Rock in a Hard Place

Rock in a Hard Place is a rough, tension-heavy work Aerosmith built during a difficult period of great turbulence. During this time, the two guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford had left the band, and new members support much of it — a special record. While the guitar firmly keeps the blues-derived stickiness, a hard, urban, distinctive pressure strongly hangs over the whole work. From the aggressive opener “Jailbait” and the edge of “Lightning Strikes” to a cut like “Bitch’s Brew,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Cry Me a River” and “Bolivian Ragamuffin” convey the work’s fullness. Only Steven Tyler’s unrestrained voice has not dimmed in the least. A record on which the aggression of “Lightning Strikes” and the heavy, uneasy air of the title track powerfully form the work’s distinctive, sure appeal. Certainly different from the splendor of the peak period, it firmly makes you feel the unshakable core of the band’s raw rock and roll. An engaging record that inscribed grit in a difficult period — a record where the band’s underlying strength shines.