AC/DC | ||
| Allmusic Biography : AC/DCs mammoth power chord roar became one of the most influential hard rock sounds of the 70s, and is now one of the defining sounds of rock and metal. In its own way, it was a reaction against the pompous art rock and lumbering arena rock of the early 70s. AC/DCs rock was minimalist -- no matter how huge and bludgeoning their guitar chords were, there was a clear sense of space and restraint. Combined with Bon Scotts larynx-shredding vocals, the band spawned countless imitators over the next two decades and enjoyed commercial success well into the 2000s, scoring their biggest hits after Brian Johnson replaced the departed Scott. AC/DC were formed in 1973 in Australia by guitarist Malcolm Young after his previous band, the Velvet Underground, collapsed (Youngs band has no relation to the seminal American group). With his younger brother Angus serving as lead guitarist, the band played some gigs around Sydney. Angus was only 18 years old at the time and his sister suggested that he should wear his school uniform on-stage; the look became the bands visual trademark. While still in Sydney, the original lineup featuring singer Dave Evans cut a single called "Can I Sit Next to You," with ex-Easybeats Harry Vanda and George Young (Malcolm and Angus older brother) producing. The band moved to Melbourne the following year, where drummer Phil Rudd (formerly of the Coloured Balls) and bassist Mark Evans joined the lineup. The bands chauffeur, Bon Scott, became the lead vocalist when singer Dave Evans refused to go on-stage. Previously, Scott had been vocalist for the Australian prog rock bands Fraternity and the Valentines. More importantly, he helped cement the groups image as brutes -- he had several convictions on minor criminal offenses and was rejected by the Australian Army for being "socially maladjusted." And AC/DC were socially maladjusted. Throughout their career they favored crude double entendres and violent imagery, all spiked with a mischievous sense of fun. The group released two albums -- High Voltage and T.N.T. -- in Australia in 1974 and 1975. Material from the two records comprised the 1976 release High Voltage in the U.S. and U.K.; the group also toured both countries. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap followed at the end of the year. In the fall of 1977, AC/DC released Let There Be Rock, which became their first album to chart in the U.S. Mark Evans left the band soon after, with Cliff Williams taking his place. Powerage, released in spring of 1978, expanded their audience even further, thanks in no small part to their dynamic live shows (which were captured on 1978s live If You Want Blood Youve Got It). What really broke the doors down for the band was the following years Highway to Hell, which hit number 17 in the U.S. and number eight in the U.K., becoming the groups first million-seller. AC/DCs train was derailed when Bon Scott died on February 19, 1980. The official coroners report stated he had "drunk himself to death." In March, the band replaced Scott with Brian Johnson. The following month, the band recorded Back in Black, which would prove to be its biggest album, selling over ten million copies in the U.S. alone. For the next few years, the band was one of the largest rock bands in the world, with For Those About to Rock We Salute You topping the charts in the U.S. In 1983, Rudd left the band after the recording of Flick of the Switch; he was replaced by Simon Wright. With Flick of the Switch, AC/DCs commercial standing began to slip, and they werent able to reverse their slide until 1990s The Razors Edge, which spawned the hit "Thunderstruck." While not the commercial powerhouse they were during the late 70s and early 80s, the 90s saw AC/DC maintain their status as a top international concert draw. In the fall of 1995, their 16th album, Ballbreaker, was released. Produced by Rick Rubin, the album received some of the most positive reviews of AC/DCs career; it also entered the American charts at number four and sold over a million copies in its first six months of release. Stiff Upper Lip followed in early 2000 with similar results. AC/DC signed a multi-album deal with Sony the following year that resulted in a slew of reissues and DVDs, and they returned to the studio in 2008 for Black Ice, an all-new collection of songs that was followed by the groups first world tour since 2001. Two years later, the bands music was featured heavily in the action movie Iron Man 2, and a compilation was released in conjunction with the film under the title Iron Man 2. As AC/DC began work on a new album with producer Brendan OBrien in 2014, they announced that Malcolm Young was suffering from dementia and had left the band; his nephew Stevie Young took his place at the recording sessions and the accompanying 40th anniversary tour, and subsequently joined the group full-time. Just prior to the December release of Rock or Bust, drummer Phil Rudd was arrested under charges of attempting to procure a murder, threatening to kill, and possession of cannabis and methamphetamine. Although the arranged murder charges were dropped, the other charges remained and the drummers future with the band was uncertain. Nevertheless, AC/DC marched forward with the release of Rock or Bust and plans for a tour in 2015. Two years later, Malcolm Young died in November 2017 at the age of 64. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 21 Title: High Voltage Released: 1975-02-17 Tracks: 8 Duration: 40:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Baby, Please Don’t Go (04:50) 2 She’s Got Balls (04:51) 3 Little Lover (05:47) 4 Stick Around (04:39) 5 Soul Stripper (06:31) 6 You Ain’t Got a Hold on Me (03:33) 7 Love Song (05:17) 8 Show Business (04:46) |
| High Voltage : Allmusic album Review : As debut album titles go, AC/DCs High Voltage supplied a perfect encapsulation of the bands electrifying brand of rock & roll. So perfect, in fact, they actually used it twice: for their first album proper, the Australian-only version of High Voltage, released in February 1975; and for the better-known international debut from mid-1976, which was essentially a collection of highlights from the former and its late-1975 successor, TNT Ironically, the two versions of High Voltage had little else in common besides that title, including radically different cover art (the Aussie edition depicted a dog pissing on an electrical service box), and just two songs shared between them: the abnormally laconic "Little Lover" (a remnant of AC/DCs glam rock origins, believe it, or not!), and the anything but subtle "Shes Got Balls," whose lyrics newly arrived singer Bon Scott penned, tongue-in-cheek, when his then-wife demanded he write a song for her. Of the albums remaining six tracks, at least four will sound familiar to the average, dedicated AC/DC fan, because they later