Search - Joe Perry :: Joe Perry

He's got the rock'n'rolls again!

Brian D. Holland | Modern Guitars Magazine | 05/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"'Joe Perry' is the first Perry solo project since his return to Aerosmith, which was quite a while ago now, the first without band bitterness as well. 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 strums rock'n'roll has heard in some time. You can tell Joe had some 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.



His influences show, too, which is pretty 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!



Here are some notes I took while listening:



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, especially coming from someone who knows he's not really a singer.



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



The DVD:



It's Perry at home in the Boneyard, his recording studio in Massachusetts, and it's recorded in 5.1 dolby digital surround. What a place! 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. The CD audio is repearted on the DVD as well.



* * *



This CD/DVD is just what the doctor ordered. There's nothing technically nor 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 and players of the modern and vintage styles of rock and blues guitar."

Listen to it at least 3 times and u will see how GOOD it is!

Steven William Reyes Rosas | Lima, Peru | 05/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first time I heard the record I was a bit disappointed... specially for the vocals because I wanted Steven to be singing on the record, but this is no Aerosmith, this is Joe Perry!



The Second, and specially the third time I heard the record I loved it. It's as good as honkin' on bobo, with the main difference that most of this songs are original except from crystal ship and vigilante man.



This is an AWESOME record but it has no sticky melodies as many commercial records have nowadays, so listen to it at least 3 times and you will see what I mean.



*Best Songs: Can't Compare, Shakin' my cage, Lonely, Crystal Ship, Twilight, Vigilante Man



*Could have been better: Mercy and Talk talkin'

"

It's about the guitars

The Hawk | Powell, Ohio | 05/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is about the Guitars!!. All of you who are whining about the vocals are missing the point. No he can't sing, he is a guitar player, period. On this album he is allowed the freedom to strut his stuff without the restraints of having to worry about being commercial like the modern Aerosmith. This is Joe Perry unleashed. This is everything us old Aerosmith fans want them to be but aren't anymore. If you want singing don't buy this but if you love guitars like I do than turn this baby up to 11 and make sure the plaster on your ceiling is in good shape cause it's comin' down!"