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So what is Black Ice album to you?
Now that the smoke has settled i'm posting this one. So where do Black Ice goes compared to your other AC/DC albums? I have to put it on the last place.For me it has only 1 great, RnR Dream and one hit, RnR train.It has the only song i dislike from AC/DC and the other songs miss a hell of a lot or Lead Guitar. I've waited months so i can equally compare it to the other albums so i can be fair to myself.Unfortunately it takes the last place.And i did that because when Ballbreaker came out i really didn't like it but ofter months of listening i loved it. P.S. And i don't wanna hear anything about Fly on the Wall or Flick of the Switch.These albums f^ckin ROCK!!(although the FOTW production is a peace of s^it! :))
Well my favs are: 1. The Razors Edge 2. Blow Up your Video 3. FTATR 4. FOTS 5. FOTW 6. Who Made Who 7. SUL 8. BIB Well Black Ice is a middle class album, like you said sap. I just wish it has the Power of FOTS/FOTW and the great Songs like in the Razors Edge
Personally I think it's near the upper end of AC/DC's albums. My top five is: 1. Fly On The Wall 2. Flick Of The Switch 3. Powerage 4. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 5. Black Ice/Stiff Upper Lip (This spot changes a lot, sometimes even a completely different album takes the spot) Overall Black Ice is a great album, but it could have been trimmed down a little by removing some of the weaker tracks.
Black Ice is a good album, could have been better in production terms but its good. I think the production on Angus' lead on Wheels could have been taken down a bit since it sounds REALLY high pitched.
Alright 1.Powerage (duh) 2.Flick o' the switch 3.Highway to Hell 4.Dirty Deeds 5.Back in Black 6.Black Ice
Hi, As all we know, AC-DC is not a group that would like to work into the studio. I think it is for this reason that many productions of his new recordings could be better. Neither should it be easy for a producer to work with a group that prefers to play live than in a recording studio. Black Ice is a good album but, for sure, is not the best. 1. Let There Be Rock 2. High Voltage 3. Highway To Hell 4. Black in Black 5. For Those About To Rock Cheers & Good Rockin' Bernat
Thanks for the participation guys.I would like to point out that Black Ice could easily be a hit album for any Rock Band out there.But i can't put it over any other AC/DC album. Also in my opinion the new songs are not changing drastically live in comparison with the other songs(like Thunderstruck or FTATR).I mean, i prefer RnR train from the album rather than live this also goes for BI and WM.Anything goes sounds better live but i could do with another song live instead :) As i've said this is just my opinion.
mmmm...... let's see.... 1 back in black 2 black ice 3 fly on the wall 4 highway to hell 5 tnt 6 razors edge 7 ballbreaker 8 who made who 9 powerage 10 flick of the switch to me, black ice is good, but not as good as back in black.
IMO, It could have been one of the greats, but I see three major problems that could have been easily avoided. First, the production sucks. I didn't particularly like Fairbairn's production of TRE, but it got them away from their awful late-80's production. O'Brien took everything I didn't like about TRE and amplified it on BI. The cymbals are too loud, they cut at my ears making it hard to listen on headphones. And the rest of the drums aren't bad, but they don't have that sweet punch like the last two albums. Also, the guitars are way too distorted. O'Brien obviously doesn't realize that Angus and especially Malcolm's guitars have to be clean. Ballbreaker is a great example. Next would be Brian's voice. Now I know he's getting old, but that's no excuse to sound bad in the studio, where you can do a song in several parts. Unfortunately, although the surgery he underwent allows him to hit the high notes, he's lost the grittiness he used to have. He sounds whiny at certain points during BI, but I believe they were avoidable. For example, in War Machine, when he says "That thing, gone wild", or in Smash 'N' Grab, when he says "Smash, grab, and take it for yourself", or the chorus of She likes Rock 'N' Roll. And last is the songwriting. They certainly