surfaced on the Jailbreak 74 EP. They are the exceedingly bluesy "Show Business," the surprisingly infectious "You Aint Got a Hold on Me," the mysteriously disconcerting "Soul Stripper," and the positively explosive cover of Big Joe Williams "Baby Please Dont Go." So its ultimately a pair of far more obscure songs that continue to draw AC/DC completists to the original edition like bees to honey: those being the rather uneventful but still perfectly kosher groove rocker "Stick Around," and the conversely shocking "Love Song" -- a ballad featuring the bands one and only flirtation with keyboards and an almost unrecognizably soppy performance from Scott and co., which will surely sound like an outright travesty to most fans. But then, AC/DC were a very young band who were still coming into their own at the time, and that process of self-discovery is what makes the original version of High Voltage both the most inconsistent and unique of all the Bon Scott albums. Fans may also be interested to learn that Malcolm Young played his only known lead breaks for AC/DC on this release, trading solos with Angus on "Soul Stripper" before taking full charge of "Show Business"; and that bass guitar and drum duties were handled by elder brother George Young and one Tony Kerrante, respectively -- not the yet-to-arrive Mark Evans / Phil Rudd rhythm section. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 21 Title: T.N.T. Released: 1975-12-01 Tracks: 9 Duration: 42:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll) (05:15) 2 Rock ’n’ Roll Singer (05:03) 3 The Jack (05:52) 4 Live Wire (05:49) 5 T.N.T. (03:34) 6 Rocker (02:49) 7 Can I Sit Next to You Girl (04:12) 8 High Voltage (04:02) 9 School Days (05:23) |
| T.N.T. : Allmusic album Review : Originally unveiled in December 1975, T.N.T. was the second AC/DC album released in their native Australia, but is often overlooked outside the Land Down Under because its best tracks were later combined with those from the bands first domestic album, High Voltage, for reissue as their international debut from 1976 -- also entitled High Voltage. Confused? Thats actually quite understandable, since the songs culled from T.N.T. also formed the backbone of that international release, including the entire, flawless first album side, made up of such all-time classics as "Its a Long Way to the Top," "Rock n Roll Singer," "The Jack," and "Live Wire." T.N.T.s B-side was nearly as formidable: boasting both of those Australian album title tracks -- the proto-punk crunch of "T.N.T." and the suitably electrifying "High Voltage" -- as well as a much-needed remake of the groups very first single, "Can I Sit Next to You Girl," recorded two years earlier with original singer Dave Evans. All three also made it into the international edition of High Voltage, and as for the two tracks that did not: one was concert favorite, "Rocker," which would be duly unearthed for the Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap LP, a short time later; and the other was a reverential but not exactly life-altering cover of Chuck Berrys "School Days," which eventually surfaced on the Bonfire box set. In other words, T.N.T., though largely lost to ancient history, was a stellar album in its own right, and especially crucial in that it marked AC/DCs definitive break with their now seemingly heretical glam rock inclinations, in order to embrace the blue collar hard rock hat would forever after be their trademark. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 21 Title: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap Released: 1976-09-20 Tracks: 9 Duration: 42:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (04:11) 2 Ain’t No Fun (Waiting Round to Be a Millionaire) (07:29) 3 There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin’ (03:17) 4 Problem Child (05:26) 5 Squealer (05:14) 6 Big Balls (02:38) 7 R.I.P. (Rock in Peace) (03:35) 8 Ride On (05:50) 9 Jailbreak (04:41) |
| Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap : Allmusic album Review : Theres a real sense of menace to "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," the title song of AC/DCs third album. More than most of their songs to date, it captured the seething malevolence of Bon Scott, the sense that he reveled in doing bad things, encouraged by the maniacal riffs of Angus and Malcolm Young who provided him with their most brutish rock & roll yet. But for as glorious as the title track was, the entire album served as a call to arms from a group that wanted nothing more than to celebrate the dirtiest, nastiest instincts humans could have, right down to the insurgent anti-authority vibe that runs throughout the record. Take "Big Balls" -- sure, its a dirty joke, but its a dirty joke with class overthrow in mind. Theres a sense on Dirty Deeds that AC/DC is storming the gates -- theyre problem children sick of waiting around to be a millionaire, so theyre gonna make their own money, even if they take down others as they go. Thats what gives Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap its supercharged, nervy pulse; theres a real sense of danger to this record, something that cant be hidden beneath the jokes. Maybe thats why the album wasnt released in the U.S. until 1981, after Bons death, after AC/DC had become millionaires -- if it arrived any earlier, it would have been too insurrectionist for the common good. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 21 Title: Let There Be Rock Released: 1977-03-21 Tracks: 8 Duration: 40:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Go Down (05:20) 2 Dog Eat Dog (03:35) 3 Let There Be Rock (06:06) 4 Bad Boy Boogie (04:27) 5 Problem Child (05:26) 6 Overdose (06:09) 7 Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be (04:15) 8 Whole Lotta Rosie (05:23) |
| Let There Be Rock : Allmusic album Review : Let There Be Rock, the fourth AC/DC album -- and first to see simultaneous international release -- is as lean and mean as the original lineup ever got. Shaved down to the bone -- there are only eight tracks, giving this a lethal efficiency even with a couple of meandering jams -- this is a high-voltage, brutal record, filled with "Bad Boy Boogie." It has a bit of a bluesier edge than other AC/DC records, but this is truly the sound of the band reaching its peak. Theres the near majesty of "Let There Be Rock," theres Bon Scott acknowledging with a wink that "Hell Aint a Bad Place to Be," and then theres the monumental "Whole Lotta Rosie." Which gets down to a key thing about AC/DC. If Led Zeppelin were celebrating a "Whole Lotta Love," AC/DC got down to the grimy details in their leering tribute to the joys of sex with a plus-sized woman. And thats AC/DCs allure in a nutshell -- its sweaty, dirty, nasty rock, music that is played to the last call and beyond, and theyve rarely done that kind of rock better than they did here. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 21 Title: Powerage Released: 1978-05-05 Tracks: 9 Duration: 39:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rock ’n’ Roll Damnation (03:38) 2 Down Payment Blues (06:06) 3 Gimme a Bullet (03:23) 4 Riff Raff (05:14) 5 Sin City (04:46) 6 What’s Next to the Moon (03:33) 7 Gone Shootin’ (05:00) 8 Up to My Neck in You (04:15) 9 Kicked in the Teeth (03:53) |
