8 Down and 1 to Go4 Out of 5 Stars
Of the two studio albums Aerosmith put out in the 90's, "Nine Lives" was the superior of the two. It was the follow-up to "Get A Grip" and a return to their original home label, Columbia. They gave their old/new home a vibrant and exciting album, the way "Get a Grip" sounded calculated and atypical of an Aerosmtih album. The title track opens as a statement of purpose; as Joe Perry's guitar twangs from below, Steven Tyler lets loose with a batch of cat-calls before caterwauling into a major rock and roll scream. Aerosmith isn't just letting you know they were back, but they were ready for a fight.
"Nine Lives" put out. The initial single, "Falling In Love Is Hard On The Knees" kicked with a catty sense of humor (Tyler singing "don't give me lip, I've got enough of my own"), punchy horns, and Perry's lick-happy solo. Just what you'd want in an Aerosmith single. Same with "Pink," which needs no explanation to it's catchy double entendre. "Hole In My Soul" (co-written with hit-miester Desmond Child) continued Aerosmith's string of power ballads, but even with the expected, the band was willing to play around with the typical sounds.
"Taste of India" takes on a cool middle eastern vibe, and gives Tyler a chance to stretch out vocally. I also loved the drum line from Joey Kramer in this particular song. Nor was the band adverse to pointing out the way their own past had battered them, like the rehab diary of "The Farm," followed intentionally by a punky "Crash." Obviously, Aerosmith was - despite the internal battles going on at the time, this was one of those periods where the band was on the brink of breaking up - wanting to prove they could conquer without dividing. Tyler liked the album so much as to steal the line "Does The Noise in my Head Bother You" for the title to his book (from the song "Something's Gotta Give"). "Nine Lives" remains the last peak in Aerosmith's long career, and certainly out-classes the 2001 follow-up, "Just Push Play."
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