R.I.P. Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott (1946-1980), Malcolm Young (1953-2017)
Powerage was fundamentally no different from any other AC/DC record, but it was also somehow the one album in their voluminous discography that wasn’t quite as immediate, not as quick to embed in everyone’s bones. As a result, it was initially considered a bit of a disappointment, and to this day remains one of their more neglected entries. But that same borderline impenetrability made Powerage the AC/DC album most ripe for rediscovery, and indeed as time passes it has increasingly become a dark horse favorite among the fanbase, to the point where many consider it among their absolute best, if not actually the best. And “Down Payment Blues” illustrated the album’s particular idiosyncrasy as well as anything else: it didn’t have the skull-smashing hooks and choruses AC/DC were becoming known for, but it had that classic primal groove that steadily insinuated its way into the bloodstream, not to mention steady and simple but absolutely perfect rhythm guitar from Malcolm Young. Bon Scott maybe sounded a little more casual than usual, but still had his inimitable swagger, and of course Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd were perfectly locked in. “Down Payment Blues” just kept moving along without changeup or dynamics, but a sudden time change would’ve been jarring and beside the point. No, the point of the track was straight up rock and roll with an edge, and on that level it succeeded magnificently.
And so the week comes to an end, but fret not! The guitarmusic does not stop! It was next to impossible to pick only 6 song so I gathered a whole bunch of tunes for you. You’ll find them in the playlist which debuts tomorrow. In the meantime, rock your little hearts out to this banger (headbanging is mandatory)