Album Review: AC/DC - For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (1981)

Back in Black by AC/DC is without a doubt one of the best comeback albums ever made.  Despite losing an iconic vocalist, the band decided to trod on and carry on making music, as opposed to calling it quits.  Unlike other first albums with new vocalists (such as Van Halen III), it was unexpectedly brilliant, and Brian Johnson's voice only got better and better.  The followup album that I'm reviewing here, For Those About to Rock (We Salute You), isn't quite as good as its legendary predecessor.  The first few songs are good, but the album moves on into tired and boring numbers soon after that.  The second half of the album is more or less dismissable.  "I Put the Finger on You" and "Snowball" are my favorites from this album, and of course there's the title track that gets played often at their concerts, which is of course, good, but will never hold a candle to the likes of  "Shoot to Thrill" or "Hells Bells."  Still, the fact that I don't own this album in my AC/DC collection yet is even less excusable - average as the album is,  I still feel obligated to go out and get this album.  Now that I've heard it, maybe I have a bit more motivation to do so.  An average album, but worth owning nonetheless.  Streaming services just won't cut it.  B

Album Review: AC/DC - Highway to Hell (1979)

In my intermittent quest to put more Bon Scott-era Acca Dacca albums on my review page, I've gone and done a review of one of their all-time greats - Highway to Hell.  Like all AC/DC albums, monotony is the modus operandi here.  But AC/DC pull it off with competence and ease.  B grade songs are in scarcity here - "Get it Hot" is a bit cold for my liking, and "Love Hungry Man" is a bit on the snooze side.  And there are better ways to finish an album than with songs like "Night Prowler." Everything else, ranging from the titular, occasional novelty funeral dirge "Highway to Hell" through to "Girls Got Rhythm" and "Shot Down in Flames" is good old-fashioned AC/DC rock and roll, through and through.  Bon Scott's last studio album with the band, and one of his best, if not THE best.  Bogans should, of course, own this album.  Casual classic rock fans should be aware of it as well.  A bloody good album, indeed.  Not a lot can be said about this album, apart from the fact that it's great.  You really need to listen to it for yourself to get the full benefit.  A-

Album Review: AC/DC - Let There Be Rock (1977)

I've only just started to realize that I'm an even bigger AC/DC fan than I've let on, even to myself.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love AC/DC, and have done so since the Razors Edge, which was where it all began for me.  But I've never fully appreciated just how much I like the band.  Brian Johnson's eccentric screaming vocals were both hilarious to the eight year old me as well as unique and somewhat powerful in its delivery.  There was nothing else like it.  And the name AC/DC is itself the most appropriate name you could have given the band, especially in the context of The Razors Edge.  It was an electrifying album in all aspects.  Up until now, all my AC/DC album reviews were from the Brian Johnson era, which is the era I am most familiar with.  But I still love the Bon Scott era too - with songs like "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" and "Highway to Hell", AC/DC presents itself, like Van Halen, as a band that for me at least, could switch lead singers and still maintain the same level of sentiment and respect for the group as well as maintain that distinctive sound without too much subsequent disruption and change that could easily scare off fans if not carefully implemented properly.  Let There be Rock is a cracking album and one of, if not the best, Bon Scott era albums.  There is only one song that is problematic here, and that is the inclusion of "Problem Child" on the international version of the album.  It was also found on Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap for some bizarre reason.  "Whole Lotta Rosie", "Let There be Rock", "Bad Boy Boogie" and "Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be" are the ones to thrash the shit out of here.  Play the others at your own discretion, if you wish.  A great album indeed.  A

Album Review: AC/DC - Black Ice (2008)

