Airbourne - Runnin' Wild (2007) [Roadrunner Japan RRCY-21300, Bonus track] + Bonus DVD '2008 / RESTORED

2007 debut album from the Australian hard rockers. Airbourne are the most exciting band to emerge from the Oz Rock scene in decades! Bred on a healthy diet of Rose Tattoo, The Angels and AC/DC, these boys know how to rock…HARD!! Running Wild, recorded in L.A. and mixed by the legendary Andy Wallace, takes us back to the good ol' days when booze, girls and bangin' your head was all that mattered. Riff upon riff, Airbourne build upon their Aussie Hard Rock heritage and bringing it screaming and stomping into the modern age!

With their debut album, Runnin' Wild, Melbourne, Australia's Airbourne add their name to a long list of Aussie and non-Aussie bands earnestly beholden to hard rock godfathers AC/DC. Although good timing may be on their side because, inevitable charges of cloning notwithstanding, there's arguably never been a greater need for fresh blood like Airbourne to come along and revive this hallowed form of basic, pub-born, boogie Rock & Roll. After all, 2007 marks the seventh anniversary (or, more appropriately, the seven year itch) since AC/DC delivered a studio album of their own, and that was the career lowlight Stiff Upper Lip, containing one great single and a lot of filler. So when compounded with Airbourne's natural, no-fuss songwriting instincts, even the most cynical of fans will likely be happy to put their suspicions aside, and simply enjoy the Runnin' Wild ride for what it's worth. And what it's worth, dear friends, is classic hard rock gold (if not platinum) epitomized by blue collar, straightforward, pint-lifting anthems like the title track, "Heartbreaker", and the rousing introduction of "Stand Up for Rock & Roll". Interestingly, along with instrumentally spare, mid-paced offerings such as "Diamond in the Rough", "Fat City", "What's Eating You", and even first single "Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast", Airbourne's overall aesthetic draws as much from Brian Johnson-era AC/DC as the more commonly emulated Bon Scott — and perhaps this too is what helps to distinguish them from their more hopelessly indebted predecessors (hello, Rhino Bucket!). In any case, the biting attack brought to bear by lead shrieker and guitarist Joel O'Keeffe and his crew rarely falls short of electrifying results, but there's obviously an incrementally spine-tingling energy to be found in the album's faster-paced, hard-driving offerings such as "Blackjack", "Girls in Black", "Let's Ride" and the aforementioned title track. Finally, those still refusing to overlook the band's AC/DC-isms and focus on the songs are challenged to keep a smile off their faces during "Cheap Wine & Cheaper Women", which, like the rest of Runnin' Wild reminds us that it's really sort of stupid (and pointless) to resist the uplifting power of Rock & Roll, and therefore Airbourne themselves. 'Nuff said — sometimes surprise is overrated — Let's Rock!

~ Eduardo Rivadavia, all media guide

Tracklist:

01. Stand Up For Rock 'N' Roll
02. Runnin' Wild
03. Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast
04. Diamond In My Rough
05. Fat City
06. Blackjack
07. What's Eatin' You
08. Girls In Black
09. Cheap Wine & Cheaper Women
10. Heartbreaker
11. Hellfire
12. Dirty Angel (Bonus track for Japan)
13. Let's Ride (added from the Original Australian Release - as separate file)

all songs written by O'Keeffe brothers


Produced by Bob Marlette except tracks "11 & 12" by Airbourne
Engineered by Dave Schiffman. Mixed by Andy Wallace.
Recorded at Blue Room Studios, Woodland Hills, CA & Henson Studios, Hollywood, CA.

• Joel O'Keeffe - vocals, lead guitar
• Ryan O'Keeffe - drums
• David Roads - guitar, backing vocals
• Justin Street - bass, backing vocals

Original Release Date: June 23, 2007
Release Date: January 23, 2008
Label: Roadrunner Japan
Catalog No.: RRCY-21300

In addition to the standard CD release, Runnin' Wild is also available in a limited edition version which contains a bonus DVD. The DVD contains eight live tracks from the 2008 Wacken Festival, as well as music videos for the three singles.

DVD - Contents:
DVD taken from the other edition, not from japanese

01. Hellfire
02. Fat City
03. What's Eatin' You
04. Girls In Black
05. Cheap Wine & Cheaper Women
06. Heartbreaker
07. Blackjack
08. Runnin' Wild
09. Runnin' Wild
10. Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast
11. Diamond In My Rough

"1-8" were Recorded live at the Wacken Open Air Festival '2008, Germany.
"9-11" - the official music videos from "Running Wild" album.
Total Length: ~ 56 min.