I’ve always been a big fan of Angus and Co. and think he and Malcolm are truly the best rhythm/lead guitar duo in existence, with an amazing guitar tone. Yet, most people I know seem to put them in the same niche occupied by the Three Stooges, or Monster Truck pulls. I do admit a lot AC/DC fans really aren’t all that sharp. But I am not a beer swilling yob, nor do I scratch my ass with my girlfriend’s hairbrush when she isn’t around, but I’d like to think that “Whole Lotta Rosie”, “Shoot To Thrill”, or “Thunderstruck” are indeed works of higher genius.
At best, I’ll get a “Back In Black was a solid album” or “they were only good with Bon Scott”. But in the hierarchy of “great bands”, shouldn’t they be up there with The Who and Zeppelin and all them. I know AC/DC never wrote a rock opera or did a bed in for peace, but they never had a disco, synth pop, or nü metal phase, and that alone is worth all the praise we can muster.
Since I am sure most of the people here are smarter than me, I would like to see effusive praise for AC/DC, or at least musical criticism that goes beyond “they kick ass”.
Yeah, I’d put 'em up there as one of the best. Great hooks, straight forward rockin lyrics, great solos. Been through two lead singers, both of 'em talented at writing and pouring out emotion.
I tend to think of their rythms like B.B. King in that they’re stripped down to what’s really important.
Eh. I like AC/DC, but I feel like more often than not they’re a one trick pony. IMO they’re at the top of the mid-range eschelon of rock bands, occupied by the likes of Lenard Skynard, BTO, and George Thorogood, to name a few.
Good, but don’t reach the heights of bands like The Who or Zeppelin.
They’re one of my faves. The music may not be “deep”, but who the fuck listens to music for a life changing experience? Other groups I love are Rush, Led Zepplin, The Who, Rolling Stones and numerous others.
I think the one-trick pony thing - which is kinda undeniable - is what’s considered to be holding them back. They’re a very influential hard-rock band, but Zeppelin had different sounds and explored folk music and things, for example. I’ve heard several writers - and they didn’t mean this as a negative - say that “AC/DC has been making the same album for 30 years.” And hey, if you like it, that’s nothing to complain about. But they’re not exactly pushing the envelope.
Like him or don’t, Dylan has had a number of distinct periods in his music. Blowin’ in the Wind sounds like Things Have Changed? For that matter, the switch between acoustic and electric music is bigger than any change AC/DC made outside of Bon Scott’s death.
I didn’t say it did, I said it might explain why people don’t always list them as one of the great rock bands. I’m not really into them, but I enjoy rocking out with their stuff in the car at least as much as anyone else. It’s perfect for what it’s supposed to be, which is hard music to rock out to. That’s probably why they haven’t changed much; they don’t need to. They’re playing exactly what they intended to play.
I have to agree with the “one trick pony” theory, but I also agree that it is not necessarily a negative. AC/DC has a very distinctive style and sound they honed in the late 70s, which apparently suits their temperment. They like it, their fans like it, and it sells.
I think this group is one that tends to define where people stand musically. Is something “good” because it arouses the senses, or is it “good” only if there is great skill and craftsmanship behind it? Not that I think the members of AC/DC are unskilled, but they do not apparently have a great urge to expand their repertoire.
Is that so bad? This is a question with no real answer.
Right, I wasn’t trying to say consistency is bad (I hope I cleared that up). It’s just not always rewarded in terms of reputation - although I guess you could say AC/DC IS rewarded for their consistency, as I’m sure they make piles of money every time they tour. But yes, branching out - though I think it’s good to try - doesn’t always work. See Metallica over the last 10-plus years.
Have they developed? Hell no.
Do I care? Not particularly.
When I want to hear AC/DC, will anything else do? No way - and that’s the true test of a band’s greatness.
Is a one-trick-pony band that has undeniably catchy songs, and has been popular for decades, a “Great” band? No, because IMO in order to be “Great” you need to make some sublime contribution to music.
They’re not my favorite band but I’d give them the “good” designation, but not “great”.
Of course, I lost respect for them when Buckcherry did them better than they could. (Aerosmith, too, with “Back in the Saddle”.)
Yes, AC/DC is one of the world’s greatest bands. It took me 20 years to figure that out.
The best way to convince yourself is…see them live. Or, barring that, listen to their AC/DC Live album, preferably the “special edition” 2-CD set. If that doesn’t convince you, nothing will.
Actually, I’ve always considered AC/DC more a Guilty Pleasure than a Great Band, whatever that means. I love some of the older stuff like “Problem Child” and “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, but nearly everything I’ve heard by them follows a rather narrowly-defined form and structure. Their stuff is chock-full of hooks has (sometimes) inventive lyrics, and they’re apparently outstanding live, but in the end, I don’t think they’ve expanded the form enough to warrant the “great band” label.
I have quite a few AC/DC albums/CD’s. I think the one trick pony label is somewhat fitting, but a lot of that is based on radio airplay IMHO. Some of my favorite AC/DC songs never get played on the radio…just the same songs over and over.
Not that you will ever listen to an AC/DC song and wonder “who is that??” They have a very distinctive sound.
I won’t get into the great band debate, I’ve never been a fan of The Who, Led Zep, or the Beatles.
I think they are great in they are a sound unto themselves and pioneers of an attitude early on. I think they WOULD’VE been one of the truly great bands had Bon Scott survived and continued to progress, though. However, they aren’t songwriting geniuses and I don’t know if they would’ve had a Sgt. Pepper’s in them even if Bon had survived.
I am no music critic, but my husband has a couple AC/DC CD’s, and I like them all. There’s not a song on any AC/DC cd (what a phrase) that I don’t like.