AC/DC: Classic or Dud

There's no need for any more than that.

This is so true. I'm glad they got him back in the fold after the years with "the bald guy from the Firm" (as everyone used to call him).

If I had to OPO it would probably be Let There Be Rock. Which sort of a weird choice because it probably has the least amount of Bon's signature humor. Which is of course one of the main reasons I love the band so much. That side is best featured on Dirty Deeds and Highway to Hell.

But Let There Be Rock - it's just so relentlessly heavy. The production is weird, the guitars just crackle with electricity. The album really shows off the way the twin guitars play off each other to create those glorious riffs. Like on "Overdose" which has the long intro w/ the arpeggios and the crashing drums. Then one guitar picks up the riff, then the next one locks in. It just becomes this churning monolith. Like space-rock or something. Yet for all of that there is still space in the music; they don't let the chords ring too long, they clip them off. This sound is nothing like the happier music, still tethered to the blues, on earlier records like High Voltage.

But yeah, every Bon Scott era record is a classic, and a decent number of the Brian Johnson ones as well (I'll take everything up to and including Flick of the Switch, and I actually really liked Ballbreaker).

Also, they played "What's Next to the Moon"!

http://www.dromo.com/fusionanomaly/flow.gif

However, isn't it possible for you to express your opinion about the band without directly insulting the vast majority of the people who have posted to this thread?

AC/DC is, other than Zep, the only hard rock band that every single woman I know —and probably many, many I don't— likes, if not loves.

so Black Ice is now out there, any fans?

http://i33.tinypic.com/2q0rn8k.jpg

official release date it October 18, 2008.

1. Rock N' Roll Train (4:21)
2. Skies On Fire (3:34)
3. Big Jack (3:57)
4. Anything Goes (3:22)
5. War Machine (3:09)
6. Smash N' Grab (4:06)
7. Spoilin' For A Fight (3:17)
8. Wheels (3:28)
9. Decibel (3:33)
10. Stormy May Day (3:10)
11. She Likes Rock N' Roll (3:53)
12. Money Made (4:15)
13. Rock N' Roll Dream (4:41)
14. Rocking All The Way (3:22)
15. Black Ice (3:25)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7792166.stm
AC/DC are about to be paid a glowing tribute at Holyrood in recognition of the rock band's Scottish roots.

South of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame has lodged a parliamentary motion calling for the achievements of the group to be acknowledged.

Founding members Angus and Malcolm Young were born in Glasgow before the family moved to Australia in 1963.

And former frontman Bon Scott was born in Kirriemuir, where there is a memorial plaque in his honour.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45313000/jpg/_45313762_41646570.jpg
AC/DC were formed in 1973 and have sold more than 150 million records worldwide, with songs such as Highway to Hell, Back in Black and For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).

In 2003, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Glasgow gig

They recently released a new album called Black Ice and will play Hampden Park in Glasgow next year as part of a world tour.

Ms Grahame's motion - entitled AC/DC, We Salute You - calls on the Scottish Parliament to recognise the band's Scottish roots; note that their popularity continues to grow and welcome their forthcoming performance in Scotland; and to acknowledge the musical inspiration the band has provided to thousands of Scottish musicians.

Ms Grahame said: "It is clear Scott had a strong sense of his identity, from the 'Scotland forever' tattoo he had on his arm to his playing the bagpipes on the AC/DC track It's a long way to the top.

"When they played Glasgow in 1978 the whole band wore the Scotland national football strip as their concert took place just ahead of the World Cup finals and it would be fitting if they were to do the same when the band play Hampden national football stadium next June.

"After 35 years AC/DC are still contributing to music and giving fans enjoyment worldwide.

"I think they have long deserved official recognition from their homeland for that major musical contribution and my parliamentary motion will go some way towards recognising that."

Angus and Malcolm Young are guitarists and songwriters in AC/DC. Bon Scott died of alcohol poisoning in 1980, aged 33.

so Black Ice is now out there, any fans?

Yes, certainly. Was the fastest and mostest selling hard rock CD straight out of the gate this year. And it was only at Wal-Mart although I picked up mine used after someone needed cash money quick.

How do you rate it George?

Maybe this was just Easy Street in Seattle, but I think some indie stores got some copies in the same day as Walmart. I bought mine on release day.

