Music Review: Marilyn Manson – The Pale Emperor

                Manson’s last album, Born Villain was the first music review I ever did for this site, so when his new album was released, I had to dive back in to his twisted world.  From the opening bass guitar of “Killing Strangers” I could tell this was going to be a good time.  Marilyn Manson has carved out his own little genre of the metal world, one that I thoroughly enjoy, mind you.  The Pale Emperor, his latest addition to music’s creepiest discography doesn’t disappoint. 

                The music is just as heavy as any of his previous albums, even the old stuff, but it doesn’t feel as dirty.  Manson has changed as he has grown, taking all of the different musical experiments he has conducted over the years and combining them  to create the perfect amalgamation of heaviness and musical proficiency.  This isn’t an album of musicians banging on instruments (and the vocalist screaming into the microphone) for forty-five minutes.  This is solid, complete album, and one of Manson’s best.  Manson slows the tempo on a lot of the songs on this album without removing the quality or the requisite sleaze from his voice or the songs themselves. 

                Of course, the song titles and subject matter are as dark as you would expect, but no one is picking up any music, new or old, from Marilyn Manson with the expectation of a disc full of show-tunes.  If you purchase the Best Buy exclusive disc, you even get three additional songs.  Those three songs are acoustic versions of three of the earlier songs on the record, but they actually hold up as their own recordings surprisingly well.  It is well worth the price to get those tracks along with the rest of the album. 

Many of the songs actually have more in common with Mechanical Animals than any other album to date.  Considering Mechanical Animals was my first Manson album, I love this return to that form of music.  The heavy but almost danceable beats make for an interesting overall experience.  If I was to ever go to a rave in Hell, this is the kind of music that I would expect to be there.  While it certainly seems like Manson has gotten away from his heavier roots, it is not a change that I mind in the least.  The simple fact that he is still making quality recordings when many of his contemporaries have been unable to stand the test of time speaks volumes about his ability.  I would highly recommend The Pale Emperor for anyone even remotely interested in the genre. 

Music Review: Govt Mule – Dark Side of the Mule

                I am not a huge Pink Floyd fan, never have been.  I like the classics, sure, but the deep cuts just don’t do it for me.  I am, however, a huuuuge Govt Mule fan.  They may be one of my favorite bands of all time.  A couple years ago, they put out a CD where they covered Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy, and it was awesome, and Warren Haynes and company rarely ever disappoint on a live album (though their studio albums can be hit and miss) so I knew I had to pick this up. 

                While the source material is not my cup of tea, I have heard the entire Dark Side of the Moon album, and from what I remember, this is a great replica of that.  As with every Govt. Mule experience, the guitar work is as good as you could ever ask while the vocals fit perfectly.  I could listen to Warren Haynes sing me the musical version of Mein Kampf and be soothed to sleep.  My favorite tracks are the classics though, which Govt Mule performs to perfection.  “Comfortably Numb”, “Wish You Were Here” and “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” (Parts 1-9) are great songs in their own right and translate incredibly to the Jam Band style that Govt Mule has perfected. 

                The rest of the band is exactly what you would expect as well, quality music from accomplished musicians that work to highlight Haynes’ signature sound.  The band doesn’t miss a beat in the different style and sound that Pink Floyd is to theirs and if Warren gave up the vocal duties, you might even think you were at a Pink Floyd show. 

All in all, Govt Mule has made Dark Side of the Moon their own while sticking closely to the source material.  It’s a great album to add to the concert playlist of the band and an album that my Pink Floyd loving father (and anyone that is a fan of either band) will most certainly enjoy.

Music Review: Lynch Mob – Sun Red Sun

                Lynch Mob is one of the 80’s metal bands that were good at the time, but kind of on the fringe of the genre, not popular enough to really withstand the grunge onslaught of the 90’s fully intact, but good enough to come back when they all started to re-form in the late 2000’s.  George Lynch, former guitarist for Dokken, stayed with the band (it’s named after him after all) and continued to be one of the best guitarists you forgot existed, while vocalist Oni Logan left the band but returned for 2009’s Smoke and Mirrors, a nice little bit of nostalgia for those of us that still enjoy that kind of music. 

