AC/DC Album: “Flick of the Switch”

After the massive success of BACK IN BLACK and FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK a backlash against AC/DC was inevitable. Unfortunately that backlash came at the expense of one of AC/DC's best albums, FLICK OF THE SWITCH. Much better than the inconsistent FTATR, FLICK really captures AC/DC at their best. With such great songs as "Bedlam In Belguim," "Guns For Hire," and the classic title track, FOTS continues the style of BACK IN BLACK, albeit with a slightly bluesier feel. "Landslide" and "Brain Shake" are a great pair of uptempo, high energy bursts of power, and give the album something most of their recent albums have lacked - diversity in the tempo of the songs, giving it a great flow from one song to the next. There's not a bad (or even weak) song on this album, the last GREAT album from AC/DC. I'ts also the last album that saw Brian Johnson at full strength (before he blew out his voice!). After FOTS it would be a run of several good, but not great, albums. If you don't already own this one, get it now. It is the perfect complement to BACK IN BLACK. --(And if you like this one check out Def Leppard's HIGH N DRY or Krokus' ONE VICE AT A TIME)

I've just rediscovered the "Brian Johnson" era. I've never stopped listening to the Bon Scott albums, but after this was released I gave up on Brian when I heard Fly On The Wall. My mistake! I guess I always made it Bon vs. Brian. Well, this album stands up against ANY AC/DC album! Criminally overlooked (as is Powerage!)Back In Black is the only Brian album that gets mentioned in the same breath with Bon's albums, but this album is very solid! Not a bad song on here. It just didn't have an obvious hit single on it. I remember back in '83 when I got this album. I played it for all the kids in my neighborhood, and they all hated it! AC/DC was finished they said. I still know a couple of those kids today and I'll play this album and they'll say, "What a great album, what's it called because I wanna buy it!" I guess they have rediscovered Brian Johnson too!

Like Powerage, this is a great AC/DC album that hasn't gotten all the priase it deserves. It's the last album in which Brian Johnson has the full power of his voice and it shows the band making a definite shift from the bombast of "For Those About To Rock...", to a stripped down, straight-up, no nonsense affair. One could say all the songs sound alike (even by AC/DC standards) but that's THE POINT. Look at the simple black & white sketch cover and the running time of the songs/album. It's supposed to just hit you hard and get out of dodge...very punk rock aesthetic actually....although even the best punk never had a nasty groove like these cuts. Imagine if the song "Back In Black" just kept hitting you and hitting you, until you stuck up your hands and screamed, "I give up! You guys are the gods of rock." That's Flick of the Switch.

The last GREAT AC/DC album and easily the second best (right after Back In Black) of the Brian Johnson era. Buy it, crank it up and rock out!

FLICK OF THE SWITCH is probably the most underated AC/DC album ever. For instance, it is definately the most raw AC/DC album in their history. Most people say it is one of the weakest albums the band has made, but i must disagree. This album cooks from start to finish with 10 ear bashing songs. Brian singing as he always has & great guitar work from Angus & Malcolm. Let's not also forget the great bass & drums from Phil & Cliff. The title track is a great song which is fast & furious. Other great tracks are NERVOUS SHAKEDOWN, RISING POWER, THIS HOUSE IS ON FIRE & the frenetic LANDSLIDE. Vintage AC/DC.

Flick of the Switch is a very good album but is all but ignored. The music is more raw and powereful than the three preceeding albums produced by Mutt Lange. I don't think that one style is better than the other, but I really enjoy the blues type feel of this one. In my opinion this album marks the end of the "old" AC/DC. Not until the most recent Balbreaker have the boys really delivered the type of blues/power combination found on Flick of the Switch. Long live AC/DC!