#315Albums is a list of 315 albums that appear on both the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, as well as the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die book, edited by Robert Dimery. At its best, it is a representation of some of the greatest music ever released; at its worst, it is a journey through the history of music that the majority see as important, influential, and/or relevant. If nothing else, these albums are worth experiencing at least once to get a better understanding of music, which is why we are working to complete all #315Albums.


No. 033

“This is where Aerosmith perfected their raunchy blues-rock sound, with guitarist Joe Perry laying down some of the Seventies’ most indelible riffs on ‘Walk This Way’ and ‘Sweet Emotion’, and Steven Tyler stepping up with scads of dirtbag swagger and unforgettable songs about his favorite topic: sex.”

Artist: Aerosmith
Album: Toys in the Attic
Released: 1975
Label: Columbia
Rolling Stones Ranking: 229

Toys in the Attic took a few songs to grow on me. At first, I thought Aerosmith was playing it safe. There was nothing offensive about what I was hearing, but it sounded like generic classic rock that I’ve heard a thousand times before. It wasn’t until the trifecta of “Walk This Way”, “Big Ten Inch Record”, and “Sweet Emotion” where Aerosmith won me over. I knew “Walk This Way” and “Sweet Emotion” coming in, but “Big Ten Inch Record” really surprised me with its blatant inuendo, which is why it’s so memorable. It gave me a completely different outlook on the album as a whole. “Sweet Emotion” almost feels like Diet Pink Floyd. It’s a fantastic song that is more experimental and trippy than the rest of the album. Frankly, you could take away the first three songs on the album, and I wouldn’t bat an eye because the rest of the album is pretty damn good. It’s clear to me why this album was such a big seller back in the day, and I’m happy that I own it on vinyl to give it another spin sooner rather than later.

Cinefessions’ #315Albums Rating: 72%

Image and quote courtesy of Rolling Stone Magazine.