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No disrespect to the diehard Roth fans in the sheep pen, but your fanclub has ZERO credibility! Why? Because the pen was started by a sheep himself. That's why I hate the fucking sheep pen. Just close down the pen, for the sake of the good posters within the organization, like Matt White and David Flamma etc etc.
Sheep Pen Founder Rikk
Rikk
Eruption
Posts: 1,160 (0.48 per day)
Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Join Date: 02.29.00
Favorite VH Album: 1984
Favorite VH Song: Unchained
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Okay. I hope I'm not repeating an earlier critique. I've been away from the Forum for a while. I've always found this album (OU812) to be extremely under-rated by other VH fans. I've read a ton of fans posts claiming it's their least favorite Sammy album. And you know what? It's my favorite. I personally think it's their most exciting and groundbreaking record with Sammy simply because Eddie is trying so many different things here, and it works, melodically and with a great punch. Only problem, the album is recorded pretty poorly in a lot of spots. Here's my critique. Be interested to read why other fans don't like the album as much as I do (or do actually like it).
MINE ALL MINE: I think it's a good opener. Not the best song on the album, but a really good feel. Great live when I saw 'em in Toronto in '95. That was a big surprise. Sammy does a good job. Typical Eddie synth-song.
WHEN IT'S LOVE: Overplayed now, but what a catchy melody. I'm really tired of it, but have to admit it's a helluva well-written piece of pop music. Sammy is amazing on this one. Truly incredible (and this coming from a Dave fan!).
A.F.U.: What I like about this is you really feel like you've just walked into 5150 and the band is just jamming on some new riffs. It may not be the best constructed song ever, but it's so loose. Eddie is amazing. Riff after incredible riff. And I hate to say it, but the band stopped playing stuff like this (with that old feeling) right after this album.
CABO WABO: Brilliant song. Just amazing. Another one where Sammy does everything right. His lyrics really give the song a purpose. He really loves this place he's singing about. Mike's back-ups (with Eddie) are awesome in the chorus. The band really sound like they love playing together. One of their most unique tracks. (Good on the live album as well.)
SOURCE OF INFECTION: This is the album's first real let-down. It simply goes nowhere. It sounds like Sammy didn't take the time to write any lyrics. The music is typical, early VH-era Eddie. It would have been great if the vocalist had actually written a great melody and some kick-ass lyrics (in other words, Dave would have done an amazing job with this one). But there's...nothing. And the chorus is really annoying. Too bad.
FEELS SO GOOD: Always liked this one. It's a really catchy pop song. If fans can understand the difference between this inspired piece of Eddie's mind and the pretentious slop that's going on in ONCE, they'll understand why this was played on the radio a lot and ONCE wasn't.
FINISH WHAT YA STARTED: This is my least favorite song on the album. I simply don't like anything about it (except for Eddie's cool solo). It's just really boring and sounds like bad country to me. The lyrics are really juvenile (Sammy bitched about how Dave had nothing to say lyrically??), and the melody and groove are just not what I want to hear from Van Halen.
BLACK AND BLUE: My favorite cut on the album. I simply love the riff, the groove, the drums, the little jam part at the end with Alex hitting the cowbell, the background vocals, Sammy's melody. It's perfect. Wasn't this the first thing cut for the album? Anyway, I think it's great. It's poppy enough to be catchy for other audiences, but it rocks enough to sound like the band playing live in the studio and definitely has enough punch to be a good homage to Led Zeppelin. One of my favorite Sammy tracks (up there with HUMANS BEING).
SUCKER IN A 3 PIECE: Not a big favorite of mine. Sounds like the band was jamming live in the studio and the tape happened to be rolling. Perhaps this is why fans don't respond as well to this album as other ones. Because it's possibly their most loosely-created album (hey, no producer!). This one could be considered fun (Eddie plays great), but not much of a song.
A APOLITICAL BLUES: This is technically only an extra track, so I won't put down the album for including it. But it's nothing special. Sounds like it was recorded with only two mikes in a room. Nothing great. Too much of Sammy's musical ideas in here and not enough of Eddie's.
Anyway, I think it's a great album. I love listening to it because I feel like I'm really getting to listen to some typical and unpolished work in 5150 before the producer polishes it up too much.
