So I’m sitting here as a guy who, thanks largely to his Instagram adventure, has listened to six Van Halen albums in the last two days, and I’m sitting here wondering what the DiS opinion is on a band like Van Halen?
I’ll be honest, I’m sitting here as a guy who really likes a bit of Van Halen. Sure the lyrics are a bit crude, a bit ‘of their time’ and a bit ‘yeah that should probably never be uttered again’, but the music’s a whole lot of fun yeah? Eddie stands apart from the other guitar wankers in that he just sounds like he’s having a great time, and actually dishes out some serious melodies in his admittedly fret-shredding solos. Knew how to slap down a riff or two, too. Alex is having a great time on those drums, and the bass is also happening. Dave having the time of his life belting out some serious choruses, womanising or otherwise, and it’s just the sound of some quality musicians enjoying life.
But what’s the DiS opinion? I can’t call it. Feels like it’d be halfway between ‘yes they actually wrote some great songs’ and ‘can’t get past the terrible lyrics which don’t belong in the 21st century to be honest m8’.
For context, the six albums I’ve listened to are 1, 2, Women and Children First, Fair Warning, Diver Down and 1984. The track I’ve been spinning a whole lot is this:
Thanks for your time.
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I like the drums that sound like an idling muscle car engine at the start of Hot For Teacher. In fact, I really like Hot For Teacher. Can’t really offer much more of an opinion.
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From the same album - what guitar-playing in the intro alone, then that beat displacement that introduces the first verse is just head-spinning, I keep trying to count it and it keeps messing me up!
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I fucking love Van Halen and will not elaborate on or defend this position.
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Eddie was so good. So much more time for him than a Satriani or a Vai. Probably because he had a cool band around him.
Plus he didn’t seem like a massive prick.
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They’re all such musical players! The levels of swing and groove they’ve got going on are absolutely miles from what you’d expect if you just knew them from Jump, they’ve got extreme swagger and real proper finesse. Properly outstanding players.
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would like to get more into them
I mean, I’m craving Mötley Crüe rn and have started dipping my toes into albums, so I should defs do the same with Van Halen
love a bit of shred in the service of good songs
The DLR era was fantastic, people are snobbish about them because of all the crap that was inspired by them but you will not find a better pop punk album than Van Halen 1.
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I’m curious about Vai, because of his association with Devin Townsend
Would get fully behind 1, 2, Women and Children First (second half of it anyway) and 1984. All very good. The other two I hadn’t heard till recently and could take or leave.
noted, on it. like, as I type.
must also echo @hesastopsiiiiign in saying ‘Hot for Teacher’ is a tuuuuune
was reading about EVH’s Frankenstrat last night actually, as the other day I bought a Charvel very much in the spirit of said souped-up strat…
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oh! just that I love Devin, and the fact that Vai gave him his break and is closely associated makes me want to give Vai a go?
I mean he’s a fantastic guitarist, he’s just got that air about him of how much he knows it, and no real tunes behind it.
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I always figured he probably had no tunes, but I guess Devin having loads of tunes made me wonder?
They’re ok. Good musicians. Some good songs.
I think the first album is pretty great - just fun, exciting, spirited rock music - but there are swiftly diminishing returns after that. A band ruined very quickly by success.
My favourite less obvious stuff after the debut:
And for good measure here’s Mr Bungle covering Loss Of Control:
And this will never fail to make me laugh:
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