Young Lust: The Aerosmith Anthology
Aerosmith's reign as America's greatest hard-rock heroes seemed all but over at the end of the '70s, the victim of internal squabbles, drug abuse, and a cocooned, decadent environment. Set against that backdrop, their '80's label switch and resurgence--and an eventual iconic, widespread acceptance even more pervasive than during their "prime"--was initially as gratifying as it was unlikely. This double-disc, 34-track compilation of the Geffen years chronicles a not-so-young band clawing their way back to the top with a hungry frenzy that shamed many upstarts half their age. With all the high points intact (including their groundbreaking rock-rap redux of "Walk this Way" withRun D.M.C., "Rag Doll," "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)," "Love In an Elevator," "Janie's Got a Gun," "The Other Side," Cryin'" et al.), this compilation offers up the expected live extras (a handful of old hits and '90's staples), soundtrack cuts ("Deuces Are Wild" and theDoors' "Love Me Two Times") and sundry rarities (including the non-album cuts "Don't Stop" and "Can't Stop Messin'," B-side "Head First," and Japan-only "Ain't Enough")--though, sadly, no "Theme to Wayne's World." But by its waning tracks, it also documents the encroaching influences of hired-gun tunesmiths like Desmond Child and Glen Ballard, and the band's troubling tendency to hew ever closer to the middle-of-the-road as its fame burgeoned. Younger listeners may well treasure this album as a history of Aerosmith's golden years, B.D.--as in before Diane (Warren).--Jerry McCulley