Sun Red Sun is similar in flavor to the previous Lynch Mob offerings, with a little more of a mature feel than the early 90’s work.  It’s a definitely a showcase for Lynch’s guitarwork, but with a little more balance than the first two albums in their catalog (the only early Lynch Mob recordings that I own).  The best track might be the cover of Bad Company’s “Burnin’ Sky” which the band covers faithfully without any additional flair.  There is a ballad (of course there’s a ballad) in the title track, but most of the other tracks are solid, heavy songs that hold up well against not only the rest of their discography, but also the other music of that generation.  Lynch Mob didn’t really change their style in their extended time off, and are therefore a lot more of a niche musical choice than they would have been twenty-five years ago (holy shit, I’m old) but they are still a band that puts out good music (when they are not broken up, that is).   

New Music Review: Nonpoint – The Return

                It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly two years since I reviewed Nonpoint’s self-titled album, but the time has passed and Nonpoint has delivered yet again.  If you enjoyed their self-titled album (and if you didn’t, what’s wrong with you?) then you will find that The Return is more of the same without being derivative.

                The album opens with the fast and vicious “Pins and Needles”, a song that would easily fit in on any other Nonpoint album.  It’s sonically and thematically similar to everything else you’ve heard from the band since 1997, but it doesn’t feel stale at all.  They aren’t really breaking new ground, but they sure as shit are making sure the ground their walking has their boot-print in it.  The band doesn’t really let up throughout most of the album either, it is just an unrelenting crash of music, assaulting the senses and refusing to let up.  Unlike many of their contemporaries, Nonpoint is able to weave a melody and a certain listenability throughout their music that many of today’s metal bands are just unable to do (they are a lot like Sevendust in this respect).  The majority of this has to do with lead vocalist Elias Soriano and his ability to sing, rap and be intelligible while doing so.  You may not think this is a big deal, but in this day and age (adjusts old man overalls) it is hard to find vocalists that can really sing, especially in the metal genre.

                The album is not without flaws, as one song (“Widowmaker”) is whiny fluff that the band has done before, but better (“Past it All” from 2004’s Recoil), while another song (“F**ked”) while the message is accurate (we really do live in a fucked up world) it just feels like a song that is there to give Soriano an excuse to say fuck twenty-five times in a three minute song.  Obviously, I’m not someone that has a problem with any curse words, but I can tell when something is egregious and feels silly. 

                Despite the two missteps outlined above, this is a great album that continues Nonpoint’s return to the heavy music that was a hallmark of their early albums.  Nothing can beat seeing them live though, so if you ever get a chance, go and stand back (the mosh pits can get a little crazy). 

New Music Review: Mr. Big – The Stories We Could Tell

                Whether it was because they came in at the tail end of the hair metal genre (1989), or the fact that in twenty-five years they have released a total of eight albums, Mr. Big doesn’t really get the credit that they deserve.  Yes, they are huge in Japan (all white guys are huge in Japan though…get it? get it?) but that success never really translated to the United States (except for in 1991, they were huge then but died out quickly). 

                The band went through some turmoil around the millennium and broke up for a time, reemerging in 2011 with What If… a good album that sounded like an adequate continuation of their discography.  The Stories That We Could Tell is an even further continuation of that discography.  The album showcases what Mr. Big does best, combine great musicianship with an excellent singer, throw in a couple ballads and you get another classic Mr. Big record. 

                One of the things that I loved about the hair metal genre (and believe me, there was enough to dislike) was the fact that the musicians were so technically proficient in their instruments.  They were able to play fast and accurate and really showed a mastery of their craft that I found to be incredibly admirable (I’m a sucker for a killer guitar solo, so I’m probably a little easier to win over than most with that kind of music).  The fact of the matter is that Mr. Big is one of the most technically proficient bands I have ever heard.  While their older albums are full of tracks that could easily fit into anyone’s characterization of “hair metal”, their recent releases have provided a little less flash but no less substance.  Everyone involved has fallen into their role of creating a straight up rock band, something that an older generation can listen to and enjoy, and maybe remember back to their youth when songs like “To Be With You” and “Green-Tinted Sixties Mind” were radio mainstays.  Mr. Big traffics in nostalgia (as do most older bands nowadays) but they do it without mailing in the quality of their newer music. 

                Standout tracks include “I Forget to Breathe” and “It’s Always About That Girl”, two songs that take that technical proficiency and put it right on display.  That along with Eric Martin’s vocals (think Jeff Keith from Tesla but with half a pack less of cigarettes smoked per day) make for a lethal combination that have the ability to transport the listener to a different time and place (as all good music can do).  This is definitely an album that you should check out.  It’s not the best album you’ll hear all year, but it’s a solid album that will be in a constant rotation in my car for quite some time. 

