Aerosmith – real rock veterans

It is hardly possible to name a person that is not familiar with Aerosmith’s creative work. The rock band, formed back in the early 1970s and headed by lead vocalist Steven Tyler has firmly occupied the niche of one of the most prominent rock teams in the USA and the whole world, being second only to The Eagles in number of the albums sold. This year Aerosmith makes the expectation of the fifteenth studio album due to be unleashed in spring 2007 more pleasant by releasing an artfully collected compilation of singles Devil’s Got A New Disguise: The Very Best Of , which comes as part of fulfilling the collective’s contract with Sony Music/Columbia Records. The band has already released a certain number of such records, and still each of them differed from the others in this or that way. Devil’s Got A New Disguise: The Very Best Of follows Aerosmith’s career from the very beginning, providing the opportunity to listen both older and more recent songs and is going to surprise the fans with a two new works and some other interesting unexpected moments. With its status of real rock veterans Aerosmith never fail to please its fans.

A real time traveling with Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best Of

It is impossible to deny that Aerosmith has created so many successful songs during more than three decades of its career that an 18-track album cannot include all of them. Yet when recording Devil’s Got A New Disguise: The Best Of the band has obviously had a purpose other than simply compiling its best works. To be more specific, it is rather summing-up. Lyrical opener, legendary composition Dream On, one of Aerosmith’s first singles, throws the listeners as far back as the early 70s and starts a real time traveling. Each following track takes the us further through the band’s best and hard times. Energetic song Train Kept A Rollin’ with amusing solos by guitarist Joe Perry, hummable and at the same time a somewhat heavy composition Sweet Emotion and complicated, almost jazzy track Last Child all witness the band’s progress and are characterised by the sounding that made Aerosmith so distinguished on the world rock-scene. The new version of Walk This Way recorded with Run-DMC is remarkable for a more distinct rhythm which lets to see the song at a different angle; the same can be said about the composition that brought the band one of its Grammies, I Don't Want To Miss A Thing: here its refined with new pop elements. Songs like Cryin’, Crazy, Livin’ On The Edge and Jaded need no presentation at all, being probably known to everybody in the world, while the two compositions at the end of the album are absolutely new, though they have been written quite a time ago. They are a love ballad with romantic calm melody, refined by harmonica, Sudona Sunrise not included in album Pump and a real rock track Devil's Got A New Disguise from Get A Grip.

Intermediary between the past and the future

The work of Aerosmith inspires the musicians all over the world. The band has a loyal fan base that includes last three generations and counts over a million of people. Unfortunately, this year has not been to kind to the band members: Steven Tyler has been operated on his throat and bassist Tom Hamilton is now recovering from his treatment on throat cancer. Besides, Aerosmith’s relations with the record label have worsened lately. Luckily, all these troubles have not prevented them from recording a great album, on which a hit is followed by a hit. With its summarizing character, Devil's Got A New Disguise: The Best Of Aerosmith draws the line after quite unstable times and prepares the fans for a brand new album, that is going to start a new chapter in Aerosmith’s creative work. The band turns 35 in the foreseeable future, and we can probably expect more surprises from the collective, that has long been recognized the icon of the world music culture. Aerosmith’s time is not yet through, and this compilation is only an intermediary between the past and the future. Devil's Got A New Disguise: The Best Of Aerosmith is going to adorn any collection of rock music and each time you hear it, the history is going to manifest before you.

31.10.2006