| Powerage : Allmusic album Review : Powerage was a first in the sense that it debuted bassist Cliff Williams, but it really is more of a final curtain to the bands early years. It would be the last produced by Vanda & Young, the legendary Australian production team who also helmed hits by the Easybeats, and it was the last before AC/DC became superstars. As such, its perhaps the most overlooked of their 70s records, also because, frankly, it is the most uneven of them. Not that its a bad record -- far from it, actually. There are a few genuine classics here, most notably "Down Payment Blues" and "Up to My Neck in You," and theres a real appeal in how Bon Scotts gutter poems of excess are reaching a mythic level; theres a real sense that he truly does believe that rock & roll leads straight to hell on "Rock n Roll Damnation." But overall, the record is just a bit too wobbly, one where the parts dont add up to a record as hard and addictive as before -- but theres still plenty worth hearing here. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 21 Title: Highway to Hell Released: 1979-07-27 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Highway to Hell (03:28) 2 Girls Got Rhythm (03:23) 3 Walk All Over You (05:09) 4 Touch Too Much (04:26) 5 Beating Around the Bush (03:56) 6 Shot Down in Flames (03:22) 7 Get It Hot (02:34) 8 If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It) (04:36) 9 Love Hungry Man (04:16) 10 Night Prowler (06:16) |
| Highway to Hell : Allmusic album Review : Of course, Highway to Hell is the final album AC/DC recorded with Bon Scott, the lead singer who provided the group with a fair share of its signature sleaze. Just months after its release, Scott literally partied himself to death (the official cause cited as acute alcohol poisoning) after a night of drinking, a rock & roll fatality that took no imagination to predict. In light of his passing, its hard not to see Highway to Hell as a last testament of sorts, being that it was his last work and all, and if Scott was going to go out in a blaze of glory, this certainly was the way to do it. This is a veritable rogues gallery of deviance, from cheerfully clumsy sex talk and drinking anthems to general outlandish behavior. Its tempting to say that Scott might have been prescient about his end -- or to see the title track as ominous in the wake of his death -- trying to spill it all out on paper, but its more accurate to say that the ride had just gotten very fast and very wild for AC/DC, and he was simply flying high. After all, it wasnt just Scott who reached a new peak on Highway to Hell; so did the Young brothers, crafting their monster riffs into full-fledged, undeniable songs. This is their best set of songs yet, from the incessant, intoxicating boogie of "Girls Got Rhythm" to "If You Want Blood (Youve Got It)." Some of the credit should also go to Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who gives the album a precision and magnitude that the Vanda & Young LPs lacked in their grimy charm. Filtered through Mutts mixing board, AC/DC has never sounded so enormous, and theyve never had such great songs, and they had never delivered an album as singularly bone-crunching or classic as this until now. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 21 Title: 3 Record Set Released: 1980 Tracks: 28 Duration: 2:05:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll) (05:01) 2 Rock ’n’ Roll Singer (05:03) 3 The Jack (05:52) 4 Live Wire (05:49) 5 T.N.T. (03:34) 6 Can I Sit Next to You Girl (04:12) 7 Little Lover (05:39) 8 She’s Got Balls (04:51) 9 High Voltage (04:14) 1 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (03:46) 2 Love at First Feel (03:10) 3 Big Balls (02:38) 4 Rocker (02:49) 5 Problem Child (05:44) 6 There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin’ (03:17) 7 Aint No Fun Waiting Round to Be a Millionaire (06:51) 8 Ride On (05:50) 9 Squealer (05:14) 1 Rockn Roll Damnation (03:05) 2 Gimme a Bullet (03:00) 3 Down Payment Blues (05:50) 4 Gone Shootin (04:19) 5 Riff Raff (05:14) 6 Sin City (04:46) 7 Up to My Neck in You (04:58) 8 Whats Next to the Moon (03:15) 9 Cold Hearted Man (03:15) 10 Kicked in the Teeth (03:53) |
 | Album: 8 of 21 Title: Back in Black Released: 1980-07-25 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hells Bells (05:12) 2 Shoot to Thrill (05:17) 3 What Do You Do for Money Honey (03:35) 4 Given the Dog a Bone (03:31) 5 Let Me Put My Love Into You (04:15) 6 Back in Black (04:15) 7 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:30) 8 Have a Drink on Me (03:58) 9 Shake a Leg (04:05) 10 Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (04:26) |
| Back in Black : Allmusic album Review : The first sound on Back in Black is the deep, ominous drone of church bells -- or "Hells Bells," as it were, opening the album and AC/DCs next era with a fanfare while ringing a fond farewell to Bon Scott, their late lead singer who partied himself straight to hell. But this implies that Back in Black is some kind of tribute to Scott, which may be true on a superficial level -- black is a funeral cover, hells bells certainly signify death -- but this isnt filled with mournful songs about the departed. Its a more fitting tribute, actually, since AC/DC not only carried on without him, but they delivered a record that to the casual ear sounds like the seamless successor to Highway to Hell, right down to how Brian Johnsons screech is a dead ringer for Scotts growl. Most listeners could be forgiven for thinking that Johnson was Scott, but Johnson is different than Bon. Hes driven by the same obsessions -- sex and drink and rock & roll, basically -- but there isnt nearly as much malevolence in his words or attitude as there was with Scott. Bon sounded like a criminal, Brian sounds like a rowdy scamp throughout Back in Black, which helps give it a real party atmosphere. Of course, Johnson shouldnt be given all the credit for Back in Black, since Angus and Malcolm carry on with the song-oriented riffing that made Highway to Hell close to divine. Song for song, they deliver not just mammoth riffs but songs that are anthems, from the greasy "Shoot to Thrill" to the pummeling "Back in Black," which pales only next to "You Shook Me All Night Long," the greatest one-night-stand anthem in rock history. That tawdry celebration of sex is what made AC/DC different from all other metal bands -- there was no sword & sorcery, no darkness, just a rowdy party, and they never held a bigger, better party than they did on Back in Black. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 21 Title: For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) Released: 1981-11-23 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (05:44) 2 Put the Finger on You (03:28) 3 Let’s Get It Up (03:54) 4 Inject the Venom (03:32) 5 Snowballed (03:23) 6 Evil Walks (04:23) 7 C.O.D. (03:19) 8 Breaking the Rules (04:23) 9 Night of the Long Knives (03:25) 10 Spellbound (04:29) |
