AC/DC Rock or Bust
 

After reading a number of reviews and comments about AC/DC's new album "Rock or Bust", I observed that a lot of mixed feelings exist out there. The majority of them are positive, including myself, a music student who has been listening to AC/DC almost on a daily basis for the past 11 years.

However, the general concern amongst the 'not convinced' seems to be that 'it's yet again the same old AC/DC. They have been using the same three chords for the past four decades and it has become tiring.'

Undoubtedly there are apparent similarities between the majority of their albums, but I post the question: Isn't that the main reason for their success? My personal opinion is that they include a massive amount of power in their music, and even though I admit that the level of music might not be extraordinarily challenging but what truly matters is the end result. The feeling which is being produced by the music.

Steve Vai's music is unarguably more complicated, but he still participates in a YouTube video where he shreds over "Highway to Hell".

What I am questioning is whether even though their music is enjoyable, the fact that it is 'simple music' effects the way the music is interpreted.

Any thoughts or opinions are welcome.
-Gio

If you don't like AC/DC simply because they lack complexity you are a music douche. I don't even care that they kind of make the same album over and over. They still do it well.

music douche reporting in

I have been listening to AC/DC myself for over 20 years and I kinda see why some people say that they play the same stuff over and over again. If you consider that each band has its own style you can easily say that AC/DC have chosen their style and they are sticking with it. It would be wise to remember bands like Metallica and others who switched between styles.. that didn't work out for them. AC/DC have a solid style and that's what makes it feel authentic.

When you go to a concert nowadays it's all about the image. Well with AC/DC it's all about the power.

-RidetheTiger, Thank you for the feedback and yes the Metallica switching phase sounds familiar. It is indeed true that AC/DC offer some of the best live performances, even after so many decades. In addition, I couldn't agree more with the concept of authenticity. Would you agree with the idea that the way in which you primarily approach music and present it to people, is the one you will be remembered with?

-Moss, thank you for your opinion and I agree with you. Music is not about complexity. It's an art form which is used to enable expression. Would it have a different effect from your perspective to know that the music of AC/DC was written in a more complex manner?

-Ninetails, would you care to provide us with more information on that? What's your opinion on this subject?

AC DC never really brought anything that new to the table imo. They have some very good albums, but I honestly doubt this new record will add anything to that discography to me.

In my personal experience, even though I love all AC/DC albums, I particularly love those gems which can be found in the albums. Those 'hits'. Wouldn't it be fair to say that there might be a hidden gem in "Rock or Bust", at least a song which makes the album stand out on its own, rather than blending in with the rest of the 'similar' albums.

I haven't heard Rock or Bust and am not a fan of ACDC really, so I guess I don't have an opinion here.

Sure, and maybe in the coming months I'll give it a shot. I have a lot more pressing still to listen to right now, though. I won't pass judgement on an album I've not heard until I've heard it.

I honestly didn't think too highly of this album. If you ask me AC/DC sounds too much alike. Rock or Bust reminded me a lot of the previous studio album. The only positive I see from the putting out a record is that they will tour this year. Seeing AC/DC is still on my bucket list, so hopefully I'll be able to check that off in 2015.

That's the right move in my opinion. You never know what you might come across, even on those tunes at the back of the album!

The tour is surely a positive thing. It is also on my must-do list! As for the connection with "Black Ice" that you referred to, I think that because of various changes in the recording procedure, that was the biggest 'change' in the sound of AC/DC.

Yeah that makes sense. I mean it ain't impossible to change your image but first impressions go a long way. If you get on a stage and say 'I'm x' it won't be easy to later convince people that you are not what you told them you were!

I didn't hear their new album yet but yes most of their songs are based on the same chords and ideas. I believe they just keep using the same style just because most of their older songs are famous. Of course no one said that is easy to come up with something new that will become a success, so for what it seems to be their last album it seems natural to stay on the same direction. Complexity is good but usually simple songs have much more success and they express some aspects much more than complex songs.

I have not heard it either and don't care to hear it. My point is that rejecting music because it's simple is stupid. Some of the best songs ever written are 2 or 3 chords and no complexity at all. Now if you don't like AC/DC because you don't like the music, that is a different beast and perfectly acceptable.

Some people's taste tends towards more musically complex stuff, which is fine imo. I do like a (well written) simple punk song, though.

You know what...

Sometimes, in certain circumstances, saying a bands entire discography sounds the same, it sort of makes whoever is saying it, look a bit ignorant. A band like AC/DC does not need to change their sound, fact is the band has had a pretty solid run and I feel each album is good in their own way. Metallica tried to experiment with their sound on a few albums, it didn't work for them, and so they went back, or tried going back to their sound from earlier albums, that also didn't entirely work in their favor. Metallica is a bit bland now, have been since the late 90's...

AC/DC though, they are not a band where experimenting with their sound to remain relevant, is necessary. AC/DC is a great Rock band, and their music is more than good enough on its own without trying to do new things with it. My fourth time saying it now, or around that, but AC/DC changing their sound has never been necessary.

@ Moss

Haha, you've said what I've said without making it a rant. AC/DC has written some of the best Rock songs, some only on a few simple chords. I've heard two songs off of Rock Or Bust, liked them. It's the AC/DC I've listened to since I was a little kid, good enough for me.

So people who say that they never change are ignorant (insert Michael Jackson gif here)...but AC/DC never needed to change? I'm a little confused man.

To add on to my confusion you suggest that when a band makes a horrible attempt at alt-rock being an attempt to stay relevant? Bands that **** out the same album time after time (I'd name some, but just look at most of the classics) were already huge by the time that they were trying to stay relevant and had a rather sizeable fanbase that would buy whatever X Group would shove into a cd case and ram it down their throats for a couple of months saying it's the **** when it's just **** (see: Endless River; same **** I hated about all of your albums, different albums; you died an ugly swan, Pink Floyd). Metallica would definitely be one of those groups.

