Aug 18, 2021Liked by CJ Kaplan, Mitch Blum, Ken Warshaw
First off, kudos to all three of you on your writing styles this week - all of you had amusing reads. As a writer myself, I enjoyed it. But, that's not what you want to hear - you want a critique on the music.
I'm siding with Mitch and Ken on this one and am delighted this album, and hopefully band, did not make it to your Valhalla. I have never owned an AC/DC recording - never saw the need. They always reminded me of a band for 15 year old boys to lust over - it's their rebellion music to piss off their parents, much like my son did when he started listening to rap. At my age, adolescent rebellion is no longer an attractive quality.
Bon Scott's vocals are nothing short of screaming. The guitar work is just OK - certainly not Gilmore or Clapton ability. It's just noise. Not a fan. I'm listening again as I write this, although it will be turned off as soon as I get done.
On another subject - I and 5 buddies went to see Britt Floyd at the Chicago Theater last Saturday night. Let me tell you boys, they are nothing short of spectacular. All 6 of us, seasoned concert goers in our 60's, thought it was one of the best shows we ever saw. 2nd row seats in a small venue certainly helped. If you are a fan of Pink Floyd and haven't seen Britt Floyd, go see them on this tour before they are gone. I guarantee you won't be sorry.
Thank you, Alan, for having the courage to speak the harsh truth about AC/DC, with all of these threatening black tee shirt clad hooligans around.
Apparently CJ is thinking like the Cake Boss, using rice krispies and fondant to make impressive looking cakes that shouldn't be judged on taste. What other criteria can there be for judging an album? Smell? Penmanship? Packaging?
I have seen both Brit Floyd and Get the Led Out and am an unabashed supporter of high-quality tribute bands. The music you love, played well, in an intimate venue.
Thank you for your comments Alan. As I said to Mitch and Ken yesterday when I read their responses, doing a musical critique of AC/DC is akin to doing a literary critique of MAD Magazine or a cinematic critique of the Three Stooges. Sometimes it's just about having mindless fun. I've always enjoyed the middle finger attitude that AC/DC brought to everything they did. Is their song craft rudimentary? Sure. Are their lyrics sophomoric and silly? Absolutely. But, then so am I sometimes. And the 16-year-old who still occupies a large part of my brain loves him some H2H. Can't blame me for that, can ya?
We'll keep an eye out for Brit Floyd. And, in return, I'd recommend you see Get The Led Out when they come to town. Mitch is a frequent flyer and always has good things to say.
Aug 18, 2021Liked by CJ Kaplan, Mitch Blum, Ken Warshaw
In "Blue Highways," author William Least Heat Moon shared his theory that the best way to find good food at a good price was by the number of calendars on the wall.
In that same way, I'd posit that a great way to find a good mechanic is to see how look it takes to hear AC/DC in their garage.
My wife and I used to do a lot of skiing at Loon Mountain and Waterville Valley. We used to set an over/under for how long it would take to hear an AC/DC song on the radio once we crossed the border into New Hampshire. Never made it longer than 10 minutes
Like most brothers, Mitch and I grew up fighting about everything (literally everything and all of the time). Music was no exception - we each laid claim to certain bands and in the process carved up the music scene like the Allies did to Germany after WW-II. Mitch had the Village People, I had The Bee Gees, Mitch had Punk Rock, I had Metal, Mitch had folk-rock, I had arena-rock, and… Mitch had KISS and I had AC/DC. (There were some exceptions where we both laid claim to a given artist/band - Floyd, Zeppelin and Marley for instance). As we grew older, wiser and more more mature (lol), we learned to get along and came to realize that we were more alike than different, and like the fall of the Berlin Wall, we now can now appreciate the music that one or the other had previously claimed as their territory.
Which leaves me a bit disappointed in his review for AC/DC. Mitch has done Angus and the boys dirty. The truth of the matter is that I always rocked a little bit harder - but why throw shade on one of the all time great rock bands. Highway to Hell might not be my favorite album (Back in Black was my soundtrack during Middle School) but I take exception to his characterization of it being schlock. What AC/DC is and always has been is a band that rocks and swings (big) balls out Yeah some of the lyrics and themes may be a bit cheeky - but it’s just good fun. Their hits are huge - It’s also music that has held up well after all of these years.
Mitch might be trying to selling EONS readers on all the crappy depressing folk artists he listens to now, but I still like listening to kick ass music.
CJ, I could never write anything nearly as good as that even if I had hours and had done a lot of research but "Highway to Hell" is right up there in my book with my all time favorite album "Appetite for Destruction".
I didn't realize the producing ties with Def Leppard's Pyromania another unbelievable recording and I'm no country fan unless it's Lzzy Hale singing with Eric Church "That's rock and roll" but I'm cognizant that Shania is a superstar in that genre.
I guess one measures an album by how any of it's songs become quintessential or standards 20+ years later in society as a whole. Go to any sports event and a multitude of songs from Highway to Hell or Appetite for Destruction are still played and young and old are still moved by them.
Bravo, AC/DC "Highway to Hell" one the the greatest rock albums of all time!
Thanks Eli! It's fun to be at a sporting event with my kids and hear songs that I grew up with played as hype tracks. Tough to beat "Hells Bells", "Crazy Train" and "Welcome to the Jungle" when your team comes charging onto the field. Beyond the sports tie-in, I enjoy albums like Highway to Hell for the sheer joy of being loud and obnoxious. Isn't that what rock 'n' roll is all about? Thanks again for the comment
CJ, Bon Scott's vocals may not be up there with some loud and obnoxious artists ( Axle Rose for one) but as a band and an album, most of the world's artists and bands only dream of having the success and staying power of AC/DC
First off, kudos to all three of you on your writing styles this week - all of you had amusing reads. As a writer myself, I enjoyed it. But, that's not what you want to hear - you want a critique on the music.
