Ok, what do we have every year? Yes Christmas. And what do labels do at Christmas to break our balls and to fill up their poor wallets? Exactly, they release best of’s no one needs. This time it’s AEROSMITHs turn. First the good news: Devil's Got A New Disguise contains 16 top hits of the American rock and roll band. You will find zip opener like Dream On and Cryin' or also smash hits like Walk This Way and Love In An Elevator. The main weight was put on Christmas compatible tearjerkers and swinging mid-tempo songs. The CD could need some more rock and roll, but the actual mix shows exactly at what kind of customers Columbia is aiming.
This best of is completed with Sudona Surprise and the title-track. The first of these songs derivers from the Pump – times and was on that demo. Who listens at this track understands at once why it didn´t make it on the regular album. It sounds kitschy, unspectacular, and it’s badly produced. It seems the track was put directly from the demo tape on the CD without re-mastering it. Loveless. As song Devil's Got A New Disguise convinces me more. It’s faster – and this CD needs speed urgently – good melodies, it’s ok.
But only one good unreleased song is far, far to less to give a buy recommendation. AEROSMITH fans have all the other songs. So what? First the labels cry because they don’t sell as they want. And then they release a loveless and needless best of. Who cares of these albums? Who doesn’t know AEROSMITH and wants to start with a best of should buy the Big Ones from 1994, and everyone else won’t need Devil's Got A New Disguise.