Just Push Play

With “Just Push Play”, Aerosmith confirm their status as the masters of rock. Led by the extremely charismatic Steve Tyler, arguably the world’s most enthusiastic rocker, the outfit’s creative talent and ability to explore new territories seem to be nearing no end.

Listening to their latest CD, one notices that despite the fact that the band only consists of five members, they have been able to produce a full, rich sound which rivals that of other eight-piece bands. And besides being versatile, they have also managed to consistently deliver the goods, producing pacy tunes which each have their own theme.

The CD begins with the tight, no-air-spaces, “Beyond Beautiful”, and sees Aerosmith at their finest. It was easy to imagine I was attending one of their live performances when listening to this track - the solid, heavy sound is very similar to the sort of thing you would expect to hear at a rock concert.

As Tyler sings: “You gave up the love you got/And that is that/She loves me now/She loves you not/That’s where it’s at”, one gets the message that the vengeful voice can only be Tyler’s. As he heaps scorn on his supposed rival with the words: “This ain’t about losing sleep/It’s about the love you keep”, the band keeps weaving satiating melody throughout the masterpiece. At the end of it all, the song stands head and shoulders above the rest.

The title track bears a slight resemblance to that song Aerosmith did with Run DMC a few years back – “Walk This Way”. Judging by what we get here, that experience might have endured. One aspect leading us on a kind of déjà vu experience is the scratching of Tommy Perry.

In these days of uncertainty, Tyler is keen to assume the role of reminder of the state of affairs. The lyric, “where it’s at”, in “Beyond Beautiful”, makes a return on "Jaded". The song has had its fair share of airplay on MTV. Lauded by critics for its excellent guitar work, the song is in part made memorable by its video, where the “jaded” victim has a tear rolling down her cheek. But that’s not enough to deter Tyler from singing: “You think that’s where it's/But it’s that where it’s sporta (supposed) to be”.

The fourth song, “Fly Away From Here”, is brilliant. The piece also gives an idea of how mainstream rock has reinvented itself in the wake of alternative music and has often managed to stand up to the competition posed by the new genre.

On “Trip Hoppin’”, Aerosmith show they are the champions of guitar rock, the lyrics “One more day with you/Trip hoppin’” punctuated by a searing and cutting guitar.

The piece “Sunshine” starts like a Nirvana song and is extraordinarily arranged. It rises to the crescendo that is the chorus beautifully, and its words: “Though she’s finer than a painted rose” ironically sum it up.

Also outstanding is “Under My Skin” for its repetitive and sharp guitar. Track nine, “Outta Your Head”, brings further richness in diversity with its techno-inspired beat. A purring guitar is submerged into a bass line which, when suppressed enough, dies, to release the voice of Tyler singing the words “Outta Your Head”, and such craftiness will ensure the band of more devotees as time progresses.

The melancholic-sounding guitar which opens “Avant Garden” might at first suggest a brooding atmosphere. As this would not be the ideal way of finishing a fine piece of work, the song gradually works itself out of the gloomy setting and ends as a song of triumph, following the preceding narrated turmoil. We don’t expect Aerosmith and Steve Tyler to be defeated, do we?

This is a fine album and what we have come to expect of Aerosmith.