| For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) : Allmusic album Review : AC/DCs hot streak began to draw to a close with For Those About to Rock We Salute You. While Back in Black was infused with the energy and spirit of paying tribute to Bon Scott, it became apparent on the follow-up that the group really did miss Scott more than it initially indicated. Brian Johnsons lyrics started to seem more calculated and a bit clichéd, lacking Scotts devil-may-care sense of humor. And the band itself slowed down the tempo frequently, sounding less aggressive and inspired. There is still some decent material here -- the title track, for example, which became a concert staple with cannon-firing sound effects. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 21 Title: Flick of the Switch Released: 1983-08-15 Tracks: 10 Duration: 37:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rising Power (03:44) 2 This House Is on Fire (03:24) 3 Flick of the Switch (03:14) 4 Nervous Shakedown (04:28) 5 Landslide (03:58) 6 Guns for Hire (03:25) 7 Deep in the Hole (03:20) 8 Bedlam in Belgium (03:53) 9 Badlands (03:39) 10 Brain Shake (04:00) |
| Flick of the Switch : Allmusic album Review : For Flick of the Switch, AC/DC jettisoned producer Mutt Lange in an attempt to recapture the rawness and simplicity of their early records. While they more or less succeed in terms of the records sound, and show more energy than on the preceding For Those About to Rock We Salute You, the songs themselves suffer -- AC/DCs music has always been simple, but here it sounds underdeveloped and unmemorable. As perhaps indicated by the records idiotic original title, the utterly generic I Like to Rock, AC/DC seemed to be running out of ideas at an alarming rate, and their record sales began to reflect that fact. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 21 Title: Fly on the Wall Released: 1985-06-28 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Fly on the Wall (03:44) 2 Shake Your Foundations (04:10) 3 First Blood (03:45) 4 Danger (04:22) 5 Sink the Pink (04:15) 6 Playing With Girls (03:44) 7 Stand Up (03:53) 8 Hell or High Water (04:32) 9 Back in Business (04:24) 10 Send for the Man (03:24) |
| Fly on the Wall : Allmusic album Review : Instead of issuing your usual run-of-the-mill video clips advertising your new album, AC/DC decided to try something a little different for their 1985 record, Fly on the Wall. A storyline was created that would run through five of the albums songs, and while the story wasnt exactly on par with Citizen Kane (it centered around the band playing away at a city bar, while strange characters were introduced per song), it proved to be a rather original idea amidst the usual corny clips of the 80s. The most popular video was for the mid-paced rocker "Danger" (which showed a sleazy photographer snooping around the band), which was played regularly on MTVs heavy metal programs. Other clips included "Shake Your Foundations" (as the title hints, the band reduces the bar to rubble), and a rather embarrassing one for "Sink the Pink" (in which a disco dancer shimmys away to AC/DCs thunderous heavy metal...come on!). Like their 1986 home video, Who Made Who, Fly on the Wall suffers from an all too short running time, but still manages to be enjoyable viewing. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 21 Title: Blow Up Your Video Released: 1988-01-18 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Heatseeker (03:50) 2 That’s the Way I Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll (03:45) 3 Meanstreak (04:09) 4 Go Zone (04:27) 5 Kissin’ Dynamite (03:59) 6 Nick of Time (04:18) 7 Some Sin for Nuthin’ (04:11) 8 Ruff Stuff (04:30) 9 Two’s Up (05:21) 10 This Means War (04:23) |
| Blow Up Your Video : Allmusic album Review : AC/DC remained a popular concert draw throughout the 80s, although such albums as Flick of the Switch and Fly on the Wall failed to replicate their mass U.S. commercial success of 1980-1981 (Back in Black, For Those About to Rock, a reissue of Dirty Deeds). But the successful soundtrack for Stephen Kings lackluster movie Maximum Overdrive, titled Who Made Who, put AC/DC back on the right track commercially. Their first new studio album of all-new material in three years, 1988s Blow Up Your Video turned out to be their most successful album since 1981s For Those About To Rock, even though it was chock full of filler. The driving album opener, "Heatseeker," turned out to be a surprising Top Ten single in the U.K., while the anthemic "Thats the Way I Want to Rock n Roll" proved to be another highlight (video clips were filmed for both songs, as well). But from there on (with the exception of "Kissin Dynamite" and "This Means War"), it gets pretty unfocused. The album is glutted with such throwaways as "Nick of Time," "Ruff Stuff," and "Twos Up" -- completely missing the point of what made such previous albums as Back in Black so great (they simply did not contain a weak moment). Blow Up Your Video also marked the return of AC/DCs early production team, Harry Vanda and George Young, who man the boards for the first time since 1978s If You Want Blood. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 21 Title: The Razors Edge Released: 1990-09-21 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Thunderstruck (04:53) 2 Fire Your Guns (02:53) 3 Moneytalks (03:45) 4 The Razors Edge (04:22) 5 Mistress for Christmas (03:59) 6 Rock Your Heart Out (04:06) 7 Are You Ready (04:10) 8 Got You by the Balls (04:30) 9 Shot of Love (03:56) 10 Let’s Make It (03:32) 11 Goodbye & Good Riddance to Bad Luck (03:13) 12 If You Dare (03:08) |
