ALBUM REVIEW: Steven Tyler - We're All Somebody From Somewhere

Skepticism is only natural when an artist announces a genre switch. Some see such moves as attempts to stay relevant, others see moves as a mere marketing ploy, a move to cash in. Such views were vocally voiced when Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler announced that his new record would be a country record. Yet, We’re All Somebody From Somewhere effortlessly quashes such arguments with a collection of some finely crafted country songs which contain as much heart as they do twang.

A lot of artists try to blend Rock and Roll and country together, with varying levels of success. Naturally Tyler pulls it off – what else would you expect from him?

‘My Own Worst Enemy’ is perhaps not the best album opener. It’s a slow track and for any skeptics listening, they may falsely believe that Tyler’s interpretation of country music is that of the infamous stereotype that the genre is all about songs about tough times. The song is good but definitely not representative of the whole album. The title track has the sort of swagger that Tyler is famous for (this song would have been a better choice to begin the album on) and ‘I Make My Own Sunshine is this reviewer’s personal favorite, a lovely carefree song which you can’t help but feel that this song is Tyler’s ode to the naysayers of this chapter of his storied career, as he sings on the chorus, It don’t matter if it’s raining, nothing can phase me, I make my own sunshine.

‘Only Heaven’ is slightly reminiscent to the iconic Aerosmith track, ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’ yet it is by no means a carbon copy, nor is that a detriment to the track with Tyler’s vocals just as strong now as they were then, a clear sign that the man is showing no signs of slowing down. ‘The Good, The Bad, The Ugly & Me’ follows (for those who listen in track album order) and is rockier, a lovely example of the versatility offered on the record.

There are a plentiful fifteen tracks on offer, all of a very, very high standard. I personally was surprised by the high quality of this album and I was very much excited about this release when it was announced. I suspect others – including and especially those skeptics – will also be pleasantly surprised.

We're All Somebody From Somewhere is available from July 15th.

Steven Tyler Announces Debut Solo Album 'We're All Somebody From Somewhere'

Iconic songwriter and prolific singer Steven Tyler revealed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show recently that his highly anticipated debut solo album will be released July 15th worldwide on Dot Records, underneath the Big Machine Label Group umbrella. The album is available for pre-order now.

Revealing the cover art while chatting with Ellen, Tyler shared that he co-produced the 13-track album entitled We're All Somebody From Somewhere, alongside legendary musicians/producers T Bone Burnett and Dann Huff in addition to Marti Frederiksen and Jaren Johnston (The Cadillac Three). On June 24th, Tyler will release the album’s title track ‘We’re All Somebody From Somewhere’ across digital retail partners everywhere.

“I headed down to Nashville last spring to start working on this project, wrote some kick ass songs with some of Music City’s finest songwriters and now we get to share them with the world on July 15,” said Tyler. “Country music is the new Rock ‘n Roll. It’s not just about porches, dogs and kicking your boots up. It's a whole lot more. It's about being real. And nothing is more real than understanding We’re All Just Somebody From Somewhere.”


A longtime fan of the genre, Tyler’s "powerful and raw" (Rolling Stone Country) voice first hit the Country airwaves as 'Love Is Your Name' reached #1 on the Billboard Country Streaming Songs chart. He followed with the anthemic 'RED, WHITE & YOU,' which Taste of Country called 'an unapologetic slice of good-time commercial country, slickly produced and with a lyric aimed squarely at the work-hard, play-hard values of country’s core audience.'

American fans can experience live versions of the new tracks, in addition to signature hits throughout the limited-run, 19-city solo tour, ‘STEVEN TYLER’S OUT ON A LIMB’. Tickets are now on sale, bringing the dynamic frontman to a series of intimate venues for a once-in-a-lifetime evening with rock royalty. Backed by his Nashville-based band, Loving Mary, the GRAMMY® Award-winner gets up-close-and-personal like never before as he shares his real-life heartaches, trials and tribulations from his piano upbringing to worldwide fame and life with his band. In a time-traveling musical journey that spans over four decades, the industry institution does not hold back as he recounts in-depth stories of his life from his musical ancestors in Calabria, Italy all the way to Route 440 and Nashville's Country music.

Cited by Rolling Stone as as 'one of the greatest singers of all time,' Tyler and Aerosmith have sold more than 150 million records worldwide. He has won four Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, four Billboard Music Awards and an Emmy Award. In addition to having nine #1 hits, 25 GOLD, 18 PLATINUM and 12 MULTI-PLATINUM album certifications, the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2013, Tyler was awarded with the Founder's Award at the ASCAP Pop Awards and was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.

In November 2015, Tyler founded his philanthropic initiative Janie's Fund in partnership with Youth Villages to bring hope and healing to girls who have suffered the trauma of abuse and neglect.

For more information, check out Steven's Twitter, Facebook and website.