Aerosmith (b.1973) are being inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame this month. This should come as no surprise to anyone. They should have been made honorary members the moment they were so collectively wasted that they once started a gig with a song they normally finished with, thought they'd done an entire show, and walked off stage. So this, their first album in four years, should be a triumphant celebration of a band that are not only still alive after years of abuse, but still active.
The cover to 'Just Push Play' raises fears: it seems wilfully modern- all garish pinks, featuring a chrome figure in a Monroe pose. One thing Aerosmith really aren't, and surely they must know this, is contemporary. And neither should they be. They're a rock n roll band. What's modern about that?
The title track, too, seems slightly odd and laboured, and features an awkward sounding rap. Aerosmith, though, are a marvellous singles band, and the album really picks up a pace with the appearance of recent hit, the thoroughly likeable 'Jaded'. They are, too, masters of that most holy thing, the Rock Ballad. And whilst it's no 'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing' , 'Fly Away From Here' provides us with a perfect excuse to get drunk and tearful and sing along to it's soaring chorus (how does it go? Oh well, you know, "Fly-eye away-ah from here-ah", that sort of thing). 'Luv Lies' should satisfy any further cravings in this vein.
Aerosmith are at their best when they forget the pretences of including modern sounds or Eastern Influences (as in opener 'Beyond Beautiful') and when they just rock out. 'Trip Hoppin', thankfully isn't an ill-advised Aerosmith do Massive Attack, but a brass-fuelled, rollicking rock tune.
'Sunshine' sees the legendary Steven Tyler giving us an insight into his rock past: "I sold my soul for a one night stand, I followed Alice into Wonderland", before blowing his cool over a woman called Sunshine and proceeding to warble on about her being "finer than a painted rose".
Elsewhere we get a moment of true hilarity with 'Outta Your Head', which features another rap and even some scratching. Suppose you could say they've earnt the right, thanks to their Run DMC collaboration back in 1987.
There is also a song here called 'Avant Garden' (sounds like a Savage Garden experimental concept album. What a thought.) Featuring Steven's actress daughter Liv Tyler on "whispers", like much of the rest of this album, it's fun but hardly groundbreaking.
Fans of Aerosmith, and fans of good old Rock Music will love it.
