Aerosmith were on the bones of their arse by this stage. They'd built up a great reputation as a live (mostly opening) band and had scored a recording contract at the same time as the New York Dolls. But the band had suffered through 2 commercially unsuccessful albums, with the band frequently being compared (unfavourably) to the Rolling Stones. Joe Perry, in his autobiography stated that the producer on their first album was not great and left the band sounding 'flat', he knew that they could and did sound better. So the band really needed to deliver the goods on this one. Spoiler: they did.
The signature Aerosmith sound of big guitars, a bit of sleaze, a bit of glam and Tyler's wailing voice all come in to play, with the shining example being "Walk this way". There are some other, different sounds too. "Uncle Salty" almost sounds like Revolver/Rubber Soul era Beatles in places. "Big Ten Inch" has Tyler stretch his vocal to gravelly growls and a laid-back bluesy croon. "Sweet Emotion" and the title track feel like quintessential 70s 'classic rock' tracks. "You see me crying" is like a prototype for the later Aerosmith power-ballads.
The success of the album would eventually go on to revitalise the single "Dream on" from their first album, making it somewhat successful yadda yadda yadda Eminem.
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