AC/DC New album and Tour.

jack presley · 28-11-2014 6:58pm

All the talk a while back about how bland the cover is, now that I have the album, the cover is actually pretty cool the way the logo explodes when you tilt it.

Still not too important an issue I don't think but I wonder have any of the people who didn't like it changed their mind upon getting the album?

briany · 30-11-2014 3:59am

jack presley wrote: »

All the talk a while back about how bland the cover is, now that I have the album, the cover is actually pretty cool the way the logo explodes when you tilt it.

Still not too important an issue I don't think but I wonder have any of the people who didn't like it changed their mind upon getting the album?

It's a minor quibble, but I would have liked to have seen some sort of Angus representation on the cover as well, fist raised defiantly. It would suit the theme of the album, if you think about it, with what they've been through.

NelsonVanAlden · 30-11-2014 4:20pm

Best album since Flick Of The Switch imo. Much better than Black Ice. Im actually surprised that people on here are saying its not great.

Say Your Number · 30-11-2014 9:15pm

I've given it a few listens, I think it's on the same level as Black Ice so far, I really like Rock The Blues Away, I know the lyrics are cheesy but it's a nice feel good tune, Stevie does a great job filling the big shoes of his uncle no doubt he'll be able to deliver live, if only Rudd wasn't such a f*cking eejit

blastman · 01-12-2014 11:59am

I've been listening to it more over the weekend and I'm starting to really like it. It's definitely on a par with any of the recent albums, IMO. Being short and snappy kind of suits it, although another track or two would have been nice. All in all, 41 years in and after the recent trials and tribulations, I think it's a winner.

Oh, and I had a look at the cover in HMV yesterday and it is pretty well done, all right. Looking forward to my physical copy arriving in the post.

briany · 01-12-2014 6:44pm

Shortish interview with Angus & Brian on BBC Breakfast. Questions aren't very surprising. Angus can't particularly enjoy discussing the subject of his brother's dementia on each and every one, but it's the hot-button topic. At what point does he just say, though, "Look, if you wanna know how Malcolm is, you probably should have read one of the other 2 dozen answers I've already given on the subject."

Wrongway1985 · 01-12-2014 7:03pm

Pretty sure there is an interview with Angus on Todayfm sometime after 7 o clock tonight too.

McDave · 01-12-2014 8:17pm

Bought ROB yesterday and have listened through 6 or 7 times already, so I'm giving it a rest before refamiliarising myself with it.

I'm assuming most people here are fans and will buy it themselves, and will try to get to any Dublin concert that might be scheduled. So here's my tuppence worth.

Pluses
- Really strong opening. 'Rock or Bust' and 'Play Ball' both sound really good, and are straight additions to the AC/DC canon. Classic stuff;
- Stevie does a really good job, especially on those opening tracks. He's got a bit of the DNA alright;
- Brian's vocals are very good;
- Rudd's drumming is up to his trademark standards, whatever about the reported difficulties getting him into the studio.

Minuses
- The album really tails off after the storming start. TBH it almost sounds like a different band from track 3. Someone mentioned that 'Rock the Blues Away' sounds like another version of 'Anything Goes' off Black Ice. They have a point. While it's not bad, IMO it's far too poppy for AC/DC;
- I'm struggling to remember tunes or riffs from later songs. It's not that they're bad. They're just not striking enough. In time they may turn out to be slow burners, and more qualities might shine through.

Overall
I'm getting a bit of an SUL vibe off this album (my least favourite album outside FOTW). To me SUL was a half-hearted effort with a couple of knock-out tracks. So far, I'm hearing nothing to elevate ROB above SUL, let alone better later-era albums like Black Ice and Ballbreaker. For instance Black Ice had a few really good tracks, plus an interesting departure in 'Stormy May Day'. They haven't used that direction as a springboard for a foray into, say, a bit of southern Skynrdy blues, with added hardness.

