AC/DC - 'Black Ice' CD Review

AC/DC Still Kicks Ice

When my wife's grandfather was driving, you could tell what kind of music was playing on the radio, regardless of whether you were in the car at the time. His rate of acceleration (or deceleration) was in direct proportion to the tempo of the song being played. I feel safe in saying that he never listened to AC/DC. If he had, we'd still be paying off the speeding tickets.

I was reminded of this when I cued up Black Ice to accompany my morning workout. Thirty minutes on the stationary bike usually translates to the equivalent of a four mile ride. This day, it was closer to five. It made for a great cardio workout, but I think I may have sprained something while doing crunches.

How you will react to AC/DC's Black Ice will depend on your perspective.

If you're a critic, you'll probably snuffle and cluck about how this album really doesn't sound different from any other AC/DC album.

If you're a fan, you'll probably want to point out to the idiot critic that it is precisely that fact that makes you a fan.

If you have never heard AC/DC (if such folks exist) you'll want to keep your seat belt fastened until the pilot has turned off the sign.

Over the years, AC/DC has been variously classified as hard rock, heavy metal, punk, even glam rock. The band considers itself simply rock. That would explain why the word (rock) or some variation of it appears in the titles of four songs on the album. Chief among them is the opening track (and first single release) "Rock N' Roll Train." This track (no pun intended) lives up to its name by shaking up your senses much in the same way as a locomotive at high speed ten feet away.

There is, however, enough of a sameness about the remaining three rock-titled songs to make me think that the album might have been benefited from having three or four fewer tracks (there are fifteen, running almost an hour.) This sameness is not an accident. The band found a successful formula and have stuck with it consistently for decades. As suggested above, whether that is good or bad depends on your agenda.

The quality of the entire production is outstanding. Kudos to producer Brendan O'Brien and engineer Mike Fraser. Each instrument jumps out at you, crisp and well defined, something that's very difficult to achieve in these days of digital compression.

It would be impossible to describe the sound of hard rock slide guitar in words. Listen to "Stormy May Day" and you'll understand. This was my favorite track at first listen, and remains so.

And then there's "Anything Goes," which sounds like '50s pop done hard rock style. Again, hard to describe, but quite interesting to hear.

The title track, "Black Ice" closes the album. It's one of those that, when you were young, you would use as an indicator of how cool you were by putting the windows (or, if you were lucky enough to have a convertible, the top) down, cranking it up and cruising the streets. (The lead track, "Rock N' Roll Train" also falls into this category.)

Is It Back In Black Again?

In a word, no. 1980's 42-million selling Back In Black set the tone for the post-Bon Scott era. While Black Ice continues the successful formula, it lacks anything as memorable as "You Shook Me All Night Long," "Hells Bells" or the title track.

It is, however, an entertaining testament to the longevity and consistency of a band whose picture might well accompany the dictionary definition of "rock." It's great for your morning workout, too, as long as you remember to keep one of those bright yellow "Danger - High Voltage" signs handy so you don't hurt yourself.

Release date: October 20, 2008 - Columbia
Available at Walmart, Sam's Club and acdc.com