It's a real shame what has happened as of late with AC/DC.  Drummer Phil Rudd was ejected from the band for running afoul of the law, Malcolm Young was forced to resign due to dementia, Cliff Williams has made the decision to retire and Brian Johnson has left due to hearing loss.  And of course, Axl Rose has subsequently taken over vocal duties.  For me, the band is as good as dead.  I love Guns N Roses, and of course Axl Rose, don't get me wrong, but the best vocalist for AC/DC is by far Brian Johnson, no questions asked.  It is either him or nobody.  If Phil and Brian get back on board at some point, my interest in the band will most likely be rekindled.  But only time will tell I guess.  But anyway, back to the review.  I have just finished listening to 2008's Black Ice album.  And it is better than what I could have hoped for.  Yes AC/DC still sound the same after all these years - but that's a good thing, in my opinion.  Reinventing themselves simply wouldn't work.  Despite widespread criticism of their perceived musical sameness, I couldn't see them shifting musically toward a Cliff Richard inspired style of softness, nor could I imagine them wanting to sound more like Metallica.  They sound good just the way they are, and Brian's scream sounds just as amusing and enchanting as I thought it did when I was eight years old.  "Rock N Roll Train" is probably the best known song of the album, and of course, it sounds great, although I am also somewhat partial to the Live At River Plate version as well.  "Big Jack" is probably my favorite song here, and "Anything Goes" is probably the least AC/DC sounding song since "Let Me Put My Love Into You."  But I still love it anyway.  A great effort, lads.  A-

Album Review: AC/DC - Back in Black (1980)

In 1980, the lead singer for the Australian/British hard rock band AC/DC was found dead from alcohol poisoning, bringing to a close one era for the band.  Unlike some other bands however, the group decided to push on, rather than disband.  Within a short period of time Acca Dacca soon found themselves with a new lead singer, Brian Johnson, formerly of the band Geordie.  And with the closing of the former Bon Scott period a new one with Johnson at the helm would quickly open, one that quickly proved itself to be a much more successful one commercially.  Back in Black is easily one of the band's best selling albums and transformed the rockers into hard rock titans.  And whilst many would no doubt have disowned the new line-up, others would welcome it, with Johnson's ever distinct vocals bringing a fresh new sound to the band.  And sounded good it most certainly did.  Look at the hits on this album - "Hells Bells", "Shoot to Thrill", "Back in Black", "You Shook me All Night Long", "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" - if you don't know any of those songs, and you like your rock to be hard, you've certainly been living under one.  "Given the Dog a Bone", "Have a Drink on Me", "What Do You Do for Money, Honey" are all worth giving a spin or twenty on the turntable, in the CD player, in the tape deck, or whatever your medium of choice is.  One of the essential classic rock albums that any self-respecting bogan should own.  Love it.  A

Album Review: AC/DC - The Razors Edge (1990)

AC/DC is an extremely rare breed of band, in that not only did the band thrive after it's legendary lead singer carked it, subsequently throwing the band's future into jeopardy, but it also holds the accolade of being able to sound the same musically across it's entire discography - and get away with it. In fact, sticking a fork in the power socket is smarter than telling Young, Young & Johnson to come up with a new sound. But try telling it to them in front of their fans and some West Auckland mum's gonna be wearing your balls for earrings. Which would be a fitting statement really, given the nature of some of the band's material - Family Jewels, Ballbreaker, Got You by the Balls...all are appropriate to the occasion. Big Balls - not so much. On second thought, however, it would've taken plums for one to have had the cheek to propose the idea in the first place, so Big Balls is in there too.

Brian Johnson made his debut on 1980's breakthrough Back in Black, which would go on to sell 42 million+ copies and cement Johnson's image as the perfect replacement for Bon Scott. Sadly, most of the following albums didn't quite hold up as well, until 1990's The Razors Edge came onto the scene. It was brilliant; It had power, cheek, a tiny bit of wit, and plenty of screaming by Brian Johnson. His voice now sounded somewhat different to his previous works, and it sounded better - as if the boogieman had just castrated himself with a sledgehammer dipped in iodine and itching powder, or like Sammy Davis Jr. in Cannonball Run II where Dean Martin belts his knuckles with his shoe. Songs that got airplay, like "Thunderstruck", "Are You Ready" and of course, "Money Talks", are legendary, but set them aside for gems like "Shot of Love", "The Razors Edge" and "Fire Your Guns", because they are what make this album a must-have. My verdict: Buy this album, and stone anybody who dares suggest they create a new sound. A