Aerosmith, YUNGBLUD | One More Time Review

by Griff Stevens

When a legacy band reenters the studio after more than a decade, listeners inevitably listen with two sets of ears: one tuned to nostalgia, the other to curiosity. One More Time, the collaborative EP between Aerosmith and YUNGBLUD, exists precisely at that intersection. Rather than chase the grit and swagger of Rocks or the glossy maximalism of Pump, this project leans into something far more contemporary. Both these artists have a glam-pop/rock hybrid built for radio, playlist culture, and lighter-weight emotional narrative that makes them so popular.

The opening track, “My Only Angel,” sets the EP’s sonic thesis of glam-rock sheen atop a classic rock-friendly emotional framework. The honesty and allure are in its vocal performances and its embrace of pop-rock gloss. The guitar riff is infectious, polished, and structurally central, mirroring the glam traditions that pair swagger with sentiment.

The vocals are processed with auto-tune, being very obvious in places. This is the current state of pop rock, where things are cleaned to modern standards. The result still creates a dual-identity moment with Aerosmith’s lineage on one side, and YUNGBLUD’s pop-rock sheen on the other. The emotional impact doesn’t come from rawness; it comes from stylistic honesty. Both artists lean into who they are in 2025. It’s today’s rock of riff-first, with synth reinforcement and tight vocal production to create expressive gravitas.

“Problems” gains momentum. The arpeggiated guitar figure sets the table, building into a straightforward rock pulse. This is where the interplay between vintage hard-rock vocabulary and modern pop-rock sensibilities becomes clearest.

YUNGBLUD’s vocal entrance is energetic, with a richer tone than some of his grittier alt-rock tracks. The transition into the interlude is a standout: a hip, activity-building riff that adds surprise and lift. When Steven Tyler enters to sing the next verse, his rhythmic authority is unmistakable as he still phrases with the elasticity that defined his youthful prime.

The vocal harmonies are fun and uncomplicated. Structurally, this song is more clever than it sounds on first listen, balancing hooks and propulsion with a slightly crooked interlude shape.

The overall effect is a hybrid: vintage heart with pop-rock framing, enjoyable, energetic, and crafted with just enough twist to keep musicians interested, even if it never goes for deep reinvention.

“Wild Woman” shifts the EP’s texture without abandoning its pop-rock identity. The acoustic guitar section and later the moody groove give it a nice profile, creating space for range, especially in YUNGBLUD’s upper-register singing.

Does it fully develop as a composition? No, and it doesn’t need to. This is a vibe piece, intentionally lightweight, with electric guitar layers that act more as color. The chorus is the most architecturally important section, opening the vocal palette and giving the track lift.

The synth touches at the end gently reaffirm the EP’s glam-pop identity. As a contrast track, it works; as a stand-alone composition, it’s a simple sketch or even a palate cleanser that keeps the sequencing from feeling too linear.

“A Thousand Days” features YUNGBLUD’s vocal delivery. His grit and emotional shaping pull the track forward, and the glam-rock ballad design suits him well as he builds a dramatic, open, and dynamic arc.

Tyler’s rhythmic touches and glissandos add expressive edge, reminding listeners of his instinctive musicality even in a more polished context. The string-like textures create color moving into the guitar solo, and the background vocal harmonies bind the whole form together.

It’s radio-ready, glossy, and unpretentious. For musicians, it’s an example of how production decisions can elevate a simple harmonic structure, using layering rather than chord density to create emotional scope.

“Back In the Saddle (2025 Mix)” is a fresh revisiting of a classic. This could be risky, especially one as iconic as “Back In the Saddle.” This mix acknowledges that risk and chooses a clear lane with a contemporary re-framing rather than a faithful recreation.

No remix will ever hit the original’s era-specific electricity. But this version offers new colors with additional layering, modern EQ and compression profiles, and the energetic spark of different guitar textures brings to the mix.

One More Time isn’t striving for artistic reinvention or a profound redefinition of either artist’s legacy. Instead, it presents itself as radio-ready pop-rock crafted with a clear sense of purpose to merge Aerosmith’s classic identity with YUNGBLUD’s modern, glam-influenced energy. The EP succeeds on those terms. Its riffs balance vintage character with a contemporary sheen, and the vocal production blends classic phrasing with current pop-rock polish. It is not serious music in the sense of emotional weight or conceptual ambition, but it is intentionally crafted, fun in spirit, and authentically situated within the pop-rock lane it occupies. Within that context, it is enjoyable to hear and instructive to examine.

 

Artist: Aerosmith, YUNGBLUD
Album: One More Time
Label: Capitol Records

Buy and Stream Links
Release Date: November 21, 2025