Joe Perry's Fourth Solo Album
Courier-Gazette, ME
June 11, 2005
Joe Perry: Joe Perry
With Aerosmith deciding to take a year off, guitarist Perry recorded his fourth solo album in the Boneyard, his basement home studio. His three previous solo albums, released in the early and mid-1980s, were made when he was taking a break from Aerosmith. In the true sense of a solo album, Perry sings all the vocals and plays all the guitars, bass and keyboard parts. He also produced the album, while co-producer Paul Caruso engineered the disc and played drums. The album opens and closing with some thrilling slide guitar work. The fast blues "Shakin' My Cage" should be the breakout hit; the closer is the instrumental "Mercy." In between is a wide range of music, including the ballad "Ten Years," written as an anniversary gift to his wife, Billie Paulette, 10 years ago. There is a Middle Eastern flavor on the slower "Pray For Me" and blistering guitar work on the rocker "Lonely." "Can't Compare" goes from honking blues to a very rock guitar solo, and there is a bit of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" buzz to "Talk Talkin' " blues. The disc has two cover songs: a pretty basic version of The Doors' "Crystal Ship," which suits Perry's voice very well; and a slide guitar-filled version of Woody Guthrie's "Vigilante Man."
June 11, 2005
Joe Perry: Joe Perry
With Aerosmith deciding to take a year off, guitarist Perry recorded his fourth solo album in the Boneyard, his basement home studio. His three previous solo albums, released in the early and mid-1980s, were made when he was taking a break from Aerosmith. In the true sense of a solo album, Perry sings all the vocals and plays all the guitars, bass and keyboard parts. He also produced the album, while co-producer Paul Caruso engineered the disc and played drums. The album opens and closing with some thrilling slide guitar work. The fast blues "Shakin' My Cage" should be the breakout hit; the closer is the instrumental "Mercy." In between is a wide range of music, including the ballad "Ten Years," written as an anniversary gift to his wife, Billie Paulette, 10 years ago. There is a Middle Eastern flavor on the slower "Pray For Me" and blistering guitar work on the rocker "Lonely." "Can't Compare" goes from honking blues to a very rock guitar solo, and there is a bit of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" buzz to "Talk Talkin' " blues. The disc has two cover songs: a pretty basic version of The Doors' "Crystal Ship," which suits Perry's voice very well; and a slide guitar-filled version of Woody Guthrie's "Vigilante Man."
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