I'm prepared to give ROB more time to grow, but there's no way I'd be giving it any more than 3/5 at this stage.

Wrongway1985 · 01-12-2014 8:23pm

Wrongway1985 wrote: »

Pretty sure there is an interview with Angus on Todayfm sometime after 7 o clock tonight too.

Tuned in it's been postponed didn't say till when, perhaps there was an announcement to coincide with it is the reason its put on hold then again might be reading too much into it.

briany · 02-12-2014 1:01am

McDave wrote: »

Bought ROB yesterday and have listened through 6 or 7 times already, so I'm giving it a rest before refamiliarising myself with it.

I'm assuming most people here are fans and will buy it themselves, and will try to get to any Dublin concert that might be scheduled. So here's my tuppence worth.

Pluses
- Really strong opening. 'Rock or Bust' and 'Play Ball' both sound really good, and are straight additions to the AC/DC canon. Classic stuff;
- Stevie does a really good job, especially on those opening tracks. He's got a bit of the DNA alright;
- Brian's vocals are very good;
- Rudd's drumming is up to his trademark standards, whatever about the reported difficulties getting him into the studio.

Minuses
- The album really tails off after the storming start. TBH it almost sounds like a different band from track 3. Someone mentioned that 'Rock the Blues Away' sounds like another version of 'Anything Goes' off Black Ice. They have a point. While it's not bad, IMO it's far too poppy for AC/DC;
- I'm struggling to remember tunes or riffs from later songs. It's not that they're bad. They're just not striking enough. In time they may turn out to be slow burners, and more qualities might shine through.

Overall
I'm getting a bit of an SUL vibe off this album (my least favourite album outside FOTW). To me SUL was a half-hearted effort with a couple of knock-out tracks. So far, I'm hearing nothing to elevate ROB above SUL, let alone better later-era albums like Black Ice and Ballbreaker. For instance Black Ice had a few really good tracks, plus an interesting departure in 'Stormy May Day'. They haven't used that direction as a springboard for a foray into, say, a bit of southern Skynrdy blues, with added hardness.

I'm prepared to give ROB more time to grow, but there's no way I'd be giving it any more than 3/5 at this stage.

This is a nice in depth analysis of the album. I judge AC/DC albums by the filler, not the singles, and I'd be of the opinion that the filler on RoB sounds unfinished, basically. A lot of people might say that AC/DC have a formulaic sound but at their best they can always find little twists on it to keep it interesting. Here, it's one riff, straight chords and a solo, like clockwork almost.

I don't agree that they sound like a different band after track 2, they still sound like AC/DC, but AC/DC a bit hard up for inspiration, basically. Rudd's drumming is dutiful and keeps the beat, but similarly it misses those little touches that really give life to a song. Knowing what we know now about his situation, you can't help but wonder was his mind 100 percent focused on the task at hand?

Also, it's always funny how taste varies for AC/DC because I think SUL is a little cracker of an album. I always felt it was their 'grooviest' album, too.

blastman · 03-12-2014 11:52am

Chris Evans said this morning that Angus and Brian will be on his show (BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show) on Friday and there will be an announcement on tour dates.

briany · 03-12-2014 4:20pm

Heads up - ex AC/DC drummer Chris Slade is on Chris Jericho's podcast today 'Talk is Jericho' to discuss his career, including his time with AC/DC. Chris Jericho mentions that he's heard from 'reliable sources' that Chris Slade is under consideration to rejoin the band as well, but obviously take that with a pinch. Also have this tidbit from the podcast - the three main drummers of AC/DC once posed together for a photo. Slade is a stylish dude. Hope he can come back to the band.

McDave · 03-12-2014 8:13pm

briany wrote: »

This is a nice in depth analysis of the album. I judge AC/DC albums by the filler, not the singles, and I'd be of the opinion that the filler on RoB sounds unfinished, basically. A lot of people might say that AC/DC have a formulaic sound but at their best they can always find little twists on it to keep it interesting. Here, it's one riff, straight chords and a solo, like clockwork almost.

