The "Classic Era" of Aerosmtih

Aerosmith, at least to this fan (lapsed since the late 90s), is one of those classic bands that made the mistake of going all "focus group" in the modern era.

You know what I'm talking about: after some experimentation with different musical forms (which I thought Nine Lives did AMAZINGLY while keeping a core sound intact - kind of their version of Queensryche's Promised Land for the change in sound), they go, "Oh shit! We aren't #1 anymore... What do the fans want? Should we do what we did in the 80s? We tried that and it didn't work! Oh crap... What did we do in the 70s? Can we still do that? Hell with it - tell everyone that's what we're doing and fake it!"

It's the main reason I really couldn't abide R.E.M. doing "Monster." They did two amazing mellow albums, then said, "We're getting back to our rock roots," and then released what sounded like an album of Michael Stipe talking over the backing tracks from the last Garbage album. I was sitting there asking, "Did any of you actually LISTEN to what you sounded like when you were doing straight rock? Here's a hint - you didn't put PHASER on everything!"

Granted, just my opinion, but moves that smack of "We're playing to the demographic to regain market share" always leave me cold unless the band is so incredibly BAD at it that what they create is good in spite of their intentions. See: Gary Numan in the late 80s.

I have no real interest in Aerosmith from Permanent Vacation onward. Overplayed,overexposed boring music to me. I saw Aerosmith with KISS a few years back and found the show very enjoyable though. I'd gladly see them again but I doubt I'd ever buy anything put out by them again.

The only Aerosmith I haven't been able to get into is Music From Another Dimension. I'm not quite sure why, since it has elements from all the other styles the band has done, all of which I've enjoyed.

To me the album that really sums up the "Classic" Aerosmith era is Rocks...to me it doesn't get any better for this band then this...

I have tons of Aerosmith bootleg DVD's ( OK more like ten of them), and I amazed how good they were. Even the one bootleg with Jimmy Crespo, where Tyler has sniffed up half of Peru up his nose, the energy remained high (pun intended).

I like all of their albums, even on their weakest album (Just Push Play) has some good songs on it.

brokentulsa wrote:

To me the album that really sums up the "Classic" Aerosmith era is Rocks...to me it doesn't get any better for this band then this...

Rocks is simple awesome. It's what made me a fan.

MetallicSeminarian wrote:

brokentulsa wrote:

To me the album that really sums up the "Classic" Aerosmith era is Rocks...to me it doesn't get any better for this band then this...

Rocks is simple awesome. It's what made me a fan.

Rocks is brilliant! Heavy as a loaded freight train barreling down the tracks, especially for 1976. I mean, what was heavier than "Nobody's Fault" in '76? The whole album is awesome.

MetallicSeminarian wrote:

brokentulsa wrote:

To me the album that really sums up the "Classic" Aerosmith era is Rocks...to me it doesn't get any better for this band then this...

Rocks is simple awesome. It's what made me a fan.

My favorite Aerosmith album

glassprison wrote:

The only Aerosmith I haven't been able to get into is Music From Another Dimension. I'm not quite sure why, since it has elements from all the other styles the band has done, all of which I've enjoyed.

Try skipping the ballads and just play the rockers. Works better that way. It's a good album, just needs some of the fat trimmed off.

I lost interest about the time of "Permanent Vacation" and "Pump".  There are well written songs on both of those albums.  Everything back, "Done With Mirrors" to "Aerosmith" is golden.  !4K to 24K

brokentulsa wrote:

To me the album that really sums up the "Classic" Aerosmith era is Rocks...to me it doesn't get any better for this band then this...

I agree, the only Aerosmith album I like enough to own.

DeathCult wrote:

brokentulsa wrote:

To me the album that really sums up the "Classic" Aerosmith era is Rocks...to me it doesn't get any better for this band then this...

I agree, the only Aerosmith album I like enough to own.

nah, you just like "rocks"