Runnin' Wild

Do ya like AC/DC? Wish they were still making music?

Then you're going to dig Airbourne. Part of me wants to dismiss Airbourne as a rip-off band, but I think that would be a mistake. How did you feel about The Darkness? Because it's a bit of the same situation...

Look, if someone put a gun to my head and said: "Write a song...one that sounds like AC/DC (or Queen in the case of The Darkness)" I'd have a pretty hard time doing that--let alone have it sound fresh. The people that can do that shouldn't have to face the question: "is this original enough?" Screw it, it's just rock'n roll.

Airbourne--a band (from Australia) is really good at channeling the spirit/energy of AC/DC, while at the same time making something new. This is one of those bands that I heard about via Michael Butler's podcast (The Rock and Roll Geek Show), once again Mike has turned me onto something cool.

"Stand Up For Rock and Roll" and "Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast" are two of the best Rock (not Pop-Rock) songs I've heard in years. There's an energy, a hunger if you will--that the band is able to project. Much of the record's "classic rock" posturing doesn't come off as forced (or fake) like it does when many bands try this sort of "homage" (I'm looking at you JET). As good as the record is, I have a feeling this band is twice as good live.

I wish I could say more, but with a band this straight-forward, there isn't much you NEED to say. Check 'em out--they're balls-to-the-walls fun.

Jason gives RUNNIN' WILD an "A-"