could have used Harry Vanda and George Young on this album, because according to Mark Evans, TNT was a much more complicated song before George went over it with Mal and Ang. Look at She Likes Rock 'N' Roll; do you think they could have stuffed in any more licks if they tried? The songs in general are way too crowded, and could have been classics with the guidance of George IMO. Basically, I'm saying that it's got good songs with potential, but I can't listen to it without thinking of how much better they could have been. As much as I hate to say it, it's not up to AC/DC standards. Oh yeah, and my favorite albums: 1.Ballbreaker 2.Back In Black 3.The Razor's Edge 4.Powerage 5.Who Made Who 6.Stiff Upper Lip 7.Flick Of The Switch 8.Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 9.Fly On The Wall 10.For Those About To Rock
Oh my goodness, don't shitcan this fine album. I think it is way better than Ballbreaker and Stiff Upper Lip. As far as the production goes: THIS is what AC/DC should sound like. It is a fat, classy production with enough balls to satisfy old tyme Accadacca - fans. Reminds me of BIB or HTH. Brian sounds a lot better on Black Ice than on SUL or Ballbreaker. There are a lot fine songs on Black Ice (rnr train, skies on fire, war machine, big jack, the grat title track - to name but a few...) and only some few fillers (rockin' all the way - yes, this sucks). some people always have to criticize. All in all: Black Ice is NOT Back in Black for sure. But it is the best AC/DC album since TRE. All in all I would prefer Black Ice.
You know, I love black ice. It's an awesome album. What I don't get is that people were glad that the young bros took over the lyrics. "Oh yeah buyv was bad, the lyrics on twos up sucked", then every one was like, " Honey roll has god aweful lyrics". Just make up your mind. I can't rank ever album in an order they all have something different that make them good in there own way. Sul was the blues album. Fotw and fots was the raw albums. Hth bib and ftatr were the Breakout albums and are the classic albums. Ballbreaker was the sexual induwindow album. Dirty deeds was the balls to the wall album. Ltbr was the awaking of the rock gods. Powerage was the underrated album that kicks ass. Who made who is the greatest hits album (so to speak). If you want blood and ac/DC live is the experince of the band live. Etc etc. Black ice rocks stop hating
I agree completely with Dr. Rock. Black Ice is definitely the best album in a while (their best since Fly On The Wall IMO). The production is great. Not too dry like Ballbreaker, but not too polished either. However, I think if there had been a little more quality control on the songs it would have been even better. I would remove Spoilin' For A Fight, Wheels, Decibel, She Likes Rock 'N Roll, and Rocking All The Way. This would leave the album at ten songs and thirty-eight minutes long. If Black Ice had been like that it would be my favourite album.
So now were are bashing Ballbreaker? :P I kinda agree with suicide expect on the Brians Voice.I think for his age the voice is acceptable. And i also kinda agree with Big-Gun and i would (of course :) ) remove Anything Goes too :P Let me give a quick night score on Ballbreaker songs,ok? Hard as 10 Cover you 9 The Furor 10 Boogie Man 10 The Honey Roll 7 Burnin' Alive 9 Hail Caesar 9 Love Bomb 6 Caught with 5 Whiskey on 8 Ballbreaker 10 Won't score black ice cuz you'll hate me :) (if you don't already :P )
hell i cant make a list of AC/DC albums from favorite to least favorite. they are all good in my opinion and i have a favorite that rotates (for instance my new fav it Razors Edge) my black ice review rnr train - 10/10 just your standard AC/DC song, energetic and catchy chorus skies on fire - 6/10 i just found this a bit annoying, i didnt like the drums big jack - 8/10 lyrics werent too great but fast paced and catchy chorus anything goes- 9/10 yes it is a bit poppy but its just a great song war machine- 10/10 right up there with spellbound and night prowler, just a badass song smash and grab - 4/10 sounds like filler to me, chorus gets annoying spoilin for a fight - 8/10 great guitars, just overall great and its about fighting wheels 7/10 - loved the first minute of it, though it seems a bit filler decibel 4/10 - filler, nothing great in this song stormy may day 5/10 - chorus was kinda annoying but catchy at the same time, not very creative lyrics she likes rock in roll 6/10- generic song about rocknroll though not all that bad money made 3/10 - yawn, filler rock n roll dream 9/10 - didnt like it at first but now i love the bluesy feel rocking all the way 5/10 - filler just another song about rocking black ice 7/10 - for being album title song it wasnt all that great, i thought brian sounded a bit whiney this is just my opinion so please dont crap yourself if you disagree
