'Black Ice' brings the heat - just not enough

The old knock is that all AC/DC albums sound alike. But that's a compliment, not a curse, to the hard-rocking lads from Australia.

The band's new disc Black Ice, their first studio offering in eight years, has everything you've come to expect from AC/DC: catchy guitar riffs by Angus and Malcolm Young, pounding drums and bass by Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams, and that never-aging growling howl of singer Brian Johnson.

Is it up to the standards of Highway to Hell and Back in Black from their heyday? No, but those discs remain works of art that aren't likely to be topped anytime soon. Here are some first impressions from Black Ice:

TOP HEAVY: Welcome to the 21st century, where every new CD puts all the hits right up front. I miss the old days of gems sprinkled through side 1 and 2 of vinyl, but I'll settle for likable tunes Rock 'N Roll Train (Video) and Skies of Fire (Listen) being tracks 1 and 2 instead. Figure on those being included in the Black Ice tour setlist.

ANYTHING GOES: Listen to Anything Goes and you'll wonder, "How did a Bryan Adams song get on the disc?" No, it's a Young brothers production, but the riffs are missing and replaced with cutesy choruses and silly little chord-play. "A heavy rocking tune is playing, playing as the night rolls on. Sneaking off with the Romeo, where she goes, nobody knows." It's a pure oddity.

SAY WHAT?: Smash and Grab (listen) is a fun song for a Saturday night of power-drinking, though the lyrics are purely for decoration. "Come on in and just smash, grab and take it while you can. Smash, grab and take it. Hey hey hey yeah!"

THIS SONG IS CALLED ...: Four of 15 songs on the disc have "Rock" in the title. Aside from Rock 'N Roll Train, they're all forgettable. Rock 'N Roll Dream (listen) just puts you to sleep during its unusually long, 4:41 running time. Rocking All the Way (listen) sounds so unremarkable, it will make you think you just heard this cut two songs ago. And for some reason, She Likes Rock 'N Roll (listen) sounds like something off the KISS Destroyer album -- just add face paint, dragon boots and a rising drum platform.

ROCK AND ROOTSY: Stormy May Day surprises with some slide guitar, making it sound like a good theme song for cable Cajun vampire fest True Blood. I'd love to see this performed live and see how it evolves onstage. (Listen)

BUY OR NO BUY: If you're a big-time AC/DC fan, you probably need to own this. Plus, Wal-Mart, which has an exclusive retail lock on the album, has a killer display stand, featuring a ton of retro AC/DC concert shirts and older remastered discs by the band to promote the new disc. So you can upgrade your wardrobe and music collection at the same time.

Comments

[Julian Salgado]

The first time I saw these lads was in Rock in Rio 1984... They still give 100% today just like back in the eighties and seventies, their shows are like no other...their new record is very good, no need to compare it to old ones, who cares... I think they'll sell and do a lot better that what some of these loosers above insinuate they will.

[Nulle666]

An amazing album.....AC/DC, should and must sound like AC/DC, anything else would be a huge dissapointment.....

[John]

I like the new one , for anyone who wants there sound to change look at Linkin Park or Korn could not stand there last CD's but driving to work enjoyed the heck out of Black ICE

[Bassnote]

Listened to the whole thing, and now I'm going to listen again.They aren't reinventing the wheel here, just putting out a good rockin' album. Yes, it is a top heavy, but the later songs are not bad at all. Definitely their best since the 80s.

[Bassnote]

Okay, I finally bought the CD today. I've only listened to the first six songs, but I like what I've heard. "Smash N Grab" is a little weak, but "Big Jack" is in the classic AC/DC mold. Brian Johnson hasn't sounded this good since the early 80s. Wasn't Phil Rudd out of the band for a while?

[ACDCisFamilyFavorite]

Skies on Fire top hit on album? What is this guy talking about? "First impressions" is supposed to cut him some slack on this write up. Dude, I dont care if this is a throw away blog post. Please put some more work into your review before you write it up. This album is best overall (# of 'good' songs) since BIB. It's odd, different yet similar, and winks at BIB in places. But more songs on this album are catchy without losing it. Wish it had more bite/harder riffs and less clunkiness in a couple songs (why the epic chorus in she likes rock and roll? ugh; decibels groove gets lost with that slow chorus; no fast picking leads anywhere, bummer). Still there's much to love here. Dang catchy. Cant wait for tour.

