Customer Reviews

Pump

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In 1987 Aerosmith made a huge comeback after being considered 70s has beens. Still riding high on Permnant Vacations success the band entered a studio in Vancouver. With the sessions done in 1989, Aerosmith unleashed another hardrocking masterpiece. This album recaptured their 70s swagger & took it to new levels. The band fires on all cylinders and this album contains no weak spots. This album is fun, fast, and is a goodtime like a rock album should be.

1. Young Lust. 10/10 Starts the album with a bang. Great drum solo ending.

2. F.I.N.E. 10/10 Great hard driving song. I love the sexual innuendo.

3. Love in an Elevator. 10/10. Amazing guitar solos drive this song. Brillant sleazy lyrics, dripping with innuendo. One of their best ever.

4. Monkey on my Back. 9/10 Another great hard driving rock song.

5. Janie's Got a Gun. 10/10 Covers the serious topic of child abuse and manages to flat out rock. Very gutsy, dark song, and a true masterpiece. I know people who hate Aerosmith but concede this is a great song.

6. The Other Side. 10/10 Starts with some Dulcimers then they unleash on another great hard rock song.

7. My Girl. 7/10 The album dips a bit at this point only because those first 6 songs were so blistering. This is still a good song just overshadowed by the preceding songs.

8. Don't Get Made Get Even. 8/10 Captures the attitude towards and ex.

9. Vodoo Medicine Man. 7/10 Good song, but another one that is overpowered by the earlier better songs.

10. What it Takes. 9/10 Very good album closer about surviving a break up & moving on. It is a power ballad but holds up unlike most 80s power ballads.

Many consider this Aerosmith's best album. It is their best after the 70s for sure. Must have for hardcore fans and a good place to start for those just getting into Aerosmith.

Hot on the heels of their successful "Permanent Vacation" and still enjoying a resurgence as rockers, Aerosmith cranked out "Pump." It is, in my opinion, the best of their second successful run of albums. While "Vacation" set the table, "Pump" kicked things into high gear. From the opening track, "Young Lust," Aerosmith does not let up with their bluesy, dirty, driving sound. Songs like "F.I.N.E." and "My Girl" solidified this album as real rock, but it was the deep contrasts in their major releases that set this album apart from the pack. From the socially-conscious and touchy subject of "Janie's Got A Gun" to the slow, emotional "What It Takes" to the raw, sex-laden "Love In An Elevator," Aerosmith took this album in a million directions and managed to hold it all together. They also threw in a lot of experimental sounding segues as with "Dulcimer Stomp" and the wonderful "Hoodoo Voodoo Medicine Man."

In short, if I had to pick one album from their second run in rock history, I'd have to go with "Pump." It proved that older rockers could hang with the best of the young guys at the time and it came before their more homogenized and stale sounding albums like "Get A Grip."

Highly recommended.

BAND: Steven Tyler (vocals, piano, harmonica), Joe Perry (guitars), Brad Whitford (guitars), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (1989) 10 songs clocking in at approximately 48 minutes. Included with the disc is a 6-page foldout containing band photos, song titles/credits, and thank you's. Recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver BC, Canada. Label - Geffen.

COMMENTS: "Pump" is Aerosmith's finest album of the 80's. Absolutely positively no filler. As good as the mega hits are ("Janie's Got A Gun", "Love In An Elevator"), the deeper album cuts are what makes this album great. The opening 1-2 punch of rockers "Young Lust" and "F.I.N.E. (F**cked up, Insecure, Neurotic & Emotional)" set the tone of the album. "Monkey On My Back", "The Other Side", "My Girl" are wonderful songs proving the Toxic Twins were able to separate themselves from their past demons (in the late 70's and early 80's). One of my favorite obscure Aero tunes is here... "Hoodoo/Voodoo Medicine Man"... great lyrics and layers upon layers of ultra heavy guitars. This latter day Aersomith feels the need to incorporate a power ballad into each album. Where its predecessor ("Permanent Vacation") serenaded us with "Angel", "Pump" scored an even bigger ballad hit with "What It Takes". A good song, even if it is geared toward the female population. Later albums (i.e. "Get A Grip", "Nine Lives", "Just Push Play") are simply saturated with the rock ballads... and I can't and won't rate them as high. Aerosmith is best when they're rockin' the house - bluesy raunch & roll style. Aerosmith got their act together after several sub-par albums (well, certainly not 'classics' anyway) in the late 70's and early 80's, and they've rebounded nicely. Dare I say they were almost starting from scratch after "Rock In A Hard Place" (1982). Thankfully Perry and Whitford rejoined the band and have been cranking out albums ever since. I don't rank "Pump" as high as "Rocks" or "Toys In The Attic", but it's still in that special 1st tier of their albums. Classic Aerosmith 80's style (4.5 stars).

