The guitar work on Stiff Upper Lip
is phenomenal.
ACDC has mastered so many sounds throughout the years they can
really mix things up and bring us some nice texture and contrast
from track to track. I really like what ACDC has done though the
years and if this is their last album so be it, I'd say they put
out a sweetie pie here.
The guitars go from crisp to crackle while the riffs and licks
have this ultra fresh sound that just keep you tied down waiting
to hear the next nuance. It's a bouquet of guitar sounds, tones,
colors, rhythms and riffs with premium overtones.
The title track starts the album out with one of those ACDC only
guitar licks that you instantly fall right into the groove with.
Brian's voice kicks in and sounds damn good, he knows what he
has to work with and has mastered a wonderful rasp that works
excellent. The boys know how to play for Brian and why not cater
to him? The F***er kicks ass with that blues rock rasp and I
love the bluesy guitar going on here folks.
Meltdown
rocks with a simple and basic rhythm but it just sounds so
freakin groovy and cool. House Of Jazz kicks in with that big
guitar sound common to the Flick Of The Switch album. I really
dig that course rich tone. The bass and drum work are real
sweet. Hold Me Back starts out with a broken up For Those About
To Rock kind of but it's slower and has more soul. Safe In New
York City has a bit of a Razors Tone with an interesting running
lick. Can't Stand Still once again has one of those super cool
groovy Angus intros, the song isn't real fast but it's a good
one. Can't Stop Rock And Roll has some awesome chord changes and
damn wicked lyrics. Satellite Blues is a tasty blues rocker and
Brian belts out some bad ass lyrics here too. Damned reminds me
of Breaking The Rules from for Those about To Rock a little bit.
It's a rebellious song about having too many damn rules. Come
And Get It blueses it's ass off with a cool choppy riff and
rhythm. All Screwed Up has an old Nazareth Expect No Mercy
sound, it's beautiful. Give It Up has an almost Kiss sounding
drum intro and moves on to rock the album to a fervor before
letting you off the hook.
This album has a matured ACDC style. It's not restrained
sounding, it's doesn't sound out of control. It's mixed
excellently the guitar compliments the singer, the singer
compliments the music and it flat out kicks ass. I'd have to
recommend this one to any ACDC fan. It's like a bottle of fine
scotch literally. At first it's just good whiskey rough around
the edges but it still plenty potent. Age it for 25 or 30 years
and it's smoother but it aint lost a lick of punch. That's how
I'd best describe ACDC's Stiff Upper Lip Album.
I really like the way this album was mixed and put together. I'm
going to listen to it this time without a keyboard in my face
and enjoy it while I'm relaxing now. |
