Yeah, but if the songs all sound the same, none of that really matters, does it?
arguing that AC/DCs songs DON'T all sound the same is a little "uh waht" to me. barring the odd bagpipe solo (lolz), every song has the exact same instrumentation, production style, lyrical themes (ie, fucking, with special attention given to double entendres), and interchangeable chord progressions, all falling within yr standard blues-rock tempos. Highway to Hell does sound a lot like TNT or If You Want Blood or any countless others.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 00:47 (fifteen years ago) link
really the only difference in AC/DC songs is the tempo and the hooks. And they are good at hooks I don't deny it. Ramones were better at it though.
I think this really does come down to me preferring I-IV-V pop progressions over 12-bar blues though.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 00:48 (fifteen years ago) link
wtf - 12-bar blues IS 1-4-5 !
― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 00:49 (fifteen years ago) link
I admit I am typin fast and not explainin myself well here... I guess I'm thinking more of the differences between major scales and blues scales (ie major vs. pentatonic)
― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 00:53 (fifteen years ago) link
haha in my high school band that was the difference between playing a pentatonic solo in key and playing it three frets down
― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 00:57 (fifteen years ago) link
shakey i like the ramones better too but you are treading on some thin hongro ice with this stuff!!!!!
― M@tt He1ges0n, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 00:58 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm not trying to perpetuate the digression here, but Vision & Shakey Mo: If you haven't already, you should look into the book Temperament by Stuart Isacoff -- an examination of the evolotion of various Western and n0n-Western musical scales, the fundemental underpinning of mathematics (specifically of the Pythagorean strain, if I recall correctly) & other interesting things like the relationship between various scale modes and their influence on different forms of architecture. Etc. Not sure what all this has to do with AC/DC vs. The Ramones, as both are about as straight-ahead, no-frills 4/4 as you can get, but whatevs.
― Pillbox, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 00:59 (fifteen years ago) link
Your frantic and shakey internet crash course will not do, nor will your attempts to rephrase what you said. Western music has certain scales which we have grown used to. Other musical traditions can be read in terms of specific mathematical relations as well. You denied that, remember? That'd be a good subject for a thread actually (music theory).
Pillbox, it is a fantastic book, I know it, and since you mention it let me also refer to most of Charles Rosen's books, where this subject is mentioned with different degrees of depth. I really do stop here, sorry Pillbox.
― Vision, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 01:05 (fifteen years ago) link
are you serious? this could easily be used as ammunition against the ramones as well. they have hundreds of songs that sound virtually identical by the same standards you are using.
― Pantheism F. Mohair (res), Tuesday, 4 November 2008 01:36 (fifteen years ago) link
how bout i just split the difference with motorhead
― BYE! GOOD (latebloomer), Tuesday, 4 November 2008 01:41 (fifteen years ago) link
I heart Motorhead (I even named my hamster Lemmy), but AC/DC are one of the few bands that have managed to consistently stay in my top 10 all time favorites.
― Live and Let Die Krupps (J3ff T.), Tuesday, 4 November 2008 01:44 (fifteen years ago) link
I gotta give AC/DC the edge for their rhythm section. Both rhythm sections swing, but AC/DC's swings juuuuust a little wider and deeper.
― Sara Sara Sara, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 06:19 (fifteen years ago) link
I don't care about chords, keys, scales, whatever. AC/DC just sounds better to my ears, especially after the first Ramones album, after which they got a little weedy.
― Bill Magill, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 16:05 (fifteen years ago) link
i like the 2nd and 3rd ramones albums better than the first one, really. i get why the first one is iconic, but leave home and rocket to russia have more of my favorite ramones songs on them. i also like their pop period, from road to ruin thru pleasant dreams. and too tough to die. and "bonzo goes to bitburg"! also the ramones created a whole weird goony world that i think is different from anything ac/dc ever achieved. (no knock on ac/dc, i love 'em.) so basically, yeah, i just like the ramones more.
― tipsy mothra, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 16:24 (fifteen years ago) link
The 2nd and 3rd albums are certainly not weedy, if anything they're more powerful (if not necessarily better) than the 1st
― Ich Ber ein Binliner (Tom D.), Tuesday, 4 November 2008 16:27 (fifteen years ago) link
a harder call for me would be angus and malcolm vs. johnny.