Black Ice sounds like the superior and mature followup to Blow Up Your Video. Black Ice makes Razors Edge, Ballbreaker, and Stiff Upper Lip seem like atypical experimental albums in comparison.

And of course, Black Ice is great.

"Maybe this was just Easy Street in Seattle, but I think some indie stores got some copies in the same day as Walmart. I bought mine on release day."

I have heard stories of indie stores buying copies of AC/DC, the Eagles, Garth Brooks or whatever else Wal-Mart exclusive is being sold at loss-leader prices and then repricing them for sale at their own shops. In many cases, it's cheaper (and more profitable) than getting them direct from the major label to buy them at Wal-Mart for $9.99 and sell them for $12.99. Affects sales numbers, too, with all the indie bulk buys boosting the bottom line.

How do you rate it George?

I like it quite a bit. Beats hell out of House of Jazz. I might have said in another thread that there a bunch of things which stick on this one. Rock 'n' Roll Train is the obvious one. But my favorites off it are Wheels and Money Made. Spoilin for a Fight, too.

It's to the AC/DC classic albums list what Venus in Overdrive is to Rick Springfield's classics. It's not going to crowd Highway to Hell or Powerage, but it competes fairly easy within the Brian Johnson albums. I never listen to Thunderstruck, Blow Up Your Video, the Maximum Overdrive soundtrack or Fly On the Wall anymore. This one's best songs I can see hanging in there for awhile.

Maybe Angus looks silly in the booklet shot but he sure doesn't sound silly. Plus that rhythm guitar still has it.

The used store on Colorado, Penny Lane, also had a copy of something advertised as the opening band on the AC/DC tour. The Answer? Advertised as sounding like classic rock or old Free. Passed on that one.

I think I discussed this with da croupier, but Black Ice is the perfect album for the fan of both Jet *and* The Darkness, both of which became popular since AC/DC last released an album. It's likely the band made this with one factor in mind that was "Ah, so the kids like Jet and the Darkness, eh?"

(I stress "one factor")

(also, disclosure: I don't like Jet. I liked The Darkness)

one factor as in "one of many factors". My soul for an edit post function

\m/ //(*_*) \m/

why is Phil Oakey so into AC/DC?

Thanks AC/DC, you make life worthwhile.

AC/DC: no best of, no career retrospective boxed set, no iTunes sales. They are an island unto themselves. They are awesome. One of those rare bands loved equally by Steve Albini and Ian MacKaye and the people one might presume they despise.

Walkin' sideways, sideways walkin', gimme the bluuuuuuues...

Their career retrospective box is every damn album (as it probably should be):

http://www.amazon.com/AC-DC-Box-Set/dp/B000I0QKKG

Temporarily out of stock.

Damn fucking right.

As long as I can find a way back-up my copy of who made who, which I bought in 1989 on cassette for a Nice Price.

Powerage is their high water mark. Every song a winner and it contains Bon's best lyrics. It tends to get forgotten though. My 10 year old son is partial to "Dirty Deeds..." except for "Big Balls", which he hates but can't quite explain why.

Too subtle?

Powerage is the best. Quite agree that it has Bon's best lyrics - and I think it's the only album free of innuendo. It's a proper blue collar struggle album. Dirty Deeds has always seemed to me to be very patchy. Ain't No Fun is way too long, though it has a great lyric and Bon's best asides (Oi! Howard Hughes! Get your bloody jumbo jet off of my airport!"). Squealer is actively unpleasant, and a genuinely misogynist song.

BTW Anyone who reckons AC/DC aren't/weren't misogynist - how do you explain away Squealer and The Jack?

I concur with you, Viva Brother. DD is patchy and the humor is too broad but, when yer 10 like my son, subtlety is a non-issue.
Thankfully, he isn't aware of the misogyny.

Also, your take on "Powerage" otm.

In the band's defense: last time I saw them live, they made a point of women *and* men flashing their chests on the jumbotron.

Not in their defense: "Let Me Put My Love Into You"

"Don't you struggle,
Don't you fight,
Don't you worry,
'Cause it's your turn tonight."

Come on, everybody, sing it with me!

"Let me put my love into you, babe,
Let me put my love on the line,
Let me put my love into you, babe,
Let me cut your cake with my knife."

Great song, though.

