Rocks

Rocks is a monumental masterpiece on which Aerosmith, while firmly keeping the blues-derived earthiness, raised the sharp edge of its playing and dangerous tension to the limit. Following the success of the previous Toys in the Attic, it is a record on which the band’s momentum reached its peak. The twin guitars of Joe Perry and Brad Whitford create an exquisite push and pull with each other, and Steven Tyler’s voice, screaming and whispering, powerfully fills the songs’ gaps. From the heavy-striding classic opener “Back in the Saddle” and the distinctive undulation of “Last Child” to the speeding “Rats in the Cellar,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Combination” and “Nobody’s Fault” convey the work’s fullness. Content on which the band’s overwhelming aggression is shown as vividly as possible. A record that splendidly turned the very roughness, by no means over-neat, into powerful drive. Its raw yet sharp sound, cited as a favorite by many musicians, gave immense influence to later artists. One of the peaks of Aerosmith’s early period and an enduring, powerful, engaging classic — an essential record for fans.