Album Review: AC/DC – Black Ice (2008)

Overview: 

We had a seven year wait from Stiff Upper Lip to Black Ice.  You would hope, with a wait of that length, that the results would be well worth it.  Well, AC/DC didn’t reinvent themselves, that’s for sure, but they sure did follow the path they had tread with the last three albums to tremendous success.

Tracks you may know: 

Rock N Roll Train – The lead single for the album is definitely an AC/DC song, with the strong guitars, sing-along chorus, and great solo.

Tracks you should know:

Spoilin’ For a Fight – A good song full of fast guitars and Brian Johnson’s growl, quintessential AC/DC.

Decibel – A slower song (much “Black Ice”) with a walking beat for the guitars.  Similar? Yes. Good?  Hell yes.

My personal favorite:

Black Ice – A bluesy song with a heavy riff to it, this closes the album and does as good of a job of it as “If You Dare” from The Razor’s Edge.

Album rating: 

Stiff Upper Lip part II is just as good as its predecessor.

8/10

The Eat @ Shrimpy's 2014 Year in Review

We'll get back to the AC/DC discography review shortly, but first, the annual "year in review!"

I have combed through my reviews this year to bring you a best of list.  If you neglected my recommendation the first time*, follow the links to re-read the reviews and make some post-New Year’s purchases.  If I neglected something, or you think I ranked one too low, please let me know in the comments, we’ll start a dialogue.

Please note, that this was a pretty lean year in terms of spending as legal bills were a major hassle, so the lists may not be as extensive as in years past.  I invite you to help me flesh out those lists with some of your own favorites.

*Where I have failed to provide a previous review there will be a small blurb as to why I included that particular thing.

Concerts:

1.  Clutch

That's it, one concert last year.  Jeez.  Luckily next year starts with a bang as Black Label Society is coming to Syracuse in January!

CD’s:

1.   Black Label Society: Catacombs of the Black Vatican
2.  Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band: Goin' Home
2.  Dio: This is Your Life
4.  Black Stone Cherry: Magic Mountain
5. Slash: World on Fire

Comic Series:

I read no new comics this year (I know, it's a shame).  I did pick up a few trades though, and in no particular order, my recommendations are Invincible, The Goon, Chew, Atomic Robo.

Seriously, those four books are awesome, go pick them up!

Video Games:

1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - 3DS

2.  Mario Kart 8
3.  Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (Review coming soon!)
4.  Pikmin 3
5. Diablo III

So what are your favorites? 

Album Review: AC/DC – Stiff Upper Lip (2000)

Overview: 

I have a confession to make, this was my first AC/DC album, yes, before Back in Black, before Highway to Hell.  I still have a bit of a soft spot for this album, and while it’s a little long and tends to overstay its welcome by the end, I still hold it in very high regard.

Tracks you may know: 

Stiff Upper Lip – One of my favorite tracks in the catalogue, a killer riff with a great solo about halfway through the song.  AC/DC at its finest.

Tracks you should know:

Come and Get It – There’s something about hearing Brian Johnson growl the challenge “come and get it” that makes me very confident he’d have my back in fight.

All Screwed Up – A fast moving romp of a song, not quite “Rocker” level, but the guitarwork on this one is cleaner.

My personal favorite:

I have to go with “Stiff Upper Lip”.  If you listen to no other song on this album, listen to that one. 

Album rating: 

A great album (I am a little biased, I admit) that just builds on their late career resurgence.  By now the myth of AC/DC was just as important as their output, and their output was phenomenal.

8/10

Album Review: AC/DC – Ballbreaker (1995)

Overview: 

AC/DC continued to ride the high from The Razor’s Edge with their most consistent album to date.  Nearly twenty years later, and the band was only getting better.

Tracks you may know: 

Hard as a Rock – Probably the most standard AC/DC track on the album, so it makes sense this would be the track that was well known. 

Cover You in Oil – A relatively traditional AC/DC track with a great chorus.

Tracks you should know:

Boogie Man – A rich, bluesy track, the likes of which we haven’t really seen in a while. 

The Furor/Hail Caesar – Pick one, they’re both very similar, but they are great songs on an album full of quality.

My personal favorite:

The Furor – It’s a very danceable beat, coupled with something that probably pissed off a lot of Germans, you can’t go wrong!

Album rating: 

The Razor’s Edge was good, Ballbreaker was better. 

