Aerosmith
Toys In The Attic (1975)
Steven Tyler-Lead Vocals
Joe Perry-Guitars, Backing Vocals
Brad Whitford-Guitars
Tom Hamilton-Bass, Backing Vocals
Joey Kramer- Drums, Percussion
Aerosmith was formed in 1970 by lead singer Steven Tyler when meeting up with Joe Perry while cutting his lawn in Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire. Joe Perry was in a band with good friend Tom Hamilton who played bass in "The Jam Band" who often played at the same club, The Barn, as many of Steven Tyler's bands had played. Steven saw something special in Joe and Tom and recruited them for a band with himself, friend and guitarist Ray Tabano, and eventually a young drummer named Joey Kramer. After a good amount of gigs throughout 1970 and 1971 the band finally found the guts to kick out tough-guy Ray Tabano becasue of lack of skills and just because they were all scared to death of him. A new guitarist Brad Whitford was found who was very talented and went to school for music. The band recorded their first, self-titled album in two weeks and was released in 1973 and the only single off the album "Dream On" went nowhere on the charts. Their second album "Get Your Wings" went gold fast but still wasn't what they were looking for. And then there was Toys In The Attic.
Toys In The Attic is Aerosmith's third studio album and is the album that blasted them into stardom. It includes the funky James Brown-ish tune "Walk This Way" and the bass line that started a craze in "Sweet Emotion." Those are two of Aerosmith's most well known hits but in no way their only.
1. Toys In The Attic (Tyler, Perry)
This uptempo rock and roll song is all about not knowing whats going on in their heads. This song has great guitar riffs and as usual an awesome solo. A bunch of the same lyrics are repeated throughout the song but it's still a nice, energetic song to get things started with. 4/5
2. Uncle Salty (Tyler, Hamilton)
Sort of like the prelude to Janie's Got A Gun, lyricwise at least. The music is very mellow for the most part until the guitar solo where things get a little more intense and the song fades out with Steven singing the words, "Oh, it's a sunny day outside my winow." 4/5
3. Adam's Apple (Tyler, Perry)
This is said to be one of Aerosmith's most well-put together songs. According to Steven Tyler it's all about UFO's and things they didn't know about. Theres amazing lyrics in this song to say the least as well as some of the best guitar work on the album. 4.5/5
4. Walk This Way (Tyler, Perry)
This is really a historic song with the main riffs written by Joe Perry and then the first set of lyrics for this song was lost so Steven was under extreme pressure to write the lyrics for this song. The name comes from a line in the film "Young Frankenstein" which the band caught a late-night showing of while in the middle of recording the album. The lyrics are all about being a teenager and the first times with that chick you've been after for the longest time. The music is very funky with, unsurprisingly, amazing solos. 4/5
5. Big Ten-Inch Record (Weismantel)
This is the worst song on the album in my opinion. It somehow found it's way onto the latest greatest hits compilation and also finds it's way onto the radio sometimes. It's a cover of a 1930's song which is very short, just over 2 minutes long. It's not TERRIBLE but it's definitely not very nice to listen to if you like the good old Aerosmith. 2/5
6. Sweet Emotion (Tyler, Hamilton)
This song is propelled by a bass line which Tom had in the Get Your Wings sessions and showed Steven but Steven didn't like until a year later. Again, amazing guitar work with a great outro guitar solo and a talk box used during the chorus and intro. One verse it devoted to Joe Perry's then wife, Elyssa, whom Steven hated with a passion. 4/5
7. No More No More (Tyler, Perry)
A song about being in a rock and roll band. It starts off with a beautiful acoustic riff then kicks off into some straightforward rock and roll, returning to the acoustic riff occaisionally for a beautiful chorus. 4.5/5
8. Round And Round (Tyler, Whitford)
The heaviest song on the album, the riffs were written by Brad Whitford with the lyrics by Steven as usual. I'm really not sure what the song is about the music is really good and the vocals have some sort of effect on them which makes the song sound very different from any other Aerosmith song. 3.5/5
9. You See Me Crying (Tyler, Solomon)
The end of the album is really an epic ending. This is an amazing song starts off with Steven playing the piano and eventually the rest comes in, including a 101 peice orchestra. This song is co-written with Tyler's former bandmate from The Chain Reaction, The Chain, and other, Don Solomon (he played the keyboard in those bands). The lyrics sound very emotion and are sung very emotional. The song starts off with the lyrics, "You see me cry/Don't let it get you down/You see me cry/Back to the lost and found." And as the song proceeds, the bridge encompanies these lyrics "You see my crying/Please say you'll still around/And I got to be your lover honey let me take you to town/And I'll show you everything I know/And I'll never ever let you down/'Cause my love is like a merry go 'round." All in all it's just a killer ballad, something Aerosmith is known for. 5/5
PROS:
+Amazing Guitar work in every song
+Great Lyrics
+Great Vocals
+Variety in the style of the songs
CONS:
-Big Ten Inch Record
Favorite Songs:
-You See Me Crying
-Adam's Apple
-Walk This Way
-No More No More
This album really doesn't have many weak spots and with the exception of Big Ten Inch Record it is very enjoyable throughout. This is the album that got Aerosmith on the map and after listening to it there's no question why. While Joe Perry and Brad Whitford outdid theirselves on this album, Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton held up one of the most solid rhythm sections in rock and roll. And of course, Steven Tyler delivered with the great lyrics and stunning vocals.
OVERALL: 4/5
