Big Ones

Albumrecensie

Big Ones serves up the hits and nothing but the hits (Aerosmith's excellent debut for Geffen, Done with Mirrors, was conveniently overlooked for this collection). So what's left is some of the finest mainstream hard rock of the late '80s and early '90s; the fruit of one of the most remarkable comebacks in rock & roll history. Unfortunately, there's precious little of the classic Aerosmith raunch; in fact, the two new tracks are the hardest, slinkiest tracks here. Otherwise, the up-tempo tracks bog down in overproduction ("Love in an Elevator"), and the often embarrassingly overwrought power ballads ("Angel" and "Crazy") dominate too much of the album. So what's left? The band's best stab at social commentary ("Janie's Got a Gun"); a sublime, slinky throwaway ("Deuces Are Wild"); deliciously sleazy blues-rock ("Rag Doll" and "[Dude] Looks Like a Lady"); and their best ballads ("What It Takes") and "Cryin'"). [Also available as an expanded edition.]