AEROSMITH – Done With Mirrors [Japan SHM-CD mini-LP remastered] Out Of Print

One of you asked for the best sounding-reissue AEROSMITH albums, especially from the first era. Now here’s “Done With Mirrors”, in its Japanese remastered reissue pressed on on SHM-CD, mini-LP replica format.
This is the eighth studio from the band, released November 9, 1985. It marked the return of guitarists Joe Perry, who had left in 1979, and Brad Whitford, who had left in 1981.
The band’s first album on Geffen Records, it was intended as their “comeback”. However, despite good reviews, it did not live up to commercial expectations.

“Done With Mirrors” is an underrated Aerosmith album, which didn’t make it big commercially because it simple didn’t fit the sound / style of 1985-86.
Aerosmith sound too much ‘classic rock’ here for the era, raw, unpolished. For many, this is their finest record since the classic ‘Rocks’, powered by the same smart-assed lyrics and filthy guitars that formed the core of Aerosmith’s best songs.

The actual “sound” is unique from all other of the bands efforts. Straight, bluesy and quite raw.
It didn’t receive the commercial or critical attention that Permanent Vacation did two years later – they learned the lesson: in 1987 if you wanted to sell you needed a polished, glossy sound – but Done With Mirrors is a better album in terms of songwriting; it marks the beginning of their remarkable comeback.

I must say though that “Done With Mirrors” has aged surprsingly well. It delivers what Aerosmith does best: writing riffs and ballads while having a certain energy that few manage to match in their own right. The later “Aersomith Unplugged” show from MTV shows exactly what I mean.
Many other bands might be more technical, tighter, be more progressive. But when the feeling and flow is right Aerosmith is in a league few others can match.
This SHM-CD reissue – now out of print – sounds terrific.
Highly Recommended

Universal Japan ～UICY-94441 【ＬＴＤ ＳＨＭ－ＣＤ】
「 ＣＡＲＤＢＯＡＲＤ ＳＬＥＥＶＥ ＲＥＩＳＳＵＥ ＳＥＲＩＥＳ 」

01 – Let The Music Do The Talking
02 – My Fist Your Face
03 – Shame On You
04 – The Reason A dog
05 – Shela
06 – Gypsy Boots
07 – She’s On Fire
08 – The Hop
09 – Darkness

Steven Tyler – vocals, piano, harmonica, percussion
Joe Perry – guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals
Brad Whitford – guitar, acoustic guitar
Tom Hamilton – bass
Joey Kramer – drums, percussion

OUT OF PRINT
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-94441
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