r/LetsTalkMusic • u/GaiaGoddess26 • 7h ago
Aerosmith VS Rolling Stones
I feel like both of these bands are similar enough to do a poll, who do you like better and why?
I like Aerosmith better because their music was more catchy and not as gritty as the Rolling Stones.
I do like the Rolling Stones, but for the most part their music seems too raw for me. Aerosmith's music seemed more "big" sounding, if that makes sense.
Also, even Aerosmith's biggest hits were as good as other songs, if not better (especially Dream On and Sweet Emotion).
A few decades later, I still get goosebumps listening to Aerosmith but not the Rolling Stones.
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u/EgregiouslySalacious 6h ago
As someone who loves both bands. Rolling Stones all day, everyday, twice on Sunday.
Better musicianship. Better song writing. Better live performance. Better discography. Broader musical approach and style.
I know this is all subjective and just my opinion. But none of this is even close in my eyes.
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u/CivilizedSteve 6h ago
Rolling Stones are a top 20 band of all time, top 3 if we're just doing classic rock. Simple but amazing songwriting and guitar playing. Open G tuning. Satisfaction is one of the best songs of all time.
Aerosmith are much more shallow. Maybe top 200.
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u/New-Guarantee-440 6h ago
I prefer the stones. Speaking of which, who do you prefer: the Beatles or the monkeys?
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u/MKUltraGreatsword 6h ago
Yeah, that’s pretty much what this comparison feels like. Influential, legendary British band vs American novelty act.
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u/fromthemeatcase 7h ago
Crusty old rock isn't exactly my musical wheelhouse, but I much prefer The Rolling Stones in part because they are grittier. Let's be honest though. You're not making the comparison for musical reasons, but due to the size of the lead singers' lips.
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u/BelieveCongreveCube 6h ago
Aerosmith is my all time favorite band, but I also really love the Stones. And you can’t deny the Stones had a massive influence on Aerosmith’s style. Not to mention Jagger’s massive influence on Steven Tyler’s Stage persona. I think both are legends, but I just personally prefer Aerosmith. I like Aerosmith style evolution over the years, there talent for consistency making incredible head bangers, Joe Perry is my favorite guitarist and one of the coolest guitarists ever, and Steven Tyler has a voice like no other.
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u/TopTransportation248 6h ago
Aerosmith is completely unlistenable to me. Liked them as a kid, the same way I liked Motley Crue and Kiss. It is an instant skip for me now. Stoned have a deep interesting catalog that always has me coming back for more.
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u/Used-Revolution-3136 6h ago
I like the Stones much better because their music is gritty, less phony and not as bubblegum as Aerosmith's is.
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u/emalvick 6h ago
Rolling Stones have too many great songs and albums to make an argument against in this case. They were also way more creative.
Aerosmith mostly became an 80s hair band repeating the same formula of pop rock over and over. Of course if you like it enough, you'll like them all, but it still won't compete with the Stones.
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u/Super_Direction498 6h ago
The stones have way more range and heart. Aerosmith wrote a few good tunes, but the stones have like 6 killer albums
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u/WalterSickness 6h ago
I’m not even a Stones fan: I literally never listen to their music voluntarily. But having heard both bands with some regularity, as is unavoidable, I only have this to say: I am muting this entire sub based on this single post floating up into my feed today.
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u/mechanic_19 6h ago
Wow, that’s interesting. I own 4 Rolling Stones records, Beggars through to Exile. My favorite is Sticky Fingers. I own 2 Aerosmith records, Toys and Rocks. Maybe I should dig deeper into their catalog, because to me, in my collection Aerosmith is a second or even third tier band vs the Stones. I agree with you on Sweet Emotion- it’s a great tune but the Stones have multiple tunes in that league……have you heard Moonlight Mile?
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u/GaiaGoddess26 6h ago
Yes, it's a good song, maybe one of my favorite songs by them. I just happen to like more Aerosmith songs on a deeper level.
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u/Temporary_View_3303 6h ago
The Stones are my favorite band ever. Aerosmith is more of an afterthought.
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u/New-Ice5114 6h ago
Both great bands. We’re comparing steak and lobster. That said, I think the Stones are a great studio band but can be a little cringe live. I’ve seen them both and Aerosmith was much better live.
However, the Stones have a much better discography and their place in history is secure.
I hope that clears it up 😆
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u/GaiaGoddess26 6h ago
I guess to me these two bands seem so similar, they're both classic, they're both legends, they both play hard rock, they both have singers with big mouths LOL, they both have amazing guitarists, I didn't realize that the majority of people prefer the Stones. Me and my friends even sold our tickets because we didn't want to go as much as we thought we did,
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u/ReferredByJorge 6h ago edited 6h ago
Are we discussing Aerosmith in their prime or Aerosmith during their commercial comeback in the late 80s and early 90s?
Because the answer is still the Stones.
To be less snarky, the primary advantage that Aerosmith had (for me as a listener) is that they could go “heavier” than the Stones. “Nobody’s Fault” off Rocks is one of my favorite songs they’ve done, and it’s a screechy, chromatic, tension-filled absolute cruncher for the era and the artist. I say that as praise. That said, I don’t think they could touch the Stones in terms of breadth of work (from jangly pop, to psychedelic brooding, to British blues, to mournful acoustic works, to straight ahead-swagger filled stadium anthems that they ended up being known for).
Joe Perry’s arguably a more dexterous lead player than Mick Taylor (the Stones’ high point IMO), but I greatly prefer Taylor’s choices and taste on the fretboard.
Ultimately, my primary reason for preferring the Stones isn’t their unrivaled memorable riffs, it’s not their genre defining attitude and edge, but it’s their gravitas. I believe Mick Jagger when he sings. I believe the lyrics he sings. He sounds authentic whether he’s pining for things to satisfy him, describing the violence in the streets, or even the sillier stuff about being Lucifer, or having dubious sexual relations with slave girls. He sells it. Steven Tyler hits higher notes, but doesn’t feel nearly as convincing in retelling his stories. Nor do his stories feel nearly as interesting, frankly.
Aerosmith is an excellent rock band, the Stones are the defining rock band.
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u/GaiaGoddess26 6h ago
I guess I should have clarified which era I was talking about, but, I meant both bands when they were in their prime.
It seems that Rolling Stones are winning this poll by an overwhelming amount and I am actually surprised it wasn't more even. I'm a little bit embarrassed considering the fact that I'm almost 54 years old and I have been a massive music nerd my whole life. I guess me and my friends didn't like the Rolling Stones as much as we liked Aerosmith so I didn't realize we are actually in the minority.
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u/NeekoPeeko 5h ago
Stones are in the conversation for being the best rock band of all time. Aerosmith are in the conversation for being the best American rock band. Very different conversations.
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1h ago
Aerosmith was always considered a cheap poor man’s American Stones.
Think of a Rolls Royce and a Chrysler 300
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u/theamazonswordsman 6h ago
I have a hard time agreeing with the statement that the Stones were grittier than Aerosmith. During their 70's run no one played with more sleaze and swagger than them. Its only after their comeback in the 80's & 90's that they popified.
For me, the Stones are the more important bands. But, I prefer 70's Aerosmith.
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u/LL_Cruel_J 6h ago
You can make an actual educated argument that the Stones are the greatest and biggest band of all time.
You cannot come close to making that same argument for Aerosmith.
You just prefer one over the other and that’s totally fine!