The Official Needles and Grooves 1001 Album Generator Project (aka Preachin’ about the Preachers if today’s selection sucks)

4/12/23
ab67616d0000b2730b51f8d91f3a21e8426361ae

AC/DC - Back in Black



Allmusic Review:
www.allmusic.com

Back in Black - AC/DC | Album | AllMusic

Back in Black by AC/DC released in 1980. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
www.allmusic.com www.allmusic.com

RIYL:
 
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I'll say this, I certainly am aware of the stereotype/trope that all AC/DC albums are the same, I do think there is a bit more variety in the Bon Scott days. Back In Black very much feels of the same vein as Highway to Hell and that is probably Lange. After Back in Black, it is pretty formulaic and can you really blame them -(I don't think the wiki is correct that it is still the second highest selling album of all time, but) it is for sure one of the best selling albums of all time. They very much were of a certain type of song format before anyhow, why not stick with that formula? The cognoscenti would say that's selling out, but a couple of things - 1. not every band/artist needs to evolve. They evolved to a point where they were happy, so be it. 2. I think the only way to avoid "selling out" is to never record for public consumption in the first place. That's the only way you can remain in some ethical vacuum where you aren't put in a place of trying to profit or survive from your music.
 
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Lee Newman said:
I'll say this, I certainly am aware of the stereotype/trope that all AC/DC albums are the same, I do think there is a bit more variety in the Bon Scott days. Back In Black very much feels of the same vein as Highway to Hell and that is probably Lange. After Back in Black, it is pretty formulaic and can you really blame them (I don't think the wiki is correct that it is still the second highest selling album of all time) but it is for sure one of the best selling albums of all time. They very much were of a certain type of song format before anyhow, why not stick with that formula? The cognoscenti would say that's selling out, but a couple of things - 1. not every band, artist needs to evolve. They evolved to a point where they were happy, so be it. 2. I think the only way to avoid "selling out" is to never record for public consumption in the first place. That's the only way you can remain in some ethical vacuum where you aren't put in a place of trying to profit or survive from your music.
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There was definitely some discernible difference in vibe with Bon in the band. Attitude, playfulness, stage presence - maybe one of these or some amalgam of all.

I was fortunate enough to see the Highway To Hell tour with Bon manning the mic a couple months before he checked out. It was top shelf...

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Funny coincidence, since I mentioned AC/DC in relation to Sonic Youth yesterday.

This is my favorite AC/DC album, and one of the first albums I fell in love with when I was growing up! I do prefer Bon Scott to Brian Johnson as a singer, but I also think this is the the first and only time the band just pulled together and made a near perfect album from start to finish. Almost every song on here is an instant rock classic!

And the story behind the album is one of the weirdest (but also totally heartwarming considering they did it all with the blessing of Scotts family) in rock history. Just consider that Bon Scott died in February of 1980, and this hit the shelves in July, a mere 5 months later! In those months they grieved, auditioned and found a replacement, wrote songs, recorded the album and started a new tour.

The opening with the church bells on Hells Bells sends chills, before the riff kicks in and we're all invited to one hell of a funeral wake party.
This showcases a band at the top of their game, and it was all pretty much downhill from here, at least quality wise, for the band. And yeah, this is braindead rock n' roll, and the lyrics hasn't aged particularly well, but who really cares when we're talking about AC/DC?
Score: 4,5 stars (rounded up to an even 5)
 
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Whiteout75 said:
I discovered Sonic Youth by accident when I was like 15 years old and mostly listened to metal and some punk. I friend of mine taped a Metallica bootleg on a C90, and on the b-side he had taped over "Goo" by Sonic Youth (he didn't like it), so when the Metallica boot ended about fifteen minutes into side B on the tape, this weird noise appeared (as it turned out, the second half of "Mote"). I hated it at first and just turned off the tape and then rewinded side A again. But after a while I just let the tape roll and I kinda started to dig the following songs. Shortly after this, Nirvana exploded with "Teen Spirit" and I remember finally picking up (the complete) Goo on CD on the same day I also bought Nevermind. So they're a gateway band for me, in that they opened up my taste in new directions. I do have a weak spot for their early 90s albums, but Daydream Nation is probably still their most accomplished effort. A friend of mine once said that Sonic Youth ain't that different to a band like AC/DC or Rolling Stones, in that they have a formula that they follow through on every album, and while I'm not really that sure I agree with her, I guess this is the album where they perfected that formula. Still a solid 5 stars!

I discovered Marquee Moon a couple of years later when I read about it in a music magazine that wrote it up as this huge influence on 90s alternative rock. I bought it on CD and was blown away by it. Listening to it today was just as rewarding as when I first heard it. This is a timeless classic, and an album that continues to shape how rock music sounds. Score: 5 stars.
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I have never ever thought about Sonic Youth having a formula and now I want to listen to their catalog to see if I hear it. I don't imagine I will, but who knows. Also when the hell am I gonna have time to do that?

The reactions to Television are interesting. It's kind of all over the place, but no one hated it did they?
 
Yer Ol' Uncle D said:
Not only did Neil book Sonic Youth and Social Distortion to open on his 1991 'Ragged Glory' tour, he looked after them like that really weird yet cool as fuck uncle...

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I was scrolling through and thought the shot they used for the video "cover" was the cover to Incredible String Band and I was like wow, I posted that whole conversation in the wrong thread. LOL
 
Lee Newman said:
4/12/23
ab67616d0000b2730b51f8d91f3a21e8426361ae

AC/DC - Back in Black



Allmusic Review:
www.allmusic.com

Back in Black - AC/DC | Album | AllMusic

Back in Black by AC/DC released in 1980. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
www.allmusic.com www.allmusic.com

RIYL:
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It's so damn hard not to head bang, air guitar and air drum along with every single track. But if you stop to think for even a second, everything is all rather boring and samey.

Best not to think and just rock!

3 / 5 stars.
 
Lee Newman said:
I have never ever thought about Sonic Youth having a formula and now I want to listen to their catalog to see if I hear it. I don't imagine I will, but who knows. Also when the hell am I gonna have time to do that?

The reactions to Television are interesting. It's kind of all over the place, but no one hated it did they?
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SY’s sound evolved a good amount to over their 30+ years but the changes were never super stark it was more what levels of abrasiveness and dissonance they allowed into each collection of songs.
 
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avecigrec said:
Gonna throw another 4/5 into the pool.

I *think* that was my first time listening to a full Sonic Youth album, but I'm not 100% certain. Either way, I really dug that and can see myself digging in further, finally. Upon completion "The Sprawl" is still my favourite song on the album
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For scifi nerds out there, Philip K Dick and William Gibson are referenced several times on the album, especially The Sprawl and Teenage Riot.
 
Lee Newman said:
4/12/23
ab67616d0000b2730b51f8d91f3a21e8426361ae

AC/DC - Back in Black



Allmusic Review:
www.allmusic.com

Back in Black - AC/DC | Album | AllMusic

Back in Black by AC/DC released in 1980. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.
www.allmusic.com www.allmusic.com

RIYL:
Click to expand...

This album holds a special place for me. It was a gateway to loving hard rock. My mom was so controlling of what music I listened to when I was a kid (she was like the mom in the waterboy and everything was the devil) but for some reason she let me get this when I was like 11. I listened to this till my ears bled and it inspired me to sign up for guitar lessons (which I quit because she wouldn't let me practice at home, so I sucked). I still love this album and will headbang to every track. 5/5
 
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