Steven Tyler has just released the third single off his forthcoming We’re All Somebody From Somewhere CD, due out July 15th on Big Machine’s Dot Records imprint. The title track, written by Tyler and Jaren Johnston, features a flurry of flavors from the Delta blues to pop country to a touch of 90’s Aerosmith.

The song opens with a big drum fill kicking off a loop of hand claps backed by well balanced acoustic stringed instruments including a mandolin. At first listen, it was turn off because I thought it sounded like the rest of the processed music that’s out there, but it quickly changes with the flavors Tyler mixes into the track. The horns give it a New Orleans feel with a solo section that mixes even more Cajun flavors as the horns trade off solos with a rock sounding guitar.

Lyrically, the first verse is twice as long as the second which throws it off balance for someone with OCD like me. I’m sure there’s enough Americana that could’ve filled another three lines for balance, but it still works. The lyrics name drop cities and cultures and bring everybody together. My least favorite parts are when the music suddenly drops and Tyler speaks a line before breaking into the chorus. It just feels awkward to me, but the rest of the song really works.

How will it fare at country radio? Who knows? Radio is such an iffy medium these days, some of the most poppy sounding songs cease to climb the charts as expected while some of the most country sounding tracks top them. The single is also being serviced to active rock, classic hits, classic rock and mainstream rock stations, as well, so it could have huge crossover appeal to Aerosmith fans. Parts of the song aren’t too far off from two of Aerosmith’s biggest hits, “Dude Looks Like A Lady” and “Janie’s Got A Gun.”

I give the song an eight out of ten and look forward to seeing what else Tyler has in store on his CD. “Love Is Your Name” was the first single released last summer and “Red White & You” was released earlier this year. Anticipation about Tyler’s first solo CD is gaining more traction as the album’s release date draws closer. Look for a complete album review as soon as I can get a copy.

The song impacts radio on July 18th.

BUY SINGLE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtU5lEmwJ3U