Little South of Sanity

Drug addiction couldn't stop them, nor could the ascension of alterna-rock and the process of aging. Not only are Aerosmith still together, but they're still recording hit singles. Since their formation in the early '70s, the band has scored a multitude of platinum albums and Top 40 hits. Moreover, Aerosmith remain a flamboyant, energized live band capable of recapturing that magical, sexual endorphin rush of youthful rock & roll abandon. Yup, on a good night, seeing Aerosmith is like experiencing your first time all over again. So it comes as no surprise that this band's double live disc is no mere trip down memory lane. Vocalist Steven Tyler still sounds raw, untamed, and on-key, shrieking as passionately as ever and reaching notes Robert Plant and Ozzy Osbourne would sell their kidneys for. And guitarist Joe Perry's bluesy, blustery rhythms and piercing solos still echo with passion and hunger. The first disc is a bit bogged down with '90s material, but the band performs stellar versions of "Love in an Elevator," "Livin' on the Edge," "Cryin'," and "Janie's Got Gun." It's the second disc that really sizzles, as the Toxic Twins dip into their drug-addled past and unleash monsters such as "Back in the Saddle," "Dream On," and "Sweet Emotion." Get your rocks off! --Jon Wiederhorn