Done With Mirrors - Aerosmith (CD 1997)

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 though the band pressed on and recruited two new guitarists, the chemistry, the desire, and the focus just wasn't there. After 1982's pretty dismal "Rock in a Hard Place" album was released, Columbia finally decided to pull the plug on the boys from Beantown.

Luckily, frontman Steven Tyler and Joe Perry put their bitter feelings about each other aside and decided to get the band back together in 1984. Brad Whitford also returned to the fold, and Geffen Records stepped up to the plate and signed the band to a record deal.

So, in 1985, the band released their first album under the Geffen label: "Done With Mirrors." While it wasn't an album that really re-established the band as a legitimate rock act in the 1980's, it at least was able to guide them in the right direction. Considering that this was the first time that the original lineup was in the studio working on a new album in six years, "Done With Mirrors" was a pretty decent effort. While it is a little dull in some parts, there are some good things about this album that keep it from being less than average.

This album is pure rock-n-roll. It seems like the band relied heavily on the "sock hop" music of the 1950's to help them create a unique sound that mixes the likes of Buddy Holly and Bill Haley with Aerosmith's attitude and bluesy swagger.

The lineup for "Done With Mirrors:"
Steven Tyler--lead vocals
Joe Perry--lead and rhythm guitars
Brad Whitford--lead and rhythm guitars
Tom Hamilton--bass guitar
Joey Kramer--drums

And now for the album....

The opening track, "Let the Music Do the Talking" is a real barnburer of a song. It opens up with some of Joe Perry's best guitar licks, and the rhythm section keeps a steady, catchy beat that you can tap your foot to and have a good time rocking out to in your car. This song was actually written by Joe Perry and was the title track on his first solo album away from Aerosmith. The band wanted to remake the song for this album. Steven Tyler gives his heart and soul on this song, and his screechy, raspy voice fits the song perfectly. It's a "feel-good" rock song with plenty of energy. Easily my favorite track here.

"My Fist Your Face" is also a nice hard-rocking track with more of Perry's sinister guitar riffs. Lyrically, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it does sound pretty cool. It's a poppy song that you can dance to, but it definitely has an edge to it. I also like how drummer Joey Kramer and bassist Tom Hamilton compliment each other on this track.

"Shame on You" and "The Reason A Dog" are two of the album's weaker tracks. The first is another fast song with a distinct hard-rock feel, but doesn't really take me anywhere. The latter is a slower, blusier track with some of Aerosmith's typical, quirky lyrics, but nothing to write home about.

The next track, "Shelia," is more of a mid-tempo number with a nice groove to it. Again, there is nothing here that makes the earth quake, but I really think that Joe Perry and Brad Whitford do some of their best guitar work on this song.

The band picks up the tempo once again in "Gypsy Boots." Again the lyrics don't make a whole lot of sense, but it's a lot of fun to listen to and rocks like no tomorrow. It has a very infectious hook and more of Perry and Whitford's roaring guitar riffs.

"She's On Fire" slows things down and has that bluesy song like "The Reason A Dog" did a couple tracks earlier. It has its moments, but for the most part it's a pretty dull and uninteresting song.

I can picture a bunch of guys and gals rocking out to the album's seventh track, "The Hop," in some burger joint in the 1950's. This song definitely has that nostalgic feel. It's another fast-paced song with a catchy "swing" sound to it that everyone can shake their butts to and snap their fingers to the beat. Steven Tyler's use of the harmonica is the perfect addition to this song.

The final track, "Darkness" is a bit of a departure for the band. It's a slower, moodier song that plays heavily on the use of keyboards to create a fresh new sound. It's upbeat and catchy, but it also has a dark, almost creepy feel to it, which is not present on any other songs here. In any event, it is another one of the album's stronger cuts.

"Done With Mirrors" could have been a better album, but for the most part, Aerosmith managed to set the ball in motion for what would soon be massive worldwide success within the next few years through the creation of this record. Other than the bombastic opening track, there really isn't anything here that stands out. However, it is a pretty consistent album overall and their best album since 1977's "Draw the Line."

On a final note, I just want to say that Aerosmith had a very tough task of making it in the music business after they were written off as "has-beens" as the 1970's came to a close. However, nearly ten years later, Aerosmith would come back bigger and better than ever, and I don't think many bands could have pulled it off. So, how can anyone not appreciate this album for giving Aerosmith the confidence they needed to get themselves back on track?