array of guitars. Joe Perry even takes the lead vocals on Mississippi Fred McDowell's "Back Back Train" and Fleetwood Mac's "Stop Messin' Round". An example of the vibe the album emits would be to imagine an Aerosmith cd that contained "Walkin' The Dog", "Train Kept A Rollin'", "Big Ten Inch Record" and "Milkcow Blues" from Aerosmith's earlier career. My only regret is that the disk clocks in at only about 44 minutes. Hopefully, they have more high quality material in the can from these sessions that will be issued at a later date. I guess these guys really do have nine lives!
Free Music Review: The best album they've had in almost 15 years!
Hit: 5 Stars
This album proves that Aerosmith have definately not lost their touch in the world of rock! After a long period of producing commercial hits packaged with power ballads and experimentations, the bad boys from Boston finally decide to return to their roots. And boy what a return they made! With old blues hits covered like 'Baby Please Don't Go' (Williams), 'You Gotta Move' (Mississipi Fred McDowell), and 'Stop Messin' Around' (Fleetwood Mac), Aerosmith give you just a taste of bands they listened to long ago that inspired them to become musicians. Songs like 'Baby Please Don't Go' have been covered so many times by other artists in their own way. 'You Gotta Move' was a slower and soulful tune on the Rolling Stone's bestselling Sticky Fingers LP. All the songs covered here are done loud, energetic, and sleazy the Aerosmith way! Also returning after almost 20 years apart is producer, Jack Douglas, who helped create the masterpieces Toys In The Attic and Rocks back in the mid 70's!
Like I said, although this does take you back to Aerosmith's bluesy roots, this is still a hard rock album. A lot of blues purists probably will go nuts over the changes made to some these classic songs. Nevertheless, the rest of us will NOT be disappointed. This is a fresh new sound for Aerosmith after being bogged down with sappy ballads.
Although Just Push Play was a great album, the raw energy of Honkin' on Bobo really blows it away. Most of these songs here have all been played live by Aerosmith throughout their career. You can tell that this band really put their heart and soul into this album. Never have I heard Aerosmith get so much fun on an album since Pump or Rocks.
If you haven't seen these boys live yet, I suggest you get yourselves a nice pair of tickets and watch them. Their live performances of 'Baby Please Don't Go' and 'Stop Messin' Around' alone are worth the bucks!
You Honkin' on that Bobo yet? Buy it now!
Free Music Review: Aerosmith With the Blues
Hit: 5 Stars
"Hanging On Bobo" is Aerosmith's latest album release that contains something different than their past albums. They recorded cover blues songs. This retraces Aerosmith's musical roots and their blues influences. This shows a side of them that has rarely been expressed. Though they've always combined blues with their edgy rock sound, this also presents new territory. Despite the blues theme throughout the album, some traces of rock still linger in some tracks. Such quality proves that they have mastered more than just rock. This twelve-song album offers a wonderful musical experience that a variety of listeners will enjoy, regardless of genre favorite. Their cover songs offer a new and current edge. These classics live up to their originals. They were produced and arranged perfectly, making them their own. The album theme allows Steven Tyler's harmonica talents to be expressed much more. Though the album is more mellow than the past, his lead vocals are still equally crazy and expressive. Two songs have guitarist Joe Perry performing lead vocals: "Back Back Train" and "Stop Messing Around". They match Tyler's performance ability while adding a broader blues sound. Though this album is based on cover songs, one original recording is featured, which was written and performed beautifully: "The Grind". This proves that they know the art of blues music beyond performance.
"Hanging On Bobo" is a great album that many will surely enjoy. This is an essential for the great Aerosmith and/or blues genre fan.
Free Music Review: Solid
Hit: 5 Stars
I havent stopped listening since I bought it. I cut my rock teeth on Aerosmith and The Who in the 70's. Some of my favorite Aerosmith tunes were the couple of blues covers they had on Live Bootleg. And to be truthful I havent cared much for the sappy power balad route they've been on for the past 10-15 years. This is where they need to be.The album begins with the solid Ellas McDaniel's "Roadrunner", keeps rampin up through Sonny Boy Williamson's "Eyesight to the Blind", kicks it in high gear with Big Joe William's "Baby Please Dont Go", drives through "Never Loved a Girl", and finally hits apex at my favorite of the whole cd, the Rev. Gary Davis & Mississippi Fred McDowell's "You Gotta Move", performs admirably on their one and only original on the cd "The Grind", gets right down and sinister with Willie Dixon's "I'm Ready". The last three, though not quite as powerful, are solid as well.
My biggest beef has to be with one of the two songs sung by Joe Perry, "Back Back Train. His vocals, though not awful, just dont stand up.
As for naysayers still stuck in the "Clapton is God" mindset, I've got news for you, he isnt the only one who's ever done a blues cover. Hell, he hasnt done anything but blues covers for the past ten years.
I'm telling ya, I dont throw out five star ratings very often. But I havent heard an album this good by ANYONE in a long time. I cant stop listening.