CD Review: AC/DC Delivers Best in Over Decade With "Black Ice"

When I traveled to Toronto recently to see Oasis headline the V Festival, I stopped to see a Blue Jays game at the Skydome. Striking up a conversion about music with a vendor, he mentioned that he had recently downloaded the new AC/DC album and that it was a return to form. The news about the veteran band's "Black Ice", if it turned out to be true, was going to make this longtime AC/DC fan a happy man after being disappointed by each of their full length albums since early 90's when they released "The Razors Edge" after, ironically, a series of sub-par albums. When I started reading reviews last weekend from critics who were echoing the Toronto man's sentiments I began to start believing the hype.

While the band has released some excellent singles in the last 15 years, it was nothing like the output of their from the mid-70's to early-80's heyday which featured song after song of hard rock fun which could make your stereo strain at the massive sound that the band made their signature sound. When I picked up the album from Wal-Mart on Monday, my final verdict that was that it sounded like what could have been an album that was released in 1985 and would have been a great successor to 1983's underrated "Flick of the Switch".

If you know anything at all about rock music odds are that you know the AC/DC formula well by now. If you count "Black In Black" or "Highway to Hell" as classic albums you will love the new record. The band seemed to have amazingly regained their swagger after a series of duds. The band starts "Black Ice" with lead single "Rock 'n Roll Train" which will become an anthem at live shows when the group starts their tour later this month and makes a stop in Cleveland in January. Next, the band mines the sound of their album "Flick of the Switch" with "Skies on Fire" while also nicking a bit of John Lennon's hit with The Beatles "Come Together" and then proceeds to borrow a little from themselves meshing one of their 70's hits with a 90's number in "Big Jack". And in no way am I complaining about that.

The band then plays a song that resembles something of Bruce Springsteen-John Mellencamp number from the 80's with "Anything Goes" turns out to be an interesting sound for the band. AC/DC then moves onto songs that Bon Scott would have probably liked to have sung with the next three tracks in "War Machine", "Smash N Grab", and "Spoilin' For a Fight" which will also may be live favorites in a city near you. The band then plays "Wheels" which sounds like a what a throwaway on "Back in Black" may have sounded like (not a bad thing at all) but then proceeds to deliver the first true stinker on the album in "Decibel".

"Stormy Day In May" is rather surprising as guitar legend Angus Young gets acquainted with a slide guitar and Brain Johnson actually sings a few bars instead of his customary growl/scream. "She Likes Rock N Roll" sounds like another throwaway from the band in their golden age of the 1970's when original singer and this time sounds like something on "Dirty Deeds" or "Highway to Hell" but would have not made the cut on either classic offering. "Money Made" is the second true all-out dud on the album. The band then gets (gasp!) reflective in in the next track called "Rock N Roll Dream" which Johnson hints that this may be the last album from the band. The band gives us one more dud in "Rocking All the Way" but leaves us with title track which is a fitting end for the solid set of songs. If it is, indeed the last album by the group, they would go out on top much like a champion fighter who knew when to call it quits.

The only thing that disappoints about the album was that it had a couple throwaways which the band didn't have to include. You should forgive them as they probably were so happy about getting their swagger back that they didn't know when to cap it and got a little carried away. AC/DC truly pulled off a feat with this new record. How many other bands can you say that have put out great albums in four decades? While the band may have put out some duds in the past it can be forgiven for releasing so many classics and have amazingly come through again in 2008 which will likely reach a whole new generation of fans who will probably want to attend their shows in the coming decades even if the band has to be brought out in wheelchairs by then. If Brian Johnson is wearing his beanie and Agnus Young is in his uniform I know I will be there.