― tipsy mothra, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 16:29 (fifteen years ago) link
I have the "Weird Tales" 3CD/1DVD set: For all that the first (four?) Lps are more represented, each following LP has three tracks from it included, and I can't tell any massive drop in quality anywhere...
― Mark G, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 16:33 (fifteen years ago) link
"if anything they're more powerful (if not necessarily better) than the 1st"
I totally disagree with this. They sound significantly weaker.
― Bill Magill, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 16:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Western music has certain scales which we have grown used to. Other musical traditions can be read in terms of specific mathematical relations as well. You denied that, remember?
no that isn't what I said at all. thanks for playing.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 17:45 (fifteen years ago) link
Ramones win easily for me. I like AC/DC pretty well (though I only own Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap and Back in Black), but it seems to me that the Ramones create a world, whereas AC/DC trod a familiar path - though perhaps with more energy and wit than most.
― o. nate, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 18:37 (fifteen years ago) link
Since Motorhead was mentioned...
TS: Ramones vs. AC/DC vs Motorhead
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 19:09 (fifteen years ago) link
Which bands owe their existence to the Ramones; not just inspiration but reason for being?
I can think of um... screeching weasel.
For AC/DC I can think of... um... AC/DShe.
Help me out here.
― Philip Nunez, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 23:57 (fifteen years ago) link
Ramones - the Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Buzzcocks, Green Day, Rancid, blahblahblah
― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 4 November 2008 23:59 (fifteen years ago) link
the Damned, the Descendents, the Germs, the Circle Jerks, etc etc
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 00:03 (fifteen years ago) link
I thought Rancid were descended from the Clash. I think you'd have to disbar 2nd order derivatives or there'd be a financial-style meltdown.
Were the Buzzcocks at the same "this changes everything" Ramones show that the pistols and the clash were at?
No one has any bands for the AC/DC column?
― Philip Nunez, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 00:08 (fifteen years ago) link
Also, if there isn't an obvious sonic similarity, can you post the part in a band's origin story that explains the Ramones or AC/DC paternity? There was that bit from the Ramones documentary that shows how most of the fans that had their faces blown off at a UK Ramones show decided as a result to form bands, and that they beat up johnny rotten or something.
― Philip Nunez, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 00:15 (fifteen years ago) link
Interesting that the video starts off w/ "Bad Reputation" on the jukebox, a song as Ramones-indebted as they come.
― Pillbox, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 00:23 (fifteen years ago) link
Ramones UK paternity = July 4 1976 show at the Roundhouse = the Damned, the Clash, and the Pistols, all of whom either met the band around the same time or were at the actual show. Lemmy also met them later that year.
oh and how could I forget, Bad Brains!
I don't really care about AC/DC's lineage, someone else will have to do the research on that one.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 00:42 (fifteen years ago) link
It should probably be pointed out somewhere in here that AC/DC can still sell 800,000 records first week, so they have, you know, longevity on their side. Obviously, the Ramones can't really put out any more albums, but would they be able to sell as many units? Probably not.
― Live and Let Die Krupps (J3ff T.), Wednesday, 5 November 2008 00:53 (fifteen years ago) link
Also, isn't "Back in Black" like the third best-selling album of all time, or some crazy shit. Not that I'm arguing against the wider range of Ramones influence, but that's gotta count for something.
― Pillbox, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 00:58 (fifteen years ago) link
Yeah, I usually don't point at album sales as a marker of quality, but it seems like a lot of people like them, and have so consistently for their entire career.
― Live and Let Die Krupps (J3ff T.), Wednesday, 5 November 2008 01:05 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm not sure the Ramones were ever on the same commercial plane as AC/DC. Did the soundtrack to Pet Sematary ever go platinum?Probably got schooled by Maximum Overdrive. In the battle of Stephen King movie soundtracks, AC/DC wins for sure.
In terms of longevity, I think t-shirts sales at hot topic will attest to the staying power of the Ramones...
― Philip Nunez, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 01:10 (fifteen years ago) link
Agreed, but I think we have to account for the possibilty that the timeless brilliance of the Ramones logo & Johnny's tireless marketings skills probably have more to do with that fact than the music itself.
Also, never forget:
http://www.crabsodyinblue.com/butthead.jpg
― Pillbox, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 01:17 (fifteen years ago) link
AC/DC shirts aren't exactly obscure, either.
