The Razor's Edge

Artist: AC/DC
Label: Wea International
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 075679141354
EAN: 0075679141354
ASIN: B00004YWE5

Release Date: 2000-12-12

Related Categories:

Australia & New Zealand

| International | Styles | Music

General

| Pop | Styles | Music

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

General

| Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

| Pop | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)

| Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Hard Rock

| Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Arena Rock

| Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal

| Imports | Stores | Music

Rock

| Imports | Stores | Music

Listmania:

My "Desert Island Collection"
Underground Xmas Must-Haves for the Enlightened, Vol. 4!
AC/DC CD'S Ranked
a REAL rock'n'roll list
Excellent Albums Of the 90's: Needles In a Haystack

Tracks:

Thunderstruck
Fire Your Guns
Moneytalks
Razor's Edge
Mistress for Christmas
Rock Your Heart Out
Are You Ready
Got You By the Balls
Shot of Love
Let's Make It
Goodbye and Good Riddance to Bad Luck
If You Dare

Customer Reviews:

quintessential AC/DC--an incredibly ass-kicking album from these kings of hard rock.......2005-09-03

I've found this album getting some really mixed reviews, which is quite mind-blowing. Unless you're a total Bon Scott worshipper who refuses to give Brian Johnson his due, which of course is a big mistake, no hard rock lover should be without this album.

Originally released in September of 1990, "The Razors Edge" smokes and kicks major ass all over the place--you've got to take your hat off to the late Bruce Fairbairn for his production on this one.

Much has been made that Brian Johnson's voice sounds totally shot on here. Admittedly, by this time, he no longer had the kind of gloriously piercing edge that you can hear in full force on 1981's "For Those About To Rock..." and 1983's "Flick of the Switch". On the other hand, he's still singing his balls off on here in his usual high-pitched register, and he adds greatly to the album's excitement level. There's a certain on-the-edge intensity to his vocals here that really gets under your skin.

The big hit "Thunderstruck", with its classic single-string lead guitar line from Angus Young, gets the album off to a great anthemic start. "Fire Your Guns" is one of those thrilling fast-paced AC/DC gems that really gets the blood flowing. "Money Talks" has something of a barroom rock quality, but don't worry, it's hardly Hootie & the Blowfish, and it's got an incredibly catchy chorus. The arrestingly menacing title track is chillingly powerful. For proof positive that Angus and Malcolm Young are kings of hard rock riffery, you needn't look any further than the stomping "Got You By The Balls"--the main riff is uncanny: deceptively simple and absolutely bone-crunching. The album closes in intensely menacing fashion with the ingeniously crafted stomper "If You Dare". There's a load more excitement to be found as well with the driving "Rock Your Heart Out"; the chugging "Shot Of Love"; and a pair of good-timey party rockers: "Are You Ready" and "Let's Make It". Showing what a roll the boys are on, even the tracks that seem filler-ish work--the 'sleigh bells'-fortified "Mistress For Christmas" is amusingly dumb and irresistibly fun; and "Goodbye And Good Riddance To Bad Luck", with its utterly tossed off main riff, is also solidly amusing and enjoyable.

Metaphorically speaking, the boys are simply on fire here, and the album is thoroughly a blast. If you're looking to, ahem, "Rock Your Heart Out", you can't go wrong with this essential hard rock masterpiece.

A good album, but not their best.......2004-09-20

I am by nature a contrarian, which I regard as one of my better traits. However, I wish I weren't sometimes, and this is one of them: AC/DC is a band of legendary status, and I don't want anyone out there to think I'm busting their chops.

That said, I cannot agree with all the reviewers who rated this with 5 stars, and saw this album as the antithesis of their mid-'80s slump. I liked their trio of excellent albums from that period (in order, "Flick of the Switch," "Blow Up Your Video" and "Fly on the Wall"). I really think that "The Razor's Edge" belongs with "Fly on the Wall," truthfully: There are some really excellent songs on this album, but there's the matter of a wee bit too much filler.

