New van halen

[CowboyFromHell]

Sorry your experiences were so bad, but I'd have to say that most here would agree with me that overall they were pretty damn awesome in their day. They may not be as good now but hey, age happens.

[dvscool]

Sorry your experiences were so bad, but I'd have to say that most here would agree with me that overall they were pretty damn awesome in their day. They may not be as good now but hey, age happens.

+1.

Yes, they have aged...what band doesn't.

Is there such thing as a guitar player that hasn't been influnced by Van halen....in some way?......at one time or another?

[jrnic]

As one of the few on this board who is probably old enough to remember VH in their hey day, (Saw them live twice the year the first album came out) I can tell you that besides the energy of the music, 80% of VH's live appeal was in the energy and physicality of their live show. Now, that being said and all obvious ignorant exageration of their age (80?? Really?) they are, in fact NOT teenagers. As a matter of fact, (if I'm not mistaken) didn't Eddie have a hip replaced? Anyway, my point is, when you are no longer a child, it's best to put childish things aside. Van Halen would look pretty rediculous doing midair splits and singing songs about getting laid in the back of their chevy. (that is assumng they even COULD do those midair splits) It's a hard thing when party bands grow up and have to re-invent themselves, but I give them kudos for trying.
Xenophobe, by your standards, rock musicians should retire at 30. I'm certainly glad few people have those standards, we'd be missing out on a lot of GREAT music. Just think, Ozzy wouldn't have been around to introduce us to Randy Rhoads or Jake E. Lee. Dio would have NEVER existed as a band and, where would Lemmy be? 90% of the heavy music you listen to ws inspired by at least one of these artist, I will guarantee you that. What would you be listening to if they hadn't? Justin Bieber? Oh, sorry, I gave away your secret.

Excellent post. I can put myself in the same category as you. Van Halen I came out when I was in HS and I have seen them Many times during the early 80's. Being that they are in their 50's now (well 3/4 of them are) what do some of these idiots expect??? I just picked up the CD this morning and I am totally loving this thing. Some of those songs sound right out of the early 80's. When I played 'Stay Frosty' and heard the solo, I just had a big shit eating grin on listening to Eddie wail away. Great album, and I have to say the last song, "Beats Workin' " just kicks major A$$.

I am not dissapointed in the least, and I am LOOKING FORWARD to seeing them at Madison Sq Garden next month!!!

[horns666]

I was there from the beginning, and was in a very dedicated VH tribute band that Dave wanted as his own. With that said, I...ummmmmm...ehhhh....well,...It's OK. I'm glad to hear something pretty cool from them. "kicks major A$$"..well, -Light Up the Sky- certainly does that for example. This ain't that. This is more like Ozzmosis, not Paranoid.

I miss Mike Anthony.

Age is subjective to the individual. Uli Roth got better with age..George Lynch didn't. ect.

[shreddermon]

I've gotten most of the way through the new album, and I'll say this: I think it's very good. Not knock-em-out awesome by any means, but still pretty good. Better than the vast majority of the other crapola being passed as new "music" out there today, so I'm enjoying the new VH well enough.

It's probably better than any of the Van Hagar-era efforts, too. I'm not a Sammy-era hater, mind you, just preferred Roth-era VH. And I think this album is confirmation - subject no longer open-to-debate, IMHO - that very much of the Hagar-era perceived suckage was due to Eddie's style, songwriting and playing being different, not totally Sammy. DLR being back did not result in a 100% return to Roth-era awesomeness. It's been different all along because Ed's been different. That's not meant as a criticism. It just is what it is. EVH changed along the years, my friends. Like it or not is your subjective opinion but, like all of us experience ourselves, it just happened as he went through the years. And, yes, the lack of Mike Anthony vocals and playing is a big missing piece of the puzzle too, IMHO.

Some of the tracks sound like vintage VH, loved Stay Frosty. Some sound like a mix of both eras, and some of them sound clearly more like post-Roth era VH. Although my mind isn't blown with awesomeness, I dig it well enough. I suspect it'll grow on me even more, with a few repeat listens. Welcome back VH.

...BTW, did I hear some Gary Cherone background vocals on one of the tracks?

[Robert Hendrix]

Excellent post. I can put myself in the same category as you. Van Halen I came out when I was in HS and I have seen them Many times during the early 80's. Being that they are in their 50's now (well 3/4 of them are) what do some of these idiots expect??? I just picked up the CD this morning and I am totally loving this thing. Some of those songs sound right out of the early 80's. When I played 'Stay Frosty' and heard the solo, I just had a big shit eating grin on listening to Eddie wail away. Great album, and I have to say the last song, "Beats Workin' " just kicks major A$$.

