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Aerosmith - Honkin' On Bobo |
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05 August 2005 |
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Aerosmith
Honkin' On Bobo (Columbia)
1976.
That was the year of the last Aerosmith release that I actually liked (and I still adore Rocks and the three before it). Since then, I've just sort of toyed with the idea of liking Aerosmith. You know what I mean. I'm talking about seeing a commercial or a video and saying, "Ahhh. Good ol' Aerosmith".
Well, that changes a bit with Honkin' On Bobo - a collection of covers that showcases the band's bluesier side (which we all know existed right? "I Ain't Got You" from Live Bootleg?). One can't claim that there's much that is "authentic" on Honkin' On Bobo as almost every song has been "Aerosmith-ified" closer to good old hard rock, but there's plenty of good listening here. Aerosmith present their takes on numbers that are better known, in many cases already taken on by other rocks bands. "Roadrunner", "Eyesight To The Blind" and "You Gotta Move" are but a few in this category. While points are lost for originality, points have to be given for the wild and rowdy spin the band puts on such tunes.
Aerosmith contribute one sole original here, and it proves to be the weakest song in the set, "The Grind". And when it comes to special guest support, I have to admit that Tracy Bonham steals the show with her vocal (with Joe Perry actually) on "Back Back Train" and her terrific wailing on "Jesus On The Mainline". An unlikely collaboration perhaps, but it works beautifully.
With Aerosmith not being responsible for the CD's finest hour, and being responsible for it's lowest point, I'm not necessarily converted to an opinion that the band is "back". But by knowing that they can give these tunes a shot in the arm by just being Aerosmith makes Honkin' On Bobo worth repeated listening.
7.0 |