[sarcasmisonemoreserviceioffer]

AC/DC will always be #1 in my book. There aren't too many bands out there with a sound all their own. I can't wait for them to hit Dallas in January. It will be my 5th time to see them. Can't wait! Their shows are amazing.

AC/DC Rules! :o)

[CHAD]

according to early reports, black ice is looking to sell upwards of 800,000 units in week one.

[CrazyMom]

I really don't care what others say about WalMart, I like them. Living on (my husband's) Disabled Veteran's benefits and Social Security, I can add to my AC/DC collection there for $7.50 a T-Shirt, and that's good enough for me. And, yeah, Black Ice is GREAT - if you're not an AC/DC fan, nobody makes you buy or like it, but then again, I'm not going to buy your rap or funk or whatever album and badmouth it either. To each his/her own (but the most to me..LOL)

[don in tulsa]

my first time seeing ac/dc as well and yes, the tesla cd forever more is extremely good. it's very strong.

[CHAD]

thanks sparky, i appreciate that. i'm gonna try not to look at any setlists. i wanna be surprised, being that it will be my first ac/dc show, finally.

[Tom]

Ive been a big fan since the 70s, listening to their music since "Powerage" came out(on yes, 8 track!) when i was a teen back in Ohio. They still play good old fashioned "hard" rock n roll and not the computer generated music (c)rap artists of today. Long live Angus, Malcolm and the boys. YOU ROCK!

[sparky]

Chad, I'll let you know how the show was in Wilkes-Barre. The Mrs and I are going to see opening night.

[Crockett]

I'll be honest with ya,...
Tampa Bay's 102.5 (The AC/DC, Def Leppard, and Pearl Jam) stationed burned me out on all of the above.
Seriously, whenever i turn the station on in the car within 7 minutes i hear a tune from one of the aforementioned.

PLUS the slew of AC/DC tribute bands in this area has really killed my interest on them. Sin City (great band, by the way), Heart Breaker, and the other one all flooded the market for me.

Despite the fact that we play a song of theirs and have fun with it, I can't see me buying the album, nor buying a ticket for the show. There's only so much Angus i can take.

The Snipits i heard sound like all the other ACDC songs, so....I'll pass this time.

Spearsy, let me know if i missed anything....
No if and when A Flock of Seagulls comes out with a new one......

[CHAD]

come on dec 14th, im so ready to finally see these guys. it's gonna be an epic show. bring on the cannons.

[The Magnetism of Robin Zander]

Even in retrospect, For Those About to Rock was a pale copy of Back in Black. Aside from "Bedlam in Belgium" from the otherwise awful Flick of the Switch, AC/DC has been on autopilot for 20 years. So, after an eight-year layoff they return to let us know that even nearing their 60s they still like to "rock." Fantastic.

I'm certainly not expecting Aimee Mann-type storytelling, but good gravy; do we need this?

[Spears]

I prefer "in your face" AC/DC, that's why I lean toward the first half.

I'm glad to see them rediscovering their roots and all, but my roots are all about "Highway to Hell," "Problem Child," "TNT" and "Big Balls."

[CHAD]

oh, i'll get the cd as well, but it was on there, i couldn't pass up the oppurtunity. well on the boneyard podcast(sorry steve), there's an interview with joe satriani. he was saying something along the lines of a april release date and a summer tour. im going see sammy in november here in new orleans, but i'll will defenitely be checking out chickenfoot, or whatever they do call it. i really think they should go with HSAS again, because it works(hagar, satriani, anthony, smith).

[sparky]

No I didn't get the Sammy. Didn 't get on iTunes last week and when it comes to Sammy I have to have the CD. I am waiting for the Chickenfoot project too. Read an interview with Joe last week and he was really excited about it. And the interviewer asked if they were just going to release the album, and he said nope that they plan to tour. So that should prove very interesting.

[CHAD]

yes, its a usual tesla cd, therefore its great. i know you're a sammy fan, did you here the new stuff yet? they mistakenly put it on itunes last week. i had to get it, they've since taken it down. it's a pretty good cd, some cool rockin' tunes, some livin it up leftovers, plus it's got the 2 planet US tunes on there. it's not as consistent as his first 3 cds after van halen. it just makes me very anxious for the michael anthonyj Joe Satriani, chad smith project coming up next year.

