Ian Billen
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I heard the whole album-
NOTE: ***I cannot give a fair judgment yet because I have only heard mp3's of the songs. In order for me to give a completely accurate and fair review I will have to hear it PCM (right from the retail CD).
I can tell you this...it is a different kind of album for AC/DC in that they changed how the grooves worked on a number of songs. They changed it up in the song structure a bit.
actually Their is a pop dust on many tunes. Is it bad? Well, I am not sure yet? I know it is interesting to hear AC/DC in such light. However, I gotta say the hard core AC/DC fans may be let down by this. Some may be disappointed for the most part because of the aforementioned.
The drum sound you hear with the gated ride symbol over top of the kick and snare on "Rock and Roll Train" is how much of the albums drums sound, and roll ...with that catchy theme. The guitar solo's are pretty good.
Now, are the songs themselves good? Some are good, others are just "decent enough". "Wheels" is a good song and is my favorite on the album. the album is a mix of different kind-of tunes (well, different kinds of AC/DC tunes for their standards) with a poppy fairy dust in spots.
The very positive here is it is as different as anything I've heard AC/DC venture into. Probably their most non-standard album as far as song structure goes. I did not hear an "anthem" AC/DC tune really, like "Highway to Hell" or anything like that, but just more less a mix of good and "decent enough" songs by them.
Don't get me wrong, the track "Anything Goes" is by far and away the most "poppy" on the album. Nothing comes close to that in terms of the light popppy gloss it carries. Also don't get me wrong the album is not deemed a real disappointment. It is just simply "kind-of interesting" to listen to and AMAZINGLY no one song runs like the another on it.
The bulk of Black Ice are mid-tempo rockers and a few slightly slower, non-standard AC/DC numbers such as "Rock N Roll Dream" which goes from a song that is tinged with almost (but not quite) sappy balladry to rocking 1971 classic "Who style riffs" and Keith Moon drumming back and forth throughout the song. This is certainly a real new approach and game changer for AC/DC. In addition, there is some definite "funkier" sounding material in there from them that you haven't heard them try before. You'll hear it.
One thing that is mostly not present is the "big", "Meaty" Angus Young guitar sound (then again that has been gone since the eighties). He does well enough, and pretty nice on the solos but the guitars are a little (and purposefully) compressed and gated sounding themselves on much of it. I could be wrong in not hearing it on PCM (CD) yet but it sounded to me that Brenden O'Brien doesn't let the guitars completely out of the gates to breath as their eighties songs. Instead he uses the guitars either as an additional back wall of sound to the song or as a nifty, compressed poppy riff that keeps you guessing a bit. These two recording styles of guitar work and those catchy drums I spoke of earlier is how the album sounds to me right now (as far as I can tell for right now).
Brian Johnson's voice makes the grade. He never totally yells, and screams quite as he used to but he gives it what he has and he receives a pass. In a few spots he tries a deeper more relaxed vocal tone we may of not heard before from him just to let you know he has a trick or two left. Heck, I give him credit for making the record and even tons more for planning this subsequent tour.
Again I will have to hear it on CD (PCM) for me to solidify the actual sound of it.
Still looking forward to getting it being as it was different for them and each song is kinda different.
It is like AC/DC's "Bridges To Babylon" from the way it will rate down the road. Do not worry, while the production is here more than on most AC/DC stuff it isn't even close to being as highly produced as BTB. I can tell you this. It isn't entirely what everyone was expecting (BUT that doesn't always mean it's bad). It isn't a mind blower but the tracks make it coherent and definitely all of these songs sound as if they are from the same cloth. Every song sounds from these sessions which is a plus, and as well is a sign of a recorded work that has quality to it. Because AC/DC tried some new things to a point they now have a new chapter to add to their career. It isn't so different that you will not know who it is or will make you feel as though they went completely off the rails. I will put it this way it is as different as AC/DC will allow while still maintaining that it is just an AC/DC rock album they recorded.
The production (while kinda poppy) kept it fresh sounding for now which is good, at least for right now but I am not sure everyone will find that interesting as I did (except on "Anything Goes" when it is just so way and far over the top with it ...geez).
Ian
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