Lessons Learned: The 2012 Van Halen Tour

[ZahZoo]

Because they're not skilled at recording a loud live band, for one thing...

But classic Van Halen was recorded on a tube console and analog tape, both which offer compression and a warmth that is unobtainable with digital recording equipment...

Not that Digital is bad, BTW...

But in VH's case the primary source is all analog... Ed's 5150 III amps and Wolf's 5150 III and Fender amps... all tube. No electronic drums... All captured through analog mics. The digital consoles and storage actually enable more of that sweet analog tube warmth to be captured... of course it also enables you to capture sounds only dogs and whales can hear... I suspect that's part of the "digital" problem...

[ZahZoo]

Kristy just wants attention.

Ah... but don't we all in one way, shape, or form...

[Carloscda]

Talking about lyrics & gestures, per Dave at the US Fest
"We wanted to turn the equipment around and play with our butts to the crowd so everybody i'll be backstage"

No one is better than Dave

[78/84 guy]

It's obvious she's just trolling. Why would anybody take her seriously.

I don't think anyone really does. Why would you ? I couldn't care less what anyone posts on here. It doesn't change my life at the end of the day ! It's just fun to rip her. It's fun to rip anyone that negative. If she doesn't like the new album I could care less really. It just shows she has bad taste in music in my book. It's not their best album. But it's really good for 3 guy's in their 50's. Dave lyrics are great throughout. His voice falls short for me on a few songs but he's not 30 anymore. I do agree the mix isn't that great. I find it hard to believe that 3 guy's that have been around recording for so long could listen to that final mix and think it sounds great. It will need a remastering some day.

[ThrillsNSpills]

Ed is just WAILING on this one.

[78/84 guy]

I think that is one of his best solo's on the album.

[GreenEyedMurder]

LOL --- "inane lyrics" --- ADKOT had some of Dave's coolest philosophical thoughts on display.

You are definitely one of the most clueless cunts I've seen around here.

The more I listened to ADKOT, the more I realized just how intricately artful the lyrics are. Very subtle.

[DFVH5150]

I agree with everything except I think it was necessary for Dave to hit the extra high cringe yelps because his normal mid-range voice (that we all love) is the area that gave him trouble the entire tour...

He's been having that same trouble with his mid-range on and off since Skyscraper, and that combined with an obvious illness this last tour, Dave's voice was pretty much toast...

he kicked ass here though...

DLR...God, is that man hilarious. He's funnier than most comedians in the world. Seriously.

[Zing!]

Don't forget continually signing autographs onstage, total bush league...

Doing that on-stage in his shitty Mexican watering hole is one thing. It's his joint, he can feed his galactic ego however he wants. Doing it under the 'Van Halen' moniker like he did in 2004 is just goddamn embarrassing (even more than the entire production and state of the band already was). Sad to think how far Ed had sunk at that point. Al's umpteen divorces hopefully got settled from that train wreck.