Guest Review: AC/DC - 'Power Up'

Today, our friend Basileus reviews the new AC/DC album Power Up. 

I should start by noting that AC/DC is my second favorite band of all time. That can be a good thing or a bad thing. For instance, it allows me to overlook certain things (like bad lyrics and “sameness”) but at the same time it can make it tough for me to appreciate when their stuff is not up to snuff. 

Second, in anticipation of the release of Power Up, I probably shouldn’t have spent so much time listening to past AC/DC albums, particularly those from the peak period (which for me goes from Let There Be Rock to Flick of the Switch). That surely and inadvertently set unrealistic expectations and helped shape what is my initial slightly underwhelmed impression of the new record. 

It’s not a bad album, don’t get me wrong. It’s good. It’s filled with good-to-very good moments, but it’s short of great moments, much less great full songs. While I don’t dislike any songs (with the exception of "Kick You When You Are Down" which I hate and removed from the playlist for now—will revisit it later), I also don't love any songs all the way through. Even the best songs have head-scratching moments where either the production, the arrangements, the background vocals, the choruses, or just the lack of energy mar what could otherwise be first tier AC/DC songs. 

I have posted my thoughts on the annoying key change in the otherwise very good first single "Shot In The Dark" (best song on the album, by the way). Other songs that could have reached very high marks instead have to settle for merely “good” or “very good” because of similarly easy-to-fix issues. For instance, "Demon Fire" is a good song. It is fast, has good energy, and has a nice chorus. However, when it gets to the solo, instead of reaching a higher gear (with, for instance, an extended and furious Angus solo), it shifts to a plodding riff over which Angus solos modestly. Frankly, the energy level goes down a bit, only to pick back up again when the solo ends, which is not really the way an AC/DC song should go. Good song that could have been great. And it happens in almost every song, where the potential for more is there but it is ultimately not maximized. For all the crap thrown at Stiff Upper Lip for how plodding and boring it is (most of it deserved), most of the songs are elevated by the arrangements and the soloing and most of the songs finish in a higher gear than when they started. 

But I am being overly critical when the reality is, I like it. I think the average song on this is better than the average song on, again, Stiff Upper Lip. And as I mentioned before, unlike Ballbreaker, where half of it is good and the other half is embarrassing crap, this one only has one must-skip song.  For me, I suspect this will probably fall somewhere in the middle of the pack of the Brian years, which is no small feat considering their age and the number of albums they have under their belt. 

Without doing a song-by-song review, here’s how I see them stacking up, after about 5-6 listens:

Very good:

Realize, Shot in the Dark, Witch’s Spell, Demon Fire

Good/Ok:

Through Mists of Time, No Man’s Land, Systems Down, Money Shot, Wild Reputation

Meh, passable I guess: 

Rejection, Code Red

Awful:

Kick you when you are down

One last comment: I suspect "Through The Mists of Time" will divide fans. It’s a bit poppy and I’ve heard it being described as Springsteen-esque. Regardless of your feelings of the song as an AC/DC song, how great would it be if they shot a video of the song with old footage and photo stills of the band and its members throughout their history, particularly of Malcolm and Bon—old live footage, backstage, in the studio, just hanging out. The song is perfect for it. What do you all think?

Comments

[Jeff]

Here's the problem, most people want another Back in Black which is a perfect 10. Unfortunately you are not going to get that. Like Basileus said, it is filed with very good songs and is fitting to where the band is today. It will be in heavy rotation for me for the time being.

Anyone else check out the new Wolfgang Van Halen song Distance? Very touching tribute to Eddie. The video is a tearjerker and well done. I like how he has named his band Mammoth-WVH as well.

[bkallday]

The last album they put out, Rock Or Bust, was complete garbage, or a bust if you will. Not one classic concert staple on the whole cd, and nothing that will ever be played again on any tour. As for Power Up, I'll hafta say it's pretty damn good imo. At best maybe one filler track on the whole cd and i could see a couple of these songs being on setlists for the rest of their careers. It's head and shoulders above ROB, but not quite as good as Black Ice, Stiff Upper Lip, Ballbreaker, or Blow Up Your Video(which i am in the minority and thought it was really solid). If this is the album they go out on, it's not a bad one at all to finish with! I'd give it a 7.5 and a must have for any true AC/DC fan.

