A Little South of Sanity [PA] - Aerosmith (CD 1998)

Though I have never been to a live Aerosmith concert, I feel as though I have been to one. No, I don t have a mullet. I do not wear jean jackets with a pair of jeans. (Sorry, Canadians) And know I do not smell like a mixture of wine coolers, marijuana, and body odor right now. Rather, I have just listened to Aerosmith s live album Little South of Sanity .

With tracks taken from the Nine Lives Tour as well as the Get a Grip Tour, this album is a solid compilation of live tracks performed by rock and roll icons Aerosmith. The music is real, the rock and roll is pure, and the history behind this band can be heard on every single track. This album is a two disc set of everyone s favorite Aerosmith tunes, and there really is something for all Aerosmith fans on this album, no matter what era or genre you might prefer.

Aerosmith is comprised of Steven Tyler (vocals, percussion, harmonica), Joe Perry (guitars, lap steel, vocals), Tom Hamilton (electric bass), Brad Whitford (guitars) and Joey Kramer (drums).

Disc One is an amazingly well organized grouping of songs that mesh together nicely on the album. You know that the album is going to be a solid performer when it starts off with a fan classic Eat the Rich . Before you can stop your foot from tapping to the beat of that track, in comes perennial favorite, Love in an Elevator . Right off the bat, the first two tracks have you completely hooked and you can't wait for the rest of the music.

The middle to end part of the first CD is really the best of some of Aerosmith's more recent tunes. When you put Livin' on the Edge , Cryin' , and Amazing within only a couple of tracks of each other, you are destined to win high marks for this album. Smartly intertwined are some other favorites like the emotional and quasi-romantic song Angel and then a rock and roll fan s top contending song, Janie's Got a Gun .

When you are done listening to the first disc, you are almost ready for a cold shower to wash all the sweat you worked up from head banging and singing along to the tracks. Rather than jumping in to cool off, I would recommend you quickly put in the second disc, because here comes some more Aerosmith adrenaline.

Tyler's voice calls out to the listener in the very first track of the second disc, Back in the Saddle Again . Although it might simply be a coincidence that this track brings you back into the listening experience, it would instead seem to me that Aerosmith purposely chose this song to kick off the second disc.

The middle part of the second disc is comprised nicely when Dream On is followed by Crazy . With only Mama Kin mixed between, Aerosmith then pumps in with one of rock and rolls best, and most well known, beats, Walk this Way . And if you want to talk about the ideal way to end out an amazing compilation of live tracks, what better way to do it than by one of the classics, Sweet Emotion .



Track listing:

Disc One:
1. Eat the Rich
2. Love in an Elevator
3. Falling in Love
4. Same Old Song and Dance
5. Hole in my Soul
6. Monkey on my Back
7. Livin' on the Edge
8. Cryin'
9. Rag Doll
10. Angel
11. Janie's Got a Gun
12. Amazing

Disc Two:
1. Back in the Saddle
2. Last Child
3. The Other Side
4. Walk on Down
5. Dream On
6. Crazy
7. Mama Kin
8. Walk This Way
9. Dude (Looks like a lady)
10. What it Takes
11. Sweet Emotion

Though some people simply cannot stand the idea of a band, often times especially one of Aerosmith's caliber, producing a sort of "Best of Album" Aerosmith has found a great way to do it. Rather than song after song, live clips of the song adds an additional appeal to this album and when Tyler talks between songs, the experience is simply heightened. This is not an album that should be shied away from, rather, go out and pick up this album. Aerosmith has gained so much fame because their music is so amazing. This album, is nothing less.

Little South of Sanity is on the Geffen Records label, which is a Universal Music Company.

For more information about Aerosmith, check out their website at www.aerosmith.com.