Aerosmith G.T.F.O. - Again...

Let's do it like they do in Hollywood: That's right, folks, it's sequel time! Not necessarily because the first album was such a huge hit on this here ol' blog, but because I had too many songs to fit onto one album. If you recall, I dropped some songs from the line up of that first album 'cause it just ran too long, a problem with bands who have a well-defined but relatively similar sound (ZZ Top comes to mind as a prime example). So there was always gonna be a G.T.F.O. 2, and well, here it is. The concept hasn't changed: The Geffen years, told via deep and live cuts, remixes, outtakes, non-album singles and soundtrack contributions.  

Like any good sequel it opens with something immediately reminding the audience of that first thing. In this case, it has the same opening track, mainly because it's a great, rousing opener. This time, "Livin' On The Edge" is featured in a live version. Some things on here are fittingly literal second parts: The country & western ballad "Once Is Enough" already featured on Country Dreamers and the first G.T.F.O. album, but the second part hasn't featured yet, mainly because it's a rather stereotypical Aerosmith rave-up. And "Burnin Up (Again)" is the second part (or rather, the last quarter) of the smokin' (yup, pun intended) Pump outtake on the first album. But it just ran too long, severely impacting the flow of the collection. So you get the rest - including some nice fretting on slide guitar - right here. 

There is the usual assortment of remixes (for "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Love In An Elevator") and alternate version (acoustic versions of  "Amazing" and "Angel" and "Monkey On My Back" from MTV Unplugged before that show blew up).There's Doors cover "Love Me Two Times" from the Air America soundtrack and for collectors the rare and really nice, mellow instrumental outtake "Fake Fight" and a mix of outtake snatches. There really is a bit of everything on here. Sure, if you can't get on board with the more mainstream side of Aerosmith during the Geffen years, some of these remixes might fall on the wrong side of pandering, but frankly, I think everything on here kicks butt, so, yeah...

So, choices, choices. Get on board with G.T.F.O. 2 or g.t.f.o.! (Just kidding of course)