OU812, For Unlawful, and Balance REVIEW

[Mean_Street]

OU812

: Van Halen broke open the pop innovations of 5150 with OU812, their second album with Sammy Hagar. On OU812, Hagar's direct approach is fully incorporated into the group, as the band churns out straightahead heavy rockers like "Black and Blue" and pulsing power ballads like "Feels So Good." Under Eddie's direction, the group adds a couple of stylistic quirks — from the chicken-picking of "Finish What You Started" and the Hawaiian flourishes of "Cabo Wabo" to the driving, jazz-inflected metallic "Mine All Mine" — which make OU812 one of the band's most intriguing and rewarding albums. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine

[Mean_Street]

FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE

The smirking title indicates the true nature of For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, Van Halen's third album with Sammy Hagar. Backing away from the diversity of OU812, the band turns in some of the most basic, straightforward rock & roll of their career. At times, F.U.C.K. recalls the sleek hard rock of Hagar's early-'80s albums, and it's undeniable that his limited vocal power had a great deal to do with the obvious nature of most of this music. While the band is still tight and professional — and Eddie's guitar-work remains impressive — the songwriting is, by and large, undistinguished, with the anthemic "Right Now" standing out as the most memorable song of the batch, mainly because of its incessant chorus. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine

[Mean_Street]

BALANCE

Balance tries to open up the Van Hagar formula somewhat. Eddie Van Halen sincerely attempts to improve the group musically, by adding more subtle and assured ballads and more fearless rockers. No matter how hard he tries, he's weighed down by the most predictable rhythm section in all of rock & roll, which gives each number the same unvarying deadlocked pulse, completely obliterating Eddie's increased musical sensitivity. Of course, he isn't helped by Hagar, either. Hagar also tries to follow the social conscious that served him so well on "Right Now," as the first single "(Don't Tell Me What) Love Can Do." Unfortunately, he can't help himself and slips back to the raucous partying of "Amsterdam" — you know, the place where they're allowed to smoke pot and stuff. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine

[NxtVanHalen.]

I always enjoy reading reviews. But here are my reviews.
5150-Great album with a few exceptions. Eddie and Sam really show great chemistry. I am glad Eddie didn't try to replace Dave. While I like Sammy alot he is probaly one of my favorite singers and people but As we all know Dave is irreplaceable. I really like "5150" and Summer nights but I hate Inside
OU812-to POPish. didn't like it at all with the exception of Finish what you started and AFU naturaly wired. Cabo wabo was cool too.
FUCK-great album. I love Judgement Day and Man on a mission. I like Dream is over and Top of the world too. RIght now was really good lyricly and came togeather nicely as a song
Balance- Nice and serious on some and a little pop on some tracks. I liked the song Not enough. I think it was a little more heart felt than can't stop loving you. And the solo was more present you can really feel it. Feeling was a kicking song.

I could go on more about 5150 Fuck and Balance but I won't in this post.

[ February 08, 2002 at 04:22 PM: Message edited by: NxtVanHalen. ]</p>

[Doucet]

Post the review of 5150. It's pretty flattering to the band, especially Hagar. I find it quite ironic that in the 5150 review it says that Sammy has "Incredible pipes, and is a proven force on stage". Then in the FUCK review, it says the songs are mostly straight-ahead, just like most of Sammy's solo material, because of Hagar's "obvious limited vocal power".

Different writers, probably, but these guys are talking out of both sides of their mouth.

[THEMrBrownSound]

"...still weighed down by the most predictable rhythm section in rock 'n' roll..."

And this guy actually gets PAID for this crap?!!

Seriously, that idiotic statement alone proves just what a clueless mofo this dink really is.

SBS

[Mean_Street]

nope, its the same guy who wrote all of them

[strungout]

Originally posted by SirBrownSound:
[QBSeriously, that idiotic statement alone proves just what a clueless mofo this dink really is.

SBS[/QB]

Not to mention the fact that he says Eddie "can't help himself and slips back to the raucous partying of "Amsterdam" — you know, the place where they're allowed to smoke pot and stuff."

That's total bullshit. The music of that song is amazing. The lyrics are 100%, completely Sammy's.

This guy don't know shit.

[lovemachine97]

Originally posted by strungout:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by SirBrownSound:
[QBSeriously, that idiotic statement alone proves just what a clueless mofo this dink really is.

SBS

Not to mention the fact that he says Eddie "can't help himself and slips back to the raucous partying of "Amsterdam" — you know, the place where they're allowed to smoke pot and stuff."

That's total bullshit. The music of that song is amazing. The lyrics are 100%, completely Sammy's.

This guy don't know shit.[/QB]</font>[/QUOTE]He never said Eddie wrote the lyrics. In fact, if you reread it, he alludes to the fact That Hagar wrote them.

[jdogg5150]

Originally posted by Mean_Street:
OU812

: Van Halen broke open the pop innovations of 5150 with OU812, their second album with Sammy Hagar. On OU812, Hagar's direct approach is fully incorporated into the group, as the band churns out straightahead heavy rockers like "Black and Blue" and pulsing power ballads like "Feels So Good." Under Eddie's direction, the group adds a couple of stylistic quirks — from the chicken-picking of "Finish What You Started" and the Hawaiian flourishes of "Cabo Wabo" to the driving, jazz-inflected metallic "Mine All Mine" — which make OU812 one of the band's most intriguing and rewarding albums. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine

What's this guy smokin'? Bad record period.

[jdogg5150]

F.U.C.K and Balance are great Van Hagar records and it was a GOOD thing for the band to get back to it's party roots. This guy's a bonehead.