AC/DC

Fly On The Wall (1985 Atco Records)

1. Fly On The Wall
2. Shake Your Foundations
3. First Blood
4. Danger
5. Sink The Pink
6. Playing With Girls
7. Stand Up
8. Hell Or High Water
9. Back In Business
10. Send For The Man

Mike's Review
The title track opens things at a ten, but the intense "Shake Your Foundations" (which lives up to its name) takes it up to an eleven. AC/DC takes the time to make a public safety announcement in "Danger" with lines like, "Danger, danger, don't talk to strangers" (okay, I'm joking, I like to have fun with my music). "Sink The Pink" is a classic AC/DC song (and title) about, well, sinking the pink. Although it never has and never will see the light of day, "Playing With Girls" is a standout album track. The mid-tempo "Stand Up" is this album's version of "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)."

One really cool thing about this album is that it has a killer video collection to supplement it. The videos for "Fly On The Wall," "Danger," "Sink The Pink," "Stand Up," and "Shake Your Foundations" are weaved together to tell a story. Who cares what the story is about or how good it is, the concept is just awesome. Be sure to check it out if you dig this album.

Fly On The Wall can't compare with AC/DC's best albums, but it is still a rocking release and very enjoyable.

Mike's Picks: Shake Your Foundations, Danger, Sink The Pink, Playing With Girls

Mike's Rating

Blow Up Your Video (1988 Atco Records)

1. Heatseeker
2. That's The Way I Wanna Rock N Roll
3. Meanstreak
4. Go Zone
5. Kissin' Dynamite
6. Nick Of Time
7. Some Sin For Nuthin'
8. Ruff Stuff
9. Two's Up
10. This Means War

Derek's Review
After For Those About To Rock We Salute You, AC/DC, for some unknown reason, decided to butcher the production on the rest of their 80s albums. Fortunately, Blow Up Your Video sounds the best out of the remaining 80s albums. "Heatseeker" is a great way to kick off this album. You always know an AC/DC song within the first few measures and this song is no exception. "That's The Way I Wanna Rock N Roll" is one of the best AC/DC songs in a long time. Lead singer Brian Johnson's voice sounds the best it's been since Back In Back and For Those About To Rock We Salute You. There are a few highlights from the remaining songs on the album, but they never rise up to the standard set by the excellent first two songs. "Go Zone" pumps up the intensity, and "Kissin' Dynamite" is a good song to follow it up. "Some Sin For Nuthin'" has some great lyrics, but the song sounds more or less like a typical AC/DC song.

There are only two exceptionally good songs on this album ("Heatseeker" and "That's The Way I Wanna Rock N Roll"), but there are no bad songs. The rest of the album just has some average AC/DC songs. This album was definitely a step in the right direction after the lackluster Fly On The Wall. They would really return to form on their next full-length studio album The Razor's Edge.

Derek's Picks: Heatseeker, That's The Way I Wanna Rock N Roll

Derek’s Rating:

The Razor's Edge (1990 Atco Records)

1. Thunderstruck
2. Fire Your Guns
3. Moneytalks
4. The Razor's Edge
5. Mistress For Christmas
6. Rock Your Heart Out
7. Are You Ready
8. Got You By The Balls
9. Shot Of Love
10. Let's Make It
11. Goodbye And Good Riddance To Bad Luck
12. If You Dare

Derek's Review
Ah, this is one of my favorite AC/DC albums, right behind Back In Black and Highway To Hell. I have some great memories of spinning this one in my younger days. Sound wise, it fits right in between Who Made Who and Ballbreaker. I realize that it also fits in there chronologically, but you can tell after listening to Who Made Who that the sound production on that album would carry over into their next release and that Ballbreaker (which I think sounds different from Stiff Upper Lip) takes the sound on The Razor's Edge into a new direction. Just listening to the first part of "Thunderstruck," you can tell the boys are back and hard as hell. Props must be given to producer Bruce Fairbairn (Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet and New Jersey, Aerosmith's Permanent Vacation, Pump, and Get A Grip, Van Halen's Balance, KISS' Psycho Circus, etc.) for making this an extremely consistent AC/DC release. They picked the right singles to release from this album. "Moneytalks" is just as entertaining as "Thunderstruck." "Mistress For Christmas" is one of the funniest songs, especially with Johnson saying "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells" at the beginning. "Are You Ready" is one of my favorite songs on this one and it has an extremely catchy chorus. "Got You By The Balls" is pretty much about a girl who has got her man by his livelihood. Overall, this is a very consistent release from AC/DC and sounds even better with the reissued albums they put out about a year or two ago. Check it out.

Derek's Picks: Thunderstruck, Moneytalks, Mistress For Christmas, Are You Ready

Derek's Rating