THE BAND: Steven Tyler (vocals, piano, harmonica), Joe Perry (guitars), Brad Whitford (guitars), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (2001) 12 tracks clocking in at just under 51 minutes. Included with the disc is a 14-page booklet containing band pictures, song credits, song lyrics, and thank you's. Recorded and mixed at the Bone Yard (South Shore, MA). Label - Columbia.

COMMENTS: There are two types of Aerosmith. The 1st is the hard rocking raunch & roll band from Sunapee, NH... wrote great songs during the 1970's because they wanted to and that's what they loved doing... whether they got paid big bucks or not. The 2nd is the commercially successful corporate american business version of the band. Depending on which Aero you like - this will either be middle of the road noise, or it will be wonderful music to your ears. Aerosmith is growing - they are keeping up with the times and incorporating the sounds that are popular today. You will hear drum loops and even rap ("Just Push Play") present. They are growing with the times and I can accept that. If your a fan of the old Aero, like me, this probably isn't going to floor you. In my book, the classics "Get Your Wings", "Toys In The Attic" and "Rocks" were probably three of the greatest rock records of the (70's) decade. If you enjoy the new & more recent releases by Aero (90's), you will dig this album. Previous albums like "Nine Lives" and "Get A Grip" were saturated with the power ballads and were not the true band in their best form (also - movie soundtracks like Armegeddon's "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" is a great example). While containing some familiar tongue in cheek rockers, most of the songs were middle of the road AOR tunes with mixed fillers of soft "heartbreak" lullabies geared toward the female audience. On "Just Push Play", the same format is used. While a few hard rockers are present (the best being "Outta Your Head), this album lays down to many ballads ("Avant Garden", "Beyond Beautiful" and "Luv Lies" may be the best of a mixed bag of 'em). I have to admit, when this album first come out I wasn't impressed (not to mention hating the album cover). However, over the years it has absolutely grown on me (especially the title track). The album starts off with an extremely solid 1-2-3 punch ("Beyond Beautiful, "Just Push Play" and "Jaded"). In my opinion, the Aero of 2001 is closer to FM-Lite radio than it is to rock & roll. Not that it's a bad thing, but rather where your likes & dislikes are (3.5 stars).

Well, it's always tough writing a review for a band that has been around forever. People always seem to get caught up in comparing the "old" stuff with the "new" stuff. I always hear a lot of adults say "oh, I like Aerosmith old stuff and don't really care for the new stuff." Lucky for me I caught on to the band in between...when Janie's got a Gun was playing on MTV. I quickly explored/enjoyed their past and eagerly reached for their new recordings.

This album is no different. I mean that in a positive way...basically if you like Aerosmith old or new, then you'll like the album. I must say that I am very impressed with their latest effort. There are several things that stood out on this album for me.

First of all, from beginning to end Joe Perry and the rest of the boys lay down some excellent riffs. Joe has some great solos. The guitars really stand out. The tempo and beat vary throughout, which make for great constrast. (However, the one thing that is constant is that bluesy-rock vibe.) Songs like Beyond..., Under..., Outta..., Drop Dead..., and Light Inside pick up the pace and have the hard rock sound. Where as, songs like Jaded, Sunshine, Luv Lies, and Face (Bonus song on some CDs)slow the guitars down without going into a "soft" ballad and losing the appeal of "guitar" rock.

The second thing that stands out is the variety. I already mention the different tempos of the guitars/drums (Once again, Joey Kramer gives each song a solid backbone) However, other styles include the piano driven (quite beautiful song) Fly Away...; to the acoustic beginning of Avant Garden (avantgarde means: intelligence that develops new or experimental concepts...connection to the song?...perhaps); to the quite interesting title track, Just Push Play that has an interesting beat and vocal selection (more in a sec) to the computer-techno horns blasting backgrounds of songs like Trip Hoppin.

