Joe Perry
Joe Perry (released May 3, 2005)

Joe Perry is the first Perry project since his return to Aerosmith, which was quite a long time ago now, and the first without any band bitterness. Maybe that has a lot to do with it, because this CD/DVD is loaded with creativity, not to mention some of the greatest licks and strumming rock'n'roll has heard in some time. You can tell that Joe had fun recording this, as he really gets into it, and it's all him. Yes, it's all Joe Perry. He proves that he really doesn't need anyone (except a drummer, of course) to help him do the talking, and he's definitely got the rock'n'rolls again.

After listening to the CD, I did so again, and then jotted down some notes about each track while I listened. Some of the notes were on first listen as well. I was quite impressed with the CD as a whole, and felt the need to get a review out there. I simply feel that this one is classic guitar rock material. Perry plays guitar, bass, and synth guitar throughout the CD, often dubbing three or four guitars. The vocals, lead and backup, are all him, except for the cut, "Talk Talkin'". The Bonaires help out on this one. Paul Caruso plays the drums and percussion. Chris Noise adds analog synth on "Ten Years".

Perry's influences show, too, which is way cool. Don't mind if I point out a few.

Keep in mind it's a dual disc in one. There is no space wasted! Like we needed to be entertained more!

Here are those notes:

The CD:

1) "Shakin' My Cage": What an opener! It's steamy, hard driving blues-rock. Contains great slide guitar in the intro, throughout the song as well. The midway lead is a real Perry guitar extravaganza, crisp and loud. What rattles your cage? If this is Joe being rattled, watch out!

2) "Hold On Me": It has that Keith Richards sound to it, especially the vocals. Rock, rock, rock, with drivin' rhythm guitar. Fuzz lead with nice tone. Some tasty Aerosmith-like riffs and fills. It rocks!

3) "Pray For Me": Joe goes India in the intro! Then, a nice Alice In Chains sound when the song gets going, even throughout the bridge changes. Nice acoustic guitar; the mid lead did it for me, too. Nice modern-indie sound, very different from anything Aerosmith. Other bands are the influence in this one. It not only shows, it shines nicely.

4) "Can't Compare": Joe punks it up a bit. Very melodic in the chorus, sounds a bit like STP or Velvet Revolver. A good display of just how well he can sing. Excellent guitar sounds, a real potpourri. Chops galore at the end.

5) "Lonely": The intro amp noise prepares you for what's coming. Total distortion leads into some hot, hot punk ... sounds like Iggy here ... I've got a real TV Eye on this one. At the chorus it becomes Scott Weiland again. Guitar galore!

6) "Crystal Ship": Just when you thought he had done it all! This one moves to a whole different level! It kind of hits you in the face at startup. The rhythmic flow is awesome. You await that chorus buildup, and it leaves you on the edge, but he does it right. His voice is just perfect, not the power of Morrison, (but then again, who is?) but good all the same. The flow is amazing.

7) "Talk Talkin'": More slide and overdubbed harmony vocals. Starts like "On The Road Again" or "Spirit In The Sky". The fuzz guitar is a little reminiscent of that as well, but the comparison stops there. The harmonies on this one are The Bonaires (Billie Paulette Perry, Roman Perry, Paul Caruso, and Jim Survis ... maybe he got a tad lonely).

8) "Push Comes To Shove": By this one you're calming down a bit, as his style is starting to sink in and settle. More guitar, guitar, guitar!

9) "Twilight": A very interesting, moody, and solid instrumental. About 4 guitars, bass, drums. Intense, scorching tradeoff lead riffs alongside a vibrant and chimey rhythm, excellent rhythmic flow. Just the right tinge of delay and compression. I don't know what he's actually using here, the Tele maybe, because it sounds Fender everywhere.

10) "Ten Years": Country-like bluesy flow, nice twangy and reverberated lead. Mellow cut. Again, Keith Richards-like in the voice, without the rasp. His voice comes alive in the chorus and bridge sections. Nice harmonies ... and they're all him! He never ceases to amaze.

11) "Vigilante Man": Although it's a Woody Guthrie song, this is in no way Woody Guthrie! Powerful intro. More incredible slide. A little George Thorogood-like.

12) "Dying To Be Free": His vocals never cease to amaze me (Didn't I say that already?). The harmony is better than I would ever have thought possible, to be honest.

13) "Mercy": Excellent signature Perry riffs at the opening. A good closer. Instrumental rock perfection, guitar, guitar, guitar! Slide!

The DVD:

It's in 5.1 dolby digital surround. And it's Joe Perry in the Boneyard, the recording studio in his home in Massachusetts. What a place, too! It's nice to be Joe Perry! He talks about the CD, why he decided to do it, and how he went about it. You get a good view of all his gear, too. Besides the Gibsons, it appears he plays the Telecaster a lot.

* * *

This CD/DVD is just what the doctor ordered. There's nothing technically and theoretically outstanding about it; it's simply excellent rock'n'roll ... and once again: guitar, guitar, guitar. It's Joe Perry at his finest, one of the great connoisseurs of the modern and vintage styles of rock and blues guitar. Pop the cork and have a glass or two of some fine Joe Perry. You'll be glad you did,
because 2005 Perry is the perfect flavor for guitarists and rock lovers alike. A fine aftertaste will linger for quite some time.

The worse scenario that I can see happening here is that the CD does so good that it causes more friction within the ranks of the mother ship, Aerosmith. As much as I love where Joe's present taste (past and future, too, for that matter) is coming from, and can't even think of recent Aerosmith CDs as containing the style of music that originally rocked my world anyway (especially as the
first three did), nothing changes the fact that, as a whole, Aerosmith is still one of the best live rock bands on the scene today. But they've decided to take a year off. Hopefully, Joe Perry will be touring in the near future.

A double bill with Keith Richards would be something ... wouldn't it? Excuse me while I dream a little.

Label
Columbia Records

Links
Joe Perry's website
Amazon.com