[sparky]

Haven't gotten the new Tesla yet. Is it worth it.

[CHAD]

i agree with sparky, i think there is the usual ac/dc type tunes. but, there are some different sounds on black ice. not bad sounds, just a bit different. i totally dig the new record.

ps sparky
what do you think of tesla's new one, forever more?

[sparky]

Actually I liked the 2nd half of the album more than the first. The 2nd half is quite bluesy while the first is in your face AC/DC.

[Spears]

I didn't "pan" Black Ice. I just expected a little more after eight years away from the studio.

I think there are 3-4 really good songs on there, and that's not bad for any CD these days.

I just think some of the tunes toward the end of the CD are a little below par.

[Powerage]

AC/DC again shows they are by far the best rock band.

'Black Ice' is a great album. 14 great songs and one so-so song. This is the third best Brian album, behind 'Back in Black' and 'Flick of the Switch'.

Can't wait until December 21. It will be my 6th AC/DC concert.

[sparky]

Spearsy, you liked the new Journey and panned Black Ice. W*T*F?

[don in tulsa]

this is a very good release in my opinion. it's hard not to compare it with their earlier releases but honestly they were from a different time and will probably never be touched and this is new and different and should be judged on its own merits. I can't believe you didn't mention track 5 "war machine." i love this song. it sounds great, fast paced, driving, in your face like rock is supposed to be. "anything goes" does sound different from the rest, maybe they wanted to try something different, who knows. i feel not just hard core ac/dc fans will like this; it sounds great and has some great hooks. as a matter of fact, today on my way to work i was cranking it with my windows down and i stopped at a red light. this kid about 18-20 years old pulls up next to me in the turn lane and yells "ac/dc, yeah!" at me and gives me the thumbs up. to me that shows that more than just us old farts are interested in their music.

by the way, i don't care how many songs have rock in the title really. but it's okay spearsy, you have your opinion just like the rest of us. although some people may need to chill out in their zeal and not take it so personal. i've paid my exorbitant price and will happily see them on jan 26th, a great way to ring in the new year.

[Neil]

I am a really big AC/DC fan but have to say haven't been a big fan of the last two CD's. Thought they were just average. That being said, I will still pick up the new CD, just to judge for myself and keep my collection complete. I am really looking forward to the concert in Chicago though. That will be amazing. I am seeing them on November 1st. Have seen AC/DC every tour since 1985 and they never disappoint.

[CHAD]

is this ac/dc's best record, nah, not by a long shot. but i will tell you this, it is pretty darn good. i've been listening to the record for about a week(vh1 classic has been streaming it online), and its catchy as hell. i was a big time ac/dc fan back in the highway to hell/back in black days, even had tickets to a show on the back in black tour. the show was cancelled, and it affected me for years to come. you see we drove all the way to lake charles, la to go to the show. we get there, and there aren't any people outside the venue. i mean c'mon on, it was 1980, there weren't any reserved seating back then. for something like ten years, i would call the venue before leaving for a show. i have tickets for the houston show($107 a piece), but who cares, it's ac/dc. a few years ago, when they rereleased all the original records remastered, i got them. but i havent bought a ac/dc record when it was released since the dirty deeds record in '81. i feel like a schoolboy again, to a certain extent. my only gripe with reviews is, they always compare one record with another record. why is this? i know it's the same band, but forget about back in black. they will never repeat that success or acclaim. just listen to the new music, and thank god they are still kicking around for us to enjoy.

[Chris Shaw]

PS - and to the author of the above article - get your head out of the CLW Beach sand. Yeah, this album & songs may be "soooo 80's", but then maybe that's because there hasn't been a band w/ their own orig. sound since the 80's!! Rock-N-Roll Train and Anything Goes are as good as any prior AC/DC work and will be platinum - despite the best efforts of ITunes and all the other pirates out there. AC/DC Rockz 4ever

[Chris Shaw]

This band rocks...4-ever. All you wanna-be rockers and pretenders, i.e., rap "artists", take note! Finally some original music, orig. lyrics, orig. style - from the only TRUE rock band left.

[Bassnote]

I'll probably get it, but I haven't been able to get out yet.

[John]

This album is being sold only at Wal*Mart.

They even set up a special Wal*Mart in Times Square today that sells ONLY this new cd. I just saw it on GMA.