CD Review: AC/DC - Black Ice

Sony have really been pushing the boat out for this one with listening parties, interactive "Black Ice" trucks visiting cities across America, Angus look-a-like competitions, not to mention actually getting the songs out there onto the major radio stations. Before I'd received this CD I'd already heard quite a lot of this album on BBC Radio 2 when "Rock 'n' Roll Train" was Single Of The Week and a few weeks later when the whole album was Album Of The Week.

And why not? After all it is AC/DC's first album since 2000's "Stiff Upper Lip". In a crazy world full of manufactured pop stars, plastic celebrities and endless TV talent shows and their vile supposedly musical offspring, a new album by a much-loved no-nonsense rock band is surely something to celebrate.

But do you really need me to review this for you? You know what it is. You know what it's going to sound like. It sounds like AC/DC. You know exactly what you're getting when you see those four capital letters on the front cover.

And that's not to say that it's a bad thing. This is what people want from AC/DC. How alarming would it have been if they'd decided to change their style and produce an experimental electro jazz fusion concept album? Or something? AC/DC's motto must be "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and this album delivers 15 cuts of no-nonsense straight-ahead riff-tastic rock 'n' roll boogie. On one track I thought I could hear a similarity with early Status Quo, whilst another was reminiscent of ZZ Top. But of course, it's just AC/DC doing their thing.

You've got to hand it to the brothers Malcolm and Angus Young who penned the 15 songs here. Along with Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi they surely must be Undisputed Masters Of The Guitar Riff. How they keep coming up with riff after riff after riff (which of course leads to song after song after song) I really don't know.

So, to sum up: no surprises but thorougly enjoyable.

AC/DC. Does exactly what it says on the tin.

A Guitar For Philatelists

Torn between your guitar and your stamp collection? Don't have enough time to persue both pastimes? Well, now you can combine your hobbies with the Les Stamp guitar!

Smojo Cigar Box Guitars

I've just added another guitar blog to my blogroll. Smojo Cigar Box Guitars is a fascinating look into the world of cigar box guitars (or CBGs). The blog's author, David, got the CBG bug a couple of years ago when he tried one for the first time. He was then intrigued enough to turn his hand to building his own. His blog documents the CBGs and cigar box amps that he has built and also covers related matters such as playing techniques.

I've not tried a CBG myself but have always found them most appealing. One of these days I'm going to have to dip a toe into the CBG ocean. I admire the whole concept - they are basic raw instruments and are the ultimate recycled guitar.

Also, check out David's CBG videos on YouTube to hear how they sound.

AV Basses 3-string

Yesterday, I showed you a bass design that really did not appeal to me, so today I'm showing you what I consider to be a far more attractive design. This 3-string bass was a custom order for AV Basses, a Czech company who specialise in boutique basses with as many strings as you want - 4, 5, 6, 7 or even 3 as on this example. I love the original shape of this bass, and the scroll on the upper horn is a nice touch.

Web's Premier Social Network for Guitarists MyGuitarSpace.com Announces Last Call for Entries

I'm copying this press release verbatim, as this may be of interest to readers:

Chicago, IL (October 21, 2008). The social network for guitarists MyGuitarSpace.com has announced the last call for entries in the MyGuitarSpace.com Best Instrumental Contest. Entries will be accepted through the last day of October, and the winner will receive a check for $250. Guitarists interested in entering the contest should sign up on MyGuitarSpace.com for free and enter a video clip of themselves playing any song of their choice. Voting for the contest is done by fellow members of the MyGuitarSpace.com network.

The MyGuitarSpace.com network, which is completely online, free to join and for guitarists of all levels, launched in July of 2008 and continues to attract hundreds of guitar players and guitar lovers daily.

MyGuitarSpace was launched on the web as a way for guitarists to share and receive tips, stories, videos, opinions, and more from other guitarists across the nation. In addition to the vast social networking available, MyGuitarSpace hosts instructional and entertaining videos, shares relevant guitar humor and stories, and holds contests and giveaways of guitars from participating partners.

The website has received great responses for its ease of use and ability to instantly connect guitarists with similar interests and tastes. MyGuitarSpace is free. To find out more or to join, visit myguitarspace.com.

BC Rich Widow Bass

I might well be risking a ton of hate mail when I say that I've never liked BC Rich guitars, but this BC Rich Widow bass really takes the biscuit!

