By 1976, Aerosmith was carving a path to resounding success; in 1975, they had released ‘”Toys In The Attic”, one of their most acclaimed works by various critics over the years. The band had a thirst for improving their sound, consistently releasing an album each year while maintaining their respective tours, a situation that has drastically changed today, considering their last album release was in 2012.
Their ambition to be one of the greatest rock bands drove them to gradually perfect their riffs, vocals, and rhythms. ‘Rocks’ attains this optimally, to the extent that it has influenced giants of the genre like Slash, who confessed that this album is what inspired him to play the guitar.
What can we listen to?
There’s a complete coherence between Steven Tyler’s impressive vocals and the enjoyable guitars of Brad Whitford and Joe Perry. In essence, it’s a very fun album, an iconic hallmark of the band with past riffs like “Walk This Way.” Such arrangements can be heard in songs like “Last Child” or “Get The Lead Out,” where guitars and vocals combine to create different rhythmic patterns a style that few bands were embracing at that time, becoming Aerosmith’s signature.
The album can be heavy, as in songs like “Rats In The Cellar,” dark as in “Nobody’s Fault,” and sentimental as in “Home Tonight.” The combination of textures is excellent throughout the album; at no point does it become tedious or dull. On the contrary, it keeps the listener expectant for what’s next. The order of the songs is perfect, providing a journey through various passages intentionally created differently.
We hear Steven Tyler (Vocalist) at one of his peak moments, with his characteristic falsettos pushed to the maximum in songs like “Back In The Saddle.” His voice can be as melodic as it is piercing, positioning him as one of the most authentic vocalists in the scene. Much of Aerosmith’s success lies in their vocal work, and even to this day, there’s no vocalist with a similar style.
Its most energetic album
The energy transmitted by the album is unique, exuding the spirit of rock at its peak. From our perspective, it was the album that solidified them as the legendary band they are today.
‘Rocks’ reflects the “Rockstar” lifestyle the band led back then: live performances full of fervor, nights of partying, excesses, speed, and consequently, a lot of hard work and success. Rock for bands like Aerosmith was a lucrative business that allowed them to live a life of luxury and fame; record sales, show tickets, and merchandise were being sold, and record labels had significant budgets for producing albums, which motivated rock bands to create even better works.
The production is quintessential to the ’70s subdued yet impactful, without much adornment or excessive effects, just how rock was supposed to be at that time: raw and genuine.
A perfect lineup
Aerosmith recorded ‘Rocks’ with a flawless lineup that remains intact today: Steven Tyler with an iconic voice, also playing the piano and harmonica; Joe Perry, the band’s secondary frontman, with a neo-blues style highly influential among contemporary rock guitarists; Brad Whitford, a highly versatile guitarist who serves both as a rhythm and lead guitarist (from our standpoint, even more proficient than Joe Perry); and to top it off, a rhythmic foundation featuring Tom Hamilton on bass and Joey Kramer on drums.
‘Rocks’ encapsulates the mid-’70s era of rock; during its time, it was remarkably pioneering in every sense, celebrating partying, energy, speed, rebellion, and the constant evolution of a musical genre.
Personally, this album signifies a special moment in our lives, as we’ve been fans of Aerosmith for several years now. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments!
