Say what you will about Aerosmith’s current state–the endless greatest-hits records, the hired-gun balladry, the choice of Motley Crue as a touring partner–but the band’s 1976 album Rocks is still pretty much unimpeachable back-to-front. It’s equal parts sleazy and tense, with the murky, creepy “Nobody’s Fault” and “Last Child” being our particular favorites. (Note to ID3-tag purists: Our Record World-purchased cassette of Rocks was replaced by an LP when we ditched our tape player, so yes, these two songs are ripped from the 1991 three-disc set Pandora’s Box, which came out about nine Aerosmith retrospectives ago.)
Aerosmith – Nobody’s Fault [MP3, link expired]
Aerosmith – Last Child [MP3, link expired]
BEST. AEROSMITH. ALBUM. EVER.
This is how you start the weekend. This thing is nigh flawless. “Rats in the Cellar” destroys anything from their Geffen years. The Texxas Jam ’78 version smokes.
When I make a desert island disc top ten, some titles vary depending on my mood. This album, though, is always in my top ten. Such mean riffs, and one of the best sounding kick drums ever recorded. I love “Nobody’s Fault” but would have posted “Combination” as well. “Last Child” is great but now every time I hear it I think of how Neil Young borrowed its riff for “Let’s Roll.”
“Back in the Saddle” is, of course, teh shit, and I also really dig “Combination.” Is that the only Aero tune Perry wrote solo?
Aerosmith came to define “suck” when they got sober and started using all those fucking song doctors.
Can I get some love for my fav, “Toys in the Attic?” Though I think their best song may be “Train Kept A Rollin’” That riff is just dirty.
Yep. From top to bottom, front to back, and in just about every other direction this album is a skip-no-track-SEARING MASTERWORK. I love how meatheads (no offense, Janine) still chime in with their “Toys In The Attic…Walk This Way…” bollocks. This album is proof positive that the drugs DO work–because no one in their right mind comes up with this beautiful shit!
This is easily their best album! In order to gain some creditability on the last tour, the band asked the fans to vote on what album they would like to hear them play live, disappointingly, they chose “Get Your Wings”!? It’s great, and so is “Toys”, but “Rocks” is their grittiest, dirtiest, masterpiece(and their last).
If you don’t want me to take offense, don’t call me a meathead for differing in opinion. As if liking “Rocks” best is such an original stance. Anywho, “Toys in the Attic” has the funnest song in their whole catalog to play on guitar: “Toys in the Attic.” So there you go…