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Rating: The quintessential "forgotten" album of Aerosmith. One might wonder why, given the not-so-massive discography of the Boston band. Well, in 1985, the five go through the classic transition phase; after a great album like "Rock in a Hard Place" dated 1982, which featured the two "replacements" Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay, the nostalgia factor kicks in (or the factor "let's stage the reunion, do a mega tour, and refill the coffers," which is the same). So here we are, three years later with "Done With Mirrors," featuring an excellent cover as usual and platitudes all about getting along. But what about the music?
And the music takes a back seat. Not in the first two tracks, though: "Let the music do the talking" and "My fist your face" almost retain the energy of the good old days - or at least they try. But over time, one realizes that the "old" Aerosmith, those of "Rocks" and "Draw the Line," are just a faded memory. Make way for the new Aerosmith, who will manage to maintain dignity at the cost of strong doses of commercial rock (in this case, in the best sense of the term: perhaps the adjective "radio-friendly" would be better). Thus, songs honestly quite poor or annoying ("Shame on you", "Shela") alternate with tracks that are somewhat more appealing, or at least decent, like "The reason a dog" or "Gipsy boots". Even the old wolf Joe Perry — who certainly knows his stuff — tries to hold the fort, with the slide of "She's on fire", which at least has the merit of breaking the monotony a bit.
In short, to draw conclusions... it would be an album to easily skip over. Would be. If it weren't for the brilliant gem that Tyler pulls out of his hat at the end, "Darkness". A classic final ballad that ideally connects to its "sisters" "You see me crying", "Home Tonight", and "Push comes to shove", it does not disappoint expectations. There's a Tyler in great shape, capable of maneuvering between the almost jazzy initial stride to a more brutal hard rock, all with a lot of class... the only glimmer in an otherwise poorly executed album.
A tip? I've read a lot that "Rock in a Hard Place" is often casually considered by many as the band's lowest point. Well. Try picking it up, listen to it. Then compare it with this. You may discover — perhaps — a pleasant surprise in realizing that for Aerosmith, 1982 was definitely better than 1985.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Let the Music Do the Talking (03:48)
Rock-a-bye baby, if you wanna dance
Grab yourself a body and take a chance
Said one time around is all you get
I'm still dancin', so you lost your bet
I got a hardcore mama with a hot hoochie coo
Make my wheels start spinnin' like a formula two
Got one for the money, two for the show
Three for my honey, and four to let you know that I
Let the music do the talking
Let the music do the talking ('Cause I can't wait)
Let the music do the talking
Let the music do the talking
Cheesecake, maybe if I take another bite
I'm a real fat city, I'm an aero delight
Threw out my pipe and my alkaline
Got a squeaky clean body and a dirty mind
I'm a real fine dancer, I'll be cuttin' the rug
Got a brand new baby, she's my brand new drug
I got one for the money, two for the show
Three for my honey, and four to let you know that I
Let the music do the talking
Let the music do the talking ('Cause I can't wait)
Let the music do the talking (I gotta get it)
Let the music do the talking
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yak yak yak
Yak yak yak yak yak yak yeow!
Let the music do the talking
Let the music do the talking
Let the music do the talking
Let the music do the talking
Let the music do the talking
Let the music do the talking
Let the music do the talking
02 My Fist Your Face (04:23)
Wake up baby, what 'choo in for?
Start the day upon your knees
What 'choo pissin' in the wind for?
You musta snorted too much bleez
East house pinball wizard
Full tilt bozo played
Second floor Trekkie makin' warp speed out the door
Julio Anpacolucci
He the only one who stayed
Countin' up the days, please no more
My fist your face, that's for sure
Hey Betty Boop, you got me droolin'
I'm buzzin' 'round your hive tonight
You played the hooky 'stead of schoolin'
Son of a bitch put out the light
Thirteen year old hookers
Drag yourself right through the thorns
You wonder why the man's outside your door
Junior achievers
Got the old bull by the horns
Back in the saddle gets ya sore
My fist your face, that's for sure
East house pinball wizard
Full tilt bozo played
Second floor Trekkie's makin' warp speed out the door
Julio Anpacolucci
He the only one that stayed
I'm countin' up the days, please no more
My fist your face, that's for sure
My fist your face, that's for sure
My fist your face, that's for sure
My fist your face, that's for sure
03 Shame on You (03:22)
Somebody
Trying to take my soul
Nobody
Gotta hear my rock 'n' roll
Shame, shame, shame on you babe
Shame, shame, shame on you babe
Lolita
Steady as a ghost
Tooth sweeter
Powdering her nose
Shame, shame, shame on you babe
Shame, shame, shame on you babe
A-smith
Old hank pank
Pulling down your knickers
Ah, who you gonna spank?
Shame, shame, shame on you babe
Shame, shame, shame on you babe
Joe Perry
Ooh Mr. Style
Some kind of killer bee
Buzz a while
Phoned home last night
P.M.S.
Bitch bitch bitchin'
Gotta do this, gotta do that
Shame, shame, shame on you babe
Shame, shame, shame, shame, shame on you baby
Bogus honey
Square dance close
Oh, grab your partner
Bring it home 'n' dosey, dosey
Shame, shame, shame on you babe
Shame, shame, shame on you baby
Seemin' jazzy
Bein' shipped in
Why's uncle Stanley
Tryin' to keep it hid?
