lambchops's Full Review: Black Ice [Digipak] by AC/DC
When AC/DC thundered onto the scene in 1974 and 1975 with High Voltage and TNT nobody could have guessed that they would still be making music more than 30 years later. Of course their talents have been tested and their popularity waxes and wanes, but despite all the band's hardships (including the death of lead singer Bon Scott in 1980) they continue to sell millions of records and sell out shows.
The past three and a half decades have seen a lot of changes in music, but AC/DC continues to make the kind of sound they know best--hard, arena rock and roll. These years have also seen the release of fifteen studio albums (not to mention live recordings and videos). My personal favorite music has come off of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1977), Highway to Hell (1979), Back in Black (1980), and the collection Who Made Who (1986) but that is not to say that 2008's Black Ice doesn't have its fair share of great moments.
AC/DC has taken a cue from the Eagles and distributed Black Ice only to Walmart stores. I have yet to decide whether this is a smart move (it goes without saying that a lot of people are politically opposed to the mega store), but it does seem to have worked for the Eagles. Despite the issue I may have with its strange distribution, Black Ice is a good album. As with prior releases, it includes Brian Johnson on lead vocals, Angus Young on lead guitar, Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, Cliff Williams on bass guitar, and Phil Rudd on drums. It doesn't matter to AC/DC or their fans that the music never shows artistic growth. It doesn't have to. AC/DC really is an entity unto itself--totally timeless and completely kick butt.
As for the actual music, well, it shouldn't come as any shock to fans that all the songs seem somehow familiar. The great thing about AC/DC is that you never are surprised at what you find on new CDs. Pop in Black Ice and you'll be just as energized and comfortable as you were with The Razor's Edge or Powerage. It's a great feeling to know you understand AC/DC. At this point in their career it would be silly to change up their familiar winning formula. Producer Brendan O'Brien seems to make some minor efforts, but the strong performance style of the Australian band dominates.
Black Ice teeters on the precipice between greatness and the easily forgotten. On one hand, I love the strong, cocky, and wild album opener Rock N' Roll Train. This momentum is continued through equally compelling rockers Skies on Fire and Big Jack. Indeed I'm impressed by AC/DC if these first three songs have any bearing on the remaining twelve songs. But that is part of the problem. I feel that the band could have tightened up the track list and made it a more energetic and cohesive piece of rock history. This tendancy for AC/DC to stretch things out is mildly disturbing, but I can forgive them for being a little over confident considering their decades long popularity.
Of particular note is Angus Young's work on slide guitar on Stormy May Day While it is true that Young is better in his element, it is interesting that he chose to change things up for the recording. I'm also compelled to speak to Rock N' Roll Dream. A good song, yes, but it exhibits many of the same issues I have to point out about Black Ice. It is just too clean and too nice. AC/DC is supposed to be sleazy, brash, dirty, and generally inconsiderate. Ironically when it comes to this song and the majority of the album, the production is too perfect. I wish the spontenaiety of the band's best albums was still apparent.
Even with the problems I have regarding production and predictability, I have to admit I like Black Ice. It is a good rock albums and something that the sound-alike musical peons of today should take a listen to. Johnson's vocals are ridiculously energentic, Angus Young shreds impressively, and the rest of the band fills in all the space with both intelligence and talent. AC/DC kicks my butt across the board--heck, I like songs across the CD and all have at least some redeeming musical and entertainment value. As with all AC/DC CD's I find that I enjoy all the music and eventually it all ends up implanted in my memory. Don't miss other thumping guitar rockers including War Machine, Money Made, and Black Ice.
Overall, I think AC/DC has made better albums. Obviously they have made other better albums, especially in the late 1970s and early 1980s. With that said, this is also not their least impressive album to date. If you're a fan of AC/DC you'll surely pick up Black Ice. If you're not, don't start with this release...please turn your attention to Back in Black and work from there.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing: 01. "Rock N' Roll Train" 02. "Skies on Fire" 03. "Big Jack" 04. "Anything Goes" 05. "War Machine" 06. "Smash N' Grab" 07. "Spoilin' For A Fight" 08. "Wheels" 09. "Decibel" 10. "Stormy May Day" 11. "She Likes Rock N' Roll" 12. "Money Made" 13. "Rock N' Roll Dream" 14. "Rocking All the Way" 15. "Black Ice"
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