Van Halen Thread v. Where Have All The Good Times Gone

[Tick]

Saw them in 2007 and was extremely disappointed. Eddie was horrible. His guitar playing was laughable. Wolfgang wasn't ready to play shows of that caliber. DLR wasn't that bad, although quite pompous.

I'm not a huge VH fan though, anyways. The first album was great but I never really had the desire to go any further than that, especially after seeing what they have become.  Hope the album doesn't such for the fans of the band, but I personally have no interest in it. Seems like one of the bands that would be better off throwing in the towel, along with a most of the older classic rock bands.

I'm not sure which band you saw. I saw them on the same tour and enjoyed the hell out of it.

I am with ZBomber here. Saw them on the 2007/2008 tour and was extremely disappointed between Eddie's sloppy playing and DLR's muted presence. Having seen DLR solo when he co-headlined with Hagar, DLR was much more animated and owned the stage that night. When he was with Van Halen, it was as if he was told explicitly to tone it down to ensure that Eddie was not upstaged or overshadowed.

When he toured with Sammy, he had a chip on his shoulder and had something to prove. Now he can just be Dave being Dave, and that aint pretty at times.

[KevShmev]

The actual video for Tattoo:

https://vimeo.com/34261064

Thud.

[chrisbDTM]

awful awful chorus

guitar solo is awesome! wasnt expecting it, also Lie solo at the beginning of it.

[Vivace]

Okay, I went into Tattoo with an open mind, but wow... that was ..... *awful*. It's a good solo but it's nothing he hasn't done before. I find Chickenfoot way better than this. Go Sammy!

[BlobVanDam]

Okay, I went into Tattoo with an open mind, but wow... that was ..... *awful*. It's a good solo but it's nothing he hasn't done before. I find Chickenfoot way better than this. Go Sammy!

I'm sorry, but Chickenfoot III makes this song look like gold. Chickenfoot is "stock rock" at its most bland.
And I say that as a big Hagar and Michael Anthony fan. Unfortunately, Satriani just doesn't know how to rock at all.

[chrisbDTM]

i just wasnt sure Eddie could still play like that, hearing all the bad reviews about his playing in recent years. glad he's still got it

[SystematicThought]

It's not that uncommon for a band to use old material. The Eagles did it and some of their biggest hits are from those reworked songs.

[Vivace]

Well I popped in Big Foot since I haven't heard anything from their III album yet. I'll stand by this statement. I'll take Chickenfoot over Van Halen right now. 

[tjanuranus]

I wasn't kidding this song is atrocious.

[yeshaberto]

it had the good time feel I expected, but I hope there is some more  songs on the album

[Jaq]

First impression: god, they're really missing Michael Anthony's backing vocals. Not saying he could save the bridge and chorus, but it's really missing something there.

Second impression: solo sounds like someone who is copping EVH, not actually EVH himself.

Last impression: it isn't BAD by any stretch of the imagination, but man, it's fucking BLAND.

[jammindude]

I'll tell you what I get out of the video is who HAS taken care of themselves and who has NOT. 
 
I think DLR comes across smelling like a rose.  The lyrics leave something to be desired, but his swagger, his delivery, his cockiness, and his voice have not lost a step IMO.   And the guy has moves that would make Fred Estaire go white and steady himself on the furniture.  AND HE'S 57 YEARS OLD!!!
 
Eddie on the other hand, is playing a riff that sounds like an AC/DC scrap heap.   No fire in his approach *AT ALL*...  even his solo sounds phoned in.   Pretty sad.

[kirksnosehair]

Yawn

[LTE3]

This is a week introduction to the new album and with another song played already that was not that great, i don't think i will be buying it. My 10 year only could have written this song which in the 80's was part of the fun of Van Halen but now it just seems kind of lame. It was fun to watch Dave in the 80's dance around but now to see him hop around on a blow(07-08 tour) up mike is just creepy. This was my favorite band for all the years from 78-84 but they waited too long and I'm not feeling the magic at all. That could change id Ed can surprise me in concert but I have my doughts if the 2007 show is any indication. Then again Edward said he cured himself of cancer so maybe another miracle will happen.

[Tick]

Yeah the single is weak, but bear in mind Jump was the single from 1984 and it completely blew donkey chucks yet the album overall was pretty darn good.

