AC/DC – Black Ice

e. It's a doozy. I put off buying this album because back in Oct.2008 I wasn't feeling it, too much responsibility in my life, and not enough time to rock out on AC/DC. I F'in love AC/DC all the way, but our relationship is on and off. I always know they will be back in my life when the time is right and will rock my socks thru the floor when we get together again, and thats what keeps them fresh for me. I decided to jump and grab this newest release a few weeks ago, to coincide with my AC/DC tickets (next week baby!) and based on the fact that my little brother had recommended it to me. (Note: My little brother is not a fan, yet he says he thought that Black Ice was really good! I knew the time had come)

I got this bit on vinyl, because I collect vinyl, and I thought it would be a cool addition to my collection. This opened up the door on a weird mystery for me, as I bought this used from a third party distributer, and recieved some sort of bootleg vinyl copy. (I paid 12.99 opposed to 29.99... listen to what happened...) The record came sealed. In good condition, but with no dust jackets. The labels say Columbia, and look legit. The vinyl album, which is divided into four sides, sounds great and contains the right music on sides 1,3 and 4. Side 2 however contains a bizarre set of Clash covers, seemingly recorded by some cats at a bar. I'm not kidding. I must find out what thats all about, But,, I'll get back to that...

AC/DC is in top form here. Seeing as how every album since Mutt Lange left the producers seat has been gritty as hell, and sometimes downright trash (but still great IMO) and seeing as how Brian Johnson has progressively sounded more and more ready to croak on every album since 1985 (but still AWESOME!) to the point where 2000's Stiff Upper Lip sounded like it may have been recorded by the band on their private hot rock in Hell... this album is amazingly clean, tight, and crystal clear sounding. They went back to 1974 and stole up Geordie era Brian Johnson and put him on the mic...it's the only real explanation. He sounds insanely fresh. (Probably cut down to like only six packs of non-filters a day...)

Seriously, every song sounds great! This is an album for rock fans,.. not just another bone for AC/DC fanatics like myself. It's worthy stuff for any age. They use a lot of the backing vocals too, which works to heavy advantage, and theres some nice suprises in of varying up the sound from song to song, without spoiling the formula.

Now, my biggest problem is that tracks 5-8 are lost on my weird copy here, and I really want to hear them, because the rest of this thing is so good. I picked up back at track 9 DECIBEL, and it was a real cool bluesy rock swing thing happening, into the slide guitar MAY DAY. Doesn't sound like there was any slump at all on side two... except for the fact that its NOT THERE!!!

If anyone has any info on this Clash covers mystery**, let me know post haste. I will buy the CD in the meantime cuz it ROCKS, and I'll keep this vinyl oddity for conversational purposes obviously... and I'll leave you with this.

First, The album is their best in YEARS! Get IT!
Secondly, The vinyl sounds amazing, but be careful where you get it if you do, cuz some cats are slagging out bootlegs! You may just pay the full thirty, and make sure it comes with dust jackets inside!

And finally ROCK OUT KIDS! Either way, I got something to wail and I'm digging it. Even if a quarter of the album was replaced with Clash songs... some things you just can't explain away, Y'know? Later!