AC/DC – Stiff Upper Lip [HDtracks Hi-Res Remastered] (2020)

AC/DC‘s “Stiff Upper Lip” has been recently remastered 2020 and reissued in a Hi-Resolution Audio. AC/DC rocked back into action with ”Stiff Upper” Lip on Feb. 28, 2000, almost exactly a quarter century since the release of their Australia-only debut High Voltage.
This 13th studio album proved once again that millenniums could come and go, but it would take a lot more than some silly Y2K hysteria to slow down this hard-rock institution.
In fact, that textbook AC/DC approach to blue-collar rock ‘n’ roll on steroids was never more in evidence than on ”Stiff Upper Lip”. Blues. That’s the foundation of this album, and I love it.

For the first time in 12 years and only the second time in 20, guitarists Malcolm and Angus Young were leaning on their elder brother George to handle production duties, just as he had (alongside longtime Easybeats partner Harry Vanda) for the group’s first handful of career-defining LPs back in the late ’70s.

Reconnecting with George for ”Stiff Upper Lip” brought forth some of Malcolm and Angus’ most direct, unencumbered and unembellished songwriting instincts.
The dozen tracks they captured in a matter of weeks at Vancouver, Canada’s Warehouse Studios (owned by Bryan Adams) notably replaced unbridled bombast with unusual restraint that, in many ways, harked back to the band’s founding musical principles.
Tellingly, Warehouse became AC/DC’s go-to recording studio thereafter.

Sure, the first single and title track possessed the requisite double-entendres, irresistible chorus and clever music video that was naturally expected from AC/DC.
But such predictable, if tried-and-tested, musical tricks were in short supply thereafter – despite the urgent charge of second single “Safe in New York City” (which predated the events of 9/11 by some 18 months), “Give it Up” and even the catchy third single “Satellite Blues.”

Instead, AC/DC presented a slew of decidedly understated standouts (“Can’t Hold Me Back,” “Can’t Stand Still,” “All Screwed Up”), consistently deliberate tempos (“House of Jazz,” “Can’t Stop Rock ’n’ Roll,” “Damned”), and some of the downright bluesiest licks ever heard in the band’s long, long career (“Meltdown,” “Come and Get It” and, again, “Satellite Blues”).

Once the band’s formidable touring machine finally kicked into gear that August, nearly 140 shows spread over the ensuing 12 months duly pushed ”Stiff Upper Lip” beyond AC/DC’s customary platinum sales plateau.
In other words, AC/DC had once again triumphed by simply being themselves.
Highly Recommended

01 – Stiff Upper Lip
02 – Meltdown
03 – House of Jazz
04 – Hold Me Back
05 – Safe in New York City
06 – Can’t Stand Still
07 – Can’t Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll
08 – Satellite Blues
09 – Damned
10 – Come and Get It
11 – All Screwed Up
12 – Give It Up

Brian Johnson – lead vocals
Angus Young – lead guitar, backing vocals
Malcolm Young – rhythm guitar (lead on 6), backing vocals
Cliff Williams – bass, backing vocals
Phil Rudd – drums

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www.highresaudio.com/en/album/view/ziiu37/ac-dc-stiff-upper-lip-remastered