The biggest album of Aerosmith's career? Well, some will argue Toys in the Attic was, but this album was more popular when it was first released because of the "big comeback" tag that was attached to it by many fans and disc jockeys. And how can I have a problem with that? The band had a severe drug addiction, and they were able to beat that dreadful addiction and make a quality album.

All the big hits from the album that you've heard (plenty of times) are gold, but even the lesser known songs are quite strong, melodically. Steven Tyler's singing is right on the money most of the time, and this album avoids being dominated with all kinds of stinky ballads the band would start making a couple years after this albums release. Worth picking up.

Aerosmith made several excellent CDs along the way; and they still go strong with plenty of life left in them! This CD by Aerosmith, Pump, gives us an excellent collection of more instantly classic rock tunes and ballads by these masters of rock and roll.

The CD track set begins with "Young Lust." The electric guitars work well to start off the number-- and the CD--just right. Steven Tyler cries out and then starts singing about the lust we all experience when we're young and spend time with someone we find really, really hot. The drums, percussion and guitars make a great musical arrangement that lets "Young Lust" take off like a jet! "F.I.N.E.*" rocks hard; the band performs this excellent number about how excited a young man is to spend time alone with his girlfriend. Great! Good subtle changes between major and minor chords, too.

"Love In An Elevator" starts with a few spoken lines to set the tone for this ballad about love, lust and romantic attraction between man and woman. Aerosmith compares love in an elevator to making love; the electric guitars, drums, percussion and bass work wonders for the arrangement. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry sing "Love In An Elevator" like the pros that they are! The band jams hard, too. Great! "Janie's Got A Gun" begins with an eerie sounding intro that has some awesome minor chords; Aerosmith sings of a woman who's been so abused by her father that she wants to use a gun to kill him. The drums make "Janie's Got A Gun" even better; and Aerosmith does this ballad to perfection. The chorus is very well done; and the band jams, too. I predict that you will like "Janie's Got A Gun" very much.

"Don't Get Mad, Get Even" explores the hatred a person can feel for another after they've been wronged. Steven Tyler sings of a man who wants to "get even" with the person who hurt him without losing control of himself. The guitars work wonders for "Don't Get Mad, Get Even." This rock number also lets Steven Tyler show of his wide vocal range--awesome!

The final track is entitled "What It Takes." This instant classic rock ballad explores the pain a man feels when he sees his former girlfriend with another man. He reminisces about their love and wonders what he could have done to keep their love alive. Steven Tyler delivers this passionately with all his heart and soul; and Joe Perry helps out on vocals, too. The harmonica adds a nice touch to the musical arrangement as the guitars rock hard with great percussion. "What It takes" provides a strong ending for this incredible album.

The liner notes include some fantastic artwork as well as the song credits.

Aerosmith put out many albums--and here's hoping they will continue to do so for many years to come! Nevertheless, Pump glistens like shiny gold amongst all their CDs. I highly recommend this as a "must-have" for Aerosmith fans; and people who enjoy classic rock will cling on to this album for ages to come!

Rock on, guys! Great job!

By the late 1980s, rock and roll was all about putting on a cutting-edge, exciting display of powerful guitar, drum, bass and vocals. By 1989, the third time back in the studio of the original lineup of Aerosmith (Steven Tyler- Vocals Keyboards and Harmonica, Joe Perry- Guitar, Brad Whitford- Guitar, Tom Hamilton- Bass, and Joey Kramer- Drums) proved to be the true charm for Aerosmith, and they cranked out a real rocker headed for a hall of fame.

PUMP is the second peak of the band's career (after their commercial plunge in the early 1980's due to declining record sales and inner group turmoil) It builds upon their catchy music that brought new fans who enjoyed 1987's Permanent Vacation, and ties the classy new co-writing team of Desmond Child and Jim Vallance who helped out on several tracks on PUMP to Perry and Tyler's hard-cutting edge and sleazy, slick lyrics that earned Aerosmith immense popularity on their 1970's albums.

