Done With Mirrors - Aerosmith (CD 1997)

Everyone knows the story of Aerosmith. It's just one of those parts of popular culture that, like Jimi Hendrix's "Star-Spangled Banner" and the reunion of the Eagles, won't go away. It's practically the template for VH1's Behind The Music---and each band is telling their individual story on that show. Band struggles. Band reaches top of the world. Band suffers from an artistic decline. Band either breaks up or makes a misguided attempt to continue on without founding members. Band reforms, reaches top of world and top of charts once again. So goes the story of Aerosmith. Band tensions and...

This marks a return to my reviews of Aerosmith albums following the big rush of enthusiasm I received when Aerocat invited me to comment on the band s work with her write-off. I reviewed nearly every album that the band ever released on Columbia Records then and now, and did a review of the Geffen Records release PUMP from '89. Now, I owe it to myself to write some more about these guys. Thus, I begin where the early 80s left me, with the band s reuniting and recording of DONE WITH MIRRORS. The time is 1984, and it s Valentine s Day. Aerosmith had lost Joe Perry and Brad Whitford in 1979-1980.

In the 1980's Aerosmith issued more appreciated comeback albums. But Done With Mirrors is equally essential. It fell on deaf ears in 1985, probably because of Geffen's mediocre promotion. The cover didn't have the classic winged-A logo we all know and love. In fact there are 3 versions of the album cover, the original pressings had the band and album name reading backwards (mediocre promotion indeed). Later versions would have the frontward cover, but still without the Classic "Winged A" logo we all know and love. Finally this problem was solved once and for all, and the latest design sits...

The year was 1985. Aerosmith was preparing to do the unthinkable--they were ready to stage what would be one of the biggest comebacks in the history of rock music. While their return to the limelight wasn't immediate, they needed an album to get them back on track and win back the favor of their old fans and hopefully gain some new ones. Simply put, they took a good look in the mirror and realized that they wanted to be rock stars again. Aerosmith hadn't been the same band since the departure of lead guitarist Joe Perry in 1978 and rhythm guitarist Brad Whitford a short time later. Even...