Recording #4: AC/DC, <em>Back in Black</em>

• Genre: Rock
• Year: 1980
• Listened to on: Car
• Tom says: “a delicate balance of power and finesse that defined the commercial side of heavy music for years after its release.”

Aaron says:

A confession: I’m a fan of parody. I think “Weird Al” Yankovic is a genius. Seeing This is Spinal Tap for the first time was a defining moment of my teenage years.

So what am I supposed to do when I play this legendary rock album and can’t do anything but chuckle as I hear it? It doesn’t sound hardcore to me. It sounds silly. Consider the anthem “You Shook Me All Night Long”:

Taking more than her share
Had me fighting for air
She told me to come but I was already there

Oh, c’mon. Was this written by a 14-year-old? Compare to the Spinal Tap classic “Big Bottom”:

My baby fits me like a flesh tuxedo
I love to sink her with my pink torpedo

The authors of one of those songs wrote it as comedy. The other was being serious. I can’t tell the difference.

Verdict:

I’d love to appreciate Angus Young’s screaming guitar solos, but I’m too busy laughing at Brian Johnson’s absurdly high voice sing middle school lyics. I’ve been ruined by Christopher Guest and Michael McKean.

1 star (out of 5).

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