| The Razors Edge : Allmusic album Review : Although AC/DCs popularity had decreased by the early 90s, the band still had a lot of life left in it. Arguably the Australian headbangers strongest album in over half a decade, The Razors Edge is quintessential AC/DC -- rowdy, abrasive, unapologetically fun metal full of blistering power chords, memorable hooks, and testosterone-driven lyrics. Lead singer Brian Johnson sounds more inspired than he had since 1983s Flick of the Switch, and lead guitarist Angus Young isnt about to take any prisoners on such hard-hitting material as "Shot of Love," the menacing title song, and the appropriately titled "Got You By the Balls." Although not quite in a class with Back in Black, Highway to Hell, or Let There Be Rock -- all of which would, for novices, serve as fine introductions to the distinctive band -- The Razors Edge was a welcome addition to AC/DCs catalog. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 21 Title: Boom Box Released: 1995 Tracks: 157 Duration: 11:58:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Baby, Please Don’t Go (04:50) 2 She’s Got Balls (04:51) 3 Little Lover (05:39) 4 Stick Around (04:39) 5 Soul Stripper (06:31) 6 You Ain’t Got a Hold on Me (03:33) 7 Love Song (05:26) 8 Show Business (04:46) 1 It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll) (05:15) 2 Rock ’n’ Roll Singer (05:03) 3 The Jack (05:52) 4 Live Wire (05:49) 5 T.N.T. (03:34) 6 Rocker (02:49) 7 Can I Sit Next to You Girl (04:12) 8 High Voltage (04:19) 9 School Days (05:23) 1 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (03:46) 2 Ain’t No Fun (Waiting Round to Be a Millionaire) (06:57) 3 There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin’ (03:17) 4 Problem Child (05:26) 5 Squealer (05:36) 6 Big Balls (02:38) 7 R.I.P. (Rock in Peace) (03:35) 8 Ride On (05:50) 9 Jailbreak (04:41) 1 Go Down (05:20) 2 Dog Eat Dog (03:35) 3 Let There Be Rock (06:06) 4 Bad Boy Boogie (04:18) 5 Overdose (05:47) 6 Crabsody in Blue (04:43) 7 Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be (04:15) 8 Whole Lotta Rosie (04:27) 1 Rock ’n’ Roll Damnation (03:30) 2 Down Payment Blues (06:20) 3 Gimme a Bullet (03:00) 4 Riff Raff (05:14) 5 Sin City (05:40) 6 Whats Next to the Moon (03:15) 7 Gone Shootin’ (04:05) 8 Up to My Neck in You (04:58) 9 Kicked in the Teeth (03:45) 1 Riff Raff (05:57) 2 Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be (04:10) 3 Bad Boy Boogie (07:26) 4 The Jack (05:50) 5 Problem Child (04:40) 6 Whole Lotta Rosie (04:27) 7 Rock n Roll Damnation (03:30) 8 High Voltage (06:00) 9 Let There Be Rock (08:32) 10 Rocker (03:00) 1 Highway to Hell (04:14) 2 Girls Got Rhythm (03:23) 3 Walk All Over You (05:09) 4 Touch Too Much (04:26) 5 Beating Around the Bush (03:56) 6 Shot Down in Flames (03:22) 7 Get It Hot (02:34) 8 If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It) (04:36) 9 Love Hungry Man (04:16) 10 Night Prowler (06:16) 1 Hells Bells (05:46) 2 Shoot to Thrill (05:26) 3 What Do You Do for Money Honey (03:35) 4 Given the Dog a Bone (03:31) 5 Let Me Put My Love Into You (04:15) 6 Back in Black (03:47) 7 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:30) 8 Have a Drink on Me (03:58) 9 Shake a Leg (04:05) 10 Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (04:12) 1 For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (05:44) 2 Put the Finger on You (03:28) 3 Let’s Get It Up (04:23) 4 Inject the Venom (03:19) 5 Snowballed (03:23) 6 Evil Walks (04:23) 7 C.O.D. (03:53) 8 Breaking the Rules (04:23) 9 Night of the Long Knives (04:29) 10 Spellbound (03:31) 1 Rising Power (03:44) 2 This House Is on Fire (03:24) 3 Flick of the Switch (03:14) 4 Nervous Shakedown (04:28) 5 Landslide (03:58) 6 Guns for Hire (03:25) 7 Deep in the Hole (03:20) 8 Bedlam in Belgium (03:53) 9 Badlands (03:39) 10 Brain Shake (04:00) 1 Fly on the Wall (03:44) 2 Shake Your Foundations (04:10) 3 First Blood (03:45) 4 Danger (04:22) 5 Sink the Pink (04:15) 6 Playing With Girls (03:44) 7 Stand Up (03:53) 8 Hell or High Water (04:32) 9 Back in Business (04:24) 10 Send for the Man (03:24) 1 Who Made Who (03:27) 2 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:30) 3 D.T. (02:56) 4 Sink the Pink (04:15) 5 Ride On (05:50) 6 Hells Bells (05:12) 7 Shake Your Foundations (04:10) 8 Chase the Ace (03:01) 9 For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (05:44) 1 Heatseeker (03:22) 2 That’s the Way I Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll (03:57) 3 Meanstreak (04:09) 4 Go Zone (04:27) 5 Kissin’ Dynamite (03:59) 6 Nick of Time (04:18) 7 Some Sin for Nuthin’ (04:11) 8 Ruff Stuff (04:02) 9 Two’s Up (05:21) 10 This Means War (04:23) 1 Thunderstruck (05:20) 2 Fire Your Guns (02:53) 3 Moneytalks (03:45) 4 The Razors Edge (04:35) 5 Mistress for Christmas (03:59) 6 Rock Your Heart Out (04:06) 7 Are You Ready (04:10) 8 Got You by the Balls (04:30) 9 Shot of Love (03:56) 10 Let’s Make It (03:32) 11 Goodbye & Good Riddance to Bad Luck (03:13) 12 If You Dare (03:08) 1 Thunderstruck (06:34) 2 Shoot to Thrill (05:23) 3 Back in Black (04:28) 4 Sin City (05:40) 5 Who Made Who (05:16) 6 Heatseeker (03:36) 7 Fire Your Guns (03:40) 8 Jailbreak (14:42) 9 The Jack (06:57) 10 The Razors Edge (04:35) 11 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (05:02) 12 Moneytalks (04:29) 1 Hells Bells (06:01) 2 Are You Ready (04:34) 3 That’s the Way I Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll (03:57) 4 High Voltage (10:32) 5 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:54) 6 Whole Lotta Rosie (04:30) 7 Let There Be Rock (12:17) 8 Bonny (01:02) 9 Highway to Hell (03:54) 10 T.N.T. (03:47) 11 For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (07:07) |
 | Album: 15 of 21 Title: Ballbreaker Released: 1995-09-22 Tracks: 11 Duration: 49:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hard as a Rock (04:30) 2 Cover You in Oil (04:32) 3 The Furor (04:10) 4 Boogie Man (04:07) 5 The Honey Roll (05:34) 6 Burnin’ Alive (05:05) 7 Hail Caesar (05:14) 8 Love Bomb (03:14) 9 Caught With Your Pants Down (04:14) 10 Whiskey on the Rocks (04:35) 11 Ballbreaker (04:31) |
| Ballbreaker : Allmusic album Review : In over 20 years, AC/DC never changed their minimalist, bone-crunching hard rock. During their first ten years, that wasnt a problem, since they were still finding ways to expand and subvert the pattern, but ever since For Those About to Rock, they had trouble coming up with consistent material. Consequently, their performances tended to be a little lazy and their records didnt deliver a reliable knockout punch. Released in 1990, The Razors Edge showed some signs of life, and their comeback culminated in the Rick Rubin-produced Ballbreaker. What makes Ballbreaker different than the albums AC/DC churned out during the 80s is simple -- its a matter of focus. Although "Hard as a Rock" comes close, there arent any songs as immediately memorable as any of their 70s classics, or even "Moneytalks." However, unlike any record since Back in Black, there are no bad songs on the album. Surprisingly, Rubins production is a bit too dry, lacking the muscle needed to make the riffs sound truly earthshaking. Nevertheless, Angus Youngs riffs are powerful and catchy, showcasing every element that makes him one of hard rock and heavy metals greatest guitarists. Throughout the album, the band sounds committed and professional, making Ballbreaker the best late-period AC/DC album to date. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 21 Title: Bonfire Released: 1997-10 Tracks: 42 Duration: 3:51:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Live Wire (06:16) 2 Problem Child (04:39) 3 High Voltage (05:57) 4 Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be (04:13) 5 Dog Eat Dog (04:42) 6 The Jack (08:36) 7 Whole Lotta Rosie (05:10) 8 Rocker (05:32) 1 Live Wire (08:04) 2 Shot Down in Flames (03:39) 3 Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be (04:31) 4 Sin City (05:25) 5 Walk All Over You (05:06) 6 Bad Boy Boogie (13:19) 1 The Jack (06:05) 2 Highway to Hell (03:30) 3 Girls Got Rhythm (03:20) 4 High Voltage (06:32) 5 Whole Lotta Rosie (04:55) 6 Rocker (10:45) 7 T.N.T. (04:13) 8 Let There Be Rock (07:33) 1 Dirty Eyes (03:21) 2 Touch Too Much (06:34) 3 If You Want Blood You Got It (04:27) 4 Back Seat Confidential (05:23) 5 Get It Hot (04:15) 6 Sin City (04:58) 7 She’s Got Balls (07:57) 8 School Days (05:23) 9 It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll) (05:15) 10 Ride On / Interviews (10:03) 1 Hells Bells (05:12) 2 Shoot to Thrill (05:17) 3 What Do You Do for Money Honey (03:35) 4 Given the Dog a Bone (03:31) 5 Let Me Put My Love Into You (04:15) 6 Back in Black (04:15) 7 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:30) 8 Have a Drink on Me (03:58) 9 Shake a Leg (04:05) 10 Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (04:12) |
| Bonfire : Allmusic album Review : Released in theaters around the time when AC/DCs popularity was beginning to decrease, Let There Be Rock is a video documentary taken from AC/DCs 1980 Highway to Hell tour with Bon Scott. Although the picture quality leaves much to be desired, the bands raw power remains as they play classics like "Sin City" and "Rocker." Between songs, viewers will also see comments from the band members, adding (or subtracting, depending on the viewers interest preferences) to the entertainment. Let There Be Rock is a good example of AC/DCs glory days, and is especially recommended for fans of their Bon Scott period. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 21 Title: Stiff Upper Lip Released: 2000-02-25 Tracks: 12 Duration: 47:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Stiff Upper Lip (03:34) 2 Meltdown (03:41) 3 House of Jazz (03:56) 4 Hold Me Back (03:59) 5 Safe in New York City (03:59) 6 Can’t Stand Still (03:41) 7 Can’t Stop Rock ’n’ Roll (04:02) 8 Satellite Blues (03:46) 9 Damned (03:51) 10 Come and Get It (04:02) 11 All Screwed Up (04:36) 12 Give It Up (03:53) |
| Stiff Upper Lip : Allmusic album Review : Stiff Upper Lip, AC/DCs 15th studio album, may not reach the heights of Back in Black or Highway to Hell, but it delivers strongly and satisfyingly. Its the record that the highly touted, Rick Rubin-produced Ballbreaker should have been: a simple, addictive, hard album, bursting with bold riffs and bolstered by a crunching, thrillingly visceral sound. Sure, there are absolutely no new ideas, but thats the point. AC/DC know their strengths and they embrace them. And why shouldnt they? Nobody writes a better riff than Malcolm and Angus Young; each song has a riff so catchy, it feels like youve heard it for years. Is there anything earth-shaking? Hardly, but its largely terrific nonetheless, just because AC/DC are so good at what they do. Its simple music, to be sure, but its unassumingly musical and, in a way rather smart. If making music like this was really that easy, why cant anybody else do it this well? Some bands are capable of knocking out one record like this -- one, maybe two. AC/DC do it nearly every time out. Theyve never really stretched, yet thats why they have one of the most reliable catalogs in rock & roll. When you put on one of their records, you know what youre in for, and they always deliver. With Stiff Upper Lip, theyre not at classic status, but theyre still top-notch. This may not be the first AC/DC record for a collection, but once youre into their scene, its a fine place to be. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 21 Title: AC/DC in the 20th Century Released: 2000-11-14 Tracks: 174 Duration: 13:16:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Jailbreak (04:41) 2 You Ain’t Got a Hold on Me (03:33) 3 Show Business (04:46) 4 Soul Stripper (06:25) 5 Baby, Please Don’t Go (04:50) 1 It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll) (05:15) 2 Rock ’n’ Roll Singer (05:03) 3 The Jack (05:52) 4 Live Wire (05:49) 5 T.N.T. (03:34) 6 Can I Sit Next to You Girl (04:12) 7 Little Lover (05:39) 8 She’s Got Balls (04:51) 9 High Voltage (04:02) 1 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (04:11) 2 Love at First Feel (03:10) 3 Big Balls (02:38) 4 Rocker (02:49) 5 Problem Child (05:44) 6 There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin’ (03:17) 7 Ain’t No Fun (Waiting Round to Be a Millionaire) (07:29) 8 Ride On (05:50) 9 Squealer (05:14) 1 Go Down (05:31) 2 Dog Eat Dog (03:35) 3 Let There Be Rock (06:06) 4 Bad Boy Boogie (04:27) 5 Problem Child (05:26) 6 Overdose (06:09) 7 Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be (04:15) 8 Whole Lotta Rosie (05:23) 1 Rock ’n’ Roll Damnation (03:38) 2 Down Payment Blues (06:03) 3 Gimme a Bullet (03:23) 4 Riff Raff (05:14) 5 Sin City (04:46) 6 What’s Next to the Moon (03:33) 7 Gone Shootin’ (05:04) 8 Up to My Neck in You (04:15) 9 Kicked in the Teeth (03:53) 1 Riff Raff (05:57) 2 Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be (live) (04:10) 3 Bad Boy Boogie (live) (07:26) 4 The Jack (live) (05:48) 5 Problem Child (live) (04:36) 6 Whole Lotta Rosie (04:05) 7 Rock ’n’ Roll Damnation (live) (03:40) 8 High Voltage (live) (05:04) 9 Let There Be Rock (live) (08:32) 10 Rocker (live) (03:13) 1 Highway to Hell (03:28) 2 Girls Got Rhythm (03:23) 3 Walk All Over You (05:09) 4 Touch Too Much (04:26) 5 Beating Around the Bush (03:56) 6 Shot Down in Flames (03:22) 7 Get It Hot (02:34) 8 If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It) (04:36) 9 Love Hungry Man (04:16) 10 Night Prowler (06:16) 1 Hells Bells (05:12) 2 Shoot to Thrill (05:17) 3 What Do You Do for Money Honey (03:35) 4 Given the Dog a Bone (03:31) 5 Let Me Put My Love Into You (04:15) 6 Back in Black (04:15) 7 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:30) 8 Have a Drink on Me (03:58) 9 Shake a Leg (04:05) 10 Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (04:12) 1 For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (05:44) 2 Put the Finger on You (03:25) 3 Let’s Get It Up (03:54) 4 Inject the Venom (03:32) 5 Snowballed (03:23) 6 Evil Walks (04:23) 7 C.O.D. (03:19) 8 Breaking the Rules (04:23) 9 Night of the Long Knives (03:25) 10 Spellbound (04:29) 1 Rising Power (03:44) 2 This House Is on Fire (03:24) 3 Flick of the Switch (03:14) 4 Nervous Shakedown (04:28) 5 Landslide (03:58) 6 Guns for Hire (03:25) 7 Deep in the Hole (03:20) 8 Bedlam in Belgium (03:53) 9 Badlands (03:39) 10 Brain Shake (04:00) 1 Fly on the Wall (03:44) 2 Shake Your Foundations (04:10) 3 First Blood (03:45) 4 Danger (04:22) 5 Sink in the Pink (04:15) 6 Playing With Girls (03:44) 7 Stand Up (03:53) 8 Hell or High