I don't agree that they sound like a different band after track 2, they still sound like AC/DC, but AC/DC a bit hard up for inspiration, basically. Rudd's drumming is dutiful and keeps the beat, but similarly it misses those little touches that really give life to a song. Knowing what we know now about his situation, you can't help but wonder was his mind 100 percent focused on the task at hand?

Also, it's always funny how taste varies for AC/DC because I think SUL is a little cracker of an album. I always felt it was their 'grooviest' album, too.

Thanks for that.

On the 'lesser' albums, I've always been partial myself to the much maligned BUYV. FOTS is also underrated IMO, largely because of the poor production, and paling in comparison to BIB and even FTATR.

It's probably fair to say that AC/DC moved down a notch or two in quality from FOTS onwards, in terms of inconsistent production and more filler. I thnk there was also a decline caused by exhaustion leading to the nadir of FOTW. But for me they upped their game a decent notch for BUYV (good songs, a sense of fun, but thin production) and the very eventful Razor's Edge. After that, it's been albums at long intervals with filler outnumbering the better tracks.

McDave · 03-12-2014 9:33pm

briany wrote: »

In the battle of AC/DC's war songs, I'd give it to DoW.

For me it's still 'This Means War' off BUYV. A nice variation on the 'Beating Around the Bush' theme.

McDave · 03-12-2014 9:38pm

Listening to ROB again. Brian's vocals are great. Brendan O'Brien knows how to get the best out of him, like he did on Black Ice. I'm also getting the SUV vibe some have picked up. And Stevie gets better with ever listen. Even if ROB is not a classic, there's really plenty of life in the old dog yet. You really have to take your hats off to these guys.

Penfailed · 04-12-2014 12:10am

It doesn't feature on this writers top ten 'DC albums -

http://www.gigsandfestivals.co.uk/blog/item/top-ten-ac-dc-albums

...which is fair enough IMHO.

briany · 04-12-2014 12:20am

McDave wrote: »

Thanks for that.

On the 'lesser' albums, I've always been partial myself to the much maligned BUYV. FOTS is also underrated IMO, largely because of the poor production, and paling in comparison to BIB and even FTATR.

It's probably fair to say that AC/DC moved down a notch or two in quality from FOTS onwards, in terms of inconsistent production and more filler. I thnk there was also a decline caused by exhaustion leading to the nadir of FOTW. But for me they upped their game a decent notch for BUYV (good songs, a sense of fun, but thin production) and the very eventful Razor's Edge. After that, it's been albums at long intervals with filler outnumbering the better tracks.

I never thought FOTS had 'poor' production. It sounded very raw, though, but I like raw. I think that raw is how AC/DC should sound. FOTW and BUYV both suffered under a layer of slapback reverb and sounded kind of processed at times. They suffered from a little bit of 80s disease, IMO.

briany · 04-12-2014 1:08am

Rudd's been arrested again. This time for dancing around outside a girls college. He's turning into the local nutter.

http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/phil-rudd-back-in-police-custody-2014120411?ref=RLrotator

Say Your Number · 04-12-2014 11:51am

He's lost the plot completely, I dread to think what Malcolm would do to him if he was in full health, some way to piss all over the band's swansong.

ush · 04-12-2014 12:41pm

Kinda cool though.

seachto7 · 04-12-2014 2:40pm

ush wrote: »

Kinda cool though.

If you're 12 maybe.

The fact he has to go around with a bodyguard tells me all I need to know about him. A twat.

jack presley · 04-12-2014 2:50pm

I was only 4 when Bon died but I'd imagine he was in the press quite a bit with his antics before then but since ive been a fan (Razor'e Edge time) the only time you'd read about ACDC in the press was to do with an album or a tour. Everything's low key, under the radar with them. It could be by accident but more probably by design.

