The Black Ice.

For those unaware, the hard rock giants AC/DC's latest album Black Ice dominated the Billboard album charts this week with an amazing 784,000 sales. It is unprecedented for two reasons. The first being that this is the first AC/DC record since 2000's by-the-numbers Stiff Upper Lip, a break of eight years that usually would destroy the appeal of most rock bands. The second being that Black Ice is only available at fine Wal-Mart stores across the country as well as the band's website.

But of course, this is AC/DC we're talking about. Most of their major releases came out in the late 70s and early 80s, and yet the band's biggest group of fans seems to be young listeners. They've had two vocalists that were just perfect enough to be iconic in Brian Johnson and the deceased Bon Scott. This band was even cool enough to make a movie as campy as Maximum Overdrive work solely because of their music being on the soundtrack.

In short, AC/DC is no mere rock band.

They've earned their stripes with a smattering of amazing rock albums that never really have a change in style but always create an enjoyable experience for the listener. With Black Ice, the band basically creates the 2008 version of Back in Black. Not that this is a bad thing, of course. "Rock 'N Roll Train" opens the album and is arguably comparable to the number of great singles in the band's past. While it's not as iconic an opener as say Back in Black's "Hells Bells," it totally would fit on Back in Black somewhere between say "Shoot to Thrill" and "What Do You Do for Money Honey." Songs like "Big Jack" and "Anything Goes" re-examine AC/DC's penchant for stories about larger-than-life characters and young, sexy women.

And then the album reaches its high point seven songs in, on a song simply called "Spoilin' For A Fight." Suddenly, any current-era attempt to appeal to the macho crowd by talking about the manliness of fights looks amazingly poor by comparison. In a mere three minutes, AC/DC creates yet another anthemic track that's so simple and yet brilliant at the same time. And while nothing reaches this high point of awesomeness throughout the rest of Black Ice, it never really needs to. After all, Back in Black was still a classic album after that title track was done, right?


Video for "Rock 'n Roll Train."

Four Great Records of 2008.

So, there are two months left in 2008 and you've dug through every record in your collection three times over this year. You're scouring through stuff you forgot you even bought, like Neil Diamond's Greatest Hits. In short, you're desperate for new music. Well, this might provide you with some of the help that you desperately need.

Sons and Daughters - This Gift

Every once in a while, a band figures out how to make an indie-pop record speed into overdrive. Bloc Party's 2005 debut Silent Alarm featured a lot of sped-up riffs that were a nice droning repetition of sound, but it's nothing like the pure fast-paced pleasure of Scotland-based Sons and Daughters's second album This Gift. Much like how Franz Ferdinand brought irony and catchiness to the garage revival of the early 21st century, Sons and Daughters brings the flavor back into indie rock. And after turns like the dark tone of Bloc Party's last album and the diminishing returns of acts like Belle and Sebastian, it's nice to see an album that is just great music backed with a mighty and alluring voice. (That voice being Sons & Daughters' vocalist Adele Bethel.)

Video for "Gilt Complex":

Born Ruffians - Red Yellow and Blue

Another fine example of why 2008 is the year where simplicity is king is on the debut record from Canadian band Born Ruffians. Here is a case where the band comes in with an unpretentious approach to their music and creates perfectly playful jams that just make you feel good. Even their album cover is jokey and playful, and it's cool to see a band that doesn't take itself seriously and yet is still great to listen to. One fantastic example of that is "Badonkadonkey," which is as silly as it sounds.

Video for "I Need A Life":

Be Your Own Pet - Get Awkward

The sadly defunct Be Your Own Pet's second full length is a blast of punk, as told by kids who have watched two too many George Romero movies or stayed in high school until they were 24. That sounds like a slam, but everything on this second record is tongue-in-cheek. A track like "Becky," which shows how a high school friendship playfully devolves into a murder, taken seriously is not good, but vocalist Jemina Abegg always comes off like she's laughing five seconds after the song is over. And Abegg actually has decent vocal talents for when her former band doesn't thrash up a storm.

Video for "The Kelly Affair."

TV on the Radio - Dear Science

Of all the wonderful bands that drive the New York City independent music scene, TV on the Radio may just be the best. Running with a need for experimentation and taking cues from every imaginable influence they can find, TV on the Radio is completely unpredictable and awe inspiring in keeping with the "wall of sound" indie that was perfected by acts such as beloved British underground icons My Bloody Valentine. The first track, “Halfway Home,” draws from the computer-based sounds of the new millennium and yet vocalist Tunde Adebimpe throws in a chant to open the song that's more reminiscent of the 60s surfer rock classic “Surfin' Bird.” (As in, the bird is the word.) And yet, it is this wild unpredictability that makes Dear Science an amazing release.

Video for "Dancing Choose":

So, hopefully this list of albums helps you out of that oh so painful funk as the year comes to a close.

Trey Irby