New Van Halen

[Gordon Williams]

The CD Warehouse in my area somehow got the new Van Halen before the national release date (they did on the last Black Stone Cherry, as well).

Anyway, I bought it Friday night, and have already listened to it twice, and I am VERY impressed.

Sonically, it may be the best Van Halen album ever. Everything sounds great in the mix, to me. Eddie's playing a lot of down-tuned guitar, and it sounds fantastic! Alex is back with great sounding drums.

And believe it or not, the bass playing (and the mix from the studio) both sound awesome! I mean, when your Dad is Eddie Van Halen, the kid is going to keep getting better on the bass guitar.

This may not be quite as good as the debut, song wise, but it is easily back to the classic DLR era Van Halen sound. After two listens, I think the second half is better than the first half, but the whole thing really, really cooks!

And again, I can't say how much I think the production is top rate! After the awful production of "Van Halen 3", it is great to hear the band sounding this good again. Plenty of humor injected in David Lee Roth's lyrics, and performance.

I find myself having a hard time saying this...BUT....the long wait for new Van Halen music may have been worth it!

I think I can say this without "fear of retribution"...but, if you liked DLR era Van Halen...then, no need to wait until you hear more of this album. It's a "MUST HAVE" in my book. Will be in heavy rotation for a long, long time.

[Scott]

Thanks for the heads up!  I cant wait to pick this one up tomorrow...

[RJhog (Admin)]

My wife is picking it up from BB for me tomorrow at 10am.  Then bringing it to me at work.  She's such a sweetheart.

[Jon]

UPS is delivering it to me tomorrow night. Total sweetheart!

[Niels (Mod)]

I'm impresed too!! I acually thought, this album would suck big time, and after listen to "Tatoo" a couple of times, I almost "Rested my case". But I got my hopes up high, listening to 9 minutes of the album last week, and now, after hearing the whole album, I definetly think, this is the best VH-album since 1984. And yes, it's better than "Diver Down" too. It's as good, as they could have done it after all these years, and I don't even miss Michael Anthony THAT much. Probably the best "Hard Rock"-album I've heard since AB III. 

[RJhog (Admin)]

Okay, I finally got my hands on this puppy.  I've been through it once, although partly with earbuds and much confusion in the background.  I love the heaviness of it, especially on the last track.  Wow!  My first opinion of everybody with the last name Van Halen on this disc is outstanding.  Way, way more than I imagined it would be.  For everybody with the last name Roth,  it's outstanding in places, and don't try to sing like Michael Anthony in others.

 

My initial Top 5 after just one listen:

 

1. Beats Workin'

2. Bullethead

3. Tatoo

4. China Town

5. The Trouble With Never

 

I think Tatoo was a very good choice for the first single, despite numerous doubters across the internet.  It's the most accessible tune on the album and women love getting tatoos these days.

[Gordon Williams]

After my first two listens, I'm not even close to choosing my favorite song or two. I can just say that I think the second half of the CD is better than the first half. But the first half is smokin' too!

Really impressed with the playing on this by Eddie, Alex, and even Wolf! Great slab of rock n roll!

 

[Jon]

Surprise, surprise...guess what was on my front doorstep when I got home from work?

And I'm going to break my "listen at home first rule" with this...this puppy will be in my car and cranked up for the ride to and from work. Ain't that great? 

[Scott]

Same here Gordon, Im enjoying something different about it everytime I listen...

[RJhog (Admin)]

I forgot about "As Is"...that one's really cool too.

[Alan Christensen]

The store I like the most (Grewhale CD) only got 1 pressing of the V.H. CD? What? They said they were getting 10 copies of the limited edition in 24 hours. Well, I took in trades (Video Games and Movies), so I searched the used section and found two Van Halen live Sammy Hagar bootlegs and got those instead. I still have $6 in credit to use another time. I'll post info on the bootlegs as soon as I listen to them.

I thought about waiting 24 hours, but I went to the only other music store left in the state (Hastings) and found the new Van Halen limited edition. I have not taken the time to listen to it yet, I was playing Guitar Hero Van Halen today instead (and now watching the NBA). But I did watch the DVD and I like it, but it is TOOO short. :(

I have things to listen to tonight, so I'll see what I think! :)

[Jon]

1 copy? Wonder how many copies of Adele's album they have...

[RJhog (Admin)]

VH only needs to sell about 6 million copies to catch up with her.