Third and perhaps the most important, is Steven Tyler's singing. I think it would be safe to say that Aerosmith is not Aerosmith without the "Demon of Screamin!" Tyler doesn't miss a beat and matches his style perfectly with the backing music. He raps, he talks, he sings in "jamaican patois" from Just Push...screams (his signature high wail) and above all sing. Tyler has a great singing voice and has proved that he can sing without music at all (usually the beginning of "What it Takes" in concert). For the most part, he is singing his lines. His voice stands out in Fly... and Avant...

Finally, the lyrics are still classic Aerosmith. Tyler is still singing about his favorite subject from the past...sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll (without the drugs of course). However, now the songs are more about retrospect. Tyler is still confused about women and the songs approach this aspect. Women can fool you with their bodies or trick you with their minds. The old theme of can't live with them and can't live without them echos throughout the songs. He even goes as far as trying to figure out what the opposite sex thinks in Outta...

In sum, songs that stood out for me are the first four (especially, Fly...a beautiful song), Luv Lies, Drop Dead..., Avant Garden, and Face. Perhaps with this album and the efforts of U2's latest, and G-N-R (...coming soon) good old rock and roll will be back!

First of all let's get one thing straight, this is NOT Aerosmith. It may be the same musicians who once called themselves Aerosmith, but this album was NOT written by the group of the same name. Aerosmith's last album, "Night in th Ruts", was released in 1979. Shortly after, the two guitarists left the band to launch solo efforts, and the rest of the group carried on as an arena circus show. The original members tried an ill-fated reunion in the early 1980's with the album "Done with Mirrors", after which the original band died an untimely death. Then some record exec got the bright idea to take the original 5 members, clean 'em up, hire some hit makers to write for them, and shove 'em back into the studio and back on the road. This is what you've had ever since. Corporate, hit factory, ballads and sludge from what was once America's greatest Rock & Roll band. There have been some shining moments over the last decade and a half, i.e. F.I.N.E., Other Side, Hearts Done Time, but very few, and certainly none on this waste of paper and plastic. I still love and respect the band that once was. I worked for them briefly in the summer of 1977, I am forever marked with their logo/emblem on my right arm, and happily so, and I can safely say that during their original reign there was no bigger fan then I. I fully understand that mortgages have to be paid, and families have to be supported, and for that I commend the five bad boys from beantown. But PLEASE, PLEASE don't insult my intelligence or the good name of the band by saying that this, or any other album bearing their name in the last 20 years, is in fact an Aerosmith album. But as long as this uninspired claptrap continues to make money I say long live Corporatesmith!

Aerosmith has proven they have lost their edge. Everyone saw it coming when they sold out to play the Superbowl with N'Sync and Britney Spears. And just like that Aerosmith sold out. In all honesty, theit last good album was Pump. There are about two decent tracks on Just Push PLay but the overall sound is very hollow. There is just something missing. It could be that musical integrity thing. But there is something missing on this album. Their last few albums have been going south but this one hits rock bottom. Most of the songs all blend in together and you can't tell song from song. Lyrically it's bland as well. With such songs from albums like Toys In The Attic, Pump, and Permanant Vacation, The Album Just Push Play doesn't have one song good enough for a classis Aerosmith album.

By the time you've toured the world over, sold millions of albums whose discography spans 3 decades and cuts a pretty wide swath of rock and roll between the 20th and 21st centuries, there are many fans who think there is not much more you can do without truly being mocked as a band living off past accolades with no future vision or direction musically.

With "Just push Play", Aerosmith defied the odds and critics, producing the album themselves for the first time in the bands history. The rock songs like "Just push play" take us back to their gritty roots, bypassing some of the more orchestral feel of their late 80's and early 90's stuff. While at the same time, the songwriting and production is strong and soothing in softer, slower tracks like "Fly away from here" and "Beyond Beautiful". At first listen many fans seem to completely abandon this record, but I feel it isn't so much an acquired taste this time around as a fully expected one. Just Push Play shows that they still can write, record, produce, and play some innovative and fun rock. The album cover is also one of the better rock album covers I've seen in a while, and I wouldn't expect anything less than some fun music to go with it than our very own Aerosmith.