Strummin with the Devil

**metro3454** · 11.19.06, 01:00 AM

Hey everyone, I know the CD came out a few months ago but I just purchased Strummin with the Devil and I really gotta say I was pleasantly surprised. I bought it just cause i love to hear dave sing any tune, but I found myself really liking the way the bluegrass bands interpreted the material. Its almost like they stripped away the noise and hollering on van halen songs and the melody shines through as a result. Of course theres nothing like the originals, but I loved most of the remakes. Favorites by far are Dance the Night Away and I'll Wait. Anyone else have comments?

**diamondsgirl** · 11.19.06, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by metro3454

Hey everyone, I know the CD came out a few months ago but I just purchased Strummin with the Devil and I really gotta say I was pleasantly surprised. I bought it just cause i love to hear dave sing any tune, but I found myself really liking the way the bluegrass bands interpreted the material. Its almost like they stripped away the noise and hollering on van halen songs and the melody shines through as a result. Of course theres nothing like the originals, but I loved most of the remakes. Favorites by far are Dance the Night Away and I'll Wait. Anyone else have comments?

I never really liked JUMP or I'll Wait and so I thought the bluegrass versions were better sounding than the originals. But, I like the originals of all the other songs better. I especially disliked what they did to Jamie's Cryin.

That being said, I am glad Dave was a part of this album. I think it showed his versatility as a singer (like we didn't already know

) as well as his willingness to always try something new. The best thing of all is that he exposed his awesome lyrics to a whole different audience.

I give him props for this even though it was not my cup of tea. I personally would have preferred a blues album.

**fast98dodge** · 11.19.06, 07:08 PM

The version of I'll Wait is total kickass on that album... It gives the song a whole different feel and takes it to a different level, not a higher or lower level, let's say side to side...

**dropdeadlegs** · 11.19.06, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by diamondsgirl

I never really liked JUMP or I'll Wait and so I thought the bluegrass versions were better sounding than the originals. But, I like the originals of all the other songs better. I especially disliked what they did to Jamie's Cryin.

That being said, I am glad Dave was a part of this album. I think it showed his versatility as a singer (like we didn't already know

) as well as his willingness to always try something new. The best thing of all is that he exposed his awesome lyrics to a whole different audience.

I give him props for this even though it was not my cup of tea. I personally would have preferred a blues album.

Diamondsgirl, you seem to have a knack for posting stuff I was already thinkin'.

I think I'm in love

**Ian Sane** · 11.19.06, 10:10 PM

I just take this album at face value. It's a fun disc.

Clearly the musicians involved have a deep respect & admiration for the tunes they worked on. Having Dave sing on a couple of tunes only made it a little more authentic.

I'm not a big bluegrass fan, but evey so often it's a disc worth pulling out just to hear something a bit different, yet familiar at the same time...

AT · 01.27.07, 03:31 PM

I didn't buy the disc. I'll get to it, eventually, along with the other 20,000 albums I still want to own. I did hear most of it, though. The musicians and arrangements are fucking k-i-l-l-e-r. I'm not one to really judge something by its genre; the chords are all the same in the end. I really, really enjoyed what they did with the tunes and how some bits (solos) were note-for-note.