AC/DC – Blow Up Your Video [HDtracks Hi-Res Remastered] (2020)

AC/DC‘s 1988’s LP “Blow Up Your Video” has been recently remastered 2020 and reissued in a Hi-Resolution Audio. At the time many journalists accused AC/DC of being dated in their musical style in 1988, according to them, not fitting into the hair metal boom.
I laugh it loud when I see bad reviews of this LP based on that affirmation. AC/DC always got their own style, and while since the mid-80s they adjusted things to sound more ‘suitable’ for the US market, the Aussie band never lost their identity.
“Blow Up Your Video” is a pretty killer and unique album in its own right, and I will tell you why…

Released in 1988, ”Blow Up Your Video” was the perfect bookend to ‘Back In Black’ as AC/DC’s other ’80s releases were less than stellar, even though there are many hidden gems to be enjoyed.
Nevertheless, ”Blow Up Your Video” is often unfairly overlooked. The blues-based rock that is exhibited here is on par with some of AC/DC early songs, an with the ultra-bluesy ‘Stiff Upper Lip’; an album I adore and one of their best.

”Blow Up Your Video” pounds out material as good as the band’s best, but there are subtle shifts along the way. In general, there are more fast numbers than usual and more cuts featuring hooks based on single-note progressions rather than a succession of solid chords.
On tracks like the kick ass “Kissin’ Dynamite” and “That’s the Way I Wanna Rock n Roll,” the band uses the extra room around the notes to create more tension and momentum.

Still, even in the denser, more chord-dominated numbers, AC/DC manages to swing.
It’s hard to avoid moving to the thick stutter riffs of “Go Zone”, or the catchy as Hell “Heatseeker.”
And if those numbers don’t get you gyrating, the band has even included a stone funk-groove number, “Meanstreak.”

Aside from that track, the album posits loyalty to one’s own style as the ultimate virtue. Fortunately, on this album the Young brothers continue to come up with enough inspired riffs to make the tunnel vision justifiable.
In fact, in my opinion, the riffs here add up to the band’s catchiest work since its classic album ‘Back In Black’.

Overall, this album is severely underrated when it comes to the post ‘Back In Black’ 80s records, but it shouldn’t be for ‘The Razor’s Edge’ was just around the corner and ”Blow Up Your Video” is the logical precursor to that masterpiece.
My suggestion for what it’s worth is to put away the common albums and songs and expand into the lesser know masterpieces that will fill you with the joy and excitement that you had when you first discovered AC/DC.
I’m sure you won’t regret it.

While AC/DC is most certainly suited to playing on loudspeakers, trust me when I suggest that you listen to these new 2020 remasters via headphones as the music locked within the grooves really comes to life and gives you an even greater appreciation of AC/DC and their production quality.
Highly Recommended

01 – Heatseeker
02 – That’s the Way I Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll
03 – Meanstreak
04 – Go Zone
05 – Kissin’ Dynamite
06 – Nick of Time
07 – Some Sin for Nuthin’
08 – Ruff Stuff
09 – Two’s Up
10 – This Means War

Brian Johnson – lead vocals
Angus Young – lead guitar
Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Cliff Williams – bass guitar, backing vocals
Simon Wright – drums, percussion

BUY IT
www.highresaudio.com/en/album/view/43shbk/ac-dc-blow-up-your-video-remastered