Ok Boys and Girls...

[ELVIS]

Featuring DAVID LEE ROTH!


First of all, the last time I purchased an album on it's release date was Your Filthy Little Mouth way back in 1994, so as you can see, new music rarely gets me excited...

This latest Van Halen tribute, Strummin With The Devil grabbed my attention immediately when Dave gave us a preview on the GRATE Roth Radio...

So, I took off at six O'clock this morning on a quest to find this album, and I did, at walmart for $13.88...

I'm not really a country or bluegrass fan at all, but I can recognize and appreciate a good country song, especially when it has good musicianship, and that's where this album shines...

The songs are classic and the playing is really on fire at times...

Actually, my first taste of bluegrass was in the early 80's, when my mom bought a Ricky Skaggs album that was full of hot guitar licks...


Ok, some of my thoughts...


The first song, Jump, sucks...

I think Dave does a poor job, although not nearly as bad as Ice Cream Man 2...

I never liked Jump AT ALL, and I'm not looking foward to hearing Dave butcher the vocals on Leno later tonight...

Jamie's Cryin' is next and is 100 times better than Jump, and although Dave's fake southern accent makes me cringe, the song is very nice and he really does a nice job...

One thing this song does is confirm Dave's ability to supply vocals on a future Van Halen reunion album, but the clock is ticking... faster and faster!

My favorite song on the album is the third song, I'll Wait...

I always liked the song and this version is beautiful and it clearly demonstrates the clever song writing ability of Mr. Edward Van Halen...

Another personal favorite that I think lends itself suprisingly well to bluegrass is And The cradle Will Rock...

Awesome playing, although I think it's too short at 3:41, compared to the six minutes and seventeen seconds of I'll Wait...

Eruption on banjo is a cool touch, as is an all instrumental Hot for Teacher...impressive!


Overall, I think Strummin With the Devil is GRATE, and a must have for any Van Halen die-hard...


Maybe the success of this project will have what it takes to get Edward's attention...

A real Van Halen album following this would be SWEET!

[ELVIS]

Hmmm...

I can't believe I posted that with no pics...

[Redballjets88]

this is like the most pushed tribute album i have ever seen

[Satan]

Strummin with ME.

Buy it now, or you're going to Heaven! :D

[ELVIS]

Strummin' with the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen - A Tribute Featuring David Lee Roth





From the get-go, Van Halen proved breathtaking and ballsy in equal measure. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons “Strummin’ with the Devil” works so well.

In its own hard-pickin’ way, this collection offers a similar sense of musical discovery. Here are those same still-sharp rock gems we know and love retooled using a different sort of metal.

Come to think about it, bluegrass and Van Halen have much in common – including an emphasis on exceptional instrumental prowess and timeless tales of everyday drama played out in great songs of haunting and enduring power.

Having David Lee Roth, the man himself, kick off this party celebrating the timeless music of which he was such an essential part is more than just thrilling - it’s downright moving. Could this be magic? Definitely.

[m_dixon1984]

Elvis,
Are you sure Dave's playing Jump tonight? I thought I heard that Jamie's Cryin' was going to be the first single released and played on the talk show circuit. I can't remember where I heard this unfortunately.

M

[ELVIS]

I hope it's Jamie's Cryin'...

I really have no idea, I was just speculating earlier...:D

[diamondsgirl]

Mine should be arriving from Amazon today.

Thanks for the review Elvis.

Happy Birthday Satan!! :D

[ELVIS]

CAN THIS NIGGA' GET A STICKY ??

[binnie]

i'm gonna have to get this thing on import....

[Douglas T.]

Got mine at Best Buy! They only had two in stock!? Maybe a bunch of folks was there ahead of me ... an hour after they opened! No big display .... not in the cuntry section ... not in the VH section! can't sell them if they ain't there to buy!
The cd back side cover art has that nice write up Elvis posted:
"From the get-go, Van Halen proved breathtaking ..... Could this be magic? Definitely. "
That was a nice write! I didn't listen to much of the internet releases so I would be buying a disc that I already heard! I hear some that sound like Bluegrass and some that just sound like slowed up VH covers! I'll post my thought on each song after all this settles in!

[DLRISVH7884]

I bit he'll do "Jump" tonight on Leno, since it's the most wide known VH song.

[WOAHYEAH]

I looked for it in the mall, but they didn't have it, maybe I'll try Walmart later.

[Bill Lumbergh]

I'm definitely picking this up later today..........

[Big Troubles]

i got mine in the mail yesterday and Im enjoying it. I dont like Jump, as I never really did, except for Daves range on the original.

BTW, Daves playing Jamies Cryin' tonight on Leno as well as on Ferguson on the 9th. This is the song they are pushing for radio release and is the song they are hoping catches fire on radio stations all summer.