Music AC/DC finally joins the iTunes party

Deberg_1990 · 11-19-2012, 11:24 AM

One of the last big name holdouts......Garth Brooks and Kid Rock are still holding out.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...,7333616.story

The digital music world is a bit louder this morning. AC/DC, the Australian hard rock band whose heavy metal thunder has never been available for legal download, has stepped into the 21st century and released its music through iTunes, the band announced Monday morning.

After years of stubbornly arguing that iTunes was, in the words of singer Brian Johnson, “going to kill music if they’re not careful,” the band reached a deal with the company to sell its entire catalog -- 16 studio albums, four live albums and three compilations -- through the service. It’s too early to predict whether this move marks the death knell for melody, rhythm and/or song.

But “Hells Bells” sure sounds great. Like the rest of the Australian band’s big-riffed music, the classic 1980 song about Satan, death and “black sensations” has been remastered, and the opening church bells have never rang clearer (that is, unless you’ve grabbed a copy of “Back in Black” on vinyl for a dollar at a garage sale, but that’s a whole other conversation).

Until Monday, AC/DC was one of the last high-profile holdouts from the digital music marketplace. It had outlasted the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, all of which jumped into the realm long after much of the population had accepted the downloading future. Only two artists remain steadfast: Garth Brooks and Kid Rock, neither of whom offer downloadable versions their backcatalog, but Rock recently broke ranks and is selling his new album "Rebel Soul" via iTunes.

Angus Young, AC/DC’s lead guitarist (known for wearing a schoolboy’s uniform when performing), had long argued against hawking the band’s music via iTunes or any other digital service. He didn’t like the idea of allowing for individual song downloads -- submitting that the group’s albums were designed to be listened to from beginning to end.

“It’s like an artist who does a painting,” he said in 2008. “If he thinks it’s a great piece of work, he protects it. It’s the same thing: This is our work.”

He’s since changed his mind. Each of the group’s songs -- “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Highway to Hell,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “Thunderstruck” and “Whole Lotta Rosie” among them -- is available individually for $1.29. Albums are priced at $9.99.

In keeping with Young's point, iTunes also offers a package deal that buys mega-fans the entire lot -- live albums, compilations and all -- for $149.99. And for those who haven’t had the time or sense to manually insert CD versions of the band’s studio albums into their computer and import them into iTunes, a mere $99 provides digital copies of all those in one fell swoop.

The untethered option is a good thing, however, because while AC/DC’s peaks have been spectacular over its nearly 40-year career, it’s also put forth a lot of compost. For example, suffering through “Big Balls” just to get to “Ride On" when buying “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” isn’t too good a deal, especially when a used CD is also dirt cheap.

Still, AC/DC's brand of proto-metal remains timeless, and its ability to resist the technology until now proves how devilishly immortal the band's sound remains in any format. Even if its work were only available carved into stone tablets, fans would still find a way to listen.

Fish · 11-19-2012, 11:29 AM

$ > ideals.

journeyscarab · 11-19-2012, 11:29 AM

Sorry to disagree with the author, but Big Balls is a freaking awesome tune.

Brock · 11-19-2012, 01:16 PM

The fact that AC/DC is still a big deal kind of shows that the music business is already dead.

ZepSinger · 11-20-2012, 07:37 AM

As long as they're going digital, I hope they also come to Rhapsody...

Omaha · 11-20-2012, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

.....Garth Brooks and Kid Rock are still holding out.

And fewer ****s could not possibly be given.

Omaha · 11-20-2012, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

The fact that AC/DC is still a big deal kind of shows that the music business is already dead.

How can such a tiny sentence be so wrong in so many ways?

alpha_omega · 11-20-2012, 03:53 PM

Wow...didn't even know they weren't on there.
Either i am totally out of the loop, or Brock is right. Probably a little bit of both.

**KcMizzou** · 11-20-2012, 10:57 PM

AC/DC never gets old. Instantly recognizable... always welcome.

**BigRedChief** · 11-22-2012, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

AC/DC never gets old. Instantly recognizable... always welcome.

Spent $20 to load up my I-Phone today with some AC/DC.

**patteeu** · 11-23-2012, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Spent $20 to load up my I-Phone today with some AC/DC.

I demand to see what tunes you added! Was it two full albums or 15ish individual songs?

Bump · 11-23-2012, 01:46 PM

AC/DC rocks! that's classic rock n roll man. I use spotify and all they have is a shitty tribute band for them

lewdog · 11-23-2012, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

The fact that RAP is still a big deal kind of shows that the music business is already dead.

