mancity2012_eamo
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I suppose it scrapes a pass. A 4, but in fairness I’ll up it to a D +, a 5.
The Album Review Club - Week #147 - (page 1942) - Blonde On Blonde - Bob Dylan
- Thread starter RobMCFC
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mancity2012_eamo
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5. It’s just not me.
Citizen of Legoland
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I too struggle with early, and late, Van Halen. The only album I really like of theirs is 5150 (and OU812 is okay, but I gave up on them after that). My brother had 1984 but I didn't rate it at the time and due to my dislike of Roth's vocal style - not a hatred, just not my preference - I hardly played that album and certainly didn't investigate their earlier stuff as a result.
Therefore, this is the first time I've heard this particular nomination. I liked some of the intros and the guitars of EVH but it isn't something I'd listen to again. The two tracks towards the end of the album were the ones I preferred, the ZZ Top-like "Take Your Whiskey Home" and the whimsical "Could This Be Magic?". As good as they are as musicians, sometimes my ears just need something slower & calmer, it's always been the case for me.
6/10
Therefore, this is the first time I've heard this particular nomination. I liked some of the intros and the guitars of EVH but it isn't something I'd listen to again. The two tracks towards the end of the album were the ones I preferred, the ZZ Top-like "Take Your Whiskey Home" and the whimsical "Could This Be Magic?". As good as they are as musicians, sometimes my ears just need something slower & calmer, it's always been the case for me.
6/10
Saddleworth2
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I have given it a listen and have to admit it made me feel a little funny. Almost not myself..
….Let me bring you up to speed. My name is Wayne Campbell. I live in Aurora, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago – excellent. I’ve had plenty of jo-jobs; nothing I’d call a career. Let me put it this way: I have an extensive collection of name tags and hairnets. Ok, so I still live with my parents, which I admit is bogus and sad. However, I do have a cable access show, and I still know how to party. But what I’d really like is to do Wayne’s World for a living. It might happen. Yeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt.”
….Let me bring you up to speed. My name is Wayne Campbell. I live in Aurora, Illinois, which is a suburb of Chicago – excellent. I’ve had plenty of jo-jobs; nothing I’d call a career. Let me put it this way: I have an extensive collection of name tags and hairnets. Ok, so I still live with my parents, which I admit is bogus and sad. However, I do have a cable access show, and I still know how to party. But what I’d really like is to do Wayne’s World for a living. It might happen. Yeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt.”
mancity2012_eamo
Well-Known Member
I liked the last two songs best also.
OB1
Well-Known Member
There you go. Most people like the first two best.
MCFCTrick
Well-Known Member
My immediate circle of friends were very much of the same mind. The Zep/Sabbath/Purple/Yes/Genesis UK bands were their pinnacle. They did like the American bands, but never seemed to believe they equaled those mentioned. (Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blue Oyster Cult excepted strangely)
VH were the band that really opened my eyes (ears) to the US side of things. I heard Alan Freeman play them on his 3-m Saturday show, and it was a real 'Wow!' moment. Like OB1, I had the album before seeing them supporting Sabbath at the Apollo.
I adored all their albums with DLR. Despite his shortcomings as a singer ... like I care in the slightest ... he was the icing on the cake that made them so unique. With him, they were Van FUCKING Halen!!!
Without him, they wasn't bad, but just another 'good hard rock band'.
I loved Aerosmith as much too. But not after their clean up/bland out, when they became likewise just another good rock band ... Also got to discover other more obscure (to me) US bands through a then girlfriend, and her brother's and mates who were into such as Starz, Angel etc. But VH were the pinnacle, and Women & Children First is an easy 9/10 for me.
FogBlueInSanFran
Well-Known Member
Problem with this record isn’t EVH, God knows, or DLR. Problem is a number of the songs can’t hold a candle to VH I, VH II, 1984, Fair Warning nor quite a bit of Diver Down (which has some pretty dynamite covers). Opening two go into the canon, obviously, and I always liked “Take Your Whiskey Home” too. But “Fools” through “Loss of Control” aren’t much fun, and don’t really have hooks despite how scorching the solos and the fills are. But IMO it’s their weakest stretch of consecutive songs in the DLR era. “Could This Be Magic?” is the kind of tune that makes this band a little special though — goofy DLR, ridiculous chorus, and old acoustic Eddie (and Dave!) rolling along. “In A Simple Rhyme” is as “Rush-y” as they ever got with all the time signature changes and it’s a poor substitute, though okay for what it is. I’ve talked before about song vs sound bands, and the reason I like VH is that they’re a sound band who knew not only how to craft a lot of terrific tunes, but also because they picked great tunes to cover and made them their own.
But I think this is their thinnest collection of songs during the Roth era. Still it’s a 6/10 for the good ones, and that includes an extra point for every EVH show-off solo on the others.
For those of you who struggled with it, try the first two records, and I think you’ll hear something with just as many fireworks, but tighter, and with more hooks.
But I think this is their thinnest collection of songs during the Roth era. Still it’s a 6/10 for the good ones, and that includes an extra point for every EVH show-off solo on the others.
For those of you who struggled with it, try the first two records, and I think you’ll hear something with just as many fireworks, but tighter, and with more hooks.
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