Well, they finally stepped up to the plate and blasted one out of the park.
Yeah, I’m talking about Aerosmith and their new album Honkin’ On Bobo.
Made up entirely of classic blues tracks, the album is a throwback to what the
gangly quintet was churning out in the early 70s. In other words, there are
no wispy power ballads or spoiled trite remotely reliant on baseless innuendo.
This CD is not so much a tribute to the blues as it is the blues getting raked
over the coals, Aerosmith-style. Tyler’s blood-curdling yelps buttressed against
the greasy guitar barrage of Joe Perry and Brad Whitford is as inspirational
on “Baby Please Don’t Go” and “You Gotta Move” as it was on “Train Kept A-Rollin'”
over 30 years ago. Rest assured this isn’t your typical Aerosmith CD of the
late 90s. There are some truly gritty moments wedging the grooves with gobs
of guitar piled on, random shots of harp, and a sort of swampy, hip-shaking
sentiment throughout. In the future, Aerosmith should consider sticking with
the standards and direct schmaltzy songwriters like Desmond Child and Diane
Warren over to Celine Dion and Michael Bolton’s camp.
~ Shawn Perry
