Oh boy, are you guys ready for this? 🤯 Australian hard rockers Airbourne are back with a brand new self-titled album, and I’m not sure if I should be excited or just roll my eyes so hard they get stuck that way. I mean, it’s been nearly seven years since their last full-length album, and I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to listen to a band that’s not trying to be AC/DC. Almost. 🎸
So, the album starts with a bang, literally, with the opening track “GUTSY” being a raucous mission statement that might just become Airbourne’s equivalent of “Rock And Roll All Nite”. And then there’s “Alive After Death (Last Plane Out)”, which is undoubtedly one of the best hard rock songs of the year. I mean, it’s like they’re trying to make me forget that they’re not actually AC/DC. 🙄
But then things take a turn for the interesting with “Here She Comes”, a song co-written by AOR legend Bryan Adams and famed producer Mutt Lange. Because, you know, what every album needs is a collaboration with a couple of industry legends to make it sound like a throwback to the 80s. I’m not complaining, though – it’s actually a pretty solid track. 🎶
The Good, the Bad, and the AC/DC
As the album progresses, it’s hard not to notice that Airbourne is still wearing their influences on their sleeves. Like, seriously, have you heard “Last Man Standing”? It’s like they took a guitar line from “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)” and said, “You know what? This is a great idea, let’s just use it again!” And don’t even get me started on “Hell’s Got No Vacancy”, which is basically just “Hell’s Not A Bad Place To Be” with a different title. 🤦♂️
But hey, at least they’re consistent, right? I mean, it’s not like they’re trying to be original or anything. And who needs originality when you can just sound like one of the greatest rock bands of all time? 🤷♂️
Sarcasm aside, the album does have its bright spots. “Kid In A Candy Store” is a bawdy tale of a prostitute named Candy Rose, and it’s actually a pretty fun track. And “Sky High” is a great ode to, well, being high, I guess. 🌠
The Verdict
So, is Airbourne’s new self-titled album a game-changer? Nope. Is it a solid addition to their discography? Sure. Is it basically just an AC/DC album with a different band name? Guilty as charged. 🤪
But hey, if you’re a fan of hard rock and don’t mind a healthy dose of nostalgia, then this album is definitely worth a listen. Just don’t expect anything revolutionary. And if you’re an AC/DC fan, well, you might just find yourself thinking that this is the best AC/DC album since “The Razor’s Edge”. 🤫
In conclusion, Airbourne’s new album is a fun, if unoriginal, romp through the world of hard rock. So, go ahead and give it a listen, but don’t say I didn’t warn you: it’s like listening to AC/DC, but not actually AC/DC. 🎸😂
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
