Yes, yes, I know. AC/DC’s newest album Black Ice was released a few months ago back in October. Well I’ve wanted to write a review on their latest CD for a while now, but I was just waiting for the right time (really, just waiting until I got my blog up! :P). So now I suppose I’m finally getting around to it. Here’s a breakdown of the general feel of the CD, and every song. Enjoy.
If you haven’t heard one of AC/DC’s latest songs from their newest album, Black Ice, there is no doubt that you would be able to recognize who the artist is immediately. This is because like all AC/DC albums, this one sticks to their proven formula of sweet riffs, heavy beats, and lyrics about girls, hell, and rock. While Black Ice has no intention to draw in new fans, it most definitely sounds more modern than the group’s older albums such as Highway to Hell, and Back in Black.
1. Rock N’ Roll Train- Originally released as a single in late August, Rock N’ Roll Train is an instant classic. Bringing everything you’ve loved about AC/DC over the years in one song. Brian’s voice sounds very good in this album and Rock N’ Roll train is a great opener for the CD.
2. Skies on Fire- Quite a catchy riff this song has. But the riff isn’t the only catchy part of the song, you’ll find yourself singing along to Brian’s “rusty” (in a good way) sounding voice during “I know you know you know me”. Though the best part of the song comes near the end when Brian is screeching “Hey you, look in the sky! (Skies on Fire) Look in the sky!”
3. Big Jack- While it’s not my favorite song on the album, it’s quite good. I just can never fully get myself into the song like I can with others. It’s still good, but I wouldn’t listen to it over and over again.
4. Anything Goes- Wow! What a song! Anything Goes reminds me a little bit of Money Talks in the sense of it being a more fast-paced song. Phil Rudd provides a strong drum beat throughout the song. It’s a little bit different than most AC/DC songs since it doesn’t have an opening riff, or opening drums. It all just starts. I love it.
5. War Machine- Just look at the title. From the very beginning, this song sounds very “war like”. It has a bit of an ominous feeling throughout the first 40 seconds or so. And that feeling continues throughout the song with lines such as “better watch your back, and cover your tracks”. The song is fantastic, a real war machine song.
6. Smash ‘N’ Grab- Not my favorite, but like Big Jack, it’s an excellent song. I have a hard time memorizing the lyrics just listening to the song alone. The song really prevails through the corous with some excellent back-up singing by Cliff Williams and Malcolm Young.
7. Spoilin’ for a Fight-You can probably already guess by the title what this song is aout. Yes, you’re correct, fighting. While the song doesn’t have the emotional punch that would get me pumped up for a game, or fight, the smooth guitar riffs that go along with the lyrics make this song a good one to listen to anytime of the day.
8. Wheels- An awesome first riff by Angus and Malcom, but I can’t help but feel that this song slips a little as it goes along. Brian’s really trying as he screetches “Wheels!” By no means is it a bad song, it’s just… not quite as good as the others. It sounds just a bit messy.
9. Decibel- If you remember in 1980’s album Back in Black, the song “Rock and Roll ain’t Noise Pollution” and a line “Heavy decibels are playing on my guitar”. I was sort of expecting another drum beat, riff, or lyrics similar. Instead, I just get a song that I can’t get into – at all. In my opinion, this is the worst song on the CD. I didn’t like it from day 1 and I still don’t like it now.
10. Stormy May Day- This song opens with a cool, bluesy riff. I didn’t like it too much at first, but the opening drum beat by Phil make this song too good to pass up.
11. She Likes Rock N’ Roll- Probably my favorite song on the album. It’s not long after you hear the awesome intro that you hear Brian singing “A little game of fallin down” that you know this song is a stripper anthem. Sexual references are riddled throughout this song. The song is a bit similar to You Shook me all Night Long, in the sense of what Brian’s singing about, but the riffs, bass lines, and pretty much everything else is different. The song also has quite an interesting chant in which, you’ll no doubt be chanting along to. “She digs rock in roll, She gives rock n’ roll, She lives rock n’ roll, I like rock n’ roll”. The only bad part about this song is the ending. Right as you’re getting to the “peak” of rock, the song ends. Slight disappointment, but still a great song.
12. Money Made- A heavy, lazy, deep drum beat underlie some nifty guitar riffs by angus. The song is similar to Rock N’ Roll ain’t Noise Pollution in the way that it’s a bit slower, and has a “lazy” beat to it. I really like this song.
13. Rock N’ Roll Dream- Wow, what a change of pace. The song is slow… then it rocks… then it’s slow again. And when I mean slow, I most certainly do not mean bad. It’s far from that. It’s very different than anything else on the album, and really, anything else that I’ve heard from AC/DC. During the “fast” parts you’ll find yourself playing the air drums to Phil’s fantastic drum beat that carries the song. It’s different, but it’s great.
14. Rocking All the Way- It took me a while to like this song. I suppose you have to accept it more for what it is than what it isn’t. Brian’s deep, groggy, voice excels in this song while Angus puts on a mean solo. It’s most similar to Money Made. It doesn’t sound cluttered like Wheels, isn’t quite as slow as Money Made, but has that same simpleness to it.
15. Black Ice- Ah yes, Black Ice. We finally get to the finally song that the album is named after. I would describe this song as “sleek”. It has a great drum beat, but it doesn’t get in the way of everything else. I was hoping for more of a “Back in Black” style song that starts heavy and keeps going through the rest of the song, but instead you get a nice, sleek rhythm throughout the whole song. It’s definitely a good song, but not exactly the thriller ending song that I was expecting.