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Released on May 13, 1976, Rocks arrived as Aerosmith was at the top of their game. Wow, it seems like yesterday when I first feasted my ears on this suitably titled LP, which marked Aerosmith’s fourth album in just three short years.
During that time, the Boston group steadily progressed from being a glorified Rolling Stones-meet-the-New York Dolls-type band (and I do mean that as high praise) to establishing their own special identity. As Rocks hit the bins, Aerosmith was now tickling folks with chugging hard rock anthems that forged refreshing roads.
A tad less melodic and a few pounds heavier than the band’s prior albums (Aerosmith, Get Your Wings and Toys in the Attic, in case you are not hip to their catalog), this record emits a rather dark, disturbing and doomy ambience. To be sure, the songs do rock and creep deep inside the brain cells and refuse to leave moments after hearing them, but a sense of cryptic chaos administers the event.
Lead singer Steven Tyler’s rubbery vocals mumble and rumble with mystery, and the band is hungry, so hungry, it appears as if they are singing for their supper. These guys are wired! Loud, sleazy and erupting with power and venom, you can almost taste whatever chemical substances the band was inhaling when they created this album.
For good reason, some folks consider Rocks to be Aerosmith’s best album. It just … rocks.
