Ballbreaker (1995) (EASTWEST RECORDS AMERICA) (11 TRACKS) AC/DC
Album Description:
Eternally in pursuit of the ultimate riff, AC/DC play with scowls on their faces and cojones in their music. Their songs glower in corners, ready to pounce with sweaty, blues-rock guitars and razor sharp hooks. On BALLBREAKER, AC/DC refuse to grow up - and that's a good thing. Angus Young plays with the same sweet, red Gibson-SG-through-a-Marshall tone and a vibrato killer enough to patent, sounding as fresh as he did on DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP. And Brian Johnson's guttural growl still reeks of whiskey and cigarettes. AC/DC's true gift is their ability to get an amazing, powerful sound with a minimum of clever guitar layering. This has more to do with their attitude than anything technical. If they have improved on anything over the years, it's their songwriting. Catchy hooks and dynamics go unnoticed only because they're so effective. The groove of "Boogie Man" recalls a classic like "Night Prowler." The slow, deliberate "Whiskey On The Rocks" contrasts the torrential climax of the title track. And, in the long run, BALLBREAKER succeds due to its diversity of song, not just AC/DC's characteristic power.
BALLBREAKER is the 13th studio album by the Australian hard rock band, released in September 1995. It was AC/DC's first studio album in five years, since THE RAZORS EDGE (1990). The album featured the return of former drummer Phil Rudd, who had been fired from the band in 1983 as a result of problems and a fight with founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young. The three singles released from this album were "Hard as a Rock," "Cover You in Oil," and "Hail Caesar." The album was produced by the prolific producer Rick Rubin. Rubin had briefly worked with the band in 1993 to produce the song/single "Big Gun," for the soundtrack to the movie LAST ACTION HERO. Two weeks into the U.S. tour, four gigs were cancelled so that Brian Johnson could attend his father's funeral. During the tour, MTV cartoon characters Beavis and Butthead appeared in the intro during concerts. Five of the album's songs were played live, "Hard As a Rock", "Boogie Man", "Cover You In Oil", "Hail Caesar", and "Ballbreaker". The album is currently certified Double Platinum by the RIAA in the US, for sales in excess of 2,000,000.
AC/DC: Brian Johnson (vocals); Angus Young (guitar); Malcolm Young (guitar); Cliff Williams (bass); Phil Rudd (drums).
Recorded between 1994–1995.
Produced by Rick Rubin & Mike Fraser.
Track Listing:
1. Hard as a Rock - 4:31 2. Cover You in Oil - 4:32 3. The Furor - 4:10 4. Boogie Man - 4:07 5. The Honey Roll - 5:34 6. Burnin' Alive - 5:05 7. Hail Caesar - 5:14 8. Love Bomb - 3:14 9. Caught with Your Pants Down - 4:14 10. Whiskey on the Rocks - 4:35 11. Ballbreaker - 4:31
Ballbreaker (1995) (EASTWEST RECORDS AMERICA) (11 TRACKS)
ReplyDeleteAC/DC
Album Description:
Eternally in pursuit of the ultimate riff, AC/DC play with scowls on their faces and cojones in their music. Their songs glower in corners, ready to pounce with sweaty, blues-rock guitars and razor sharp hooks. On BALLBREAKER, AC/DC refuse to grow up - and that's a good thing. Angus Young plays with the same sweet, red Gibson-SG-through-a-Marshall tone and a vibrato killer enough to patent, sounding as fresh as he did on DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP. And Brian Johnson's guttural growl still reeks of whiskey and cigarettes. AC/DC's true gift is their ability to get an amazing, powerful sound with a minimum of clever guitar layering. This has more to do with their attitude than anything technical. If they have improved on anything over the years, it's their songwriting. Catchy hooks and dynamics go unnoticed only because they're so effective. The groove of "Boogie Man" recalls a classic like "Night Prowler." The slow, deliberate "Whiskey On The Rocks" contrasts the torrential climax of the title track. And, in the long run, BALLBREAKER succeds due to its diversity of song, not just AC/DC's characteristic power.
BALLBREAKER is the 13th studio album by the Australian hard rock band, released in September 1995. It was AC/DC's first studio album in five years, since THE RAZORS EDGE (1990). The album featured the return of former drummer Phil Rudd, who had been fired from the band in 1983 as a result of problems and a fight with founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young. The three singles released from this album were "Hard as a Rock," "Cover You in Oil," and "Hail Caesar." The album was produced by the prolific producer Rick Rubin. Rubin had briefly worked with the band in 1993 to produce the song/single "Big Gun," for the soundtrack to the movie LAST ACTION HERO. Two weeks into the U.S. tour, four gigs were cancelled so that Brian Johnson could attend his father's funeral. During the tour, MTV cartoon characters Beavis and Butthead appeared in the intro during concerts. Five of the album's songs were played live, "Hard As a Rock", "Boogie Man", "Cover You In Oil", "Hail Caesar", and "Ballbreaker". The album is currently certified Double Platinum by the RIAA in the US, for sales in excess of 2,000,000.
AC/DC: Brian Johnson (vocals); Angus Young (guitar); Malcolm Young (guitar); Cliff Williams (bass); Phil Rudd (drums).
Recorded between 1994–1995.
Produced by Rick Rubin & Mike Fraser.
Track Listing:
1. Hard as a Rock - 4:31
2. Cover You in Oil - 4:32
3. The Furor - 4:10
4. Boogie Man - 4:07
5. The Honey Roll - 5:34
6. Burnin' Alive - 5:05
7. Hail Caesar - 5:14
8. Love Bomb - 3:14
9. Caught with Your Pants Down - 4:14
10. Whiskey on the Rocks - 4:35
11. Ballbreaker - 4:31