Gems - Aerosmith > Reviews > Gems that sparkle.

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	Great non hit tracks
Disadvantages:	A lot of great songs missing

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Gems is a comilation of tracks that are not "hits", however, these are all still great tracks that deserve to be heard.

Steven Tyler: Vocals.
Joe perry/Jimmy Crespo/ Brad Whitford: Guitars
Joey Kramer: Percussion and drums.
Tom Hamilton: Bass

Tracks include:

1: Rats In the cellar
2: Lick and a promise
3: Chip away at the stone
4: No Surprize
5: Mama Kin
6: Adam's apple
7: Nobody's fault
8: Round and round
9: Critical Mass
10: Lord of the thighs
11: Jailtbait
12: Train kept a rollin

The compilation starts with the sister song to "Toys in the attic" from the album of the same name. This track being "Rats in the cellar". This is a fast rocker with lots of bass and quick guitar playing, accompanied by Tyler's fast singing.
A great start to the album.

Lick and a promise, a song about going out there on stage and winning an audience. It has a "live" feel with the roaring crowd, as they join in with the chorus. Another great track.

Chip away at the stone is a nice slower track, folowed by "No Surprize", a song basically saying how Aerosmith got their record deal and became a band. It's a great song.

Then, we hear Mama Kin, one of Aerosmith's more famous songs. Great guitar playing and catchy lyrics.

Adam's apple, is all about Tyler's thoughts of UFOs, and how the world was created. A slower song. Tyler gives out some screams with the lines: "It was love at first bite!!"

Nobody's fault is a song regarding world catastrophes such as earthquakes. It's a great, dark feelig rock song, and is rightlhy followed by the equally dark track "Round and round". This track shows Aerosmith's influence by Led Zepplin.

Critical Mass is a track full of bouncy bass, drums and guitars as well as catchy lyrics. It is also backed up by a piano in the background.

Lord of the thighs is a classic track from the 'get your wings' album. This has got to be one of the best tracks on this album of non hits.

Jailbait is a fast rocker, and Jimmy Crespo plays the lead guitar (Joe Perry had left the band at this point). A great track, and Tyler's singing is great.

Train Kept a rollin is a cover song, which starts of kind of slow. However, half way through we get drums and guitars to sound like a charging train, which then knocks us in to a fast sped up variation of the first half of the song.

 

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