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For some reason I've been reading about the dark years, half dreaming what it may have been like had Dave stayed with the brothers. So I'm listening to OU812 as a result. Here's what I think...
Mine All Mine - 9/10
It's a great guitar and keyboard riff. Alex, rid of the octagonals from 5150 sounds amazing from the opening tom flurry to the double kick throughout the verses. I almost expect to hear Roth come chanrging in on the first verse!
So Ed is layering guitar in 1988? Sammy... in some parts pulls it off on this song, the "mine all mine" in the kickdown is reminiscent of A Simple Rhyme.
Ooh Alex on that ride in the pre chorus ("Some only see what they wanna see") is very nice. Al and Ed own this song, although I swear I've heard it from the Dave days in a solo spot!
When it's love - 3.5
Urgh. It's a power ballad. In the number 2 spot. Robin Yount often batted #2. Not Gorman Thomas! You don't put "When it's Love" here, but it was 1988 and God bless cocaine etc.
This song - as a Hagar solo track - is good and right down his alley. But not for Van Halen. Funny thing is the song is so lovey, but only Mullet Anthony would remain with the wife that he was with in 1988. Ha ha. Ironic. The lyrics "It'll last for ever" followed by the "nah nah nah nah nah nah." Classic!
A.F.U (Naturally wired) - 7.5
Well it has some real promise until Sammy murders a cat for his first scream. His voice and lyrics, no good. The lead up to the solo... average, although the song has a cool crash ending. I don't really believe the lyrics.
Cabo Wabo - 5.5
Well it's an ad. Sammy is a salesman. And God it goes on and on... I remember on the Live: Right Here Right Now VHS they went from Cabo Wabo into You Really Got Me and back to finish the song. Ha ha, a song advertising Cabo, advertising the Roth era. Cool! Only redeeming quality is those classic Mikey backing vocs - "face down!" The irony, again!
Source Of Infection - 7
Bunch of gibberish. Goes nowhere lyrically. (Fair enough the band has quoted this as a joke song that was only put on the album at the request of suits.) Good jam by EVH and AVH though. Sammy is 5 songs in and is barely treading water, the clear weak link in the band. Although I have hardly heard Mike's bass yet, it's mixed low. Was bass uncool in the late 80's or what (ala Skyscraper?)
This is a fast-paced rocker that Dave could have worked magic with, instead of the high pitched shitty chorus.
Feels so good - 5
So Al and Mike didn't want this song on the album ("too pop") but Sammy does a nice job here, this stuff suits him. But stop calling it Van Halen! Nice guitar solo! A fade out! I just picture Ed baked to the teeth jamming this shmaltzy number out.
Finish what ya started - 7
Ok, you try and drum like this!!! That's what makes this song. I think Alex is an asshole from watching heaps of interviews, but he is a stellar drummer. Eh Sammy writes like he's 15.
Black and blue - 6.5
Those lyrics are so cheesy. This is one of those songs that sounds heavy, but is really just more filler for an album that doesn't eat much at all. OIH8IT2.
Sucker in a 3 piece - 7
Love the "Ed run the guitar dry" trick he does a few times throughout this song.
Sammy references Dave in this song, singing "I'm on fiiiiiire"
Funny Sam sings about a chick digging a guy only because of his money, yet that's how he pulled them all throughout the 80's, using the Van Halen name. You're all a bunch of suckers!
A Apolitical Blues - 7
It's in these forums somewhere... Van Halen playing this song live somewhere and it sucks. Search for it.
OVERALL RATING - 6.5
Mine All Mine - 9/10
It's a great guitar and keyboard riff. Alex, rid of the octagonals from 5150 sounds amazing from the opening tom flurry to the double kick throughout the verses. I almost expect to hear Roth come chanrging in on the first verse!
So Ed is layering guitar in 1988? Sammy... in some parts pulls it off on this song, the "mine all mine" in the kickdown is reminiscent of A Simple Rhyme.Ooh Alex on that ride in the pre chorus ("Some only see what they wanna see") is very nice. Al and Ed own this song, although I swear I've heard it from the Dave days in a solo spot!
When it's love - 3.5
Urgh. It's a power ballad. In the number 2 spot. Robin Yount often batted #2. Not Gorman Thomas! You don't put "When it's Love" here, but it was 1988 and God bless cocaine etc.
This song - as a Hagar solo track - is good and right down his alley. But not for Van Halen. Funny thing is the song is so lovey, but only Mullet Anthony would remain with the wife that he was with in 1988. Ha ha. Ironic. The lyrics "It'll last for ever" followed by the "nah nah nah nah nah nah." Classic!
A.F.U (Naturally wired) - 7.5
Well it has some real promise until Sammy murders a cat for his first scream. His voice and lyrics, no good. The lead up to the solo... average, although the song has a cool crash ending. I don't really believe the lyrics.
Cabo Wabo - 5.5
Well it's an ad. Sammy is a salesman. And God it goes on and on... I remember on the Live: Right Here Right Now VHS they went from Cabo Wabo into You Really Got Me and back to finish the song. Ha ha, a song advertising Cabo, advertising the Roth era. Cool! Only redeeming quality is those classic Mikey backing vocs - "face down!" The irony, again!
Source Of Infection - 7
Bunch of gibberish. Goes nowhere lyrically. (Fair enough the band has quoted this as a joke song that was only put on the album at the request of suits.) Good jam by EVH and AVH though. Sammy is 5 songs in and is barely treading water, the clear weak link in the band. Although I have hardly heard Mike's bass yet, it's mixed low. Was bass uncool in the late 80's or what (ala Skyscraper?)
This is a fast-paced rocker that Dave could have worked magic with, instead of the high pitched shitty chorus.
Feels so good - 5
So Al and Mike didn't want this song on the album ("too pop") but Sammy does a nice job here, this stuff suits him. But stop calling it Van Halen! Nice guitar solo! A fade out! I just picture Ed baked to the teeth jamming this shmaltzy number out.
Finish what ya started - 7
Ok, you try and drum like this!!! That's what makes this song. I think Alex is an asshole from watching heaps of interviews, but he is a stellar drummer. Eh Sammy writes like he's 15.
Black and blue - 6.5
Those lyrics are so cheesy. This is one of those songs that sounds heavy, but is really just more filler for an album that doesn't eat much at all. OIH8IT2.
Sucker in a 3 piece - 7
Love the "Ed run the guitar dry" trick he does a few times throughout this song.
Sammy references Dave in this song, singing "I'm on fiiiiiire"
Funny Sam sings about a chick digging a guy only because of his money, yet that's how he pulled them all throughout the 80's, using the Van Halen name. You're all a bunch of suckers!
A Apolitical Blues - 7
It's in these forums somewhere... Van Halen playing this song live somewhere and it sucks. Search for it.
OVERALL RATING - 6.5
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