Muddy Waters once sang, “The Blues had a baby and they named it Rock ‘N’ Roll.” And although, AC/DC’s long-awaited “Black Ice” disc is typical AC/DC-style rock ‘n’ roll, this album is sired by Wal-Mart. You could even say that Wal-Mart made AC/DC their bitch.

     I realize that Wal-Mart is responsible for about 30% (or more) of the music sold in the U.S., but I usually don’t find myself buying my music between an overzealous “greeter” and the bread aisle. But since AC/DC got under the sheets with the goody two shoes chain, it seems I had no choice. As I made my way to the “big box” and passed the perfume and tampons, I caught sight of corporate rock bliss. The AC/DC logo was emblazoned upon everything in the store. Giant cardboard displays stood deep and wide, cradled with the entire catalog of the band’s CD’s and DVD’s. T-shirts, hoodies, hats, videogames – you name it, they had it. I grabbed my copy of the latest CD, “Black Ice,” (which is available in 3 or 4 different color varieties, of course) and I made my way to the exits.

     Am I wrong? Isn’t Wal-Mart the place that refuses to sell music that has certain degrees of profanity? Wasn’t it that dirty little Sheryl Crow girl that got nabbed as she tried to pass over the threshold of wholesomeness? And now look at them, cruising down the Highway To Hell with Rosie. Have they realized that Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be? Personally, I think it took some Big Balls to pull this kind of stunt, but hey, Moneytalks.

   I think AC/DC is the only hard rock band that could get away with this. The band is so widely respected for their incredible catalog of music, and their bare bones approach to boogie woogie rock and roll, that the fans are quick to look past the “selling out” frame of thought. I personally hate this corporate exclusive thing, but this is AC/DC. I guess they’re allowed, as long as the album doesn’t suck. Let’s take a look…..

     As you might expect, this is your typical AC/DC album with one small exception, which I’ll get to in a minute. The album’s full of rhythm heavy rockers that run for more than 55 minutes over a healthy set of 15 tracks. The band is tighter than ever as they thump out foot-tapping rhythms, a few creative guitar solos, and the unpaved voice of singer Brian Johnson straining to stay on top of it all. Johnson is really the only part of this band that is starting to show some age. Even through a concerted effort from producer Brendan O’Brien, Johnson sounds weaker than ever before. You almost find yourself waiting for his voice to stop working in the middle of each song, but have no fear, he makes it through all of them.

     Now, about that one small exception….. No, the band didn’t go and do a ballad on us or anything. Settle down. But, there is a track that I might call “happy Pop.” “Anything Goes” almost sounds like Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” meets The Who’s “Athena.” It’s a little too happy and out of character, as far as AC/DC is concerned. Yeah, they've done the same album over and over......that's the thing we love about them! Were they trying to cut a pop single with this song? Who knows, but it really comes over as a less than aggressive, less than likeable radio darling.

     The first single from the record, “Rock ‘N’ Roll Train,” is probably as good as it gets for this album. There's nothing here to rival the greatness of some of the classics, but there are a few songs that might have sounded comfortable on one of the band’s earlier Brian Johnson-era efforts. “Smash ‘N’ Grab” and “Stormy May Day” might’ve fit nicely on the “For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)” album. Whether it’s the slower, more methodical approach or the exaggerated gang vocals of the chorus, I’m not sure, but these tunes have some old school stamped on them. Although there is nothing that leaps out as overly memorable, the disc does offer a few songs that are better than average. An excellent, and slightly unusual track, is “Rock ‘N’ Roll Dream.” This takes a more traditional rock song formula and beats the hell out of a good hook. It’s one of a handful of songs in which Johnson stays in a lower register, and it benefits the song a great deal. The album’s title cut is another sleek strutter that finds Johnson using the low voice. Songs like “Smash ‘N’ Grab,” “Decibel,” and “Rocking All The Way” are all lower key rockers that work quite well.

     As with every other AC/DC album, you have plenty of foot-tapping, sing-along action on this one as well. Some of the highlights of the live concert might be songs like “Big Jack,” “Wheels,” or “Money Made,” with their big sing-along choruses. Of course, guitarist Angus Young wails on almost every track, with a few of the sharpest solos being from “Wheels,” “She Likes Rock ‘N’ Roll,” and “Rocking All The Way.”