[GNR]

I liked "Rejection" just for the way vocals actually changed during a couple lines of "you". Different in a good way.

[Shawn]

@Jeff I think Wolfgang is a great kid and the relationship between him and his dad was amazing - Check out the interview with Stern - the video for Distance is a tearjerker. There is another song in the interview that has a ripping solo in it. The kid can play I actually look forward to the release.

[Gary]

@Shawn/Jeff. You’re correct bud, The kid is an absolute monster on the guitar. The video also teared me up. Poignant is the word that came to mind. Feel bad for him in that no matter how good he is, he’s never going to “fill dads shoes” in most eyes. (Dale Earnhardt Jr comes to mind. Very similar circumstances) Sorry for thread hijack.

As for Power Up, basileus did a very spot on review IMO. The main “riffmaster” per say of the band is gone. This is still a really good release,considering they didn’t want to use any of Mal’s stuff they have lurking about. Anything these guys do is great in my book. Lol 🤟

[Him]

Thanks for that review, Basileus. Nice to hear your thoughts, given your passion for the band. I hope you contribute more posts to the site.

Personally, I have no issue with the song you find awful. As I recently said, it is in keeping with the slower version of AC/DC and fits right in with "Rock the Blues Away." But, upon reading your review, it struck me: I think I like both of those songs because they move a bit away from trying to recapture something that they can't. They are still within the band's wheelhouse. But they suggest elder statesmen doing their thing as well. I am not sure if that makes sense.

I also appreciate the fact that you and I enjoy _Flick_. I love that album. And, Bkallday, I also enjoy _BUYV_. But I find the others in their recent catalog a bit hit-or-miss, with more misses than hits. And I think that has to do with my comment above (and elsewhere posted): AC/DC don't reinvent the wheel. That's good. But it is a wheel. And we have been listening to it for a long, long time. And that wheel has lost a bit of tread. I say that noting that a lot of bands would die to have a bald tire that is as interesting as AC/DC.

Again, thanks for that review. I love hearing different perspectives.

[Basileus]

Him,

I often end up finding a way to enjoy their songs even if I don’t on first listen. That’s why I mentioned that I will revisit later. My issue is not the slowness or the underlying music (the riff is quite good) it’s the “oh no”s that are grating and cringe-inducing. But there are plenty of slow songs I enjoy from their catalogue. I also disagree about the idea that they “can’t recapture” some key elements of their past, such as a extending the solos a bit or upping the energy and intensity of a song as it goes along. I think that’s a choice they have made, for whatever reason.

I’ve now listened to the album for a few more days and a good dozen more times and I am quite enjoying it. I reshuffled the track list a bit, removed Kick You When You’re Down, and it’s playing very well. I’ll get back to that song eventually. I used to hate Come and Get It from Stiff Upper Lip and now I enjoy it.

[Him]

Appreciate that response, Basileus. The thing I really like about your posts is that you take a look at things from a lot of angles. There is a clear sense that you are thinking about what you are writing. Granted, there is a time to vent and have fun. But I really do respect a person who can stick to their guns, while admitting to how their/our opinions shift and warp over time. Thanks, sir.

[Kixchix]

Thanks Basileus.

I’ve had the album on in my background a bit. I’d say I listened to it 3-4 times. I agree mostly with your great analysis.

I think Mists will be viewed positively by most. The duds you mentioned did not stand out as I was casually listening. I do remember the Kick You chorus so who knows. I will try and listen and report.

Ain’t it funny how a tune evolves with a bit of time on the ears?.?.? Makes me smile.

[Metalboy!]

FANTASTIC review, Basileus ...

I listened to the album 5 times in a row the day it came out, from the moment I woke up, during work with the headphones on and outside during an afternoon walk and I have to agree with you, Basileus, for the most part, especially “Shot In The Dark” as the standout and where the h*ll are the solos?