Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely not a Stiff, 27 Aug 2007
Even after some 27 years, the Brian Johnston AC/DC has had to live under the shadow of those few Bon Scott years and those classic albums. Apart from Black In Black, in my opinion, none of the later albums met the pedigree of those first few albums - great songs, but more often than not the albums were a little disappointing. But for me, it wasn't that the playing got weaker, or the song writing, or even the choice of singer (Love or hate him, Brian Johnston still has one of the most unique voices and although maybe not be as popular a singer as Bon, he is a better allover performer), what made the Bon Scott albums stand the test of time and, I feel, the later ones suffer, is the sound. That vintage organic crisp clear blues sound that made us love the band in the first place, was too often replaced with too much of a mediocre metal sound for my liking and lacked soul and feeling, and I'll be honest, I hadn't even bothered to buy Ballbreaker or Stiff Upper Lip - given up by then. I did however recently buy the later and what a joy. Thankfully the band have had the sense to bring in their brother George Young (who should be employed to produce the Stones next album) again to produce and this is an album to equal any of those Bon Scott albums. The songs all feel like they could have come from those early AC/DC albums, but without doubt it is Brian who sounds, for the first time, like undermining the Bon Scott legend. His voice sounds amazing on this album. Thankfully on classic albums like this, you don't have to talk in terms of individual songs. Just stick it on and find the groove. Simply stunning!!!
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The best AC/DC album for years, 5 Oct 2007
The hard core of AC/DC fans will always yearn to a degree for the Bon Scott years, however one should not overlook the fantastic edge that Brian Johnston gaave the DC. This, their most recent effort, marked a slight new direction away from the usual DC fayre of hard riffs, slightly cheesy lyrics instead favouring a helping of the blues to underpin their usual rocking tunes.
As the other reviewer stated, this is an album that does not rely on standout tracks to make it work, instead it flows with a grin on its face and really draws you in.
Its an album that you could stick on at a party and once people have had a few beers in them, you will quickly have to re-order your air guitar stock as people dance and shimmy around your room.
Wonderful stuff.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Back To Old-School 'DC, 28 Jul 2008
This is the first "new" AC/DC album I've bought since For Those About to Rock (We Salute You), having simply gone along with "accepted" wisdom and avoided their 80s and 90s output. Now I'm beginning to question that judgement. Ok, we'll deal with the 80s and 90s stuff when I get around to buying it. For now we'll look at this fabulous little gem.
In true DC fashion the individual songs don't really matter as much as the boogie and this record delivers on every count, on every track. You just put it on and let the groove transport you to hard rock heaven. The Brothers Young hammer out their ferocious riffery over the classic, none-more-solid backdrop of Rudd and Williams while Brian Johnson's trademark yowl (once memorably described as "a voice like a hail of gravel") soars over the top of it all like some demented banshee. The production, once again courtesy of Young the Elder, is crisp, sparse and raw, ideal for this bluesy material.
Ok I was going to avoid this, but... Standout tracks: Stiff Upper Lip, House of Jazz, Hold Me Back, Safe in New York City, Can't Stand Still... Sod it, what's the point? This album is a real beauty. Suffice to say that, next to Powerage, this is the most-played AC/DC album on my mp3 player. From an old-school Bon fan that's got to mean something. I mean, I'm listening to it as I type this...
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