Aerosmith: Done With Mirrors : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

PMRC to the contrary, heavy metal is not an inherently noxious influence on young children. At its best, heavy metal acts as a genuine voice for a community that hasn't yet developed its own. But Aerosmith's unawaited reunion LP, Done with Mirrors, is the work of burned-out lugheads whose lack of musical imagination rivals their repugnant lyrics.

A competent rehash of "Let the Music Do the Talking," the title track of guitarist Joe Perry's 1980 solo LP, opens the album with the concise hard rock that made the original incarnation of Aerosmith an entertaining if derivative diversion. Unfortunately, seven more songs follow it, most of them advertisements for vicious sexism. "My Fist Your Face" describes the band's idea of domestic bliss, and "The Reason a Dog" refers to the singer's latest conquest. Perry's once fiery guitar leads are now rote and lazy, and Steven Tyler's arena shouts make Ace Frehley sound subtle. Aerosmith may be back in the saddle, but they picked the wrong horse.

JIMMY GUTERMAN
(RS 462 - December 5, 1985)