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Black Ice Reviews
I don't have time to write an essay, but here's a few short notes. Musically, the most interesting album AC/DC has made in a long, long time. The sound is very open, warm, inviting – every AC/DC album should sound like this. Stiff Upper Lip suffered from poor exposure of bass and drums – every song sounded like a click track/drum machine and the bass was almost imperceptible – just a plodding thud in the background. Black Ice is the exact opposite. Every smash on the highhat (Phil’s specialty) is open and clear and the bass weaves in and out of the guitar riffs seamlessly and pleasureably. The riffs themselves are intriguing – they have a bit of jump to them, more eighth note rhythms than the standard 1-2-3-4 or 1-break-3-break we’ve heard from AC/DC in the last 10 years. Each track chugs along like classic Chuck Berry railroad riffs, inviting you to take a ride. A few notes on the tracks: Rock’N’Roll Train: A standard anthem, concert starter, a la anything else AC/DC has begun an album with their whole career. No Highway to Hell or Thunderstruck, but still a lot of fun. The lyrics themselves: a subtle commentary on our celebrity culture where we watch young, hot starlets dope and drink themselves into oblivion while exposing their pink parts to the public in sex vids and paparazzi photos? Well, maybe a bit of that and some desire to have sex with them, too. Not sure about the title: Maybe the band responded to one of may online forums where fans said of leaked possible titles, “Runaway Train? Like Soul Asylum? Have they turned into a bunch of pussies?” Anything Goes: Definitely one of the more interesting tracks AC/DC have ever done. Angus and Malcolm channel John Cougar Mellancamp and Bruce Springsteen in this countrified, folky rock tune. Stormy May Day: Angus reworks Jimmy Page’s “In My Time of Dying” slide riff. One of the best tracks on an album of pretty great tracks. Rock’N’Roll Dream: Brian’s soul is set free. Some honest singing and lyrics here. A bit out of place in the AC/DC catalog, but not in the bad way – kind of a blues ballad type. Black Ice: The bridge/chorus section is a rewrite of the chords to Cold Hearted Man, a track they should really consider issuing worldwide and introducing to their live canon. Not quite sure if the lyrics are a rehash of the trainwreck lyrics of RnR Train, but Angus’ soloing on this one is pretty fucking great. That’s all for now.
somehow cant see Stormy May Day getting played live, cant see AC/DC dropping the tempo of a gig so that Ang or (more likely) Mal does their best Ry Cooder impersonation,great track tho, overall a classy album, still unmistakably DC but different, more mature if you like (if you can be more mature after 30+ yrs of RnR). Now at last the boys have unleashed the hard RnB band that they were always gonna be, and prove to the world that they are more than "that band with the guy in a school uniform", Brian sings better than he has for a while now, good rough bluesy vocals and the occasional roar,(should now silence the doubters who thought he was finished!!) Cliff drops in some natty basslines not heard since the late 70s, Phil, well Phil is Phil aint he?, SOLID. Malcolm and Angus,well for my £$£$ there is telepathy at work with those two, best rock guitarists in the world today IMHO,proving that you dont need to set the fretboard on fire with 1000000 notes a minute to get the point across. BIB it aint, FTATR it aint,but who would want them rehashed? what you have here is an albumby a band that doesnt need to be as brash or as anthemic as they were in the past, the "anthems" havent jumped out at me yet but on saying that, I couldnt see any of the tracks being too weak for the live shows,i.e if theres filler, I really couldnt hear it. An album a long time in the making by a band NOT resting on their laurels,they know what theyve done in the past and Black Ice is (hopefully) an indication of where the future lies for this great band. Hell, I could go on all day, buy the damn thing, see the gigs, and ENJOY, I know I will, and I GUARANTEE you will. 10 outta 10 from me guys, its 5 guys playing for the enjoyment of it and you can hear it. The pretenders can move aside cos the BEST *ROCKABOOGIE* BAND IN THE WORLD ARE BACK * term courtesy of the late great John Peel
I've just listened to the whole thing and I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised. While Rock N Roll Train is one of those instant AC/DC classic anthems, so was Stiff Upper Lip. The rest of the SUL album was, in my honest opinion, not up to standards (and that's putting it as mildly as I can). This album is just so much better than the last one with much better songs and infinitely better production, the likes that have not been seen since the Mutt Lange albums. My favorite song from this one is still RnR Train, but I've played 'Anything Goes' like 5 times in a row today. This one is not a typical AC/DC song, but I'm thinking it's going to get much airplay. If I have to pick a least favorite song on the album, I would say it is 'Big Jack', but it's better than anything on the last album, besides 'SUL'. Anyway, maybe 'Big Jack' will grow on me like 'War Machine' has. :) Anyway, Brian's voice is in fine form so I expect the same live next month. Also, as daclarob said, this album is not BIB or FTATR, but right now I feel that it ranks right behind FTATR as the third best Brian era Album. disclaimer: I've already pre-ordered the CD.
So i think i'm the only one in the whole planet that i find it the worst album of AC/DC. Anyway i've said 1000 times i only want to see the freaking tour so... I think Rock N' Roll Dream is by far the best and the only one i've listened it more that 2 times (except R N R train and War Machine, previously released didn't bother to hear again). I'm putting Fuccking Fly on the wall right now and everyone that does not like it can go flick himself. Sink the pink!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've heard three songs: R'N'R Train, War Machine, and Skies on Fire. I vow to wait to hear the rest when it comes out and I can hear it in full CD quality. But from what I've heard... HOLY SHIT! R'N'R Train confused me at first, but it's grown, and I could see it becoming a classic. War Machine I liked a lot at first, but now I feel Brian isn't at his best here. Skies on Fire is the most impressive so far. I can't help but think about Shoot to Thrill when I hear it. I have no idea why. Anyway, I'd say Sapator is just whining too much, and IMO he's no real fan. Yeah, I like FOTW Sap, but I like this as well. Why don't you? I feel as if I'm the only person who thinks every AC/DC song is good in it's own unique way. I haven't heard a single song I didn't like, except Sink the pink at first, but it grew on me.