__________________
I say boycott the sheep pen, just like when teenage girls smashed their cd's, when they found out milli vanilli was lip synching! End the sheep pen, and restore dignity to the David Lee Roth Army.
Thank-you.
Goodnight.
Sheep Pen Founder Rikk
Rikk
Eruption
Posts: 1,160 (0.48 per day)
Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Join Date: 02.29.00
Favorite VH Album: 1984
Favorite VH Song: Unchained
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay. I hope I'm not repeating an earlier critique. I've been away from the Forum for a while. I've always found this album (OU812) to be extremely under-rated by other VH fans. I've read a ton of fans posts claiming it's their least favorite Sammy album. And you know what? It's my favorite. I personally think it's their most exciting and groundbreaking record with Sammy simply because Eddie is trying so many different things here, and it works, melodically and with a great punch. Only problem, the album is recorded pretty poorly in a lot of spots. Here's my critique. Be interested to read why other fans don't like the album as much as I do (or do actually like it).
MINE ALL MINE: I think it's a good opener. Not the best song on the album, but a really good feel. Great live when I saw 'em in Toronto in '95. That was a big surprise. Sammy does a good job. Typical Eddie synth-song.
WHEN IT'S LOVE: Overplayed now, but what a catchy melody. I'm really tired of it, but have to admit it's a helluva well-written piece of pop music. Sammy is amazing on this one. Truly incredible (and this coming from a Dave fan!).
A.F.U.: What I like about this is you really feel like you've just walked into 5150 and the band is just jamming on some new riffs. It may not be the best constructed song ever, but it's so loose. Eddie is amazing. Riff after incredible riff. And I hate to say it, but the band stopped playing stuff like this (with that old feeling) right after this album.
CABO WABO: Brilliant song. Just amazing. Another one where Sammy does everything right. His lyrics really give the song a purpose. He really loves this place he's singing about. Mike's back-ups (with Eddie) are awesome in the chorus. The band really sound like they love playing together. One of their most unique tracks. (Good on the live album as well.)
SOURCE OF INFECTION: This is the album's first real let-down. It simply goes nowhere. It sounds like Sammy didn't take the time to write any lyrics. The music is typical, early VH-era Eddie. It would have been great if the vocalist had actually written a great melody and some kick-ass lyrics (in other words, Dave would have done an amazing job with this one). But there's...nothing. And the chorus is really annoying. Too bad.
FEELS SO GOOD: Always liked this one. It's a really catchy pop song. If fans can understand the difference between this inspired piece of Eddie's mind and the pretentious slop that's going on in ONCE, they'll understand why this was played on the radio a lot and ONCE wasn't.
FINISH WHAT YA STARTED: This is my least favorite song on the album. I simply don't like anything about it (except for Eddie's cool solo). It's just really boring and sounds like bad country to me. The lyrics are really juvenile (Sammy bitched about how Dave had nothing to say lyrically??), and the melody and groove are just not what I want to hear from Van Halen.
BLACK AND BLUE: My favorite cut on the album. I simply love the riff, the groove, the drums, the little jam part at the end with Alex hitting the cowbell, the background vocals, Sammy's melody. It's perfect. Wasn't this the first thing cut for the album? Anyway, I think it's great. It's poppy enough to be catchy for other audiences, but it rocks enough to sound like the band playing live in the studio and definitely has enough punch to be a good homage to Led Zeppelin. One of my favorite Sammy tracks (up there with HUMANS BEING).
SUCKER IN A 3 PIECE: Not a big favorite of mine. Sounds like the band was jamming live in the studio and the tape happened to be rolling. Perhaps this is why fans don't respond as well to this album as other ones. Because it's possibly their most loosely-created album (hey, no producer!). This one could be considered fun (Eddie plays great), but not much of a song.
A APOLITICAL BLUES: This is technically only an extra track, so I won't put down the album for including it. But it's nothing special. Sounds like it was recorded with only two mikes in a room. Nothing great. Too much of Sammy's musical ideas in here and not enough of Eddie's.
Anyway, I think it's a great album. I love listening to it because I feel like I'm really getting to listen to some typical and unpolished work in 5150 before the producer polishes it up too much.
__________________
I say boycott the sheep pen, just like when teenage girls smashed their cd's, when they found out milli vanilli was lip synching! End the sheep pen, and restore dignity to the David Lee Roth Army.
Thank-you.
Goodnight.
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