I love Dirty Deeds, far and away my favorite AC/DC album. "Big Balls" is the only point at which the humor goes too broad, imo (though I loved it as a kid), and yeah, "Squealer" is p gross. But the title track is such a blast, same for "Rocker" and "Problem Child". Surprised that people think that "Ain't No Fun" is too long. I mean, it is long, but it's one of my very favorite AC/DC tunes, totally mesmerizing from start to finish. "Ride On" too, a real curveball in their catalog.

When I first heard Oxbow's "Gal," it seemed like they were taking "Squealer" and turning it into something totally bonkers and horrifying:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z4ijIQYYNo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDqoJPVaV8M

At least "Big Balls" has a joke to its joke. It's not just being naughty for naughty's sake, like, I dunno, "Given the Dog a Bone."

Bon was the king of innuendo. He made it funny without being crepey, somehow. It's kinda why I have such a hard time with Brian, because Brian makes all those songs just straight up creepy when he sings them, lol

though innuendo's a stretch, lol

So is "Night Prowler" not creepy?

Not if Bon sings it. you've seen Bon, right? :D

sorry, I'm a terrible person.

It is creepy but may get a pass since it was supposedly based on a true story, so I'm told.

I wouldn't be surprised if every AC/DC song was based on a true story!

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/252/22826391.jpg

Powerage is the 70s record I return to the most (though obv I celebrate the whole catalog) mostly cuz its light on hits but mostly cuz it's like if I told you "Oh yeah the Stones made a record between Sticky Fingers and Exile that's just as good but no one talks about it"

The early Johnson era stuff is so great and maybe a little underrated now?

The band I was in did an AC/DC covers thing for a NYE and we specifically focused on the Brian Johnson era stuff cuz it wasn't as "cool" but we did a deep dive and really practiced the material (like more then we normally would for own shit, natch) but so it gave me a renewed appreciation of those songs and Johnson is a fucking incredible singer, to sound like he does and do it LOUD is a lot harder then you'd think

we had a confetti canon on stage and sync'd up "For Those About to Rock" with the midnight countdown so "FIRE!" came right at midnight and it would have been awesome but our bass player kinda step on the touchdown call cuz he thought I was going to blown up by the confetti canon so he pulled me away and can you tell I'm still pissed about it haha?

Apparently Cliff is back, but Phil is out. :(

I guess it's kinda hard to guess where Rudd's head is at given his history

Fun fact: Rudd was the only Australian born member of the blockbuster era.

i love the Bon era the best

but overall with this band I think the joy of relistening as a longtime fan now is that there is a lot of joy in their music, and how the fun IS that it’s not really “about” anything. And lately for me on a musical level, marvelling how the whole rhythm section is *so* locked in, solid as a fucking rock, with these perfect spaces to support Bon’s showmanship, or Angus’s solos, or fuckin bagpipes or whatever

it’s a thing of beauty imo

Booming post, cosign 100%.

oowerage is so so awesome, Chris otm

There is a 2 part ABC documentary about Alberts LTD which covers from the 60s with the Easybeats through AC/DC that is on Youtube that is worth a view. It is like many of these RNR documentaries but the Australian view point is pretty novel to me, especially seeing some of the other acts covered in the show like Rose Tattoo. The part where Young and Vanda was using drum tape loops to make tracks was interesting.

oowerage is so so awesome

First tour since 2016, I guess. But just Brian and Angus as anchors. No Cliff or Phil.

Phil Rudd has not toured with them for fourteen years tbf

(four years before his meth / murder-for-hire legal complications)

(and Cliff retired from the band aged 67, so not touring at age 74 for an album that he popped back to record for a few weeks in 2018 is not much surprise)

And Malcolm is dead. I know *why*, doesn't make it much better. But Cliff did play with them at that Power Trip show back in October, so there was a possibility.

Aw man why is this thread not called "AC/DC C/D"? Someone really slipped up there.

Makes me really nervous when two separate threads about aging artists get bumped.

tbf this the rare band where it's unusual when something bad *doesn't* happen to them.

the current Mitsubishi commercial has done the impossible and actually made me dislike "Thunderstruck"

AC/DC C/D S/D

mods please rename

xpost same thing happened to me but 20+ years ago, ithere was a Holden ute commercial that played in Australia foreverrr in the late 90’s early 00’s

still cannot with that fkn song