Water (04:32) 9 Back in Business (04:24) 10 Send for the Man (03:24) 1 Who Made Who (03:27) 2 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:30) 3 D.T. (02:56) 4 Sink the Pink (04:15) 5 Ride On (05:50) 6 Hells Bells (05:12) 7 Shake Your Foundations (04:10) 8 Chase the Ace (03:01) 9 For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (05:44) 1 Heatseeker (03:50) 2 That’s the Way I Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll (03:45) 3 Meanstreak (04:09) 4 Go Zone (04:27) 5 Kissin’ Dynamite (03:59) 6 Nick of Time (04:18) 7 Some Sin for Nuthin’ (04:11) 8 Ruff Stuff (04:30) 9 Two’s Up (05:21) 10 This Means War (04:23) 1 Thunderstruck (04:53) 2 Fire Your Guns (02:53) 3 Moneytalks (03:45) 4 The Razors Edge (04:22) 5 Mistress for Christmas (03:59) 6 Rock Your Heart Out (04:06) 7 Are You Ready (04:10) 8 Got You by the Balls (04:30) 9 Shot of Love (03:56) 10 Let’s Make It (03:32) 11 Goodbye & Good Riddance to Bad Luck (03:13) 12 If You Dare (03:08) 1 Thunderstruck (06:34) 2 Shoot to Thrill (05:23) 3 Back in Black (04:28) 4 Who Made Who (05:16) 5 Heatseeker (03:36) 6 The Jack (06:57) 7 Moneytalks (04:19) 8 Hells Bells (06:01) 9 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (05:02) 10 Whole Lotta Rosie (04:30) 11 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:54) 12 Highway to Hell (03:54) 13 T.N.T. (03:47) 14 For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (07:07) 1 Hells Bells (06:01) 2 Heatseeker (03:37) 3 Thats the Way I Wanna Rock n Roll (03:57) 4 High Voltage (10:32) 5 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:54) 6 Whole Lotta Rosie (04:27) 7 Let There Be Rock (12:17) 8 Highway to Hell (03:54) 9 T.N.T. (03:48) 10 For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (07:09) 1 Hard as a Rock (04:31) 2 Cover You in Oil (04:32) 3 The Furor (04:10) 4 Boogie Man (04:07) 5 The Honey Roll (05:34) 6 Burnin’ Alive (05:05) 7 Hail Caesar (05:14) 8 Love Bomb (03:14) 9 Caught With Your Pants Down (04:14) 10 Whiskey on the Rocks (04:35) 11 Ballbreaker (04:31) 1 Live Wire (live) (06:15) 2 Problem Child (live) (04:39) 3 High Voltage (live) (05:56) 4 Hell Aint a Bad Place to Be (live) (04:13) 5 Dog Eat Dog (live) (04:41) 6 The Jack (live) (08:35) 7 Whole Lotta Rosie (05:10) 8 Rocker (live) (05:30) |
 | Album: 19 of 21 Title: Box Set Released: 2002 Tracks: 168 Duration: 12:18:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Jailbreak (04:41) 2 You Ain’t Got a Hold on Me (03:33) 3 Show Business (04:46) 4 Soul Stripper (06:25) 5 Baby, Please Don’t Go (04:50) 1 It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll) (05:01) 2 Rock ’n’ Roll Singer (05:03) 3 The Jack (05:52) 4 Live Wire (05:49) 5 T.N.T. (03:34) 6 Can I Sit Next to You Girl (04:12) 7 Little Lover (05:39) 8 She’s Got Balls (04:51) 9 High Voltage (04:14) 1 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (03:51) 2 Love at First Feel (03:10) 3 Big Balls (02:38) 4 Rocker (02:49) 5 Problem Child (05:44) 6 There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin’ (03:17) 7 Ain’t No Fun (Waiting Round to Be a Millionaire) (06:57) 8 Ride On (05:50) 9 Squealer (05:27) 1 Go Down (05:31) 2 Dog Eat Dog (03:35) 3 Let There Be Rock (06:06) 4 Bad Boy Boogie (04:27) 5 Problem Child (05:26) 6 Overdose (06:09) 7 Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be (04:15) 8 Whole Lotta Rosie (05:23) 1 Rock ’n’ Roll Damnation (03:38) 2 Down Payment Blues (06:06) 3 Gimme a Bullet (03:23) 4 Riff Raff (05:14) 5 Sin City (04:46) 6 What’s Next to the Moon (03:33) 7 Gone Shootin’ (05:00) 8 Up to My Neck in You (04:15) 9 Kicked in the Teeth (03:53) 1 Riff Raff (05:57) 2 Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be (04:10) 3 Bad Boy Boogie (07:26) 4 The Jack (05:50) 5 Problem Child (04:40) 6 Whole Lotta Rosie (04:04) 7 Rock ’n’ Roll Damnation (03:40) 8 High Voltage (05:04) 9 Let There Be Rock (08:32) 10 Rocker (03:11) 1 Highway to Hell (03:28) 2 Girls Got Rhythm (03:23) 3 Walk All Over You (05:09) 4 Touch Too Much (04:26) 5 Beating Around the Bush (03:56) 6 Shot Down in Flames (03:22) 7 Get It Hot (02:34) 8 If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It) (04:36) 9 Love Hungry Man (04:16) 10 Night Prowler (06:16) 1 Hells Bells (05:12) 2 Shoot to Thrill (05:17) 3 What Do You Do for Money Honey (03:35) 4 Given the Dog a Bone (03:31) 5 Let Me Put My Love Into You (04:15) 6 Back in Black (04:15) 7 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:30) 8 Have a Drink on Me (03:58) 9 Shake a Leg (04:05) 10 Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (04:26) 1 For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (05:44) 2 Put the Finger on You (03:28) 3 Let’s Get It Up (03:54) 4 Inject the Venom (03:32) 5 Snowballed (03:23) 6 Evil Walks (04:23) 7 C.O.D. (03:19) 8 Breaking the Rules (04:23) 9 Night of the Long Knives (03:25) 10 Spellbound (04:29) 1 Rising Power (03:44) 2 This House Is on Fire (03:24) 3 Flick of the Switch (03:14) 4 Nervous Shakedown (04:28) 5 Landslide (03:58) 6 Guns for Hire (03:25) 7 Deep in the Hole (03:20) 8 Bedlam in Belgium (03:53) 9 Badlands (03:39) 10 Brain Shake (04:00) 1 Fly on the Wall (03:44) 2 Shake Your Foundations (04:10) 3 First Blood (03:45) 4 Danger (04:22) 5 Sink the Pink (04:15) 6 Playing With Girls (03:44) 7 Stand Up (03:53) 8 Hell or High Water (04:32) 9 Back in Business (04:24) 10 Send for the Man (03:24) 1 Who Made Who (03:27) 2 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:30) 3 D.T. (02:56) 4 Sink the Pink (04:15) 5 Ride On (05:50) 6 Hells Bells (05:12) 7 Shake Your Foundations (03:53) 8 Chase the Ace (03:01) 9 For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (05:53) 1 Heatseeker (03:50) 2 That’s the Way I Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll (03:45) 3 Meanstreak (04:09) 4 Go Zone (04:27) 5 Kissin’ Dynamite (03:59) 6 Nick of Time (04:18) 7 Some Sin for Nuthin’ (04:11) 8 Ruff Stuff (04:30) 9 Two’s Up (05:21) 10 This Means War (04:23) 1 Thunderstruck (04:53) 2 Fire Your Guns (02:53) 3 Moneytalks (03:45) 4 The Razors Edge (04:22) 5 Mistress for Christmas (03:59) 6 Rock Your Heart Out (04:06) 7 Are You Ready (04:10) 8 Got You by the Balls (04:30) 9 Shot of Love (03:56) 10 Let’s Make It (03:32) 11 Goodbye & Good Riddance to Bad Luck (03:13) 12 If You Dare (03:08) 1 Thunderstruck (06:34) 2 Shoot to Thrill (05:23) 3 Back in Black (04:28) 4 Who Made Who (05:16) 5 Heatseeker (03:36) 6 The Jack (06:57) 7 Moneytalks (04:19) 8 Hells Bells (06:01) 9 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (05:02) 10 Whole Lotta Rosie (04:30) 11 You Shook Me All Night Long (03:54) 12 Highway to Hell (03:54) 13 T.N.T. (03:47) 14 For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (07:07) 1 Hard as a Rock (04:30) 2 Cover You in Oil (04:32) 3 The Furor (04:10) 4 Boogie Man (04:07) 5 The Honey Roll (05:34) 6 Burnin’ Alive (05:05) 7 Hail Caesar (05:14) 8 Love Bomb (03:14) 9 Caught With Your Pants Down (04:14) 10 Whiskey on the Rocks (04:35) 11 Ballbreaker (04:31) 1 Stiff Upper Lip (03:34) 2 Meltdown (03:41) 3 House of Jazz (03:56) 4 Hold Me Back (03:59) 5 Safe in New York City (03:59) 6 Can’t Stand Still (03:41) 7 Can’t Stop Rock ’n’ Roll (04:02) 8 Satellite Blues (03:46) 9 Damned (03:51) 10 Come and Get It (04:02) 11 All Screwed Up (04:36) 12 Give It Up (03:53) |
