Random Music Review: Aerosmith

It's the age old question: is it better to burn out or fade away?  Be The Beatles or the Rolling Stones?

The story of Aerosmith is nothing new.  A band that was once great, then larger than life, then slowly descended into lame, boring, marginality.  They used to sing about banging ladies in an elevator, now they have a so-so roller coaster in Disney World (it's okay, but like love in an elevator, over much too fast).  

Steven Tyler used to be the model rock star.  Howling, untouchable, with the occasional drug problem.  Then he became a gracefully aging woman sitting next to J-Lo on American Idol.

J-Lo can only pray she looks that good when she's 65.

Aerosmith fans still worship the band while also being convinced that they are perpetually snubbed by the rock gods and are the Rodney Dangerfields of rock n' roll.  Are they right?  Well, it depends which era of 'Smith you look at.

Peak of Their Quality: Toys in the Attic (1975)

Like early Scorcese, Aerosmith was largely overlooked during their greatest years in the mid-late 70s.  They would go on to greater success but they'd never match the musician ship and raw energy of their early classics, "Dream On", "Back in the Saddle" and "Sweet Emotion".  That energy would inspire many a future rocker including legendary rock band: Guns N' Roses.  Guns idolized Aerosmith, and much of their early musical stylings are modeled after 1970's Aerosmith.  They would later far surpass their 70s fame, but never again reclaim the quality.

Peak of Their Fame: Get a Grip (1993)

The band was churning out radio hits like babies from a catholic maternity ward in the 80s.  Four years made the gap between Aerosmith's pinnacle of success between 89's Pump and 93's Get a Grip.  Both spawned a slew of radio hits and while there is little question which was the better album (Pump, which also had one of the band's best songs "Janie's Got a Gun"), success is built up like a garbage heap and Get a Grip tops it off.  Also, "Cryin" played a very important role in my developmental years with the 17-year-old daughter of Tyler performing a strip tease for Alicia Silverstone in what is still a pretty risque music video to this day.

Peak of Their Hubris: Armegeddon (1998)

Michael Bay doesn't just ruin movies.

The downfall of Aerosmith began with one of their biggest hits.  While I personally always begrudged the existence of "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" for it's topping the Goo Goo Doll's "Iris" (My first love in music) there was no denying it was everywhere.  EVERYWHERE, like on my mom's easy-listening radio station light 100.5 WRCH everywhere.  It's not a terrible song, but the full orchestra and sheer schmaltzy-ness of it all were signs of things to come.  It wasn't long before they were emploring us to "Just Push Play" and everything was "Jaded".  Blech.

In the end, I paraphrase Stannis Baratheon:  Love them for the band they were, not the band they became.  Underrated (early career)  Rated Right (prime years) Overrated (Late Career).

J. Geils Band

Alright kiddos, I have some very important information that you need to be made aware of.  Lori Beth Denberg would describe it as "Vital Information."  It's a little frustrating, honestly, because I shouldn't need to tell you this.  You should know.  All of you should have been explained this at a very young age before you knew anything about me, or Rated Wrong, or before you knew that Al Gore even invented the Internet.

It's about the J. Geils Band.

Important fact: this album will teach you that J. Geils was actually the band's guitarist.

Now, I know what you're thinking - Don't think I don't - because I do.

You're thinking, "But, oh great wise man, J. Geils Band?  The "Centerfold" guys?  You seriously have an opinion?"

And the answer to your query is, YES.  A thousand times, yes, I do.  Because it just so happens that The J. Geils Band is one of the most underappreciated rock bands of the last 50 years.  More specifically, The J. Geils Band and their 1976 live album Blow Your Face Out.

She has something important he NEEDS to tell you.

Alright, it is true that their primary legacy as an 80s pop rock band is well deserved.  "Centerfold" and "Freeze Frame" are fun songs, but they're not going to change anyone's life.  In fact, their entire collection of studio albums are pretty disposable.

Much like how Doc Gooden built his legacy on one incredible season, J. Geils Band existed for one perfect album.

"South Side Shuffle", "Chimes", "Where Did Our Love Go?".  How on earth this version of "(Ain't Nothin' but A) House Party" has not become a college sing along equal to "Shout" is one of the great mysteries of the universe.

If you know one song from it, it's probably THIS live version of "Musta Got Lost", which isn't bad, but it's trageically not even one of the three best tracks on the album.

Come into the light, people.  Leave the cave of ignorance.

Still on the fence?  Okay.  Did you know there's someone in J. Geils Band who plays the harmonica, and ONLY the harmonica?  (AND his name is Magic Dick and he looks like THIS!)

Boom.

Seriously, Blow Your Face Out, it is one of the most transcendent live albums of all time.  UNDERRATED!

Gentlemen's DisAgreement - July 31st - 2014

Look out!  It's another episode of the Gentlemen's DisAgreement podcast!

In this episode Ryan Keough joins me to discuss the merits of A.V. Club Undercover's covers as well as what really are the greatest Saturday morning cartoons of our collective childhood.

0:00 - A.V. Club talk

13:50 - Cartoons

53:30 - Your Opinions!

Gentlemen's DisAgreement 7/31/2014 CLICK HERE!