Most of the tracks here are so well constructed that at a first glance, the casual listener won't really skip any tracks on the first go. There have been several radio singles to have come from this album, the slick "Love in an Elevator", the catchy "Janie's Got a Gun" (A Grammy Winner), the rocker "The Other Side", and my personal favorite, the closing ballad, "What It Takes".

"Young Lust" opens as a hard hitting fast-paced rocker that will pretty much define the superiority of the record on its own. My favorite part is at the conclusion where Kramer goes on a 30-Second drumming spree that leads into the secondary rocker "F.I.N.E.". The Fun doesn't end there. If you're not at least grinning by now, then this isn't your record. "Monkey On My Back" is a bouncy number that feels ahead of its time. (It also has been featured in several car commercials). "My Girl", and "Don't Get Mad, Get Even" are both excellent tracks. "Voodoo Medicine Man" happens to be one of the most unique and interesting tracks on the CD but will definetly grow on any Aerosmith listener.

Another interesting thing to note is that there are often bookmark songs and skits on this CD that separate songs, for added touches. These are definetly unique to this specific CD. The most impressive of these cuts is "Dulcimer Stomp" which plays immediately before "The Other Side" on Track 6.

I would recommend PUMP as a CD for just about anybody. I have not found many CDs to equal its integrity or to match the impression it has left on me. If there are any fans of Late 1980's hard rock (G'N'R Fans would certainly enjoy this CD) or even hair fans (should they still exist), or if you come from the 90's and would like to know what a truly amazing 80's rock record is, look no further.

Breakdown:
"Pump" showcases Aerosmith at their very best in the 1980's. The album compliments many artists who were growing in popularity in the late 80's and early 90's and stands well amongst them. The record has many lasting hits and is arguably the best album of Aerosmith's second coming. If you purchase any record from the later half of the band's career, this one will make a fine choice.

Aerosmith: "Pump" (A)

I had heard Aerosmith for years - back when I was in high school (I'm 45 now), and this CD made me an Aerosmith fan. All of the songs are equally worth listening to, but I would have to say the best songs in my opinion on this CDare by far "Monkey On My Back," "Hoodoo/Medicine Man," with some very good instrumental mixed in ("The Otherside"). This CD (and "Permanent Vacation") has shown that Aerosmith is a very versatile rock group, which is no wonder why they have lasted this long!! If you are an Aerosmith fan, you will not be disappointed!!

you'll sure enjoy Pump too! I was hesitant about getting this album as I thought that Permanent Vacation was so good for a "comeback" album that the band were bound to lose their lustre. However, I was wrong and Pump is every bit as enjoyable as Permanent Vacation. Great lively rock with some tracks you'll remember from the radio back in the late 80s / early 90s (Jamie's Got a Gun, Love in an Elevator). And it's not just these tracks that stand out, overall the album's quality is consistently good in and of itself.

Pump was a great album from the moment I heard it! Aerosmith is more rock driven on here than the Desmond Child/Diane Warren like sound of the last album. I like Monkey and some of the other songs just as much as the hits of Love in An Elevator, which I thought would be a hit the first time I heard it! There are shades of their '70s period sprinkled within many of the songs and the blues rock stomp that they're known for. This album strongly shows the band at their most creative and the Steven Tyler/Joe Perry songwriting and music making is phenomenal. Tom Hamilton and Brad Whitfield's guitar playing are at their strongest. And Joey Kramer's plays unlike anything I've heard on the drums, as he hits them hard on the snares. I've turned the volume up on the parts where he hits the drums some 8 to 9 times on this album! It's Aerosmith's most consistent and rocking album in their post sobriety period. None of the albums they've made in the 90s and after 2001 (though they're just as good) come even close to this '89 effort!

PUMP was an even bigger success than Aerosmith's predecessor,PERMANENT VACATION. There are a lot of BIG ONES on this album. LOVE IN AN ELEVATOR became a Top 20 hit as did JANIE'S GOT A GUN,THE OTHER SIDE and WHAT IT TAKES. FINE is an acronym for the following adjectives:F---ED UP,INSECURE,NEUROTIC,EMOTIONAL. Steven Tyler spells the acronym in WHAT IT TAKES. This was one of the best-selling albums in 1990 although it was released in fall 1989. For some reason,the band decided to leave DEUCES ARE WILD off the PUMP album which they would release on the various artists album,THE BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD EXPERIENCE in 1993. You can see videos for some of the PUMP tracks on the video,"Things That Go PUMP In the Night".