"Aerosmith - Honkin' On Bobo"

When you think of Aerosmith, you don't usually think of the blues. Sleazy, slinky lust, sure; huge riffs and vocal histrionics, of course; but they're not really a blues band.

That's what makes Honkin' on Bobo (aside from the title) such a strange affair--it's a series of blues covers done in Aerosmith's style. When most bands or musicians play the blues--the Rolling Stones or Eric Clapton, for instance--it's fairly straightforward and traditional. There is a sort of reverence to their interpretations, which are really less interpretations and more homages or genre exercises.

Aerosmith doesn't understand reverence, though, except in terms of being irreverent. When they play the blues, they play it like a rock and roll song--hard, fast, loose, gritty, sleazy, and fun. Above all, Aerosmith's best stuff has always been fun and bouncy--there's a joy in their lust and juvenile exuberance. And this album is all about having fun with the songs--you can almost hear Steven Tyler's grin as he yelps, yowls, and growls his way though these cuts. Joe Perry's guitar cuts through the mix like a buzzsaw, tearing at the songs and leaving nothing unchanged. These songs are uncompromising in their attack, and the album is stronger for it.

So this isn't really a blues album per se. It's inspired by the blues, it's hopped up on methamphetamines and booze and fast women, and it rocks hard, harder than any of Aerosmith's regular albums in about a decade. This is Aerosmith cutting loose and having fun, and we all get to benefit from it.

~chuck

Song of the Moment: Aerosmith, "Baby Please Don't Go"