(Sony)

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Aerosmith's Honkin' on Bobo is a classic example of a frustrating CD that runs from brilliant to forgettable. When this "blues covers" CD hits, it completely smacks it out of the park. But then they throw in a speed bump song and it trashes the momentum.

Some of this disc brings back the glory days of ‘70s prime bar-band Aerosmith, while other parts make you realize they can't, or won't, let go of the polished package that made them the most money and gained them the most notoriety.

Starting off with a boring "Road Runner," the disc then wakes up and fires off three great tunes in a row, "Shame, Shame, Shame," "Eyesight To The Blind" and "Baby Please Don't Go" that start making you think, "Holy shit, they really ARE serious about this!" Alas, then comes the shitty "Never Loved A Girl," whose chorus reminds me of a song from a pantyhose or Herbal Essence shampoo commercial. Once you hear it, you'll know exactly what I mean! Followed by a real boring, "Back Back Train," which is, ironically, like a train broken down at the station, and just goes nowhere. It’s like they were trying for a classic John Fogerty vibe but missed entirely.

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Then, another grand slam, my favorite tune on the CD, "You Gotta Move," with it's rocked up Bo Diddley appeal. A good song to speed to, absolutely! This song just fucking smokes! Followed by the most frustrating song for me personally on the CD, an Aerosmith original, "The Grind." Just as the movie Pearl Harbor was a chick flick disguised as a war movie, this song is a typical, tired Aerosmith pop ballad disguised as a slow blues burner. You can't fool a fucking expert, you bastards!!!

After that, a good and different re-working of Willie Dixon's "I'm Ready," a song "Temperature," that would have been better if Mr. Tyler DIDN'T SING THROUGH A MEGAPHONE! Stop it!! A great version of "Stop Messin' Around" follows, and the disc finishes with an attempt at a traditional version of "Jesus is on the Main Line." I admire the effort, but this tune does nothing for me. Booooooooring.

So, out of 12 songs, I absolutely LOVE six, and six are entirely forgettable, having not grown on me yet. Great harmonica playing and exceptionally tasty blues axework by Joe Perry throughout the CD. Worth 15 bucks, and could have been CD of the year, but unfortunately, there was a fumble at the goal line.

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