This is why this whole Rudd thing is such a surprise and why I think he's hit his drum with them.

ush · 04-12-2014 3:16pm

jack presley wrote: »

I was only 4 when Bon died but I'd imagine he was in the press quite a bit with his antics before then but since ive been a fan (Razor'e Edge time) the only time you'd read about ACDC in the press was to do with an album or a tour. Everything's low key, under the radar with them. It could be by accident but more probably by design.

This is why this whole Rudd thing is such a surprise and why I think he's hit his drum with them.

Rudd's previous antics and the whole Bon Scott era were pre-internet. They were anything but under the radar.

briany · 04-12-2014 4:50pm

ush wrote: »

Rudd's previous antics and the whole Bon Scott era were pre-internet. They were anything but under the radar.

AC/DC as a band have never been under the radar but as people they have always been pretty private, particularly Angus, Malcolm and Cliff. Even Bon, when he was alive, didn't seek to air his dirty laundry in a public forum. He had a reputation as a drinker and a womanizer, but that was stuff he did, not stuff he sought to make public or seem bigger than him or the band.

ush · 04-12-2014 5:41pm

briany wrote: »

AC/DC as a band have never been under the radar but as people they have always been pretty private, particularly Angus, Malcolm and Cliff. Even Bon, when he was alive, didn't seek to air his dirty laundry in a public forum. He had a reputation as a drinker and a womanizer, but that was stuff he did, not stuff he sought to make public or seem bigger than him or the band.

Bon didn't air his laundry in a public form? You've lost the run of yourself. Listen to the man's lyrics. No more public a forum that that.

briany · 04-12-2014 8:19pm

ush wrote: »

Bon didn't air his laundry in a public form? You've lost the run of yourself. Listen to the man's lyrics. No more public a forum that that.

No, AC/DC is the show. As I said, AC/DC as a band can be over the top but even then Bon wasn't singing "My feud with Roger Daltrey" or "I shagged this bird in 1971, here's her name and address." He took things that happened to him and applied an artistic process (a melody, a turn of phrase, metaphor) and put in the context of a song. This is what the majority of successful songwriters/singers have done in their careers, especially in rock, so are they all a bunch of attention seekers for doing this?

ush · 04-12-2014 10:35pm

briany wrote: »

No, AC/DC is the show.

Never implied that they weren't. Even with Rudd up on the current charges, the fans care more about the album and tour.

briany wrote: »

As I said, AC/DC as a band can be over the top but even then Bon wasn't singing "My feud with Roger Daltrey" or "I shagged this bird in 1971, here's her name and address."

Well your second scenario is Whole Lotta Rosie. He sang her measurements. The location and date are well known.

briany wrote: »

He took things that happened to him and applied an artistic process (a melody, a turn of phrase, metaphor) and put in the context of a song. This is what the majority of successful songwriters/singers have done in their careers, especially in rock, so are they all a bunch of attention seekers for doing this?

Artistic process, melody, songwriters. You're losing the run of yourself. Drop the gushing prose. I never said he was, or that they, were "attention seekers". But Bon was pretty much as public as you could be.

poundhound · 05-12-2014 11:23am

4 minutes of a 45min interview with Brian Johnson and Angus Young was broadcast on the Chris Evans Radio show this morning.

Other than confirming their plans to tour in 2015, they had no further details.

blastman · 05-12-2014 5:57pm

Yeah, bit of a waste of space that, I think Evans was probably expecting more, then told that he wouldn't be getting it/couldn't use it...

McDave · 05-12-2014 11:50pm

briany wrote: »

I never thought FOTS had 'poor' production. It sounded very raw, though, but I like raw. I think that raw is how AC/DC should sound. FOTW and BUYV both suffered under a layer of slapback reverb and sounded kind of processed at times. They suffered from a little bit of 80s disease, IMO.

There are at least two aspects to the production, work on songs and work on sound. I think the band themselves admitted they didn't work enough on the songs, not having an external producer and that.