9/10

Album Review: AC/DC – The Razor’s Edge (1990)

Overview: 

A lot less filler equals a much better album this time around.  In fact, instead of going out with a whimper, AC/DC goes out with a bang on The Razor’s Edge as the last three songs are some of the strongest on the album.

Tracks you may know: 

Thunderstruck – Have you ever seen a sports movie?  Then you’ve probably heard “Thunderstruck”.

Moneytalks – More good fun from Angus and the crew as the hook gets you and never lets you go.

Tracks you should know:

Let’s Make It, Goodbye and Good Riddance to Bad Luck and If You Dare – The best closing trio of songs on any AC/DC album in their career, incredibly solid and leaves you feeling satisfied instead of cheated (like the ending of the last few albums did).

My personal favorite:

If You Dare – I don’t know why this stands out so much, the backup vocals maybe…it’s got a creepy vibe to go along with the great riff.  The best closing song in their catalogue.

Album rating: 

Back with a vengeance.  One of their best albums and the best of the late 80’s for sure.

8/10

Album Review: AC/DC – Blow Up Your Video (1988)

Overview: 

Blow Up Your Video was well received, especially after the debacle of the last two albums, but it still fell under the “can they play anything else?” umbrella that has followed the band throughout their career.  That being said, the energy from the band is and always has been undeniable.

Tracks you may know: 

Heatseeker and That’s The Way I Wanna Rock & Roll – They are lumped together because they are so similar.  They are not bad songs, but like the rest of the AC/DC catalogue, they are interchangeable. 

Tracks you should know:

Meanstreak – The best track on the album, and one of the best of the Brian Johnson era.

My personal favorite:

Meanstreak – A walking beat and a killer guitar lick make this the best track on the album, by far.

Album rating: 

Looooooots of filler tracks on this one don’t make for a great album. The critics and general public may have liked it, but aside from a few tracks I’d rather listen to any other album.  This is probably my least favorite, and their most forgettable album.

3/10

Album Review: AC/DC – Fly on the Wall (1985)

Overview: 

Another album that followed in the mold of Flick of the Switch in that it was not well received by the critics or the general public and sounded pretty much like every other AC/DC album before it.  In fact, many of the songs on this album sound the same as well, which has a lot to do with Brian Johnson and his unique but limited vocal capabilities at this stage in his career.  “Fly on the Wall” “Shake Your Foundations” and “Hell or High Water” could be the exact same song.

Tracks you may know: 

Shake Your Foundations – Probably the most recognizable song from this album, and a good one in its own right.  It features Brian Johnson going up an octave or two as well as a higher pitch on the guitar part than was usual.  The solo in the middle still knocks it out of the park (but you could have guessed that).

Tracks you should know:

Danger – Brian Johnson doesn’t alter his vocal delivery at all, but the fact that this song deviates from the speed of the other tracks into more of a plodding, bluesy delivery is a welcome change.

Playing With Girls – One of the best riffs/choruses in the entire AC/DC discography.  Seriously, listen to it and you won’t be able to get it out of your head.

My personal favorite:

First Blood – From the opening guitar riff to the sing along chorus, this should be a staple in any AC/DC playlist.

Album rating: 

Sometimes, the critics and fans are wrong.  Here they were slightly wrong.  Could there have been more variety on the album itself? Absolutely.  Do I really care?  Nope.

7/10

Album Review: AC/DC – Flick of the Switch (1983)

Overview: 

Flick of the Switch definitely follows in the pattern of the last two albums that featured Brian Johnson at the helm.  There is nothing wrong with this as it is still a competent album full of instantly recognizable AC/DC songs.  This album was not met with much acclaim as people at the time were getting tired of the fact that AC/DC’s discography felt like one big album.  I tend to like this album though as I feel it has more hidden gems on it than the other albums from this era that had massive radio airplay.

Tracks you may know: 

Nervous Shakedown – There were not too many songs from this album that the public gravitated to, but this was one of them.  It is more of the same, a traditional AC/DC track.

Tracks you should know:

Landlside – It opens with a very Ted Nugent-ish guitar part and then just barrels full speed ahead through the rest of the song.  Not a terrific song by any means by the speed at which it is played harkens back to songs like “Rocker” from the Bon Scott days.

Bedlam in Belgium – Yet again, another AC/DC song that sounds like the rest of the AC/DC songs.  This is a good one though, I love the guitar riff on this and Brian Johnson’s voice is absolutely one of a kind.

My personal favorite:

Badlands – Does it kind of sound like “Bedlam in Belgium”? Sure.  Is it still a good track?  Absolutely.  

