This album, and the single with Run DMC of Walk This Way, were responsible for the rebirth of America’s favourite rock band. After the split with Joe Perry, who went off to do his solo project, Tyler carried on with Aerosmith. Both failed to live up to previous glories so they buried their respective hatchets and managed to get a new deal with Geffen.
The first album of the comeback was Done With Mirrors. It’s not a bad album at all, it just didn’t sell a whole bunch. So this album became a do-or-die moment. There was an introduction of outside writers, namely Desmond Child, Jim Vallance, and Holly Knight that injected some life into the songs. It seemed to work as Rag Doll, the amazing Dude Looks Like A Lady, and Angel, were all huge hits for the band and Aerosmith’s rebirth was complete.
There are still nods to the Aerosmith of old song wise with Girl Keeps Coming Apart, which was a Tyler/Perry composition and it’s one of my favourites from the album. It was good to have them back because as a live act they are pure entertainment, and the album after this (Pump) was even more successful. Great record!
9.5/10 from The Grooveman.
