Published on Sep 6, 1998
While we wait for the next AC/DC album, I thought it would be
nice to check out the last album put out by the Aussie
troublemakers. (Hopefully, we’ll see that new album before
’99.)
Anyhow, after the success of
The Razor’s Edge and
AC/DC Live, the band had somewhat disappeared from the
landscape of rock ‘n’ roll. While
The Razor’s Edge had been much a product of the times, the
band decided that the next album would touch back on their earliest
times and albums. So the band called on mega-producer Rick Rubin
(who’s produced everyone from the Beastie Boys to Nine Inch Nails)
to helm the production of
Ballbreaker.
The album kicks off with the catchy “Hard As A Rock.” The song
was proof that AC/DC was still much the same band that it had
always been – right down to the wrongly-believed misogynistic
lyrics. Following it was the just-as-catchy “Cover You In Oil.”
This song is a perfect example of AC/DC’s use of double-entendres.
The song is about making an oil painting of a girl – “covering” the
girl’s body in oil. But that may mean more than one thing – after
all, what picture are they drawing?
Hooks and riffs galore are to be found here. From the mean
crunch of “The Furor” to the blooze of “Boogie Man,” the band is in
top form here. The grooves are improved by the return of former
drummer Phil Rudd – who left after the
Flick Of The Switch sessions. Other anthems include “The
Honey Roll,” “Caught With Your Pants Down” (for which I always
picture Marv Albert and Hugh Grant) and the title track.
Add to that a bit of seriousness that’s brought by the songs
“Burnin’ Alive” and “Hail Caesar” – who would have thought that
AC/DC would ever stick a message in one of their songs??? (What do
I mean? For example, “Burnin’ Alive” is about the mess at Waco. See
if you can’t catch the references.)
OK, you’re saying. What’s wrong with THIS album? Well, very
little. The biggest problem with it is Rubin’s production. While
Harry Vanda and George Young’s production in the early AC/DC albums
was lo-fi, but allowed the full power of the band to come through,
Rubin’s production is empty and shallow.
Other than that, you can take this album to the bank. Now, where
is that NEW album??????