Spring Break
AC/DC, Of Montreal do all right
Stephen Mason
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: Features
| |
| |
| |
|
The gods of minimalist hard rock have returned with a set of fresh pulsing riffs and a big load of bass. If there's anything AC/DC knows how to do, it's how to stay simple. They've never succumbed to trends or changes in music (for better or worse), and even though their material isn't always wholly original, it's still entertaining. Black Ice is no different. "Rock 'n' Roll Train" and "Skies On Fire" are certainly welcome entries, simplistic in their sparse guitar roars and signed with Brian Johnson's incomprehensible lyrics (and would you believe his voice is a tad weathered?). While it's all fun, there's nothing that measures up to signature tunes like "Highway to Hell." But that's okay. AC/DC has never been the most ambitious band. They're out to have fun, even if they're old.
Electric Six - Flashy (XL) 3 out of 5
Boogie rock has never been all-that popular. Tell bands like Mountain, Foghat and Cactus. The reason is relatively unknown, but Electric Six's problem is different. They've always been a decent band and Flashy doesn't see them trying anything new. Even beyond that, the material is less stellar than previous entries, though still filled with all the loudness one would expect. Their approach on Flashy is even more rooted in hard rock acts from the 1970s than usual, and as a result is almost drab. If they focused more on soul or funk and incorporate that with their Boston-esque intensity, they might come up with a very groovy record.
Rise Against - Appeal to Reason (Interscope) 2 out of 5
The style that Rise Against follows is reminiscent to bands you forgot about back in middle school; bands like the Offspring. They're edgier, sure, but their sound hasn't evolved much beyond that. What makes Rise Against better and more appealing than their garbage colleagues Good Charlotte is that their political messages are not an outward statement, but an inward one. "Hero of War" is one notable song, as its lyrics are inspired by a story the band heard an Iraq War veteran tell. Maybe because they're not spouting political rhetoric without thought, their voice is that much clearer.
Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping (Polyvinyl) 3 out of 5
Of Montreal didn't miss the boat on the neo-psychedelic train necessarily. What's different is that after 11 years, they're a bit tired. There are too many new bands popping up (like MGMT) that are doing it better. Take Oracular Spectacular, a non-self-indulgent album that's straight to the point and enjoyable. Skeletal Lamping is a train of energy, seamless from start to finish. It'd be fine if it was filled with songs like their opener, "Nonpareil of Favor," but they're not, as their psychedelic sounds grow increasingly weary over this 15-song album. Not to mention that Kevin Barnes has grown increasingly crazy over the band's tenure, and now he's got an alter ego of a black transsexual. Fine by me, though I was thrown off when he yelled "I'm just a black she-male!"
Be the first to comment on this story