Just Push Play is the 13thstudio album by American rock band Aerosmith.The album was co-produced by song collaborators Marti Frederiksen and Mark Hudson and was released in March 2001. The album's first single, "Jaded", became a Top 10 hit in the U.S. and around the world. As a result, Just Push Play was certified platinum within a month of its release. Subsequent singles "Fly Away from Here", "Sunshine", and "Just Push Play", though garnering some airplay, failed to impact the Hot 100, although the latter two charted on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart and the former charted on the Adult Top 40.
Background
The album's cover, which was designed by Hajime Sorayama, features a gynoid resembling Marilyn Monroe. Several songs were recorded for the album that went unused. "Ain't It True", "Easy", "Innocent Man", "I Love You Down", and "Sweet Due" can be linked as originating from these sessions. "Angel's Eye" was used for the soundtrack to "Charlie's Angels." "Face" and "Won't Let You Down" were issued as bonus tracks on later pressings of the album. These songs are listed in copyright repertories. The track "Do You Wonder" was supposedly recorded for this album, as well. In 2010, guitarist Joe Perry revealed his distaste for the album:
Critical reception
gave the album 65 out of 100 based on 14 generally favorable reviews. For his review of Just Push Play for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine said that it was their best album since Pump in 1989, but he criticized them "for not acting their age" and said the album was not much compared to Pump and Permanent Vacation. He compared their production name, "The Boneyard Boys", to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' production name, "The Glimmer Twins." Ben Mitchell of Blender magazine said the album was better than Nine Lives by a little bit and feels the album was not with the times and was rather poor. Darryl Stredan strongly disliked the album, to the point that he considered it proof that Aerosmith should stop making new music. Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly called the album "good but not great". NME said that most of the album is not new, but the album was Aerosmith's first album to feature rap metal with songs like "Just Push Play" and "Outta Your Head". David Fricke of Rolling Stone said that Just Push Play was the closest Aerosmith had come to a "great album" since Rocks, despite the "weak spots" of the album's power ballads. Robert Christgau picked out the album's lead single, "Jaded", as a choice cut. The album was nominated for three Grammy Awards in 2001 including Best Rock Album, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group, and Best Short Form Music Video. Just Push Play debuted at number two on the Billboard'' 200, selling over 240,000 copies in its first week.
Track listing
NB: On the original version, roughly 45 seconds after "Avant Garden" a hidden track entitled "Under My Skin Reprise" plays for about one minute. On the international version, the track is roughly 40 seconds after "Face" and on the Japanese version after "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing".
Personnel
Aerosmith
Steven Tylerlead vocals, piano, squeezebox, harmonica, percussion, additional guitar and drums, conga, backing vocals on "Drop Dead Gorgeous", mixing, production
