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Why would I review an album which every white male teenager has probably owned or at least heard hundreds of times? In my case I dismissed it as hair/cock rock when grunge became the current fashion. Little did I understand that they began as more of punk band, throwing off 3 chords with warm overdriven guitars. But this is not a punk album. "Hells Bells"**** is totally declaring that they are the second coming of Black Sabbath, with the slowly circling opening arpegiatted riff. "Shoot To Thrill" is back to basic AC/DC party rock. Actually the rest of side 1 is pretty weak with undisguised suggestions of sleaze without original hooks to back it up. They inexplicably wait until side 2 to bring out the big guns, "Back In Black"**** and "You Shook Me All Night Long"****, back to back. The beginning of "Have A Drink On Me"***** is a sweet bluesy riff similar to ZZ Top's "Francene", the aftermath of all that partying. "Rock And Roll Aint Noise Pollution"**** ends the album with a big silly anthem for teenage burnouts everywhere, starting with an especially nicely recorded finger-picked riff. I'd say Back In Black is a bit back-loaded - oh yes.
Why would I review an album which every white male teenager has probably owned or at least heard hundreds of times? In my case I dismissed it as hair/cock rock when grunge became the current fashion. Little did I understand that they began as more of punk band, throwing off 3 chords with warm overdriven guitars. But this is not a punk album. "Hells Bells"**** is totally declaring that they are the second coming of Black Sabbath, with the slowly circling opening arpegiatted riff. "Shoot To Thrill" is back to basic AC/DC party rock. Actually the rest of side 1 is pretty weak with undisguised suggestions of sleaze without original hooks to back it up. They inexplicably wait until side 2 to bring out the big guns, "Back In Black"**** and "You Shook Me All Night Long"****, back to back. The beginning of "Have A Drink On Me"***** is a sweet bluesy riff similar to ZZ Top's "Francene", the aftermath of all that partying. "Rock And Roll Aint Noise Pollution"**** ends the album with a big silly anthem for teenage burnouts everywhere, starting with an especially nicely recorded finger-picked riff. I'd say Back In Black is a bit back-loaded - oh yes.
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