Friday March 29th 2024

AC/DC – “Let There Be Rock”

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AC/DC – “Let There Be Rock”

 

They may not be punk and they may not be, really metal but they may be one of the best rock bands of all time and I’m positive most of TNB’s readers would agree with that statement. So when Andy Bang picked this album, I could only bang my head in agreement.
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The following is a dual texting live review that should only be conducted with certified Hazmat personnel at the ready, which, of course, today’s review had.

So sit back and remember an album that when the God Of Music gifted us he proclaimed, “Let There Be Rock!”

 

Slimedog- This is an excellent choice, I’m glad you didn’t take my suggestion of Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side Of My Ass.” And you were right, we’d probably fall asleep while reviewing it.

Andy- Yeah, the dark side of your ass smells as bad as the light side.

Slimedog- That’s what my dog says. Well, just like with Motorhead, we were going to a punk show back in 1980, and you suggested we listen to some AC/DC and I declined because I had read, like Motorhead, that they were heavy metal.

Andy- Hmm, it would appear you were very close minded back then. Do you know what the root cause was?

Slimedog- Possibly my childhood trauma stemming from when my penis got caught in a blender but also, at the time, a lot of metal was high operatic vocals sung over prog rock music, still not my thing, but labeling them heavy metal seems pretty silly now.

Andy- True. Even so, AC/DC is still a guitar driven hard rock band that dips into lots of genres along the way including heavy metal. But, similar to other remember-able great artists, their sound is very unique.

Slimedog- And like Motorhead, once I heard them I was sold. I think of them as rock’n’roll and along with The Rolling Stones, they are my favorite big name bands.

Andy- And I think the album we’re focusing on tonight, “Let There Be Rock” was a signal to the music world that they had arrived and with something very exciting to offer.

Slimedog- True, much like I once learned, the hard way, that delicate body parts and electrical appliances do not mix. What’s the first song?

Andy- How about the title track, “Let There Be Rock?” A kind of pseudo rock’n’roll histrionic wrapped around high paced guitar licks and Bon Scott’s unique gravelly vocals.

Slimedog- I hear a lot of blues and early rock’n’roll influence on this album. And this song talks about the birth of rock’n’roll and being back in 1955 when I was just a teenager.

Andy- Yeah right. Maybe in diapers. I think Angus was only one at the time. On the surface AC/DC seems a very simple band, but a solid rhythm section brilliantly holds the line while Angus and Bon fly off the handle.

Slimedog- Much like my penis flew around the kitchen that fateful day as a youngster. But let’s talk of something more cheerful, what track is next?

Andy- Well let’s go back a track and check out “Dog Eat Dog.” A funky kind of jivey thing with vintage Chuck Berry-ish guitar solos.

Slimedog- Yeah, with a Bo Didley beat, (a kind of latin beat mixed with rock’n’roll), and my second favorite song on the album. Great rock’n’roll played very tightly here.

Andy-True. I think the word that comes to my mind is sturdy. A combination of steady and solid. No apology, just in your face edgy rock’n’roll.

Slimedog- Can I add that Angus is very underrated as a soloist, I believe he’s much better than Jimmy Page and Scott simply blows away Robert Plant as a high-ranged vocalist.

Andy- And if you’ve ever seen them perform live you know that Angus performs all his incredible riffs while constantly moving in a kind of convulsive air headbanging motion. Which brings me to side two of this album and two of my all time favorites. The first tune is “Problem Child” which I’m sure you can relate to. A short metal-ish riff and urgent vocals drive the pace.

Slimedog- Great lyrics- “I am hot and when I’m not, I’m cold as ice. Get out of my way, just step aside, or pay the price.” Reminds me of their song “Girls Got Rhythm” with it’s solid groove.

Andy- I think this album was the start of a trend in their music that would last until Scott’s death. Each of his last three albums build upon each other. Pushing their unmistakable bluesy rock’n’roll vibe to the limits.

Slimedog- Combined with their Satanic lyrics!

Andy- Surely you jest. Unless you call a song about a very large woman from Tasmania, Satanic? Which brings us to the last and greatest tune on this album and dare I say, your favorite, “Whole Lotta Rosie.”

Slimedog- Yes, it is. I really can’t explain why, just that it has such a wild, exciting chorus. And, with all of their great songs, I can’t blame people picking others, but it is my favorite tune by them.

Andy- I think it’s a perfect song. It starts out rather unassuming, but keeps on building until it virtually explodes, blowing us sky high with it. By the time it’s over you kind of get the idea what being with Rosie must have been like.

Slimedog- Or what my accident with the blender felt like. That’s a great description of a great song. What year did this album come out?

Andy- 1977.

Slimedog- Do you think this was the album I first heard?

Andy- No, I’m pretty sure the first album you heard me play was “Highway To Hell.” Then we kind of worked backwards. But now it’s time to think about what our next vintage album review will be.

Slimedog- Yeah, I’m leaning towards The Grateful Dead’s “If There Was Any Doubt Drugs Were Bad For You.”

Andy- But, the way things are going, it seems like soon all drugs will be legal. So how can they be bad for you?

Slimedog- Maybe we just need to ban all the music they produce?

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