The Details

AEROSMITH

Music From Another Dimension!

On Music From Another Dimension!, their first album of all-new material in 11 years, the members of Aerosmith sound like they don’t know what kind of music they want to make: The sprawling disc features elements that evoke the band’s ’70s artistic zenith (production by Jack Douglas; songwriting contributions from band members Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer; lead vocals on two songs by guitarist Joe Perry), and album highlight “Out Go the Lights,” with its meaty, bluesy riff and vibrant horn section, sounds like it could have come from that era. But there are also plenty of drippy ballads (including one from “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” songwriter and scourge of humanity Diane Warren) and tired-sounding filler tracks, not to mention a duet between Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood. Reduced to an EP of the leanest ’70s-style tracks, Dimension! could have been Aerosmith’s best album in years, instead of another bloated mess.