As to sound, IMO HTH was raw, but smooth. FOTS was raw in a coarse way, with poor sound and indistinct instruments. Anyway AC/DC don't have to be raw. Two of their very best albums have warm production - Powerage and BIB.

McDave · 05-12-2014 11:54pm

ush wrote: »

Bon didn't air his laundry in a public form? You've lost the run of yourself. Listen to the man's lyrics. No more public a forum that that.

Scott was a lyrical artist. He painted real, witty pictures of his life. He didn't dish dirt.

ush · 06-12-2014 3:23pm

McDave wrote: »

Scott was a lyrical artist. He painted real, witty pictures of his life. He didn't dish dirt.

Never said anything about "dishing dirt". Real and witty they may have been, but they also painted another tragic picture.

This isn't the first time that that erratic behaviour has touched someone in AC DC. Rudd has been psychotic before. Its just that nowadays it gets broadcast and uploaded.

McDave · 06-12-2014 7:16pm

ush wrote: »

Never said anything about "dishing dirt". Real and witty they may have been, but they also painted another tragic picture.

This isn't the first time that that erratic behaviour has touched someone in AC DC. Rudd has been psychotic before. Its just that nowadays it gets broadcast and uploaded.

Dish dirt? Air laundry? TBH, I don't see much difference in intent.

Scott led a pretty dissolute lifestyle. But he had some kind of innate integrity, which came across in his witty lyrics, and knowing delivery.

McDave · 06-12-2014 7:21pm

ush wrote: »

Rudd's previous antics and the whole Bon Scott era were pre-internet. They were anything but under the radar.

'Before the internet' there were the redtop tabloids. Bad stuff got out that way. Despite that, Bon Scott's 'antics' were pretty much under the radar. Most people heard very little about his boozing etc. until after he died. Probably because it was mostly boozing and womanising. Nothing much to actually write home about.

What Rudd is doing now simply isn't comparable. Rudd is imploding before our eyes. Scott behaved nothing like that.

McDave · 06-12-2014 7:24pm

ush wrote: »

Never implied that they weren't. Even with Rudd up on the current charges, the fans care more about the album and tour.

Well your second scenario is Whole Lotta Rosie. He sang her measurements. The location and date are well known.

Artistic process, melody, songwriters. You're losing the run of yourself. Drop the gushing prose. I never said he was, or that they, were "attention seekers". But Bon was pretty much as public as you could be.

Scott had his small time run ins with the law. He didn't pander to the redtops, or live a celebrity lifestyle. Considering his profession as a performer, he was very low key.

fluke · 06-12-2014 7:34pm

Can we talk about the new album and general thoughts on it?

I haven't heard it yet but will be happy if it is up to the standard of the last two.

briany · 06-12-2014 7:37pm

Names being spitballed on the AC/DC forum and somebody mentioned Dave Grohl. Not happening, I would say considering his schedule, but it brings up the idea of a 'name' drummer being added into the mix and who'd be suitable if one were brought in.

fluke · 06-12-2014 7:50pm

I really do not want Dave Grohl near that kit. No disrespect to you Briany, but he is a 'name' drummer, and probably the only one a lot of non muso heads would think of. Anyway he'll be busy with Chronic Highways.

Keep your man who has been in the two vids - Bob Richards. It'll prob be him. AC/DC don't really mess about with decision making.

briany · 06-12-2014 9:29pm

fluke wrote: »

I really do not want Dave Grohl near that kit. No disrespect to you Briany, but he is a 'name' drummer, and probably the only one a lot of non muso heads would think of. Anyway he'll be busy with Chronic Highways.

Keep your man who has been in the two vids - Bob Richards. It'll prob be him. AC/DC don't really mess about with decision making.

You'd be surprised. It's not often at all that they have to get in a new member, but when they do, it's a fairly exacting process. I think Slade said they had somewhere close to 100 drummers to look at back in '89, and although it seems easy, not just anyone can fit with AC/DC's sound.

fluke wrote: »

Can we talk about the new album and general thoughts on it?