Album rating: 

I can see why fans and critics alike were growing tired of the AC/DC sound.  I, however, enjoyed the fact that this album received so little fanfare that many of the tracks were ones I had never heard before. 

6/10

Album Review: AC/DC – For Those About to Rock We Salute You (1981)

Overview: 

This album feels like Back in Black side B, it is that close to the seminal AC/DC album.  In my opinion, it’s just as good.  The band was on a roll, probably still coming off the high that they garnered with the popularity of Back in Black.  On a side note, in the early 2000s, this album took a stranglehold of my car CD system for a good six weeks.  It’s just that good.

Tracks you may know: 

For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) – Another AC/DC classic.  Not much to say about this besides the fact that if you listen to classic rock radio long enough, you’ll undoubtedly hear this song.

Tracks you should know:

C.O.D. – Does it sound like every other AC/DC song?  Sure.  Does that bother me at all?  Not even a little bit.  Every song on this album is just begging to being cranked in your car stereo, this song is no exception.

My personal favorite:

Inject the Venom – It’s not the most popular song in their catalog, but it might be the heaviest.  This song is one that I could listen to on repeat for days.

Album rating: 

I put it on par with Back in Black.

10/10 

Album Review: AC/DC – Back in Black (1980)

Overview: 

What does AC/DC do after their singer dies?  They put out the best album of their careers, that’s all.  This album is loaded with hits.  Hell, every track is instantly recognizable and rarely does anyone change the channel to get away from them.  Brian Johnson fit seamlessly into the band and delivered a phenomenal performance to start his era. 

Tracks you may know: 

"Hells Bells", "Back in Black", "Shoot to Thrill", "You Shook Me All Night Long", "Have a Drink on Me", "Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution" – I could probably name every song on this album.  We all know them, we all love them.  Everything that was great about Highway to Hell got even better.

Tracks you should know:

There are not too many you probably don’t know, but “What do you Do for Money Honey” is a great song that epitomizes the fast guitars, high pitched growl that has become AC/DC’s trademark sound.

My personal favorite:

I’d like to say it’s something besides “You Shook Me All Night Long” but I can’t.  I've heard it hundreds if not thousands of times, and I could keep listening to it forever.  That’s why it’s a classic.

Album rating: 

The best album deserves the best rating. 

10/10

Album Review: AC/DC – Highway to Hell (1979)

Overview: 

This is by far the best album of the Bon Scott era in my opinion.  Everything just feels like it’s hitting on all cylinders with the music and the vocals.  Scott is not as smarmy as he was in the previous albums and the music is a tad more accessible because of it.  Angus is just Angus.

Tracks you may know: 

High way to Hell – You can’t get any better than this for a Bon Scott track.  The chorus, the guitar solo, it’s AC/DC at their best, and a spiritual successor to the entire Back in Black album.

Girls Got Rhythm – Just a great groove, one of the best songs on the album.

Tracks you should know:

Night Prowler – This is just a creepy, heavy way to end the album, and it’s something you should definitely listen to on the regular.

Touch Too Much – It’s a fun track with a good “Highway to Hell” kind of beat (as do a lot of the songs on this album) but it’s still clean and solid all around.

My personal favorite:

Girls Got Rhythm – Such a good track with a great beat.  The guitar work is still as good as ever, and it’s one of the tracks that doesn’t sound like a tweaked “Highway to Hell”.

Album rating: 

The best of the Bon Scott era for sure.

9/10

Album Review: AC/DC – Powerage (1978)

Overview: 

AC/DC went even deeper to their bluesy roots with Powerage, which, in my opinion, is a great album.  Powerage is one of the most complete albums with one of the least known tracklistings in the band’s discography, but it is one you should know.

Tracks you may know: 

Down Payment Blues – Just a great bluesy tune, kind of Rolling Stones-ish but with the Bon Scott sleaze.

Sin City – This is more of a traditional AC/DC track, but it is still a good one and would belong on any of their previous albums.

Tracks you should know:

Riff Raff – Kind of like “Rocker” in its speed and ferocity, just an all around great track that other bands may try to imitate but no one can duplicate.

My personal favorite:

What’s Next to the Moon – A great song with a good chorus and a nice riff.  This is one that is not a well known song, but a good one nonetheless.  The opening riff sounds incredibly familiar, but beyond that it’s one of the best songs on the album.

Album rating: 

It’s not their best album, but a solid return to form.  The final three songs end on a poor note, but the beginning is as good as any other album.

