Richlen's Music Reviews: Black Ice

[Gus Richlen Was Wrong]

That's right. Gus Richlen has taken it upon himself to do music reviews. Every couple of days or so, I'll review an album, past or present, and give my take on the songs and artist.

So, where should I start:

"Cracked Rear View" by Hootie and The Blowfish
"Black Ice" by AC/DC
"Infestation" by Ratt OR
"American Saturday Night" by Brad Paisley

[Milkman Norm]

Black Ice

[Orange]

What he said

[Gus Richlen Was Wrong]

Black Ice review to be written this week.

[Orange]

Can't wait man, I love music reviews

[Gus Richlen Was Wrong]

RICHLEN REVIEWS: BLACK ICE (2008)

In 2008, the wait of what seemed like a lifetime finally came to an end. In their first new album since 2000's Stiff Upper Lip, AC/DC puts out perhaps one of their most varied efforts to date.

The album starts off quite well, with the smash hit "Rock N Roll Train." With some of Angus Young's best lead guitar work on the album and some kickass vocals courtesy of Brian Johnson, this crowd-rouser definately starts the album off right.

One noticble thing about this album is it's belligerent tone, and it starts slowly with "Skies On Fire," which is yet again another showcase for Angus' handiwork, and it helps that his brother Malcolm joins him in writing these songs, as the lyrics often stand out well too.

That belligerence, however, takes a temporary back burner, as the album moves on to the tongue-in-cheek "Big Jack" and Johnson vocal exhibition "Anything Goes." But it returns with a vengeance for the next three songs.

For those who saw the promos for Triple H's feud with Randy Orton leading up to Wrestlemania 25, you might have noticed the frequent usage of "War Machine." And it was a superb choice. The song, from lyrics to vocals to Phil Rudd's drums to the well-blended guitars, simply sounds like violence. "Spoilin' For A Fight," which was the theme song for the 2008 edition of Survivor Series, has much the same quality, as does (in lesser fashion) "Smash N Grab."

Unfortunately, even many of the best albums have their hiccups, and Black Ice is not immune from them. "Stormy May Day" and "Rock N Roll Dream" are unpleasantly forboding, and "Rockin' All The Way" is unnaturally (and also unpleasantly) low key. But the other songs in the album are able to counteract those, with "Money Made" sounding like a spinoff of "Moneytalks," the tongue meeting the cheek yet again with "Wheels" and "She Like Rock N Roll." "Decibel" stands out in a class all its own, and the album ends with the same belligerence that it showed in the middle with the title track "Black Ice."

So overall, for those about to rock, AC/DC has indeed saluted you with perhaps their best album since The Razor's Edge. It may be a long time before they release a new album, but if that is as good as this is, believe me, it'll be worth the wait.

SCORE: THREE AND A HALF STARS out of four

SUMMARY: As perfect an album as you can get from a band that remains extremely popular over so many years.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So, what album should I review next?

[Orange]

I'll nominate 'Sonic Boom' by KISS, if you can get your hands on it I'd love to read a review on that Great review here by the way man, pretty much spot on to how I feel about this album as well