Aerosmith
Honkin' On Bobo

THE REVIEW

In a genre like rock, it's not uncommon for a great band at the peak of success to decide to rediscover its musical roots. Often, one finds oneself facing a creative void that only a little brushing up on the past can fill. Perhaps this is exactly what happened to Aerosmith. With "Just Push Play" from 2001, the band definitively shifted its focus towards more commercial and immediate music, a distant relative of the dazzling hard rock of their beginnings.

After a flood of relentless criticism (famous is the comparison with another band like Bon Jovi), Steven Tyler and Co. decided to record a blues cover album to give a vintage touch to a sound that had become too flat and conventional. "Honkin' On Bobo" is a selection of old blues tracks by more or less famous artists (Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy Williamson II, etc.) readapted to the old Aerosmith style. The strength of the CD lies in making the blues discoverable to new generations of musicians and enthusiasts. How? Simply by adapting everything with a remarkable dose of hard & heavy, but keeping the original matrix intact. Essentially, a masterfully executed modernization. Aerosmith plays the CD excellently, paying great attention to each track, with a musical care that few bands can boast. The tracklist features, among others, the energetic opener "Road Runner," the excellent "You Gotta Move" (also chosen as a single), the super famous "Baby Please Don't Go" (a song often covered by many bands, famous in this regard is the 70's version by AC/DC, with Bon Scott on vocals) and the excellent "I'm Ready." Aerosmith also included an unheard track, "The Grind," a good song with a great rhythm and excellent riff by Perry.

The album was released in 2004, and was received positively by critics and had a respectable economic return. Despite this, Mr. Tallarico and his mates are now almost considered missing in action. For years they have announced the imminent arrival of a new album, but then suddenly we see Steven as the leader of a well-known American reality show and Joe Perry coming out with his solo projects. Even Tyler himself, recently released a few solo songs with moderate success. In 2010 they were guests at the Heineken Jammin' Festival and those who were present that evening swear they witnessed a unique show. At this point, my hope is that there will be other shows worthy of being experienced, and perhaps if I really have to dream, since 2012 is the year of the return of Van Halen...

A nice encore with Aerosmith? Maybe I'm asking too much. Or maybe not.