7/10

Album Review: AC/DC – Let There be Rock (1977)

Overview: 

The third album from AC/DC was a step back.  Mostly filler with a few standout tracks, Let There be Rock was a minor bump in the road as the band would get back to crafting hits with 1978’s Powerage.

Tracks you may know: 

Problem Child – And that’s primarily because it was also on Dirty Deeds…

Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be – A pretty standard AC/DC track. 

Tracks you should know:

Whole Lotta Rosie – It’s just a fun song with a good guitar lick.  It’s not the best AC/DC song, but it’s the best one on this album.

My personal favorite:

Whole Lotta Rosie – Ditto what I said above.

Album rating: 

This was a slight step down for the band, but not the beginning of a prolonged slump by any means.

4/10

Album Review: AC/DC – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)

Overview: 

One of the knocks on AC/DC throughout the years is that the music is very derivative of itself.  The band is not going to stray too far from what they do best, which is why all of the Bon Scott songs sound like they could come off any album, regardless the era (even though his era was short) and the Brian Johnson songs follow that same pattern.  I personally don’t care that much as the catalogue is so large that I usually just shuffle them all on Google Play anyway, but I completely understand the argument.  This album follows that mold very closely, but is a bit more cohesive in my opinion, with less filler.

Tracks you may know: 

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap – It’s not as overplayed as T.N.T. but it’s damn close.  Still, a great opening song for the album.

Big Balls – The song that makes every teenage boy giggle until he’s blue in the face.  Bon Scott packs more innuendo into this one song than the rest of the songs in the whole AC/DC catalogue combined.  It still holds up well even if it sounds sillier the older you get.

Tracks you should know:

Rocker – I love the beat, the speed, the guitar, it’s all there.  It sounds like something Motorhead would play, just without Lemmy’s growl.

My personal favorite:

Ride On – This could be the slowest song in the entire discography, but it is so smooth, so rich of a blues tune that I can’t help but stop what I’m doing when it comes on and just listen to it.  This may in fact be my favorite AC/DC song of all time (and that’s saying a lot as I am a pretty hefty supporter of the Brian Johnson era as the best era of AC/DC).

Album rating: 

It’s a great sophomore effort and produced some of the best songs of the entire catalogue.  There is very little filler as even songs like “There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin’” and “Love at First Feel” are quality tunes.

9/10

Album Review: AC/DC – High Voltage (1976)

AC/DC has a new album coming out later this year (the beginning of December if that date holds true).  That's an exciting bit of news, so in honor of the band I am giving them the Sabbath treatment.  For the next few weeks we are going to go album by album through the AC/DC catalogue and give quick rundowns of each one.  All of the studio albums will be on display, concluding with their newest Rock or Bust.  We kick things off with the Bon Scott era and High Voltage.

 Overview:

The first American album, High Voltage hit in 1976 (there were two albums before this one that were released solely in Australia).   The sleaze of Bon Scott’s vocals along with the guitar playing of Angus Young was not enough to garner international acclaim from the time it was released (but it is an album that has aged very well as songs like “T.N.T.” and “High Voltage” still receive extensive airplay.

Tracks you may know: 

T.N.T. – This and probably anything off Back in Black are the most played songs in the band’s catalogue.  While the song itself holds up, the amount of overplay it has received causes me to cringe every time I hear “Oy, Oy, Oy”.

Live Wire – I enjoy this track more for the guitar solo in the middle of it than anything else.  Angus is just so underappreciated.  I often overlook his musical contributions as well, but looking back on his work, holy shit that guy could play.

It’s A Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock & Roll) – I can do without the bagpipes, but the song holds up very well.

Tracks you should know:

The Jack – Equal parts blues, rock, sleaze and innuendo (seriously, Bon Scott could have given Steven Tyler a run for his money in the innuendo department) this is a track that should be on everyone’s playlist forever.

My personal favorite:

The Jack – You probably assumed this would be my pick, right?  It doesn’t hurt that many of the “radio friendly” songs have been overplayed (seriously, I could skip over “T.N.T.” and be perfectly fine never hearing it again)

Album rating: 

High Voltage was a solid opening salvo from AC/DC that definitely put all their cards on the table for the Bon Scott years.  There were going to be catchy tracks with killer guitar riffs and a vocalist that makes you want to go shower after hearing him sing.  It was not the best album in their catalogue (tracks like “Little Lover” and “She’s Got Balls” are okay, but not essential listening) but it was a very good one, and a great start to their career.

7/10