Van Halen - A Different Kind Of Truth

[Ottmeister X]

Got the new album and it's better than I thought it would be. Roth sounds old and that's a given as I didn't expect any great vocal performances on the album, and I cringe as to how he might sound live on the upcoming tour.

The big highlight is Eddie. He smokes it. Easily the best Eddie since the 1984 album and probably further back than that. It might be my headphones but the editing of the album seems to have placed a strong emphasis on the noise level of the guitar. Regardless, I would have expected some mellowness in his rhythm but listeners could confuse it for some new young kid shredding on the guitar.

Not necessarily a recommendation to purchase the album but worth the listen for any VH or Eddie fan.

[Hiromi]

This is probably the most straightforward hard rock album they've put out since Fair Warning, and without a doubt the best guitar work Eddie's put down in decades. Frankly Roth still sounds good IMO, he doesn't have the power he had back in the 70s but he's more mature as a singer now as well(though his attitude's still there).

[The Black Guardian]

This pleases me. I might have to check it.

[shokosugi]

OMFG this album is MIND BLOWING!

The Mighty Van Halen Returns!

[david r]

I remember in 1988, Nikki Sixx was commenting on OU812 and said, "When are those guys going to make a real rock album?" Well, the year is 2012, and Van Halen have delivered a REAL rock album. This thing has more guitar work than any Van Halen album since the 1970s! And best yet, there is no piano, keyboards or ballads like "When it's Love" to slow it down. Every song rocks hard.

I certainly didn't expect David Lee Roth's return to rock so well. Maybe Van Halen does have a future.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Got the new album and it's better than I thought it would be. Roth sounds old and that's a given as I didn't expect any great vocal performances on the album, and I cringe as to how he might sound live on the upcoming tour.

The big highlight is Eddie. He smokes it. Easily the best Eddie since the 1984 album and probably further back than that. It might be my headphones but the editing of the album seems to have placed a strong emphasis on the noise level of the guitar. Regardless, I would have expected some mellowness in his rhythm but listeners could confuse it for some new young kid shredding on the guitar.

Not necessarily a recommendation to purchase the album but worth the listen for any VH or Eddie fan.

Hmmm... reconsidering listening to this now.

To be honest, the song Tattoo turned me off to this CD. They should have picked a better track to spotlight.

That said, I've always preferred VH with Roth than Hagar, although overall I prefer Hagar to Roth when they do solo stuff.

[ImpulseUCF]

I agree that Tattoo wasn't the most impressive song, but it's easily the weakest point on the record, and it's not THAT bad, so it's all up hill. Eddie just KILLS IT on this.

[Alton]

There is no Truth to VH they are all about cheezy schlock which is why they are so popular.Forget eddies guitar work and listen to Tosin Abasi's You tube videos.Animals as Leaders rocks! Van Halen is about as relevant as Bon Jovi.

[Ottmeister X]

To each his own. Eddie VH is no slouch and my guess is if you interviewed Tosin Abasi he would probably indicate that Eddie was at least a minor influence in his learning of the guitar (as much as that may behoove you). VH is relevant in rock history, much more so than Bon Jovi.

There are many awesome guitarists out there. Thanks for at least making me aware of another one but I'm not sure how Abasi's style contradicts anything Eddie has ever done to "forget him". Different styles, apples and oranges.

[Hiromi]

Oh my a very good guitarist using a gimmick guitar, certainly nothing against him or his talent but he's using the two handed tapping technique that Eddie made famous. Comparing VH to Bon Jovi just marks you as ignorant in my eyes.

[Alton]

Oh my a very good guitarist using a gimmick guitar, certainly nothing against him or his talent but he's using the two handed tapping technique that Eddie made famous. Comparing VH to Bon Jovi just marks you as ignorant in my eyes.

Actually this 2 handed technique was around before Eddie but in the overall context of Van Halen ( the bands cheezy schlock) it hardly matters how good Eddie may be.Abasi's technique is couched in terms of a progressive context that employs metal/fusion and played on a guitar that is hardly a gimmick.The fact that you recognise none of this shows how ignorant you are.

[ImpulseUCF]

Hi Alton, nice of you to come in here and shit in everyone's Cheerios. We get it, you don't like VH. All good. That doesn't change the fact Eddie is an excellent guitar player and they've written a lot of catchy, time-tested tunes. Rather than cheesy schlock, I'd say their thing was more light-hearted, even childish and immature, boisterous fun. That's why they are successful. They were a party, feel-good, blistering rock band, and there's nothing wrong with that. Other good guitar players existing does not negate any of this.

[Alton]

To each his own. Eddie VH is no slouch and my guess is if you interviewed Tosin Abasi he would probably indicate that Eddie was at least a minor influence in his learning of the guitar (as much as that may behoove you). VH is relevant in rock history, much more so than Bon Jovi.

There are many awesome guitarists out there. Thanks for at least making me aware of another one but I'm not sure how Abasi's style contradicts anything Eddie has ever done to "forget him". Different styles, apples and oranges.

Actually there are too many awesome guitarists out there it seems.I'm glad you have an open mind to what Abasi is laying down right now.I think as I explained in another post here is that Eddie has never progressed beyond VH.If there is a Shrapnel Records jam or some self released material by Eddie out there, I don't know about it.I think Chickenfoot (Hagar,Satriani,Anthony,)is in the same vein and a heckuva lot more fun in this party rock format.I'm not a big fan of Hagar either.In another context to some extent check out Guthrie Govan a guy who has appeared in different formats.My point is not to denegrate Eddie but hope newer VH releases and tours will put him in a position to show up at the Baked Potato or Yoshi's and cut a real guitar session.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Eddie does seem a little locked into his "sound" and niche.

It's why I prefer Eric Johnson to Eddie.

[Alton]

Eddie does seem a little locked into his "sound" and niche.

It's why I prefer Eric Johnson to Eddie.

Johnson is waay cool and a guy I hope to see live one day.Have you checked out his Electromagnets one shot? Not what I was expecting but very good.Not sure where it fits in career/date wise.