I haven't heard it yet but will be happy if it is up to the standard of the last two.

General thoughts are so far - A solid slab of AC/DC, perhaps lacking somewhat those little touches that give real life to their musical formula.

Say Your Number · 06-12-2014 9:40pm

Ed Graham who used to drum for The Darkness and Stone Gods would be a good fit, but I remember reading a few years ago he had to have both hips replaced after he got some blood disorder, he left The Darkness recently, could be more health problems who knows.

If Grohl was available I think he'd be a good fit too, but there's not that many drummers that have the same feel as Rudd without him AC/DC won't be the same no matter how good the replacement is.

briany · 06-12-2014 10:00pm

Say Your Number wrote: »

Ed Graham who used to drum for The Darkness and Stone Gods would be a good fit, but I remember reading a few years ago he had to have both hips replaced after he got some blood disorder, he left The Darkness recently, could be more health problems who knows.

Good shout. Maybe AC/DC would want someone in and around their own age, though, I don't know.

Say Your Number · 06-12-2014 10:22pm

Graham would be great but he's had serious health problems, I don't know would he be able for it.

On the age profile, I think they'd happily take an 18 year old with them if they had a similar groove to Rudd.

This lad is 21/22, I'm pretty sure they'd sign him up if he was available

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtOviKU9Bi4

briany · 06-12-2014 11:10pm

Say Your Number wrote: »

Graham would be great but he's had serious health problems, I don't know would he be able for it.

On the age profile, I think they'd happily take an 18 year old with them if they had a similar groove to Rudd.

This lad is 21/22, I'm pretty sure they'd sign him up if he was available

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtOviKU9Bi4

You see it sometimes though, where an older band will take on a member who's 20, 30, or 40 years younger than the average of the rest of the members. That's OK if he/she is a background figure but as a full member it looks a bit out of place to me, like Wolfgang Van Halen in Van Halen or Adam Lambert with Queen. As good as they may be, it's always a case of the odd one out. I think if AC/DC wanted, they'd have world class drummers lining up around the block to play for them so I don't think it'd be too difficult to find someone who not only has groove but also is in the 'peer' age range.

jack presley · 06-12-2014 11:26pm

I think it's fairly safe to assume that they'll have an old guy on drums. I doubt they'd ever consider anyone under the age of 40.

AC/DC drummers (along with Malcolm and Cliff) have always blended into the background so I doubt they'd want anyone who would draw extra attention which a young drummer or someone mega famous from another band would do. It might not be yer man from the videos but I reckon it'll someone of his era and recognition.

Unless they have any other nephews/grandkids who play the drums.....!!!

Tesco TripleChicken · 06-12-2014 11:32pm

McDave wrote: »

Bought ROB yesterday and have listened through 6 or 7 times already, so I'm giving it a rest before refamiliarising myself with it.

I'm assuming most people here are fans and will buy it themselves, and will try to get to any Dublin concert that might be scheduled. So here's my tuppence worth.

Pluses
- Really strong opening. 'Rock or Bust' and 'Play Ball' both sound really good, and are straight additions to the AC/DC canon. Classic stuff;
- Stevie does a really good job, especially on those opening tracks. He's got a bit of the DNA alright;
- Brian's vocals are very good;
- Rudd's drumming is up to his trademark standards, whatever about the reported difficulties getting him into the studio.

Minuses
- The album really tails off after the storming start. TBH it almost sounds like a different band from track 3. Someone mentioned that 'Rock the Blues Away' sounds like another version of 'Anything Goes' off Black Ice. They have a point. While it's not bad, IMO it's far too poppy for AC/DC;
- I'm struggling to remember tunes or riffs from later songs. It's not that they're bad. They're just not striking enough. In time they may turn out to be slow burners, and more qualities might shine through.

