I recently got this CD as a Christmas present (cheers, guys!) and it was a good choice. You always know what you're getting with AC/DC -or do you? After all, Angus Young and co. are not getting any younger. The other constant member of the band, his brother Malcolm, had to regrettably quit the band due to the onset of dementia. Everybody agrees that his rhythm guitar riffs were an essential part of the band's sound, so how much has his absence changed the band? Did Angus snatch the chance to write that rock mini-opera he always wanted? Is it time for that romantic ballad, to show that metalheads have feelings too? After all, even Metallica write ballads and they're fuckin' heavy motherfuckers (I'm writing this in metallica-ish, the language where 2 in every 3 words are "fuck"). Well, let's put it this way...Remember what happened when Coca-Cola replaced their traditional product with the new "improved" Coke? The rage, the nervous breakdowns, the riots until they brought back the old recipe? And that was only a beverage. AC/DC is an institution! Mess with the formula? No sir-ee, this is as pure as it gets. Producer Brendan O' Brian (Pearl Jam, Springsteen, Rage Against The Machine) keeps it simple, lean and mean by removing all the fat - at 11 songs in 35 minutes, this is the band's shortest album ever. Malcolm is seamlessly substituted by his nephew Stevie Young - not the son of younger brother Angus, of course, but neither of older brother George Young guitarist of the Easybeats or even older brother Alex Young bass player of The Grapefruit. No, Stevie is the son of the even older brother, Stephen Young (who presumably pre-dated rock'n'roll and thus didn't play in any bands). Which accounts for why the band still looks like a bunch of old geezers -Angus' nephew is almost 60 himself... Now back to the record itself: The lyrics are, as always, about rocking, drinking and having sex. The band's philosophy is summed up in the opening song's chorus "In Rock We Trust - It's Rock Or Bust!". Great riff and great chorus - I picture it already: 60.000 mouths singing it all together, fists pumping the air, the crowd moving like the sea in a storm... Second track "Let's Play Ball" is another future classic, destined to accompany the highlight reels at sports shows for decades to come.“Rock The Blues Away” somehow reminds me of John Fogerty and "Miss adventure" sports another nice riff and some "na na na"'s, just for variation. "Dogs Of War" is the closest the album comes to heavy metal - I could swear I've heard something similar by Accept. The following tracks are equally enjoyable but their sameness starts to weigh on you. "Rock The House" stands out with its bluesy Zeppelin sound but the CD ends with 2 more predictable numbers "Sweet Candy" and "Emission Control", the latter title an embarrassingly puerile pun. Not that it makes any difference of course - you don't listen to AC/DC for their insights into the human condition. Let's hope they'll just continue to soldier on despite the losses, because they've obviously still got what it takes. If not, "Rock Or Bust" should make a fine final statement...
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| I tried to capture the cd cover gimmick, with the words "AC/DC" seemingly exploding as you look at them |
**** for Rock or Bust, Play Ball, Rock the Blues Away, Rock the House
*** for Miss Adventure, Dogs of War, Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder, Hard Times, Baptism by Fire, Sweet Candy
** for Emission Control
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