Dr. Rock: Please, you're killing me. First of all, how dare you say BI is better than Ballbreaker or SUL. Those albums get so much undeserved shit. Even just passing remarks like "the best album since TRE" are uncalled for. And if you think BI is well produced, you need your ears checked. Listen to the opening riff of RNR Train. Angus's guitar is WAY too distorted and trebley. This album has them the farthest from their classic sound of any album. Saying this is their classic sound just shows a complete misunderstanding of what AC/DC's sound is. The only thing O'Brien did right was clean up the backup vocals. And on BB and SUL, Brian still had his classic gravely voice. Now he's clean and whiny. And re-listen to BB and tell me hes not belting his hardest ever on that album, whereas on BI he doesn't belt AT ALL. And as Big-Gun already knows, I'm wiling to back up Rockin' All The Way to the death. And as for your "some people always have to criticize" comment, I love AC/DC more than anything, and constructive criticism is a good thing. If I was criticizing them, I would say BI sucks. But I didn't , I pointed out what I felt was wrong and suggested how they could have improved it. Cody: I agree. And as far as writing lyrics, I think people mistake Angus and Malcolm's awful lyrics for Brian's. Because Brian's lyrics were as good as Bon's. I would love to see him return as a lyricist. Big-Gun: What is it with people calling BB dry? That doesn't even make sense. You can't hear dryness. Rubin is an amazing producer, and brought back AC/DC's classic sound on BB. Compare it to the overdriven, almost metal-edged TRE. How can you complain about getting 15 songs? Why can't you be happy they gave you a little extra for once (god knows they never have before)? If you don't like some of the songs, don't listen to them. But don't say that they should have deprived us of some songs that other fans love. Sap: Finally, someone who will defend BallBreaker! Yeah, his voice is acceptable, but I just want to hear him belt like he used to. Here's my Ballbreaker scores: Hard as 9 Cover you 10 The Furor 10 Boogie Man 10 The Honey Roll 10 Burnin' Alive 10 Hail Caesar 7 Love Bomb 8 Caught with 9 Whiskey on 10 Ballbreaker 10 Cliff: MONEY MADE IS FILLER? HOW DARE YOU! You need to get to the nearest Emergency Room and get pumped with some Money Made because that song rocks. I don't even like BI that much and I still love that one. You really need to relisten to it because you're missing out and I feel bad for you.
suicidehummer, one thing you need to understand is the concept of opinions. How dare he say BI is better? He said it because that's what he thinks. You think BB and SUL are better, but I have yet to see anyone trash on your opinion by saying "How dare you claim BB and SUL are better than BI?" He needs his ears checked? I too happen to like BI's production. You don't. That's fine. No need to be rude about it. I think the guitars sound just right on BI. Angus' has always been quite distorted with Mal's guitar being a bit more clean. That's how it sounds to me. Rick Rubin is a good producer? I disagree, listen to Metallica's Death Magnetic. I think the production on BB is dry (meaning raw/un-polished). Raw is good for AC/DC, but in my opinion the sound is verging on un-produced. I hate to start a fight here, but I'm getting sick of suicidehummer always claiming that his opinion is the only correct one. It's called an opinion because IT IS NOT fact.
Yes Big-Gun is sort of right. Suicide you opinion is automatacty correct. However I find most of you statements correct. However, sul and bb are good albums. BL is too. Money made is the best song since moneytalks. Ect Ect.