First, let us deal with what makes this album work: The title track is total killer and starts off with a nice "Bach rock" solo on the part of Angus. "Thunderstruck" and "Moneytalks" are two superior tunes that indeed announce to the world that AC/DC has not rolled over and played dead, that they doeth still the world rule. "Moneytalks" hearkens back to the Bon Scott era kind of songs you heard on "High Voltage," "Let There Be Rock" and "Highway to Hell." Really clever ditty, that.

I am also glad to hear Brian Johnson's voice in the forefront, whereas with "Blow Up Your Video" and "Fly On the Wall," he sounded as though he was miked from across the room. His voice is a bit more scratchy here than on previous outings, but I like that bluesy, gravelly quality.

"Shot of Love" is my favorite on this album. It has a cool backbeat and Brian Johnson spits out the lyrics cantankerously. "Are You Ready" is a great party and drinking song and makes for an excellent stadium-rousing anthem.

"Mistress for Christmas" is a nice novelty tune, but if the song's subject were less, shall we say, specialized, it would just be another filler track.

However, I am not convinced that this album really does set AC/DC apart from their mid-to-late '80s stuff: I challenge anyone to show that "Fire Your Guns," "Rock Your Heart Out," "Got You by the Balls," "Let's Make It," "Goodbye and Good Riddance to Bad Luck" and "If You Dare" are anything save a recycling of their '80s filler songs. That's SIX songs that are arguably filler, and if you compare them to the non-hits on "Back In Black" such as "Have a Drink on Me" and "Shake A Leg," or "For Those About to Rock....."'s "Inject the Venom" and "C.O.D.", they are not nearly as unique or solid.

That, and Chris Slade's by-the-book drumming do not for an unassailable classic make. Their true comeback album, headlined by the return of original drummer Phil Rudd, would not happen for another five years, until 1995's "Ballbreaker."

Not Their Greatest Effort.......2004-05-14

AC/DC experienced something of a slump in the late-80's, none of their albums fairing particularly well. In 1990, they made a comeback with this album. While many hailed it as their greatest work since Back In Black, I personally think there is a lot of filler. The first few songs are dynamic: Moneytalks, Thunderstruck, The Razor's Edge, and Mistress For Christmas. Bur after that, the songs almost immediatly go downhill. Most of the second half is just filler. I can't say I listen to the second half a lot, because it is not really worth it. This would have gotten two stars, but the first half saves it from that fate.

AC/DC Has the Edge.......2002-09-01

This is a great AC/DC album. It gives you energy when you listen to it. It opens on all cylinders with "Thunderstruck" and continues to rock with "Fire Your Guns" and a big MTV hit "Moneytalks." It sure does. Side One is more potent and rocking than Side Two, but it is still a strong production overall. AC/DC helped to define a generation of rock-n-roll. This is Australia's music with an edge. When AC/DC is in the house, it is always a rocking good time.

AUTRALIA"S AC/DC KICK..........2002-04-05

AC/DC ROCK MAN. There Australia's own boys rocken and rollin. This by far one of there best ablems with guitars screching and drums thumping. The best songs on the ablem are ROCK YOUR HEART OUT and ARE YOU READY FOR A GOOG TIME. AC/DC keep on Rocking Australia's own boys Yaeh Woo! AC/DC ROCK!!!!

Music CD:

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Sojourn ~ Jonathan Nicholson

Condition Red ~ Iron Savior

Through the Eyes of Night ~ Fog

Shiva Station ~ Jai Uttal & the Pagan Love Orchestra

Nuages ~ Lucienne Delyle

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Another Helping of Love & Inspiration ~ Various Artists

Panda ~ Dungen

Frida 1967-1972 ~ Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad

Housekeeping (1987 Film) ~ Michael Gibbs

Air 2000 ~ Albion