Devil's Got a New Disguise - The Very Best of Aerosmith

iTunes Review

This is a concise collection of Aerosmith’s career up to 2002. Only the group’s most famous and well-received songs are present in their official versions, with the lone exception being the Run-DMC-Aerosmith duet on “Walk This Way” being here instead of the original. The power ballad “Sedona Sunrise” and the funky “Devil’s Got a New Disguise” were then new-studio recordings unavailable elsewhere, which should appeal to collectors. However, the major appeal here is how well the songs flow like one massive jukebox. From the legendary “Dream On” through the buckling “Back In the Saddle” to the ominous pop chime of “Janie’s Got a Gun,” the entire album represents some of the catchiest and most popular hard rock of three decades. Singer Steven Tyler had all his talents in place from the beginning as the fast-talkin’ sass of “Mama Kin” illustrates, while guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford prove to be one of the best tag-team lead to rhythm players in the hard rock game.