Big-Gun: I never claimed BB or SUL was better than BI, I said I liked them more. No album is better than another, it's a matter of preference. Him claiming BI was better was being ignorant of the fact that other might have differing opinions. "Angus' has always been quite distorted with Mal's guitar being a bit more clean. That's how it sounds to me." Angus's guitar has always been VERY clean. Compare how clean it is on BB to TRE. The Razor's Edge is NOT their signature sound. "Rick Rubin is a good producer? I disagree, listen to Metallica's Death Magnetic. I think the production on BB is dry (meaning raw/un-polished). Raw is good for AC/DC, but in my opinion the sound is verging on un-produced." I blame Death Magnetic's bad sound on mastering engineer Ted Jensen. Unpolished? That's a good thing. Un-produced would be FOTW. The only reason I could see that you would say that is because the guitars are clean, and he left in all the string buzzes and rawness of Brian's '95 voice. Listen to Phil's Drums in HAAR, that's the best drum recording in any AC/DC album. Tight, punchy, raw. Pefect. Cody: Money Made is a great song, but it's a perfect example of BI songs being too crowded. It's got a great riff and groove, but the guitar parts in the verses are too much. They break the continuity of Brian's verses. For the record, MM is my 2nd favorite off BI.
When I made my comment about BB's production I hadn't listened to the album in a while, but I listened through it again yesterday and I do agree that the production is pretty good. I still prefer the production on SUL and BI, but BB does have the best drum sound. And as for Death Magnetic, you could blame him, but it was Rubin who was responsible for the album, so anything bad that happened was his fault.
Well I haven't listened to the album yet (more of a Maiden fan than Metallica), but from what I've heard the problem is that it's over compressed, which would drop the blame on the mixing/mastering. I actually prefer the drums on SUL to BB, but BB is still the best production IMO. Come to think of it, the production of SUL and BB are pretty similar.
Well Death Meg. is a great album. No fillers at all, can't wait to see them live.
On the topic of fillers, I don't think AC/DC has ever done a filler. I think you just need to listen to it more and try to appreciate it for what it is. Most of my favorite songs would be considered "filler" by most.
Ye.AC/DC try to do what they think is good.Even if i don't like very much some songs from BI i don't think they are fillers.P.E. I hate Anything Goes but in my understanding they tried something different more "old school".For me it sucked for most of you it was great.But it's not a filler, it's somethink different. Also for Ballbreaker.I love this album i wish i was old enough to see them live back then. Of course my ultimate dream would be the Let the be rock concerts with Judas Priest as support.I would be dead beat after JP and would turn to dust with AC/DC!! Ok Ballbreaker time for the 10th attempt this week!!!GOOOOO!
The concert I've would have loved to be around for would be the Aerosmith, Van Halen Tour that had Ltbr era AC/DC opening. And true I've never seen an AC/DC filler ever!!!!
AC/DC has had plenty of filler. However, their filler quality is higher than any other band's.
I agree about Ballbreaker. My dream would be to see them on the BB tour playing the full album and Angus breaking out his original SG.
I think Ballbreaker is an alright album, not my favorite but I like Stiff Upper Lip over it. The production is really dry in my opinion but I love to listen to Boogie Man, The Honey Roll and Whiskey on the Rocks which IMO are the albums highlights. As for the BI situation, I can't see why everyone are still fighting over it, just stop it and leave it be, we all have our own opinions but we don't need to bash each other over it all, we like what we like, deal with it.
I don't think anyone is actually "fighting".An opinion is not a fight.
If there was "fighting", it already ended anyway. boothjorden: I like SUL as well, because it's bluesier than most AC/DC albums, but I've kind of gotten sick of some of the songs. I'm sure if I give it some time I'll get back into it. It used to be my favorite, especially Meltdown and Give It Up. BTW, I thought I was the only person who appreciated The Honey Roll. Good to see someone else likes that song.
I too appreciated The Honey Roll. As well as all of there songs
to me, its TRE without the hits. (Thunderstruck, moneytalks etc.)
It does have a similar sound to TRE, which is why I don't like it. Too much distortion on the guitars, too clean and digital.
Great album except for Anything Goes and Rock and Roll Dream. The only song I like even less than those two tracks by AC/DC is Love Song.