It’s been a while since we’ve been “Just Listening” to an album here, but this one’s always good for a revisit. The last truly great Aerosmith album was 1997’s Nine Lives. I stand by that, because it’s a killer album. We reviewed it back in 2015, so if you’re looking for a more in-depth analysis, check that out. Today we’re just appreciating an album that is too often overlooked for the strengths it has.
The heavy stuff was heavy enough, and the ballads had balls. Songs like “Nine Lives” and “Taste of India” are juggernauts. Drummer Joey Kramer really took them to the next level, which is remarkable since he was sidelined for part of the making of the album. His partner in rhythm, bassist Tom Hamilton, is also on top of things with his lyrical bassline meanderings. You’ll rarely find a better guitar tag team than Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, but Steven Tyler’s words are also noteworthy. The guy is a poet with a dirty mind, and Nine Lives has some of his better lyrics. “‘Cause love is like the right dress on the wrong girl, You never know what you’re gonna find.”
Most people think of Pump or Get a Grip as the last decent Aerosmith. Although it didn’t have as many great singles, Nine Lives is actually a better album than Get a Grip. It has less filler, and rock fans don’t really care about singles anyway. The fact is, from beginning to end, Nine Lives is just a smoother ride.
Not listened to this in ages but I deffo thought it was better than Get A Grip. By a long shot.
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I never play Get a Grip anymore. I do play Pump. In fact I’m playing it today. There’s nothing on Get a Grip as in your face as “Young Lust”.
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Get A Grip did have that stupendous belch at the end though.
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Well that is certainly a great point. Was that on Eat the Rich?
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Yeah it was. I’m think of it at “the end” cause I put it at the end of a mix tape I made for my brother. Used to make me laugh every time.
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If I still made mix CDs, I think I would now put it at the end of every one!
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Permanent Vacation is the one I tend to go back to most (of the ‘reunion’ stuff anyway)
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I never liked PV as much as Pump though some songs are just incredible. Heart’s Done Time. Hangman Jury. Even I’m Down!
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I preferred Pump for years but PV overtook it eventually.
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Stuff like that happens, ain’t it funny?
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Although “Pink” still annoys the shit out of me…
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Yeah rightfully so I think.
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I need to listen to both albums again to make an informed choice. Ah, the tasks I must accomplish.
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It’s a hard life!
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:)
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In what I would consider the last great Aero studio album!
This was a solid hard Aero rock album. Not only the albums was strong but so was th tour to go along with it.
Such a great show/presentation that went with it…
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I never saw the tour, but I was way disappointed with the live album. Never bought it. Too much mucking around, overdubs, and nonsense.
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Nine Lives was hardly featured on it which was dumb…man I wanted to hear those songs on a live album and Aero failed
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I think they were trying to showcase the hits too much. Which is fine, but the people who want “hits” don’t want live versions. Fans buy live albums, and fans want deeper cuts.
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Exactly man…I really wanted live versions of the title track Taste of India etc…
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I assume they played them when you saw them…
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yes they did 7 tracks from Nine lives…The Farm was awesome…
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Jesus!! That’s half the album…I’d give my right eyebrow to hear that show.
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here’s the other tracks better yet here’s my review of it…
https://superdekes.wordpress.com/2015/10/02/aerosmith-nine-lives-live/
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Here! here! I too enjoy this one more than Get A Grip.
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One more vote for Nine Lives!
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I just learned recently that Stiffler from American Pie (Seann William Scott) was in the Hole in My Soul video (as the quarterback around 4:45) !
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Dude, I’ll have you know this song was in my head all night last night because of you!
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You’re welcome!
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Yup. This is still a really good album. Definitely better than Pump and Get A Grip and if I could only delete one track of the filler, it would be Pink every single time.
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Agreed.
Tomorrow I’ll do Permanent Vacation.
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