Band:	Aerosmith
Album:	Aerosmith
Style:	Hard rock, Blues rock
Release date:	January 05, 1973
A review by:	omne metallum

01. Make It
02. Somebody
03. Dream On
04. One Way Street
05. Mama Kin
06. Write Me A Letter
07. Movin' Out
08. Walkin' The Dog [Rufus Thomas cover]

And so, the legend begins.

Aerosmith was the first entry in the legendary discography that would later include the genre-defining albums Toys In The Attic and Rocks and latter-day blockbusters such as Pump. It is interesting to hear where the band started to where they are now, atop the mountain that they proselytised about on "Dream On"; from humble beginnings, the band kicked off a career that would change rock music forever.

Aerosmith is very much a product of its time; a debut album on a shoestring budget in 1973 is going to very much sound its age nearly 50 years later. In hindsight you can hear shoots of growth and the first sketches of the finished work we have all these years later. Here you have a raw and basic album that is so seeped in blues rock that you could mistake it for a Smurf; while that isn't a bad thing, it is clear that the band's roots are still very visible at this point in their careers.

The first thing you will notice once the songs kick in is that Tyler sounds completely different to what he would become; contorting his voice to sound more soulful and deep, he is imitating blues greats rather than being himself (save the odd screech here and there). It isn't a bad thing as such, but upon your first few listens you will have a wry smile hearing him on songs like "One Way Street", where he fluctuates between his self-imposed style here before breaking out into the sound he is best known for now.

The production is very restrained and lacking in power; it gives the songs a feeling of timidity and lacking self-confidence. Added with the playing on this record, it is evident that this was a band still finding their feet in the studio; it doesn't overly detract from the record, but it does deprive the songs of the oomph that a measure of self-assuredness can impress upon a song. Though it must be said that the band can't be blamed for this; you have to start somewhere after all. Kramer's drums do have their moments where he does impress himself from behind the kit, with "Write Me A Letter" being punctuated with little fills and punches that remind you he is still very much there. "Mama Kin" shows promise of what Perry and Whitford would become, strong and solid riffers in their own right rather than the latest blueslinger (though that isn't a bad thing).

The album is solid if uneventful for the most part; apart from "Dream On" and "Mama Kin" the rest of the album is largely an average affair, with nothing offending the ears but not particularly sticking out to them either. Tracks like "Somebody" and "Movin' Out" are decent enough listens, enjoyable in their own right but lack that drawing power to make you want to seek them out. This is the common theme for the album, good while it lasts but, "Dream On" and "Mama Kin" aside, none of the tracks are high on my playlist. Given that this a debut in the early '70's, this is a common theme for many bands around the time; the fact the band delivered two tracks of quality is more than other contemporaries could offer and is commendable in that right.

For the most part Aerosmith is a fun novelty to listen to; it won't knock you off your feet but every once in a while it is worth a listen to. Given what we know now, the band went on to bigger and better things, while Aerosmith was left in the dust, but it is worth picking up and giving the occasional revisit.