Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?

With his salaciously huge mouth, Aerosmith front man, and current "American Idol" judge, Steven Tyler looks like he could swallow the whole world--and judging by this memoir, he has! Nothing is spared in this highly impressionistic autobiography of a musical prodigy and aggressively outgoing personality who seemed destined for success, and whose appetite for sex and drugs was matched only by his ruthless ambition. Despite his transformation from bad boy to matinee idol, Tyler still comes off strikingly down-to-earth, and narrator Jeremy Davidson--who has a penchant for the grandiose with his background in pulp drama--handles it all as if he's just walked out of a pool hall in the Bronx, Tyler's hometown. J.S.H. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

August 1, 2011

Aerosmith frontman Tyler's immense ego leaps off the discs of his new autobiography, coauthored with veteran Rolling Stone magazine editor/writer Dalton. There is surprisingly little entertainment value or insight in this rambling, narcissistic, X-rated memoir, which jumps from anecdote to anecdote with little regard for a cohesive story. Tyler, who writes in a frustratingly incoherent stream-of-conscious style, seems more interested in insulting his band mates and bragging about his sexual conquests and rampant drug use than in sharing details of Aerosmith's 35 years of ups and downs and his own turbulent personal life. This rock'n'roll survivor tale pales in comparison with that of Keith Richards, whose Life is a richly detailed and well-told account of life in a legendary rock band. This progam includes a brief interview with Tyler. Narrator Jeremy Davidson's dynamic, obnoxious narration fits Tyler's off-putting braggadocio and bawdy humor. Of interest to undiscriminating diehard adult fans interested more in Tyler the gluttonous star than in Tyler the artist. [The Ecco hc, published in May, was a Los Angeles Times and a New York Times best seller; see Major Audio Releases, LJ 4/15/11.--Ed.]--Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia

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