[Moonchild]

Yeah the single is weak, but bear in mind Jump was the single from 1984 and it completely blew donkey chucks yet the album overall was pretty darn good.

Jump might be pop, but it was excellent pop.. this is kinda bland, cheap video too far from the days when they were the most excessive band on the planet.

[tjanuranus]

you CANNOT compare this song to Jump. Come on.

[KevShmev]

Jump is a great song.  Some of you are out of your minds.

[tjanuranus]

Jump is a great song.  Some of you are out of your minds.

[Vivace]

The biggest problem this song has is that it really could have been any band that did this song. It's so generic that unless I didn't know DLR was back in Van Halen I would have guessed it was just another solo song from him. Eddie does deliver some of the Van Halen we all love but the two biggest disappointments come from Wolfgang and Alex. Now Wolfgang I can sympathize with. He's new to the scene, new to Van Halen, certainly doesn't have the presence or ability of Michael Anthony but then there is Alex and that's where I really got surprised. For a moment during the song I honestly second guessed that Alex was even playing on this song. If there is one thing I got used to with Van Halen was not only hearing Eddie's screaming guitar tone, but Alex's drumming.

It's ok but it's so oookay that for a Van Halen song it's way below par for me. It really needed to have more tempo and made a bit more bright and vibrant.

[chrisbDTM]

who was the guy that was raving about new VH a while ago? for some reason i think it was Nuno Bettencourt, but i can't remember

[PetFish]

B. A. D.

[Tick]

you CANNOT compare this song to Jump. Come on.

I won't cause its better. Sorry, but Jump was cheese imo.

[cramx3]

Havent heard the song yet, but after reading the responses hear, im not so sure I want to hear it.

[Lowdz]

I don't hate it. But is this really the best that they can come up with affter years of working on this album?
It sounds more like DLR's last few solo albums- he hasn't written a decent vocal melody since (the awesome) A Li'l Aint Enough for me.
Solo was a typcal EVH solo, nothing special. Guitar sound was good but certainly not "Brown".

Let's hope there's a few great riffs on the rest of the album.

[Dark Castle]

It makes me wonder how Axl, the owner of Metalsucks praises this but not the Beyond Death Magnetic EP Metallica put out.  Tattoo just doesn't feel inspired at all.

[SystematicThought]

Jump is a great song.  Some of you are out of your minds.

Yeah, but 1984 has way better songs then Jump.

I actually really like this song. The low voice parts remind me of Me Wise Magic

[jammindude]

you CANNOT compare this song to Jump. Come on.

I won't cause its better. Sorry, but Jump was cheese imo.

Absolutely THIS!   Tattoo is pretty 'meh'...but it's worlds better than Jump.

[chrisbDTM]

lolk

[hefdaddy42]

Against my better judgement, I watched the video for Tatoo.

That song is fucking awful.

[Lowdz]

Jump is a great song.  Some of you are out of your minds.

Yeah, but 1984 has way better songs then Jump.

I actually really like this song. The low voice parts remind me of Me Wise Magic

just listened to Me Wise Magic and can't Get This Here No More from the best of Vol 1. Good songs. If the album sounds like those it will be good.

nothing wrong with Jump, for what it is, but 1984 had great songs (and the usual couple of shockers). I'm not the biggest VH fan in the world, I find only half the songs on their very short albums to live up to the hype. Fair Warning is a great album though.

[SystematicThought]

Hagar Era>Roth Era though. Why? Balance and 5150

[Tick]

you CANNOT compare this song to Jump. Come on.

I won't cause its better. Sorry, but Jump was cheese imo.

Absolutely THIS!   Tattoo is pretty 'meh'...but it's worlds better than Jump.

No doubt. My 11 year old daughter comes up with better hooks on her keyboard then the base of Jump. Its a weak pop song.

[LTE3]

I gave it a few more listens and it is growing on me. i love that long sustain at the end of Eddie's solo that is a nice touch. True to who ever was saying Alex's part is lame. How boring can a drum beat get. But all in all i am starting to look forward to the rest of it.

[jammindude]

^^^^^^^^^

In his defense....havn't we been hearing for years now that his spinal problems have made it next to impossible for him to play at all?   

I think he's gotten to Phil Collins level of injury...but he can't quit because it's his name, his brother, his nephew.    I honestly think the guy is totally playing through the pain, and you can bet he didn't even shoot this video without the best pain killers money can buy.