― Live and Let Die Krupps (J3ff T.), Wednesday, 5 November 2008 01:24 (fifteen years ago) link
Hey where's Beavis? That T-shirt reminds me: is Metallica an AC/DC spawn? I can kind of hear it in the drums...
― Philip Nunez, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 01:46 (fifteen years ago) link
i don't hear ac/dc in metallica at all
― BYE! GOOD (latebloomer), Wednesday, 5 November 2008 19:36 (fifteen years ago) link
maybe post black album metallica
― BYE! GOOD (latebloomer), Wednesday, 5 November 2008 19:37 (fifteen years ago) link
thank AC/DC for the Cult's makeover
― flyover statesman (will), Wednesday, 5 November 2008 19:46 (fifteen years ago) link
AC/DC begat rhino bucket.
― m the g, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 20:11 (fifteen years ago) link
And a thousand Aussie bands. Where to start?
― moley, Thursday, 6 November 2008 00:28 (fifteen years ago) link
Also Krokus, and maybe even Accept, Saxon and Judas Priest, took a few moves from AC/DC in about 1980-82. But yeah, those Aussie bands -The Angels, Rose Tattoo and their ilk, and then, fast forwarding to lamer times, Airb0rne.
― moley, Thursday, 6 November 2008 00:33 (fifteen years ago) link
Don't forget Krokus!
― Live and Let Die Krupps (J3ff T.), Thursday, 6 November 2008 01:08 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Tuesday, 11 November 2008 00:01 (fifteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 00:01 (fifteen years ago) link
this is bullshit.
― Pantheism F. Mohair (res), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 00:05 (fifteen years ago) link
about right.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 09:15 (fifteen years ago) link
A lot of silent Ramones voters seemingly.
― Sugar hiccup, Makes a pig soar and swoon (Pillbox), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 09:16 (fifteen years ago) link
This is a crap result.
― Bill Magill, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 15:22 (fifteen years ago) link
oh man up
gabba gabba!
― M@tt He1ges0n, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 15:34 (fifteen years ago) link
Never a doubt.
― Jazzbo, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 16:51 (fifteen years ago) link
AC/DC's wine range launched in 2011 (and STILL doesn't have a Whole Lotta Rosé)
http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/17/ac.dc.the.wine/t1larg.acdc.wine.jpg
Their lager came out from Karlsberg in 2015
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1219/4344/products/acdc_rock_or_bust_1024x.jpg
so technically true I guess
― blokes you can't rust (sic), Sunday, 7 April 2019 03:13 (five years ago) link
"High Voltage" energy drink, 2013
http://blog.metal-and-wine.com/wp-content/uploads/blog_acdc_high-voltage.jpg
mid-strength pre-mix bourbon & cola, 2016
http://assets.blabbermouth.net.s3.amazonaws.com/media/acdcbourbon1.jpg
― blokes you can't rust (sic), Sunday, 7 April 2019 03:20 (five years ago) link
Still no best-of album though, right?
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 7 April 2019 03:25 (five years ago) link
Not officially, but there is Who Made Who and the Iron Man 2 soundtrack.
― a large tuna called “Justice” (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 7 April 2019 03:57 (five years ago) link
well i'll be fucked
― meaulnes, Sunday, 7 April 2019 08:16 (five years ago) link
add böc to the list of “only rock bands worth listening to” you cowards
― jolene club remix (BradNelson), Sunday, 7 April 2019 16:00 (five years ago) link
If we try hard, we can get the list up to four or five.
― clemenza, Sunday, 7 April 2019 16:37 (five years ago) link
BOC is the cutoff. No more rock bands worth listening to.
― jmm, Sunday, 7 April 2019 16:48 (five years ago) link
glad we can find some middle ground on this pressing matter.
― meaulnes, Monday, 8 April 2019 00:27 (five years ago) link
BOC def
― brimstead, Monday, 8 April 2019 00:36 (five years ago) link
both great but CCR's insane short period of genius is one of the great accomplishment of rock n roll
I agree, CCR is the <3 and I would vote for them over Thin Lizzy, but there are moments where Phil Lynott’s voice just gets me in a way that Fogerty can’t (and never really tries to).
Those two bands have two of my favorite rhythm sections: so tough, but still lithe.
― Mazzy Tsar (PBKR), Monday, 8 April 2019 20:29 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1PfIX-GQPk
shit the actual bed
― meaulnes, Wednesday, 24 April 2019 00:42 (five years ago) link