Aerosmith’s
Rockin’ The Joint
(Live At The Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas)
[Live DualDisc]
Label: Sony
Available: October 25, 2005

I came of age to Aerosmith’s Get a Grip, the superhit album boasting five hit singles (Livin’ on the Edge, Crazy, Cryin’, Eat the Rich, Walk This Way). I wore this CD out and bought another. But Rockin’ The Joint doesn’t include any of those songs. And after Armageddon, like a lot fans, I pretty much tuned Aerosmith out - so I’ll admit I don’t really know most of the songs on this album.

The audio side’s 11 tracks boasts super oldies — the live album debut of the fan favorite “Seasons Of Wither” (1974’s Get Your Wings) and “No More No More,” (1975’s Toys in the Attic) — and new materials including of course, the unfortunate “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” I wonder who picked this setlist? Where are the classic live performances of Aerocult favs like the five mentioned above and “Permanent Vacation,” “Sweet Emotion,” “Ragdoll”…hell, even “Dude Looks Like a Lady?”

Sony didn’t send me the DVD side, but I’m told it includes the entire album in Enhanced PCM Stereo, tour footage and four videos filmed at The Joint (”No More No More” and “Draw the Line” plus the ridiculous DVD-only tracks, “Dream On” and “Sweet Emotion”). It also captures some behind-the-scenes footage shot during the Vegas show and on the road.

The band plans to return to the studio this spring to record the follow-up to 2004’s critically acclaimed (but horribly named) blues album, Honkin’ On Bobo. The band’s autumn/winter tour, (with Lenny Kravitz), kicks off October 30th at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn. (NOTE: the rumor mill says drummer Joey Kramer may miss some of the early shows on the tour due to a shoulder injury. Those nasty rumor-spreaders say his doctors said he’d be risking the rest of his career if he went out on the road)
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Download Honkin’ On Bobo here: