Nine Lives

by Aerosmith

Overview

Aerosmith signed a multi-million-dollar contract with Columbia Records before they had completed their deal with Geffen, which meant that a lot was riding on their Columbia debut, Nine Lives, when it was finally delivered in 1997. During recording, the band nearly broke up, and they worked with a number of producers -- including Glen Ballard, the man behind Alanis Morissette -- before settling on Kevin Shirley, an in-house producer responsible for Silverchair and Journey. Perhaps that's the reason why Nine Lives sounds so calculated, as if it was assembled by a band trying to sound like Aerosmith. In a sense, it is -- not one of the 13 songs were written without the assistance of professional songwriters. Of course, some of the best moments of Pump and Permanent Vacation were also written with professionals, but they had an appealing, slick surface that made them infectious. Nine Lives, in contrast, is overlabored, with Aerosmith making a conscious effort to sound hip and vibrant, which ironically simply makes them sound tired. Not only are the performances perfunctory, but the songs aren't catchy -- no matter how hard it tries, "Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)" never develops a hook, and it is not an exception. A handful of cuts approximate the raunchy appeal of prime Aerosmith, but Nine Lives is hardly the triumphant comeback it should have been. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	07/14/2023
Label:	Capitol / Umr
UPC:	0602455104908

Tracks

1. Nine Lives
2. Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees)
3. Hole In My Soul
4. Taste of India
5. Full Circle
6. Something's Gotta Give
7. Ain't That A Bitch
8. The Farm
9. Crash
10. Kiss Your Past Good-bye
11. Pink
12. Attitude Adjustment
13. Fallen Angels

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Aerosmith   Primary Artist
David Campbell   Conductor,Conductor
Tom Hamilton   Bass,Stick,Chapman Stick,Guitar (Bass)
Joe Perry   Guitar,Dulcimer,Slide Guitar,Vacuum Cleaner,Vocals (Background)
Steven Tyler   Organ,Piano,Vocals,Dulcimer,Harmonica,Keyboards,Percussion,Hammer Dulcimer
Joey Kramer   Drums
John Webster   Keyboards
Ramesh Mishra   Strings,Sarangui
Brad Whitford   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)

Technical Credits

David Frangioni   Production Engineer,Pre-Production
David Campbell   Arranger,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements,Recording Arranger
Fiona Williams-Chappel   Stylist
F. Scott Schafer   Photography
Gail Marowitz   Art Direction,Photo Art Direction
Jim Survis   Guitar Technician
Rhodes Tyler   Composer
Christopher Austopchuk   Art Direction,Photo Art Direction
Jeanne Greco   Calligraphy
Sander Selover   Programming
Richard Supa   Composer
John Kalodner   Producer,Mastering
Lisa Sharken   Guitar Technician
Leslie Lee   A&R
Andy Gilman   Drum Technician
Dominic James Miller   Composer
Archie Avila   Producer
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg   Composer
Joe Perry   Composer,Engineer,Recording
Taylor Rhodes   Composer
Steve Dudas   Composer
Steven Tyler   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Recording,Horn Arrangements,Recording Arranger
Harold Arlen   Composer
Elliot Scheiner   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Mixing Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Greg Wells   Composer
Leon Zervos   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Mark Hudson   Composer,Engineer,Recording
Desmond Child   Composer
Rory Romano   Engineer,Second Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Marti Frederiksen   Composer
Joseph Perry   Composer
Diane Warren   Composer
Aerosmith   Producer,Assistant Producer
Hank Ballard   Composer
Glen Ballard   Composer
Herbert Stothart   Composer
Tony Perry   Composer
Kevin Shirley   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Mixing Engineer
Frederiksen   Composer