VH...maybe at last

[Vorbis]

Its just awful, I quite like a lot of VH stuff but I just cant find anything I like in the new album. Glad you guys seem to like it, maybe I'm just too old for DLR?

[Some Bozo]

fake....but not entirely implausible
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2QA84etaoc[/youtube]

[Hot_Grits]

Its just awful, I quite like a lot of VH stuff but I just cant find anything I like in the new album. Glad you guys seem to like it, maybe I'm just too old for DLR?

We can't all love Dave, that's for sure. Even understanding him is difficult, or at least keeping track of what he's on about. The lyrics on the new records are very much 'Fine art and pizza delivery' with the handbrake unbolted and thrown out the window. I find it charming.

Well, Yngwie will no doubt be releasing another album in due course. Apparently he writes all the lyrics, too. Are wizards and dragons popular in Whangarei or are you pretty much on your own with that?

[matman]

New video up with Dave interviewing the bros VH.
http://www.guitarworld.com/video-david- ... -van-halenAs I said before Dave has totally got that 'denture slur' goin on! Interesting to me was the fact that they are half Indonesian (never knew that)! Also interesting to hear them talk about their classical piano background (which I remember Ed playing down in interviews when 'Jump' came out).

[calling card]

I heard Tattoo for the first time while I had the radio on in the shed the other day, thought it was OK and great to hear the voice of Diamond Dave in the VH band again.

[willow13]

well I got the album today and sorta like what I hear....I'm not really VH fan (this is only the 3rd VH album I have owned....and one of those was VH3 ) so can't really say how "good" it is but from what I have listen to it has everything I know VH to be (liking the guitar...not to sure about dave)

i'm about 2/3rds of the way through and the stand out track so far is "Honeybabysweetiedoll"....eddies main riff is heavy and sinister, with a "strut" that is just infectious

[JohnG]

The 2nd song "She's The Woman" is awesome. The solo is fantastic. Loving the Album!

[Hot_Grits]

I've had a full-quality listen now. I'm kind of shocked at how good it is, 'Tattoo' aside. The band really brings it.

Really like 'As-is', 'Chinatown' and 'blood and fire'.

The album seems to getting an overwhelmingly positive response from fans. But as a fan, I've never seen so many positive reviews from critics. Even the Guardian and Duncan Grieve have been very kindly.

[handsoffmatt]

I've been hammering the crap out of this album in my car. Aside from the fact is as generally a kick-ass album, I am loving the SOUND of the album. The production has so much BALLS!!!!

Wolfgang is totally owning on bass!!! What a great rock player. I was as sad as anyone to see MIchael ANthony out the door (and I still wish he was back) but as far as replacements go - they couldn't have wished for a better substitute.

My overview is that this is largely a very good album indeed, and is better than I expected it to be. I like how in some respects it is reminescent of my favourite DLR era albums, but in more respects sounds fresh and new. Ed is playing like a monster and has some of the best guitar tone he's put on record since Fair Warning.

It does have some dud tracks on there too, but then what album doesn't? Tattoo is something of a travesty. But She's the Woman, Big River, As is and a slew of others make up for it. I'm even digging "Stay Frosty" which seems to be a somewhat polarising track.

Thumbs up from me. I give the album 3.5 stars. It's not blowing my mind-hole, yet it IS a very good album, makes me smile every time and I haven't stopped playing it (very loud) since I got it.

....and I'm just so happy to hear VH doing what they do best after many years of somewhat losing their way.

[Some Bozo]

Had a listen on a dodgy system ( uhhhh... Roland Micro Cube as PC speaker ) and it kicked ass. Blood and Fire is my favourite. Looking forward to cranking it properly. I liked all the songs except one, don't remember the name [edit - "You and your blues", particulary the pre-chorus bit] , but it was like an attempt to write a cute pop song, it didn't sound very "van halen". Eddie does a tons of "WTF how did he do that?" licks, not necessarily in terms of sheer technique, but his inimitable "feel" and his way of fitting notes over the groove that wouldn't fit if someone else played them...

And I only once noticed that three-note phrase he plays at the end of almost every lick he played in the 90s, which is a good thing. Got old after the first couple hundred times, Ed.

[matman]

Has anyone got the deluxe version and is the dvd worth the $5 extra?

[Some Bozo]

Wolfgang is totally owning on bass!!! What a great rock player. I was as sad as anyone to see MIchael ANthony out the door (and I still wish he was back) but as far as replacements go - they couldn't have wished for a better substitute.

He seems to get a lot more "lead" bass moments than Michael. I don't know if that's due to being better, or if it's just that if you're playing bass in this band an your surname isn't Van Halen you have to shut up and keep playing the root

[opsguy]

I got it through iTunes so assuming its the same as in the store you get about 15min of footage of them doing Panama, You and Your Blues and Beautiful Girls acoustically (The Downtown Sessions). Dave tells a story as well. Its interesting but it won't change your life..but then its $5 and its Van Halen...so go large!!!

[Hot_Grits]

Dress rehearsal video and audio from the 'friends and family' last rehearsal at the LA Forum coming through today:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVMGoKSD ... r_embedded[/youtube]

You know you're in LA when the guest list includes Charlie Sheen, Jon Lovitz, Valerie Bertinelli, Diane Lane, Miranda Cosgrove, Van Halen engineer Ross Hogarth, Slash, Duff McKagan, Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machine, Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, Tone Loc, Steve Lukather, Vivian Campbell from Def Leppard, Bobby Blotzer from ratt, Ralph Saenz from Steel Panther, Brad Wilk, John “5? Lowery, , Vivian Campbell, George Lynch, and The Atomic Punks.

[willow13]

Vivian Campbell from Def Leppard, Vivian Campbell

viv was there twice

I see eddie seems to be rocking the stealth exclusively at the moment