Aerosmith's third release, Toys In The Attic, was the album that vaulted the band into the mainstream, and made them a staple of U.S. rock radio. Before this album hit the shelves, their first two albums didn't receive much attention.
The instant this one begins spilling out the speakers of your
stereo system, a few things will begin to happen. Your eyebrows
will raise, the hairs on the top of your head will stand on end,
and your eyes will glow wildly. These effects will be followed by a
feeling of euphoria, uncontrolable drooling, and screaming. For
this a rock album at it's best. It's pure, straight-forward,
churning, yet intricate enough to allow hundreds of listens.
Toys In The Attic contains two of the band's most notable (and overplayed) songs, "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion". After these songs became huge successes, earlier recordings like "Dream On" from the first album, and "Same Old Song And Dance" from Get Your Wings became mega hits as well. "Sweet Emotion" and "Walk This Way" are still very popular, and still receive quite a bit of airplay in the U.S. Because of this, it's easy to overlook the other gems that this album contains.
The title track is a fast paced rocker with a surreal touch. On this track, Aerosmith pioneers recording techniques that became a feature of their next album, Rocks. "Uncle Salty" is a tricky little track that continues to fool me, even today. Just when you think the song is going to break loose, it follows another road and another unusual turn. The result is addictive, with the result being many repeats of the same track. "No More, No More" may be their most unnoticed song. It's a great rocker in the purest sense, with Rolling Stones-like chord changes at the leadout of the song that leaves you wishing the song would continue.
Perhaps the most notable feature of this classic album is the fact that is never loses any steam. It ends just as nicely as it begins, with quality material. Even some of the greatest albums ended side two with bogus filler tracks. Not Toys In The Attic. If this album is buried somewhere in your collection, pop it out and give it a spin. There's a lot of rewarding material in there.