Review­: Steven Tyler – 'We’re All Somebody From Somewhere'

The title track is up next. Co-­written with Jaren Johnston from The Cadillac Three, it has a dirty groove to it, and benefits from the horn section in the background… sassy, sweaty, and again, the Demon of Screamin’ delivers an understated performance. ’Hold On (Won’t Let Go)’ could be a distant cousin to ‘Voodoo Medicine Man’ from the classic ‘Pump’ album. Steven Tyler uses some effects on his vocals to add a swampy sound, and any time he breaks out the harmonica is fine by me. ’Only Heaven’ is another track that echoes classic Aerosmith, almost the perfect power ballad. Almost, because Aerosmith already made the perfect power ballad with ‘Cryin’’. These songs are perfect examples of the fine line between rock and country. Are they country? Nope. Do they get the head bobbing and the feet tapping? Yep. So really, what does it matter what tags we put on the music? ‘It Ain’t Easy’ has some traditional country guitar twang on it, but it’s never overpowering, and it merely enhances what is a beautiful song. ’Love Is Your Name’ entered all the relevant country charts when it was released as a single last year, but it’s more hippy than country, I’d say. It’s easy, laid back vibe perhaps lends more to the west coast seventies scene than Nashville, and it features a soaring, uplifting chorus, that helps elevate the song somewhere else. ’Somebody New’ and ‘Sweet Louisiana’ are perhaps the closest that the album gets to what people might perceive modern country to sound like. Banjo picking in the background, alongside some lap guitar and accordion. Co-­written alongside über hit songwriter, Hillary Lindsey, they’re light, fluffy, and inoffensive. ‘I Make My Own Sunshine’ is the weakest track on the album. The “Everything is wonderful, everything is great” lyrics don’t work for me, and the song is forgettable. ‘The Good,The Bad,The Ugly & Me’ sees the Warren brothers again share songwriting credits with Steven Tyler on a basic rock ‘n’ roll track that highlights the ‘less is more’ adage. Classic guitar, drums, and vocals. Enough said really. ’Red,White & You’ sees the cheese­ometer crashing through the roof, as Steven Tyler recreates the ideal American summer anthem, name checking Tom Petty, American girls, the fourth of July, cut-off jeans, and good ol’ boys. It’s unashamedly American, but then again so is he, so who are we uptight Brits with bad teeth to judge someone proud of their country and not afraid to show it? The album winds down with the one­/two of ‘Janie’s Got A Gun’ and ‘Piece Of My Heart’. The former is a slowed down, grittier version of the classic, without the sheen and production of the 1989 original, and is sublime. The latter features The Loving Mary Band (Steven Tyler’s touring band) along for the ride, and the female backing vocals add a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to Tyler’s tribute to his beloved Janis Joplin.

So there you have it. It only took Steven Victor Tallarico five decades to produce his debut solo album, and some feathers might be ruffled along the way (belonging to the old school rock vanguard, as well as country purists), but ‘We’re All Somebody From Somewhere’ has some incredible tracks on it. I think Wayne Campbell summed it up best when he asked “Was it Kierkegaard or Dick Van Patten who said…’If you label me you negate me’?” ‘We’re All Somebody from Somewhere’ is released 15th July Review: Dave Stott