Overall
I'm getting a bit of an SUL vibe off this album (my least favourite album outside FOTW). To me SUL was a half-hearted effort with a couple of knock-out tracks. So far, I'm hearing nothing to elevate ROB above SUL, let alone better later-era albums like Black Ice and Ballbreaker. For instance Black Ice had a few really good tracks, plus an interesting departure in 'Stormy May Day'. They haven't used that direction as a springboard for a foray into, say, a bit of southern Skynrdy blues, with added hardness.

I'm prepared to give ROB more time to grow, but there's no way I'd be giving it any more than 3/5 at this stage.

I've listened through the album about 8 times now according to iTunes, and the only tracks that really stand out to me are Rock or Bust and Dogs of War. I've been kinda listening to it passively (while busy doing something else) so maybe I just need to give it a proper listen to appreciate it. Good album, but a bit too short in my opinion. Average track time looks like it's around 3mins, while Black Ice was around 4 mins, and Ballbreaker almost around 5 mins by the looks of it (just having a glance through iTunes library).
Overall I'd put BI, BB and SUL above ROB, and probably give it a 6.5/10

adox · 07-12-2014 12:25am

Much as I love AC/DC and I've grown up with them since the early days, they haven't made a decent album since the 80s.

Still at this very late stage of their career a band well worth seeing live but their days of producing an album of note finished quite early in Brian's career with the band.

briany · 07-12-2014 12:49am

adox wrote: »

Much as I love AC/DC and I've grown up with them since the early days, they haven't made a decent album since the 80s.

Still at this very late stage of their career a band well worth seeing live but their days of producing an album of note finished quite early in Brian's career with the band.

That's your opinion, but no albums of note? Black Ice absolutely smashed the rock charts when it hit and the following tour did close to half a billion dollars. It's probably AC/DC's most dense and varied album to date as well. It's certainly their longest, anyway.

fluke · 07-12-2014 1:34am

adox wrote: »

Much as I love AC/DC and I've grown up with them since the early days, they haven't made a decent album since the 80s.

Still at this very late stage of their career a band well worth seeing live but their days of producing an album of note finished quite early in Brian's career with the band.

I partially agree. The band (and Brian's career with them) peaked with BiB.

For me the output after BiB was pretty hollow and sounded like the band going for a sound driven by playing to stadiums. However, SuL and BI (and to an extent Ballbreaker) showed the band returning their roots. The last two albums are really strong.

McDave · 07-12-2014 6:20pm

adox wrote: »

Much as I love AC/DC and I've grown up with them since the early days, they haven't made a decent album since the 80s.

Still at this very late stage of their career a band well worth seeing live but their days of producing an album of note finished quite early in Brian's career with the band.

For my money, the Razor's Edge was more than a decent album. Ballbreaker was decent too. I'd have my doubts about the post-80s rest, although any fan will listen to them more than the odd time.

McDave · 07-12-2014 8:12pm

One week on, I've put ROB on my iTouch and given it a few more listens on the go. I think it's a bit better than Black Ice. Just that bit more consistent, and fuller sounding, and easier to listen through. To that extent, it's more like Ballbreaker, and with a similar sound.

Songwise, the twin punch start is still the highlight. Rock the Night Away is still too poppy for me. Miss Adventure is close to unlistenable filler. Dogs of War gets back on track, but not to the level of ROB or Play Ball. I like the martial tempo of Rock & Roll Thunder - very good. The next few tracks are very listenable peaking again with Sweet Candy. Emission Control closes on a relative low.

Verdict: definitely worth buying - in the round more likeable and listenable than Black Ice - on a par with Ballbreaker - not as good as Razor's Edge.

Brian Johnson has really come to the fore over the last two albums. I hope he can keep the motor going. If Angus stays interested, there's no reason why AC/DC can't produce one more album. Maybe lose the schoolboy kacks, and give freer rein to a bluesier style that accommodates Brian's strengths. They're living legends now. Take a chance on changing gear?

AC/DC New album and Tour.

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