F.I.N.E Fine!!!!... - Just how this album always makes me feel... I m a youngster at 28 as far as most Aerosmith fans go, but I remember listening to this on tape with my Dad when I was 10 years old and I still get that feeling. And a few years later when Get a Grip came out it was almost no different. By far the BEST Rock and Roll band America has ever produced... I listen to EVERYTHING, from Death Metal to Country, and AEROSMITH still hits the spot. Amazing band... Pun intended.
Comeback? Nope, they CONQUERED - This album was not Aerosmith s comeback album, it was their crowning jewel, where they showed their musicianship, energy, and determination.Nearly every track spawned an awesome single and I spent many teenage nights rocking out to the entire album.This was Aerosmith s best. Ever.
PUMP IT UP!!! - Admittley, I m not an Aerosmith fan (though I m not a fan of any band besides 311). I like their hits and really haven t gotten the urge to crack open even their seventies albums such as Rocks and Toys in the Attic (though I might in the future). As a matter of fact, most of their stuff hasn t really done much to impress me, as a matter of fact, this is my first Aerosmith album, and one where I gave a good listen to.I must say, from what I ve heard, this rocks and is more energetic and more rocking than anything from the 70 s (Back In The Saddle, on a side note, is weaksauce). For one, just check out those drums! The drumming is quite powerful compared to anything else they did, just awesome, pumping, funky, rock and roll drumming! It reminds me of the punch that made John Bonham a legendary drummer. And Steven Tyler is more sleazy and more wild than he was in the 70 s, his voice has definitely changed. There is a wide variety of music styles, ballads, rockers, bluesy songs, and hoedowns! I do enjoy the bits such as the Water Song. There is quite a bit in the variety department, and the album just flows better because of that. Here s an overview of the 10 songs1.Young Lust-A glorious rock and roll song. It doesn t get any better than this!2.F.I.N.E.-See Above3.Love in an Elevator-See Above4.Monkey On My Back-backed by a deep, rocking groove, Steven Tyler pumps it up and sings about getting rid of a drug addiction. Catchy, classic Aerosmith. Complete with some Whoo-hoo s that put michael jackson to shame.5.Janie s Got A Gun-An almost great song with a good intro, but one thing that makes me mad is how they changed He raped a little bitty baby to He jacked a little bitty baby. That just makes me mad, because the subject matter is serious, and why water something like it down for commerical purposes?6.Take Me To the Other Side-Good horns go into a good, but not great poppy rock and roll song. It s one of my least favorites, but it gets the job done and sounds great, with good lyrics.7.My Girl-One of my favorites, with a funky groove so irrestible. Hate if it was taken off.8.Don t Get Mad, Get Even-A somewhat uninteresting chorus, but the verses are deep fried country, heck yeah!9.Hoodoo-Voodoo Medicine Man-I like the bit at the beginning, but it turns into the only poor song on the album.10.What It Takes-A ballad with any of the awful hair metal syndromes. Great jam at the end, more country.Well, one thing I do know, Aerosmith wouldn t create something like this after release, instead getting the help of their producers and other people not in the band to make music a lot more (some helped on this, but it s mostly Aerosmith material). Too bad, though Just Push Play is an awesome song. They wouldn t release an album that s consistent near all the way.9/10
pump rocks - The biggest album of Aerosmith s career? Well, some will argue Toys in the Attic was, but this album was more popular when it was first released because of the big comeback tag that was attached to it by many fans and disc jockeys. And how can I have a problem with that? The band had a severe drug addiction, and they were able to beat that dreadful addiction and make a quality album.All the big hits from the album that you ve heard (plenty of times) are gold, but even the lesser known songs are quite strong, melodically. Steven Tyler s singing is right on the money most of the time, and this album avoids being dominated with all kinds of stinky ballads the band would start making a couple years after this albums release. Worth picking up.
Amongst Aerosmith s best - There is no doubt that Aerosmith s golden years were in the 70 s with gems such as Toys In The Attic, Rocks, Draw The Line and the underrrated Night In The Ruts. Then the decline into drugs began along with the decline in sales. Whilst Pump s predecessor Permanaent Vacation has some excellent songs, it is far more FM friendly, MTV orientated and commercial. Pump is back to basics Aerosmith. It s starts Young Lust. Joey Kramer plays those drums as if his life depended on it and Tom Hamilton s bass thunders away, and Perry and Whitford are in brilliant form. Tyler sings with his usual innuendo laden way. FINE is also a strong song and is followed up with Love In An Elevator, probably the best well known song on an album and brings back memories of Aerosmith s brilliant performance in Hyde Park in July this year. Monkey On My Back is about Aerosmith s well known battle with drugs and is hard hitting, without preaching. Janie s Got A Gun is probably one of Aerosmith s finest moments. Mr Hamilton s briliant bass intro and Tyler s hard hitting lyrics about child abuse easily make this the best song on the album. The next song is the funky The Other Side folowed by the upbeat, sixties sounding, My Girl. I love the song Don t Get Mad Get Even,(my mantra and something we should all aspire to) The African laden Whitford/Tyler comes next and Pump closes off with the most FM sounding song on the album, What It Takes. What I love about this album is that Aerosmith sound so ALIVE and forgive the pun, PUMPed up. The whole group are on top form and a clearly having a fantastic time. You will too if you buy this.