After the Xmas lull, I'll try and get some more reviews written before I go to Goa in Feb!!!
After the Xmas lull, I'll try and get some more reviews written before I go to Goa in Feb!!!
Member since:22.10.2003
Reviews:23
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Pump - Aerosmith (1989)
Geffen Records, produced by Bruce Fairburn
Aerosmith are:-
Steven Tyler (vox) Joe Perry (guit) Tom Hamilton (bass) Brad Whitford(guit) Joey Kramer (drums)
Track Listing -
Young Lust F.I.N.E. Love in an Elevator Monkey on my Back Janie's Got a Gun Dulcimer Stomp Other Side My Girl Don't Get Mad, Get Even Voodoo Medicine Man What it Takes
Pump was the 3rd album by Boston rockers Aerosmith to be released on the Geffen record label, following on from the success of 1987's 'Permanent Vacation'.
After several years in the doldrums in the early 80's, the commercial success of Permanent Vacation brought Aerosmith into the limelight, but Pump brought them right back to the top of the Rock'n'Roll stack.
Starting with the straight up Hard Rock tune 'Young Lust' the listener is given no time to recover, as they are sent into the slower, grindier F.I.N.E. . Tylers love for innuendo and sexiness comes to the fore here as sings about having 'the right key baby, but the wrong keyhole'. The listener finally gets a rest as the intro to Love in an Elevator (Tyler talking to a lift attendant) leads to the first riff of the most instantly recognisable song on the album.
Love in an Elevator was a huge song for Aerosmith and they had their best UK singles chart success (no 13) with this tune in Sept '89. The album track contains an extended guitar solo compared to the single.
The album then gets serious with 'Monkey on my Back', which harks back to the time when both Tyler and Perry were seriously into drugs (the cause of their decline in the early 80's). The mysterious, short Water Song, provides the intro to Janie's Got a Gun.
Janie's Got A Gun won MTV's best video award, and deals with the difficult subject of child abuse - handled brilliantly by Tylers lyrics and tone, a far cry from the brash screaming blues rock he is so famous for.
The listener is given time to reflect on this song while taking in the instrumental number 'Dulcimer Stomp' - which you've guessed it - features a Dulcimer! Tyler is an all round musician, and loves bringing interesting and sometimes bizarre instruments into rock music. Following this, it's back to the rock'n'roll with 'The Other Side', and 'My Girl' which crecendo's to silence.
Enter 'Don't Get Mad, Get Even'. This is a bluesy grind with a catchy chorus and serves to slow the tempo down into 'Voodoo Medicine Man'. Voodoo Medicine Man opens with Didgeredoo's and tribal rhythms and is by far the most 'original' song on the album. The mix of tribal and rock instruments really work and Tylers vocals are superb and a finishing crescendo leads to a seconds silence leading to probably the best ballad Aerosmith have produced -'What it Takes'. Forget 'Cryin', 'Angel' and 'Crazy' - this is the ballad to end all ballads and Tyler REALLY means it, and though personally I would never end a rock album with a ballad, this really works.
As a unit Pump is an eclectic mix of sounds and styles, which seems to give it a style all of its own compared with its peers.
Go on - have a listen and enjoy!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Accessible heavy rock that still manages to contain the undiluted essence of the band Disadvantages: One or two duff tracks, and sexist (though tongue-in-cheek) lyrics.
Advantages: Accessible heavy rock that still manages to contain the undiluted essence of the band Disadvantages: One or two duff tracks, and sexist (though tongue-in-cheek) lyrics.