Balance

**Raldo** · 03.29.01, 07:49 AM

Back to listening to 'Balance' this week. I've gotta say that some of the songs sound better now then the did back in '95. 'Take Me Back' is a fun song while 'Baluchitherium' sounds absolutely huge. 'The Seventh Seal' is still a nice way to open the album. Also, thumbs up to Ed's solo in 'Feelin'. One thing I did notice was that Sammy's voice didn't sound enthusiastic. I don't want to say flat but he put's more feeling into 1013 then he did on this album.

**Dan Halen** · 03.29.01, 08:51 AM

Balance is probably my favorite Van Halen album with Sammy, it's the one that got me into them. The Seventh Seal, Don't Tell Me, Aftershock, and Feelin' are great songs.

**homeunit** · 03.29.01, 11:22 AM

I think the think with Sams voice on Balance is due to the fact that he was screaming his balls off for a good part of it.

His range isn't naturally that high. If you listen to 1013, the melody line are right in his strong range so he can let her rip.

I think Sams stuff with VH really pushed his comfort zone in his voice. The result was cool, but I wouldn't want that gig, ouch!

**AbeVanHalen** · 03.29.01, 04:35 PM

I know the purists will slag me, but I feel that Balance not only has the best production of any VH record, it's Eddie's best tone. [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] (just my opinion)

**KenyonVincent** · 03.29.01, 04:35 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dan Halen:
Balance is probably my favorite Van Halen album with Sammy, it's the one that got me into them.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Lead Synth would be proud! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] It's my favorite Sammy-era album too. FUCK was my first, so Balance was next. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] It's a cool album. Take Me Back has good harmonies and Feelin' has the background vocals that the live versions don't. Just to think I hated Feelin'. I don't understand why everyone hates Big Fat Money. [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img]

**jimmy** · 03.29.01, 07:58 PM

I think Homeunit is right on this one. I think Ed was really pushing Sam on a lot of stuff. Listen to the live version of "Don't Tell Me", Sam can barely get through it. He really can't sing the chorus. He stops and starts and is breathing real heavy, and I think they were "tuned down" for Sam live.

Balance is my favorite Sam record. Great riffs. Great production. Great album. Just enough cheese to keep me happy, het soulful enough to make me proud.

**KenyonVincent** · 03.29.01, 08:47 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jimmy:
Listen to the live version of "Don't Tell Me", Sam can barely get through it. He really can't sing the chorus.

Great production.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I loved that version really [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] It wasn't too bad. And the production I think is about the best from any VH record yet. Oh wait, VHIII had the best! [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

**Glenn** · 03.29.01, 08:53 PM

Reading this thread made me pull Balance out and listen to it in the car today. It's a great album, but as has been said, Sammy seems to be reaching to high in some of the songs. Not that he doesn't pull it off generally, but it's a bit much at times.

**Glenn** · 03.29.01, 08:54 PM

BTW, the live version on the fan club show in Holland is pretty brutal for vocals on Don't Tell Me. I'm surprised they even bothered to play it Sammy was struggling so much with it.

**Stuff No More** · 03.30.01, 04:36 AM

Yeah, we all recall the story about the producer of 5150 suggesting Sammy sing it up a notch for Dreams and it working so well that Eddie pushed Sammy (and later Gary) on practically every song since.

Actually, that's probably my only gripe about Balance. Sammy sings so far above my range that I can't hope to sing along [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]

**seriousjuju** · 03.30.01, 07:49 PM

balance kicks ass. i can't believe so many people don't like that album.

**RAFTER** · 03.30.01, 09:43 PM

Greatest vh album ever made. Sams voice rules. Eds tone rules... I rule

**Lead Synth** · 03.30.01, 11:20 PM

I love Balance. It's the album that got me into VH. Eddie sounds absolutely amazing on it.

**hrothnagar** · 03.30.01, 11:35 PM

To me a sign of a great album is when you hear it, you remember the first time you heard it. And Balance sure does that for me, but there's a few darker clouds that come with that album for Van Halen fans (some of 'em anyway). As much as I like Balance, I call it the S.A.D. album. While this might not have a whole lot to do with the album and the songs on it, it describes the situation around VH at the time.

S is for Sobreity. I'm not advocating alcholism at all, but this certainly had something to do with this album. I think that Ed went from Eddie Van Halen to Mr. Edward Van Halen with this album. Whether that's good for bad is an opinion.

A is for Amsterdam. Is has a little to do with the control thing. If Eddie really thought that Sammy's lyrics were that bad or disrespectful, then why did the song make the album? I don't think that Sammy was telling anyone to smoke pot in Amsterdam. It's a part of the culture there. If Ed wanted to be a cultural diplomat then why was it okay to sing about being drunk in Cabo San Lucas? If it's because Ed's not from Cabo, well... Ed's not really from Amsterdam.

D is for Danniels. Nuff said.

**KenyonVincent** · 03.31.01, 12:38 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by hrothnagar:
It has a little to do with the control thing. If Eddie really thought that Sammy's lyrics were that bad or disrespectful, then why did the song make the album?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Exactly what I think. Same with Sammy only doing the same Dave-era songs. If Eddie really wanted to do them, he coulda told Sammy to do them or just leave. Sam coulda really sung the hell outta Jamie's Cryin' or Pretty Woman.