Aerosmith - Rocks

They'd soon crash, and hard, thanks to their own excesses. But Rocks captures Aerosmith at a crazily driven peak of creativity; anyone who heard it and continued to dismiss them as mere Stones clones was just being willful. This is blues rock cranked up to '70s stadium level, the sound of the Trans Am, or maybe the Porsches several of these guys (surprisingly) remember driving. The psychic battering they would succumb to on the next year's Draw the Line is foreshadowed in Joe Perry's "Combination," but he and Steven Tyler also celebrate the rock-star mythos on "Lick and a Promise." The party-fueled tension, the tension-fueled party. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com essential recording

 ROCKS is the only AEROSMITH album that matters.
I know AMAZON hates one sentence reviews, but sorry: ROCKS is the only AEROSMITH album that matters. Get me? They peaked here. It ended here. If you don't own and love this album you are NOT an Aerosmith fan. "Back in the Saddle Again" is one of the most heartfelt stabs with smack-down bass and royal riff guitar and throbbing drums you will ever hear. Get.This.Reecord. May 4, 2008

 A Perfect Title To Describe The Music Within
Wow! This album is just incredible, full of hooks & great sounds and dripping with an edgy menace this music feels lived in, there is no posing here. Tales of sex, drugs & rock & roll are the order of the day and it doesn't disappoint for a second. Starting with the thunderous six string bass of 'Back In The Saddle' thru the funk rock strut of 'Last Child' to the thrilling 'Rats In The Cellar' this album is Aerosmith at their absolute peak. 'Combination' is a gloriously sleazy ode to rock & roll success & the vices associated with it. 'Sick As A Dog' is impossibly catchy with some of the band's best guitar work, 'Nobody's Fault' has a Zeppelin-esque heavyness to it that thrills before the rifftastic 'Get The Lead Out' & the supercharged 'Lick And A Promise'. The band then closes out this infinitely listenable album with one of their best ballads, 'Home Tonight'. An all time rock and roll classic, "Rocks" is my favorite Aerosmith album. March 30, 2008

 tyler and the boys
What WAS I thinking claiming Rocks to be Aerosmith's masterpiece? The album has too many flaws for any kind of "masterpiece" talk to be thrown around. How can an album be popular without any good guitar riffs, unmemorable vocal melodies and uninspiring drum work? Even Steven Tyler doesn't seem to care whenever he opens his mouth. His vocal work on tracks like "Combination" and "Nobody's Fault" absolutely stink. A very annoying high pitched sound that was never a problem on any Aerosmith album before this one. I don't know if he was trying a new style or just didn't care. It was probably the drugs getting the best of him. Let's not even mention the god awful ballad that closes the album.

Not all the songs should be avoided though. Besides the two big memorable hits that open the album, you have "Rats in the Cellar" which is an AWESOME track. Maybe one of the fastest songs I've ever heard the band do, and it positively rules. Side two has some good moments, but it's not really an album worth owning. March 30, 2008

 Rock n' Roll
Love this record!!! It was one of my very first l.p.s I bought when I was young. This is Aerosmith at the height of their powers. Back in the Saddle again!!! You don't see this level of songwriting in rock anymore. Highly recommended. March 14, 2008

 Aeronsmiff
Aerosmith was gargantuan at this time. Stadiums. If you were around then, you know that everyone had the first 4 albums. Classics all. If you don't know or think aerosmith is some newer band, you must pick up their first 4 records to "get it". Timeless. February 25, 2008

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