Shame, shame, shame on you babe
Shame, shame, shame on you baby
Seven or eleven
Got to roll the dice
Am I in heaven
Or am I in Miami Vice?
Shame, shame, shame on you babe
Shame, shame, shame, shame, shame, shame, shame on you baby
05 Shela (04:25)
Shela Shela she like a hurricane
Shela Shela she like a ball and chain
Shela Shela she like a hurricane
Got myself a lady
I get down on my knees yeah yeah yeah...
Hotter than Hades
Heaven if you please yeah yeah yeah...
Shela Shela she like a hurricane
Shela Shela she like a ball and chain
Shela Shela she like a hurricane
Some girls put it to ya
Make you scream in pain yeah yeah yeah...
Some will say they knew ya
And then forget your name yeah yeah yeah...
Shela real tight
Shela that's right
Shela
She said she could do it
Love she could fulfill yeah yeah yeah...
There ain't noting to it
Backbone gets a chill yeah yeah yeah... yeoa
06 Gypsy Boots (04:16)
Gypsy gypsy dancing feet
Gypsy gypsy bittersweet
Screamer dreamer disarray
Gypsy gypsy why did you fly away
No good papa's no good
Sister's no good and that's a drag
Sometimes you're feelin'
Like your head's on the ceiling
When you scream hey mama... rag
Oooh... when your daddy come home
Wit an old soup bone
'Cause he drank all the money away
And your mama's in the kitchen
On the phone she be bitchin'
And your girlfriend who called to say
Gypsy gypsy dancing feet
Gypsy gypsy bittersweet
Screamer dreamer disarray
Gypsy gypsy why did you fly away
High school lover with ya corpse undercover
Gettin high jack... Lebanese
Hey mama choosed it y'all all been through it
Or be fallin' off you right to your knees
Pair a shades shotgun rock on
Chewing gum take it to the dance tonight
Your a love hate child with wild child smile
And you don't care wrong from right
Gypsy gypsy dancing feet
Gypsy gypsy bittersweet
Screamer dreamer disarray
Gypsy gypsy why did you fly away
Nobody but nobody baby
Knockin' my socks off
Rock rock rockin'
I'll be gotten I'll be gettin' my rocks off
Nobody but nobody shootin'
never gets a shot off
Yeah yeah yeah
07 She's on Fire (03:47)
Oooh she's on fire
Oooh she's on fire
Hot to trot she's a bit insane
Little bit a pleasure
With a little bit a pain
I got to be smokin'
So I know without a doubt
Where there's smoke there's fire
So I gotta boot it out
Say oooh she's on fire
Oooh she's on fire
Homely child with a hang down lip
Starved for love and companionship
Little by little catchin' up to me
She's more of a woman
Then I thought she'd be to me... yeah
Hungry girl she's the skinniest thing
She's sayin' the word I'm losin' sting ?
She's on fire
She hung my head in a guillotine
She's my flame she's a wettin' my dream
She's on fire
Oooh she's on fire (4x)
08 The Hop (03:45)
Thinkin' 'bout the night life
In the ladies powder room
Brother's like a howlin' wolf
By the light of the silvery moon
Joey's like a Pavlovs dog
When he starts to salivate
A Harley Man gets off his hog
to shake his rattlesnake
Me I got a brand new babe
You know that something just ain't right
I say yeah yeah
Can't stop rockin' tonight
Hangin' at the shopping mall
With a watchman full of sass
Leave your smile outside the door
'Cause the kids be kickin' ass
My old boot heels be smokin'
You really got to understand
We're burning down the town tonight
A when the new shit hits the fan
And me I got a brand new baby
You know something just ain't right
I say yeah yeah
Can't stop rockin' tonight
Yeah yeah
Can't stop rockin' tonight
Layin' on her back tonight
To watch the moon eclipse
Baby eatin' out tonight
But I just ain't leavin' tips
So y'all best watch out what you do
And who you do it with
'Cause you'll be kickin' ass tonight
With the boys in Aerosmith... yeah
09 Darkness (03:43)
Darkness Darkness hungry to the bone
Darkness Darkness take my body home
God I'm in love I'm in love
I'm in love I'm in love
She like a boo-k
She holy roller love me like a song
She like a lightnin'
She roller coaster 'til the break of dawn
She like a shadow
She all around me nasty hearted dream
She got the sexy
She do it to me wake me when I scream
God I'm in love I'm in love I'm in love
I'm in love I'm in love I'm in love
Yak ak ak ak yaw
Now I lay me down to sleep
Goodnight
Pray the Lord my soul will keep
Tonight
If I die before I wake
In your arms my love can't break away
Darkness (she like a shadow)
Darkness (she all around me)
Nasty hearted dream
Darkness (she got the sexy)
Darkness (she do it to me)
Wake me when I scream
God I'm in love I'm in love I'm in love
I'm in love I'm in love I'm in love... oow
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Other reviews
By DRESSED_TO_KILL
"Done With Mirrors is an excellent appetizer that pairs perfectly with the main course Permanent Vacation and the subsequent second course Pump."
"Some claim this is their worst album, but they are greatly mistaken, probably because they have never listened to it and speak with others’ words."