A band may not NEED to change their style, sometimes it's even preferred, but when Back In Black is running its course through your digestive system once again, you might want to head off to the grocery store and buy something fresh before you regurgitate it back onto your family who's really too nice to say anything about how awful it is.

oh ya im just being a dick haha. loads of music that I love are super "simple"

I acknowledge your points, all valid. Let's see if I can help your confusion, man trust me, I know I can confuse people easily with my train of (often odd) thought...

I didn't say that everyone that said AC/DC should have made changes throughout their career, were ignorant to say so. It's their opinion. I think maybe using that word was the wrong way to express my thought in the first place, so my bad there.

Frownland, I like the bands I listen to, to evolve throughout their career too. But there are those bands that are still here today, that just do not need to, and AC/DC are one of those bands in my opinion. I understand peoples desire for there to have been change at some point, but that doesn't matter because the band will do what they want in the end. AC/DC just don't seem to see a point to do any changing, whether that is because they know fans will buy whatever the pack in a cd case, as you said, or there's just no desire within the band for change.

And, no, not every attempt to try something new, is done so to remain relevant. A lot of bands do it just because they can, or want to. I've always wanted to hear a more aggressive AC/DC record, but I am content if I never get it. And don't bring Pink Floyd in to this haha, what they did with this last album, was a pretty lame move, and I don't care of it is meant to be a tribute to their keyboardist or whatever. The music was so mediocre, it hurt. I don't think they could have made it more clear how much they don't give a sh*t what their fans wanted, The Endless River was a sorry offering. But...you know, haha, I also believe bands don't need to, or shouldn't cater to their fans every demand.

To get back to my prior post and your reply to it. Ignorant was the wrong choice of a word on my part. Ignorance doesn't factor in here. So I am man enough to say you have me there, I really have no defense for why I even said that.

Bottom line. Anyone familiar with this band, should know what they'll get with albums they put out. They've been consistent with their sound from the beginning.

Kyriako5, all your points are valid. The idea of "Rock or Bust" being their last album hadn't crossed my mind and I agree with you that it would be unexpected to see a change in their style in their last album (if this will be the one).

That's unarguably true! Some people like 3-chord songs, others prefer minimalistic music, others prefer music in which the main concept is improvisation, whether lyrical or instrumental.

I don't like Brian Johnson era ACDC because of that. Bon Scott AC/DC feels a lot less repetitive imo.

I understand where you're coming from. You can definitely sense a difference between the two eras as far as the vocal lines go. Do you think there is any difference from the fact that Brian Johnson's voice has also changed? His singing style in the album "Back in Black" is without a doubt different than in "Black Ice" or "Rock or Bust".

I agree with your points but I would like to add that as far as wanting to 'change', or not seeing the point in it, you have to take into account that their name is AC/DC for a reason. They have been labeled as raw power, electricity. Since "High Voltage" they had made a statement of what was to come. It's all about the energy that they offer through their music.

Therefore, my personal opinion is that there was or is no actual reason to change. They are preserving the primary image which they have been putting out for the past 40 years.

You guys seriously think they don't need to change? The horse is dead man, they don't need to keep beating it off. How about they write a song that shows off how allegedly great of a guitarist Angus Young is? Of the ten or so albums I've ears from them I've only been impressed by his playing on two or three songs.

If they all sound the same shouldn't you be impressed by all of them, or none of them?

:pimp:

It depends on what you mean by change. You can certainly spot a difference on the sound quality amongst their older and newer albums. In addition, their primary goal for the guitar parts has been to blend the rhythm guitar and the lead guitar in order to create one 'enhanced' guitar sound which is full of power.

As for the change in the music itself, I do not believe that they need to change, because they are preserving the image that they first put out. Again, Metallica comes to mind. That's just my personal opinion though.

@UrbanHatemonger That's an interesting approach. Would you mind digging a bit into that?

Well, honestly, Angus has written plenty of licks that were better than a large majority of bands from back then, I'm not saying he's better than those other guitarists, just that in my mind, he wrote better licks than a lot of them. I do sort of think that maybe you're expecting too much when AC/DC has done well with putting out good music consistently, more or less that is.

The music is good, but you wish the band took on changes throughout their career. I think my opinion that change was, or is not necessary for AC/DC is proven fact by how long they've been going now, releasing albums that sound just like the band always has, and their fanbase is still growing. What they do works for them. It's reason enough for them to not change anything, and it's just fine with me.

Touche!

I'm not expecting much from them and it's not like I don't like them, but I always hear people refer to Angus as a god and I'm just not hearing it man. Maybe I should just quit hanging out with rednecks.

I understand where you're coming from, and I share your opinion of Angus; he's good, but hardly the greatest there is. And I'm even a little annoyed when I have a conversation, here or when I'm with friends and the subject of the greatest guitarist comes up, and everyone is just gushing over Angus. I just stand there questioning if my friends live in a small world within their head where they only got as far as Angus on a list of great guitarists to check out.

satirical rant/

I would like AC/DC to continue to make albums until the end of time just to piss off the crowd that insists bands make albums that sound nothing like their prior albums.

/satirical rant

Does such a thing exist?!! adhfhljkashjlkfahalfjkhfjl!!!!!

That's a valid point!

What are you referring to?

I wouldn't dwell on what I was referring to, because all I was really doing, was playing off of what you said...wasn't supposed to make sense or anything.

Well, you were successful :finger:

I think you're pretty rad too, WP. Let's do this again soon.

...would you be willing to work my shift at Walmart tonight?