I'm siding with Mitch and Ken on this one and am delighted this album, and hopefully band, did not make it to your Valhalla. I have never owned an AC/DC recording - never saw the need. They always reminded me of a band for 15 year old boys to lust over - it's their rebellion music to piss off their parents, much like my son did when he started listening to rap. At my age, adolescent rebellion is no longer an attractive quality.
Bon Scott's vocals are nothing short of screaming. The guitar work is just OK - certainly not Gilmore or Clapton ability. It's just noise. Not a fan. I'm listening again as I write this, although it will be turned off as soon as I get done.
On another subject - I and 5 buddies went to see Britt Floyd at the Chicago Theater last Saturday night. Let me tell you boys, they are nothing short of spectacular. All 6 of us, seasoned concert goers in our 60's, thought it was one of the best shows we ever saw. 2nd row seats in a small venue certainly helped. If you are a fan of Pink Floyd and haven't seen Britt Floyd, go see them on this tour before they are gone. I guarantee you won't be sorry.
Thank you, Alan, for having the courage to speak the harsh truth about AC/DC, with all of these threatening black tee shirt clad hooligans around.
Apparently CJ is thinking like the Cake Boss, using rice krispies and fondant to make impressive looking cakes that shouldn't be judged on taste. What other criteria can there be for judging an album? Smell? Penmanship? Packaging?
I have seen both Brit Floyd and Get the Led Out and am an unabashed supporter of high-quality tribute bands. The music you love, played well, in an intimate venue.
Thank you for your comments Alan. As I said to Mitch and Ken yesterday when I read their responses, doing a musical critique of AC/DC is akin to doing a literary critique of MAD Magazine or a cinematic critique of the Three Stooges. Sometimes it's just about having mindless fun. I've always enjoyed the middle finger attitude that AC/DC brought to everything they did. Is their song craft rudimentary? Sure. Are their lyrics sophomoric and silly? Absolutely. But, then so am I sometimes. And the 16-year-old who still occupies a large part of my brain loves him some H2H. Can't blame me for that, can ya?
We'll keep an eye out for Brit Floyd. And, in return, I'd recommend you see Get The Led Out when they come to town. Mitch is a frequent flyer and always has good things to say.
In "Blue Highways," author William Least Heat Moon shared his theory that the best way to find good food at a good price was by the number of calendars on the wall.
In that same way, I'd posit that a great way to find a good mechanic is to see how look it takes to hear AC/DC in their garage.
I don’t know about your mechanic theory but Blue Highways is one of my favorite books. Thanks for the reminder of a great read.
One of my all-time favorites!
My wife and I used to do a lot of skiing at Loon Mountain and Waterville Valley. We used to set an over/under for how long it would take to hear an AC/DC song on the radio once we crossed the border into New Hampshire. Never made it longer than 10 minutes
Lol. Awesome.
Like most brothers, Mitch and I grew up fighting about everything (literally everything and all of the time). Music was no exception - we each laid claim to certain bands and in the process carved up the music scene like the Allies did to Germany after WW-II. Mitch had the Village People, I had The Bee Gees, Mitch had Punk Rock, I had Metal, Mitch had folk-rock, I had arena-rock, and… Mitch had KISS and I had AC/DC. (There were some exceptions where we both laid claim to a given artist/band - Floyd, Zeppelin and Marley for instance). As we grew older, wiser and more more mature (lol), we learned to get along and came to realize that we were more alike than different, and like the fall of the Berlin Wall, we now can now appreciate the music that one or the other had previously claimed as their territory.
Which leaves me a bit disappointed in his review for AC/DC. Mitch has done Angus and the boys dirty. The truth of the matter is that I always rocked a little bit harder - but why throw shade on one of the all time great rock bands. Highway to Hell might not be my favorite album (Back in Black was my soundtrack during Middle School) but I take exception to his characterization of it being schlock. What AC/DC is and always has been is a band that rocks and swings (big) balls out Yeah some of the lyrics and themes may be a bit cheeky - but it’s just good fun. Their hits are huge - It’s also music that has held up well after all of these years.
Mitch might be trying to selling EONS readers on all the crappy depressing folk artists he listens to now, but I still like listening to kick ass music.
Rock on CJ
Ride on, Steve
New theory: AC/DC is an older brother thing.
Interesting. I'll have to check in with Dan. Although last I knew he was a fan
CJ, I could never write anything nearly as good as that even if I had hours and had done a lot of research but "Highway to Hell" is right up there in my book with my all time favorite album "Appetite for Destruction".
I didn't realize the producing ties with Def Leppard's Pyromania another unbelievable recording and I'm no country fan unless it's Lzzy Hale singing with Eric Church "That's rock and roll" but I'm cognizant that Shania is a superstar in that genre.
I guess one measures an album by how any of it's songs become quintessential or standards 20+ years later in society as a whole. Go to any sports event and a multitude of songs from Highway to Hell or Appetite for Destruction are still played and young and old are still moved by them.
Bravo, AC/DC "Highway to Hell" one the the greatest rock albums of all time!
Eli Delany
Thanks Eli! It's fun to be at a sporting event with my kids and hear songs that I grew up with played as hype tracks. Tough to beat "Hells Bells", "Crazy Train" and "Welcome to the Jungle" when your team comes charging onto the field. Beyond the sports tie-in, I enjoy albums like Highway to Hell for the sheer joy of being loud and obnoxious. Isn't that what rock 'n' roll is all about? Thanks again for the comment
CJ, Bon Scott's vocals may not be up there with some loud and obnoxious artists ( Axle Rose for one) but as a band and an album, most of the world's artists and bands only dream of having the success and staying power of AC/DC