July 31, 2016 — There was a time when I couldn’t wait for Sunday mornings (or Saturday depending on the show) because that’s when they played the Countdowns. I know; they still do, it’s just that I don’t really get into it so much now. But I still check them by checking the charts; I check to see how songs are doing, what’s trending, who’s trending. There are a few of them now — the pop chart, the country chart, the rock chart; I’m sure there’s a rap chart, but I don’t check that. The rock chart, for those who are interested, is mostly alternative, bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers (with a pretty cool offering right now), Fitz and the Tantrums, the Lumineers, Kaleo (that’s a good song by the way), X Ambassadors, Coldplay (shudder the thought), and Twenty One Pilots (currently in the first, second and third positions). I listen to these songs on the altie radio, but they are not very rock to me. They lack real get-up-and-go. They lack feel.

Then there’s actual rock. If you’ve ever read Blabbermouth … or gone into Hollywood Guitar Center on a Saturday afternoon, you know what that is now. It’s hard-core. I’ve always meant to listen to the bands they talk about on Blabbermouth, but I can’t get passed Megadeath. The rest I don’t even know. Guitar-based rock became that – a sound with the gain turned up to 11, and with gain and overdrive pedals on. Oh and through in a bunch of compression too. And the singers? Sure a lead singer should be a tough guy or gal, but those people, they are tough beyond tough. I don’t find the singing to be melodic. I don’t find it to be fun. Truthfully, I can’t even get passed the pictures. What happened to the pretty boys, the pretty girls, the boys trying to be pretty girls? What happened to scarves on the mike stand; what happened to dancing and swaying around to be appealing? The answer as to one of those is simple. They went’ to a different countdown. Country.

Enter… Steven Tyler, pretty, perhaps, perhaps not, but certainly one with lyrics you can hear, a voice that is distinctive, a look that makes you … look. Country — It’s the new rock. It has Gibsons and Marshalls. Country has pretty everyone. It has lyrics you can hear, lyrics you can feel. It’s the rock I used to love… but with a twang. Most importantly, it’s not only for the young. Sure there are new artists all the time, but old artists are not thrown away as relics. They are revered. If one from the old world wants to make new music, and doesn’t want to be the Fitz and the Tantrums or the Lumineers or the Twenty One Pilots of the alties, if they don’t want to be Megadeath or … (I don’t know the names, sorry), then … what? The what is country. Heck even Robert Plant has gone that way. He won a Grammy too, I might add. So what of Mr. Tyler’s venture into country?

The look — He looks pretty much the same: Steven Tyler … but with fringe and cowboy boots. Don’t’ get me going on fringe. Fringe is awesome! I used to have this fringe jacket. It was a trademark of mine, especially good as a prop when I taught dance. Yet “real” People judged me because of it, so it faded away. But cowboy boots are eternal. I have at least five pairs of cowboy boots, then there’s the almost cowboys boots, the more shoe-like Frye things with cowboy boot flair. My collection would be more if I could justify it. I’m not sure what that is talking: my obsession with all things horse, … or my East Texas roots … where the dress cowboy boot is what a man wears to church. Perhaps it’s respect of the craft, of the art, that makes them. But seriously, who doesn’t love shopping for Tony Lama’s?

The music — I have heard about half of songs. They are rock-based. Steven’s voice is really strong. Steven packs in the lyrics, alternating between the slow (think Dream On), and fast-paced. It is guitar-based, perhaps too busy at times, but overall, a nice blend of influences. The music was produced with the assistance of Nashville heavyweights. Steven says “I believe y’all are gonna listen to this stuff and you’re gonna agree with me that it fell from a star.” I don’t know whether to be more touched that he gives credit to others, for his pride in this work, … or the fact that he says “y’all”.

My thoughts —  It will take some getting used to. The first song I heard made me laugh a bit – Steven Tyler doing a country vibe is not something I expected — but some of the others seemed good. I think this will be more of an album experience, more songs that take some getting used to, songs that will be good on the third or fourth listen. On my second listening, I’m starting to like it.

The reaction – Youtube comments to the songs are not that populated, but they are favorable, with most songs having a comment that says “this is my favorite song”. I saw one comment asking, rhetorically to the 70-year old, “are you in your twenties”, many calling him “Mr. Tyler”, many thanking him. Publically, and coming back to that countdown thing, the regular combined Billboard chart has the album debuting at number 19, but that’s in there with the Demi Lovatos. The country chart puts Steven Tyler’s album at number 1 – a debut at number 1. I haven’t heard it on country radio yet, but I look forward to when I do. Who knows? I might even tune in to a countdown to cheer on one of my eternal favorites.

My hope – I hope country takes in Mr. Tyler as its new son because I know enough to know Steven Tyler needs to keep making music. Some musicians, some front men, are meant to retire, sure. Some of them don’t sound like they are twenty. Some of them just don’t want it anymore. But there are others who can still do it, some who need … something to do. So after the promised Aerosmith reunion of 2017 when his old fans will be lining up for a good dose of nostalgia, this rocker turned country-boy needs that certain … something to do, something other than retirement. I don’t see new music in the rock world, not this rock world, and for that matter I don’t even see his old Aerosmith fans lining up for new music. Country fans will though, or I hope they will… because they respect their legends, even borrowed legends. And he deserves the respect that it seems only country can give for new music from old legends. So I really hope this works for him.

Plus there’s this… Someday … Someday, I’ll be shopping for some brand new Tony Lama’s — I’m really wanting those red ones Miranda Lambert wears in the Little Red Wagon video — and sitting right next to me will be  … country-boy Steven Tyler. Humm… I wonder if he likes red?

Samplings below, and catch Steven Tyler on Jimmy Fallon on August 4.

My Own Worst Enemy (like this one):

We’re All Somebody From Somewhere (the title track):

Gypsy Girl (gotta love that title):

Only Heaven (definitely Aerosmith-influenced):

The Good the Bad the Ugly and Me (catchy, and my fav so far):