Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler has released his debut solo album ‘We’re All Somebody from’ Somewhere’ and it is actually quite a gem to this reviewer whose rocking, started in the 70's. Not released with any great hoopla, the music on the record speaks for itself. Having lived with the record for a week, it’s been a staple in the car with the sunshine out to accompany the listening.
Opener ‘My Own Worst Enemy’ is a song of raw emotions and with a superb guitar solo at the end (that fades too soon), it’s a great start to the record.
Tyler co-produced the 15-track album alongside T-Bone Burnett and Dann Huff and was based in Nashville last spring to work on the project. He is since quoted as saying “Country music is the new Rock ‘n Roll.”
This album is about far more than country though. His 19-city solo U.S. tour, is called ‘Steven Tyler’s Out on a Limb’ and that’s what the album is, one of the great rock n’ roll voices playing the songs he wants to outside of ‘the band’ format, just not sure what took him so long.
The funk comes in on the title track whilst, it’s an industrial vibe on ‘Hold On (won’t let go)’ and then the ballad ‘It Ain’t Easy’ and a steel guitar on a highway song, ‘Love is Your Name’ then, it’s a pop song with ‘I make my Own Sunshine’.
‘Gypsy Girl’ could well be the first song termed ‘Country’ on the record. Indeed it’s a record of many styles, many songs and if you love Aerosmith, then there is already a loving fan-base for this record, but also, as a stand-alone album it certainly holds it’s own as a, top down on the car, highway driving record!
It’s not a record trying to re-invent the wheel, it’s just a guy still plying his trade all these years down the road and still having a good time and yes, the album includes a new version of 'Janie's got a Gun'
Pete
9/11