 | Album: 20 of 21 Title: Black Ice Released: 2008-10-17 Tracks: 15 Duration: 55:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rock ’n’ Roll Train (04:21) 2 Skies on Fire (03:34) 3 Big Jack (03:57) 4 Anything Goes (03:22) 5 War Machine (03:09) 6 Smash ’n’ Grab (04:06) 7 Spoilin’ for a Fight (03:17) 8 Wheels (03:28) 9 Decibel (03:33) 10 Stormy May Day (03:10) 11 She Likes Rock ’n’ Roll (03:52) 12 Money Made (04:15) 13 Rock ’n’ Roll Dream (04:40) 14 Rocking All the Way (03:22) 15 Black Ice (03:25) |
| Black Ice : Allmusic album Review : Unlike any other band of their stature, AC/DC truly dont care about the world at large. They see no triumph in their longevity, they long ago dismissed not only the idea of artistic statements but the very notion of artistic growth: they arent good or bad, they simply are. They have nothing left to prove, so perhaps it shouldnt be a surprise that their albums lack any sense of urgency or motivation. AC/DC never rush to cut a record; they wait until Angus Young has collected enough riffs to hammer out an albums worth of songs, then they file in one by one to lay down their tracks with a big-budget producer, who inevitably gives them a clean, mammoth sound thats no different than what came before. Rick Rubin couldnt change this pattern on 1995s Ballbreaker and Brendan OBrien cant change it on 2008s Black Ice. He encourages the band to add a bit of color here and there, so they grace "Stormy May Day" with some sloppy slide guitar and turn "Rock N Roll Dream" into an expansive neo-ballad cousin of Bad Companys "Rock N Roll Fantasy," but OBriens crisp, colorful production only emphasizes how AC/DC could stand to be a little less careful on record. Its the eternal AC/DC paradox: at its core, their music is brutal and primitive, but their records are slick, overly cautious, and bloated, stretching out to 15 tracks when they should be no longer than ten. AC/DC havent lost their knack for great, simple rock & roll and Black Ice is graced by a few terrific tracks. In fact, as it opens with the "Highway to Hell" boogie of "Rock N Roll Train," the stuttering "Skies on Fire" and "Big Jack," it seems that Black Ice might be the great latter-day AC/DC record the group has yet to deliver, but as the next 12 tracks spool out over the next hour, the album slowly slides into a too-comfortable groove, fueled by too-tight rhythms and guitars that sound loud but not beefy. This polished, precise rock & roll is good enough, at least in small doses, but Black Ice delivers a whopping dose, puffed out to nearly an hour, running so long it all kind of washes together -- a problem that is endemic to all AC/DC albums after Back in Black. This shift cant be placed on the shoulders of Brian Johnson, who may never have been able to match Bon Scott no matter how much he mimics the man, but its simply a symptom of the bands massive popularity, where they have no compelling reason to release a record every other year, so they make albums twice a decade, inevitably spending too much time sculpting their recordings when theyd be better off bashing them out. At their peak, AC/DC recorded their albums quick n dirty and the music felt that way, too. Age has turned their tasteless insurgence into vulgar tradition but thats not the problem, nor is it the bands refusal to change because, lets face it, when a band does one thing this well theres no need to change. AC/DC can still sound invigorating -- and make no mistake they do here, as much as they ever do on a latter-day record -- but they just need to tighten up, cut back, crank it up, and sound a little rude again. After all, whats the point of being the filthiest band in rock & roll if youre going to make albums as polite as Black Ice? | ||
 | Album: 21 of 21 Title: Rock or Bust Released: 2014-11-28 Tracks: 11 Duration: 34:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rock or Bust (03:03) 2 Play Ball (02:47) 3 Rock the Blues Away (03:24) 4 Miss Adventure (02:57) 5 Dogs of War (03:35) 6 Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder (03:22) 7 Hard Times (02:44) 8 Baptism by Fire (03:30) 9 Rock the House (02:42) 10 Sweet Candy (03:09) 11 Emission Control (03:41) |
| Rock or Bust : Allmusic album Review : Economy counts for a lot on an AC/DC record. As meaty as they are, they sound best when theyre lean -- when theres not much fat on the bone, when they choose not to indulge in a fourth chord. Rock or Bust, the groups 15th studio album, benefits from a modest sense of scale. Its just 11 songs, the fewest number of cuts since 1995s Rick Rubin-produced Ballbreaker, but a better way to view it is that its not even 35 minutes long, making it the shortest album AC/DC have ever released. Maybe thats a reflection of the albums difficult birth. During recording, the band revealed that founding guitarist Malcolm Young was suffering from dementia, leaving his brother Angus in full charge of the band. Angus and producer Brendan OBrien, who helmed the groups 2008 predecessor, Black Ice, enlisted the Young brothers nephew Stevie to fill out some parts and the band whipped the record into shape in short order (admittedly with not much help from drummer Phil Rudd, who was tardy in the studio and effectively left the band in a cloud of criminal allegations prior to the albums release). Malcolm may have been missing but his presence is felt. Angus completed the songs from old riff tapes he and his brother demoed, so Rock or Bust doesnt feel markedly different than any other AC/DC album. If anything, its oddly light on its feet, with "Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder" and "Hard Times" containing some swing and air in their rhythms and "Sweet Candy" feeling like part of a line of nasty bubblegum rock that stretches back to the early days of Harry Vanda and George Young. This being an AC/DC album, Rock or Bust isnt perfect -- the biggest stumble is the heavy dirge of "Dogs of War," which may or may not be a protest song -- but the entire thing moves, never wasting time on extraneous licks, and this no-nonsense approach means the songs stick in a way they never did on Black Ice. If Rock or Bust does indeed wind up as the final AC/DC record -- they did indeed weather many setbacks during its creation -- it will stand as a suitable career-capper. It may be no different than what came before, but Rock or Bust is by many measures stronger than most latter-day AC/DC albums, serving as a testament to why their good-humored raunch and industrial-strength riffs made them a rock & roll institution. | ||