FYP for accuracy.

ACDC rocks!

Brock · 11-24-2012, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdog

FYP for accuracy.

ACDC rocks!

Sure, they rock. They peaked 30 years ago was my point.

Deberg_1990 · 11-24-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brock

Sure, they rock. They peaked 30 years ago was my point.

Perhaps, but I've liked a lot of their stuff in the 80s , 90s and 2000s

11-19-2012, 11:24 AM
Deberg_1990 MVP Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $138514	AC/DC finally joins the iTunes party One of the last big name holdouts......Garth Brooks and Kid Rock are still holding out. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...,7333616.story The digital music world is a bit louder this morning. AC/DC, the Australian hard rock band whose heavy metal thunder has never been available for legal download, has stepped into the 21st century and released its music through iTunes, the band announced Monday morning. After years of stubbornly arguing that iTunes was, in the words of singer Brian Johnson, “going to kill music if they’re not careful,” the band reached a deal with the company to sell its entire catalog -- 16 studio albums, four live albums and three compilations -- through the service. It’s too early to predict whether this move marks the death knell for melody, rhythm and/or song. But “Hells Bells” sure sounds great. Like the rest of the Australian band’s big-riffed music, the classic 1980 song about Satan, death and “black sensations” has been remastered, and the opening church bells have never rang clearer (that is, unless you’ve grabbed a copy of “Back in Black” on vinyl for a dollar at a garage sale, but that’s a whole other conversation). Until Monday, AC/DC was one of the last high-profile holdouts from the digital music marketplace. It had outlasted the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, all of which jumped into the realm long after much of the population had accepted the downloading future. Only two artists remain steadfast: Garth Brooks and Kid Rock, neither of whom offer downloadable versions their backcatalog, but Rock recently broke ranks and is selling his new album "Rebel Soul" via iTunes. Angus Young, AC/DC’s lead guitarist (known for wearing a schoolboy’s uniform when performing), had long argued against hawking the band’s music via iTunes or any other digital service. He didn’t like the idea of allowing for individual song downloads -- submitting that the group’s albums were designed to be listened to from beginning to end. “It’s like an artist who does a painting,” he said in 2008. “If he thinks it’s a great piece of work, he protects it. It’s the same thing: This is our work.” He’s since changed his mind. Each of the group’s songs -- “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Highway to Hell,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “Thunderstruck” and “Whole Lotta Rosie” among them -- is available individually for $1.29. Albums are priced at $9.99. In keeping with Young's point, iTunes also offers a package deal that buys mega-fans the entire lot -- live albums, compilations and all -- for $149.99. And for those who haven’t had the time or sense to manually insert CD versions of the band’s studio albums into their computer and import them into iTunes, a mere $99 provides digital copies of all those in one fell swoop. The untethered option is a good thing, however, because while AC/DC’s peaks have been spectacular over its nearly 40-year career, it’s also put forth a lot of compost. For example, suffering through “Big Balls” just to get to “Ride On" when buying “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” isn’t too good a deal, especially when a used CD is also dirt cheap. Still, AC/DC's brand of proto-metal remains timeless, and its ability to resist the technology until now proves how devilishly immortal the band's sound remains in any format. Even if its work were only available carved into stone tablets, fans would still find a way to listen.
Posts: 43,478

11-19-2012, 11:29 AM	#2
Fish Missing Dick Curl Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2086817	$ > ideals. __________________
Posts: 21,130

11-19-2012, 11:29 AM	#3
journeyscarab SHOCKERS BABY! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Overland Park, KS Casino cash: $41616	Sorry to disagree with the author, but Big Balls is a freaking awesome tune. __________________
Posts: 1,995

11-19-2012, 01:16 PM	#4
Brock Do it. Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $142343	The fact that AC/DC is still a big deal kind of shows that the music business is already dead.
Posts: 40,394

11-20-2012, 07:37 AM	#5
ZepSinger Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $22427	As long as they're going digital, I hope they also come to Rhapsody... __________________ test
Posts: 2,726

11-20-2012, 03:53 PM	#8
alpha_omega MVP Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Liberty Casino cash: $141607	Wow...didn't even know they weren't on there. Either i am totally out of the loop, or Brock is right. Probably a little bit of both.
Posts: 5,368

11-23-2012, 01:46 PM	#12
Bump Legalize It Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Boston sucks :( Casino cash: $52469	AC/DC rocks! that's classic rock n roll man. I use spotify and all they have is a shitty tribute band for them __________________ WEED IS ILLEGAL - but here take these pills, side effects include..........................................
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