I am not dissapointed in the least, and I am LOOKING FORWARD to seeing them at Madison Sq Garden next month!!!

Yep, they came to my little shit hole city about every three months before the first album came out. Then I got to high school and finally got to go see them open for Black Sabbath. After that they came through once a year until after the "women and Children First" tour. After that, our concert hall wasn't big enough for them, but I remember those days fondly.
I sprinted to the store as soon as I got off work and picked up the CD. I'm about halfways through it now (Bullethead is on right now) and I think even Tattoo sounds better on the disk than the online version I heard. Don't get me wrong, it's still a bit cheezy, but at least I can stand to listen to it.

I'm curious what's n the DVD, but I'll wait til I've listened all the way through the CD

[Snoogans]

I'll just leave this here!

[Carbuff]

Sobriety is an amazing thing.

[Robert Hendrix]

Damn!

[lerxstcat]

I liked Stay Frosty. That and The Trouble With Never are so much better than Tattoo. Whoever decided to release that song first was an idiot, imo.

Actually, I think the tactic was to bait the haters with the weakest song so they'd all pounce on "Tattoo", then hit them with the rest of the album that rocks like old-school Van Halen. I have been playing it nonstop since I got it and I love it. I admit I usually skip the first 2 songs and start with You And Your Blues, but from then on it's all killer, no filler to me!

[lerxstcat]

That's fine. When they had great albums they sucked on tour. By the time they sobered up, their music turned to shit, 1984.

And yeah, I saw them 3 times back in the day. DLR ruined two of the shows. One of them Eddy blew. I refused to waste my money on them after. Am I bitter, obviously.

SOMEBODY did NOT get laid at 3 Van Halen shows!

[tonemonster]

I saw a youtube video of them performing Tattoo....... its not pretty. I was very unimpressed. it basically sucked. Roth looks terrible, he is dressed like a clown. I dont get why most rock stars have to wear ridiculous clothes all the time. it makes them look like idiots. their stage presence is about as exciting as my coffee table. Eddie's playing is just.......boring. to me, its like he hasnt grown as a guitarist in 30 years. Sure, he came out with some amazing shit and turned the music world on its side and I give him credit for that. he was raw rock and roll until 1984 then kind of refined his style as a musician with adding keyboards and his songwriting style changed a bit. then 5150 was a big change. since then its been no growth, just throwing the same hamburger through the meat grinder over and over again. to me there comes a time when bands just need to know when to hang it up and that time is now for VH. they rode their wave, had their time in the sun. its time to pack up their beach blanket and beer cooler and head home.

Edit-OH and for the record, Sammy kicks ass, and so does Mike Anthony. those guys will be kickin ass and rockin for years to come. I think VH should start researching retirement homes.

[dvscool]

I saw a youtube video of them performing Tattoo....... its not pretty. I was very unimpressed. it basically sucked. Roth looks terrible, he is dressed like a clown. I dont get why most rock stars have to wear ridiculous clothes all the time. it makes them look like idiots. their stage presence is about as exciting as my coffee table. Eddie's playing is just.......boring. to me, its like he hasnt grown as a guitarist in 30 years. Sure, he came out with some amazing shit and turned the music world on its side and I give him credit for that. he was raw rock and roll until 1984 then kind of refined his style as a musician with adding keyboards and his songwriting style changed a bit. then 5150 was a big change. since then its been no growth, just throwing the same hamburger through the meat grinder over and over again. to me there comes a time when bands just need to know when to hang it up and that time is now for VH. they rode their wave, had their time in the sun. its time to pack up their beach blanket and beer cooler and head home.

Edit-OH and for the record, Sammy kicks ass, and so does Mike Anthony. those guys will be kickin ass and rockin for years to come. I think VH should start researching retirement homes.

-1, But to each his own dude...much respect.

I guess lucky for you no one is holding a gun to your head and saying "listen to VH PUNK!!" That would really suck huh?

I think the new album is pretty fukin good. EVH has been a hugh influence on my playing and well...I'd say about 100000000 other
guitarists, so it would seem to me that hes done at least SOMETHING right over the last 30 years....

[xenophobe]

SOMEBODY did NOT get laid at 3 Van Halen shows!

Hmm... At one of them. I brought my GF to one of those shows, and I met a girl at the other one that turned into a one-week one-night stand.

Half the guys here would suck on Eddy's testicles just to get near him. Hell, you'd probably suck him off and swallow for a line of coke and an autograph.

Sorry, I'm a musician, not a fanboy.

[Bryan]

I'll just leave this here!

Good googly moogly!!!