176 - Aerosmith - Rocks

[csberry]

Aerosmith is dirty, slithery, and hard rockin' on Rocks. The distorted guitars, the fierce solos, the lyrical subjects, and the vocal harmonics gel very well together in my ears. When I think of who the ideal listener to Rocks would be, a whole slew of sleazy, dirty guys' images scroll through my mind. If this bad boy rocker of an album is your anthem, you may not be the kind of guy I want to run into in a dark alley or bar.

What benefits the album more than anything for me are all of the layers and bits of complexity. The vocals on several tracks (especially “Combination”) feature inventive vocal harmonies that add a polish and interest to what could have just been a bare single vocalist wailing away. Although they would highlight these kind of psychedelic harmonies more in the later sober albums, their presence here elevates these songs from what they could have been like in the 1970's. In addition to the vocals, there are several tracks there there seem to be four or more guitars playing at the same time. All of these guitars don't become jumbled and messy, they are layered in a way that complements and accentuates the other riffs. Despite all of the surface messiness, there is a lovely weaving that makes Rocks different.

Songs I Knew I Liked: “Back in the Saddle” and “Lost Child”

Songs I Now Like: “Rats in the Cellar” and “Combination”

Songs I Don't Want to Ever Hear Again: “Nobody's Fault”