careful listening. The album is a breathtaking work, now rendered with the treatment it richly deserves. If you love music as an artful expression of emotional reflection and you love records, this release is an absolute gift. Spirit of Eden is rated a 10 of 10 for a clean pressing.
– Jeff Elbel
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AEROSMITH Aerosmith( Legendary Expanded Edition) 5xLP( Capitol / UMe)
Aerosmith charted a slow-burning path from local hero status in Boston toward towering rock stardom with the release of its 1973 self-titled debut.“ Dream On” initially saw modest impact outside Boston, but the prototypical power ballad reached # 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1976 following a reissue campaign launched in late 1975. The song remains a classic rock touchstone with an outsized impact today.“ Mama Kin” was another standout and concert staple, and the group’ s cover of Rufus Thomas’ R & B classic“ Walking the Dog” was given a high-octane gutter-rock makeover. Overall, the band’ s debut bristles with feral bar-band energy and blues-based American hard rock that would be shaped into its definitive style over the ensuing albums. The band charges out of the gate with the tough-a s-nails riff rocker“ Make It.” Drummer Joey Kramer and bassist Tom Hamilton lock into a heavy groove, matched by Brad Whitford’ s gritty rhythm. Joe Perry uncorks stylish blues-rock guitar solos with youthful energy. Singer Steven Tyler delivers his full-throated vocals with attitude, rising from a sassy baritone to his trademark scream on“ Dream On.” The song about dreaming until your dreams come true was written by Tyler as a teenager.“ One Way Street” is an uptempo blues boogie underpinned by Tyler’ s rollicking piano.“ Mama Kin” surges with glam-rock riffing, David Woodford’ s bawdy saxophone, and Perry’ s nimble licks. Tyler sings about youthful pushback against expectations of responsibility and keeping in touch with dreams and desires. A major attraction of this set is a robust new mix overseen by the band and veteran Boston-based industry maven Steve Berkowitz. The new sound is
respectful of the original, but decidedly more full-bodied, balanced, rich, clear, and powerful. Harmonies on“ Movin’ Out” are more vibrant. Drums and guitars are more present and hard-hitting. There should be few complaints about tampering with the original release’ s perfection. First, a remastered version of the original mix is included. Second, the new mix is simply Aerosmith sounding more like the titanic heavyweights fans have come to know and love over the last staggering half-century. Whitford’ s licks have a nastier snarl while“ Walking the Dog.” Even the wood flute in the song has more bite. Tyler’ s voice is more lifelike and immediate. It’ s a job well done. The set is augmented with a spirited 1973 hometown set recorded for radio broadcast from Paul’ s Mall. The 10-song performance includes all of Aerosmith, barring“ Dream On.” It’ s too bad about the omission, but that doesn’ t dilute the impact of hearing the band as scrappy up-and-comers. Tyler’ s vocals and harmonica on“ One Way Street” are both vibrant and full of fire. The guitar solos from Perry and Whitford brim with cocky confidence. The band welcomes saxophonist Woodford to the stage while stretching into eight minutes of James Brown’ s“ Mother Popcorn,” set atop Kramer and Hamilton’ s slinky soul groove. Tyler sends set closer“ Train Kept A Rollin’” to“ all you people in radio land.” The music is completed with various session takes and alternates versions. A pair of band jams is the most fun of the extras. Tyler’ s raspy harp duets with Hamilton’ s bass on the improvisational“ Harmonica Bass Jam Jelly.” The freewheeling instrumental“ Joined at the Hip- Aerojam” includes the familiar breakdown riff and drum cadence that would respectively appear on 1975’ s Toys in the Attic in singles“ Sweet Emotion” and“ Walk This Way.”
The set is spread across five platters of 180-gram vinyl in clear, translucent red, and black. Also included is a hardback book brimming with photos and Rick Florino’ s liner notes, which tell Aerosmith’ s origin story through interviews with the band and famous friends, including Dolly Parton and members of Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Black Crowes, Guns’ n’ Roses, and more. The clever box design opens into a pop-up of the album cover photo. A 12” single of“ Dream On” rendered on clear vinyl with inset clouds can be played on the included skyblue slipmat featuring the winged Aerosmith logo. A large poster and sheet of logo stickers round out the fun.( aerosmith. com)
– Jeff Elbel
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