It's a particularly horrific design even by their standards. It has a real homemade, designed by someone who has no idea look to it. Those straight edges make it look like some kid has been sawing chunks out of a piece of wood.

CD Review: Greg Pearle and John Illsley - Beautiful You

This album was released a week ago and I've had it on heavy rotation since then. John Illsely is a name that a few of you might recognise; he was bassist for Dire Straits. Irish singer songwriter Greg Pearle, on the other hand, is not so well known. Illsley allegedly heard him performing at a pub gig in Lincolnshire and was captivated by his unique voice.

The press release that came with this CD likens Pearle's voice to Tom Waits, Van Morrison and Chris Rea, and I can certainly agree with the latter. However, I know I shouldn't really make such obvious comparisons, call it sloppy reviewing if you will, I can't help feeling that Pearle's gravelly voice occasionally reminds me of Mark Knopfler, although I think he's actually a much better singer. You can imagine that he'd do justice to any Dire Straits songs these two choose to perform live. In other places such as on "Got No Plans" you could almost mistake him for a younger Neil Diamond.

Both Pearle and Illsley play acoustic guitars throughout the album, whilst Illsely also provides lead and bass guitars. I'd always thought of him as a bassist and was thus a little surprised at the quality of his tasteful lead guitar playing. He's a nice understated player - nothing too flash - just adding what is required by the song. Sorry - but making the obvious comparisons again - sometimes I think I can detect a certain Dire Straits-ish quality to the guitar. Perhaps the fact that the album was recorded in Mark Knopfler's studio meant that Illsley was able to use Knopfler's set-up or perhaps I'm just imagining this.

Guy Fletcher from Dire Straits is also on board providing keyboards, string arrangements and some lap steel guitar on "Precious". His keyboards on "Love Let Me Breathe" remind me of Steve Winwood and his Hammond organ, which is no bad thing.

The opening cut "Secret Garden" is one of my favourites - acoustic guitar driven and embellished by a gorgeous sounding horn section. My only problem with this song is that is fades out far too quickly.

Of the other tracks, "One" starts off with some folksy Irish whistle playing but turns into a rock ballad with that (possible) Straits-esque lead guitar sound and "Loving You" has yet more of that gorgeous Stratocaster tone. "Got No Plans" features cittern playing by John McClusker. It's quite an exotic sound, almost middle-eastern in feel and takes the song in an unexpected but welcome direction. "Demons" reminds me of Phil Lynott's "Diary of a Blues Singer" - it must contain a similar chord progression. Complete with a smoky sax solo this a song that you could imagine listening to late at night at a sophisticated club. It oozes class.

Actually the whole album has that late night laid-back mood. I didn't originally think it would be my kind of thing, but I was very pleasantly surprised at the quality of the songs, the production, and at how much I ended up enjoying it.

Why not hear for yourself? The tracks "Secret Garden" and "One" are available as free download from www.johnillsley.com.

More guitar madness from Antoniotsai

We've seen an Elvis guitar from Antoniaotsai before (not to mention his dreadful Jimi Hendrix guitar) but this time Elvis in full colour! Scary, huh?

I can appreciate the link between Elvis and the guitar. However, what the guitar connection is with Abraham Lincoln I have no idea!I didn't think he played guitar?

The Ultimate Western Guitar!

Here's yet another cowboy guitar! Coming from Antoniotsai's Guitar&Mandolin Arts - our favourite bonkers Taiwanese retailer on eBay - this Cowboys Guitar is so awful that it's actually a work of genius!

Note: Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that Antoniotsai's guitars are rife with problems: wood cracking and splitting, necks warping, etc. If you are considering buying one of these guitars, I'd suggest reading this page first.

A pair of rare plastic guitars on eBay

Here are a couple of finds for collectors.
The first is an Elvis Presley plastic toy guitar, made in England by Selcol. I'm guessing its from the 1950s or early 1960s. It's a 4-stringer so some might want to classify it as a ukulele but I doubt very much that it's a player anyway.

Despite missing a couple of parts its in very good condition and would no doubt appeal to the collector of Elvis memorabilia.

Our second dates back to the 1950s, the era of cowboy movies, and is an American Western plastic toy guitar.

This looks to be in immaculate condition, and unlike the Elvis guitar, it is a 6-stringer and has all its string intact. However, I doubt it plays any better.

I love the various western motifs embossed into the top of the guitar. In particular, the guitar playing cowboy on the upper left could have been the inspiration for the decoration we saw on the Brandoni Telecaster recently.