They wrote one of the 10 greatest RAWK songs ever. The pretty much invented the fist pumping, devil horned, head banging arena rock sound. The lead guitarist is the star, in his outrageous schoolboy uniform but the real backbone is the Rhythm Guitarist. Without Malcolm there is no AC/DC. Just a lead singer and a cock of the walk screecher.
I have heard about a dozen or so songs, and, like everyone who grew up in the 70s, Back in Black was your graduation present.
But aside from the big tunes, what do I really know about the Aussie boys?
Let’s find out.
AC/DC – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap – 1976 (Buy it)
Hey, guess what? It’s more of the same! I kind of have a feeling it’s gonna be like this for the next 11 albums. A scary proposition at best. One which raises the question: How much AC/DC is too much AC/DC?
I don’t think I’ve reached saturation by any means, yet. For DDDDC is a much more accomplished and solid offering. It’s bluesy and ballsy and the perfect soundtrack to a ripped jeans, beach town living pot-filled summer. A nice companion to Voltage, I found myself grooving to DD a lot more. For one thing, the first half of the album clips along at a neat pace, nothing clocking over 4 minutes like the first offering. Much of the songs on that album sounded like excuses for guitar solos but not here. Here it actually seems like Scott has some stuff he wants to say. It’s still all girls and balls and money and rock but it’s less obnoxious. The song Big Balls being the obvious exception. That is just embarrassing.
Yet, for all the bombast and bloat that pervaded that album, the longest one here clocks in at over 7 minutes and is never boring. Ain’t no fun (waiting to be a millionaire) is a joy, accelerating and groovy, it’s the kind of performance that suggests that they might be better live than on record.
Another point that I would like to make is that this time around they seem to have found the endings to their songs. Tunes come to conclusions more than the easy and lazy fade outs of the first record.
And, with “Squealer” Bon Scott shows just what a lascivious and dirty fuck he is.
Grade B
A Side: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Blindside: Squealer
Downside: Big Balls. (Please. Stop with the ball talk.) Ride On. These guys just aren’t slo-groove guys.
