New Van Halen album with Dave back debuts at...

[Steeler80]

... number TWO. It seems the Dave curse is alive and well. This matches the highest chart for any Van Halen record with David Lee Roth. 1984 with all of it's hits, only managed the number two spot as well.

What albums ahead of it? 1984 was/is a terrific album but nothing was going to dislodge Thriller that year.

I'll probably get this. Back in high school, I got into actual arguments about Van Halen being the best band ever (age has seen me go to Led Zepp) so I'm a big fan. I have to say I didn't even get III though. Couldn't stomach the thought of it.

[madmarva]

Not really interested in the new album, but I would like to catch a tour date.

Love David Lee Roth's charisma, but actually liked their music better with Hagar.

[torgospizza]

The rest of the record is surprisingly heavy. Eddie does alot of guitar slashing on this...These songs are straight ahead, almost metal sounding, tunes.

That's sold me on it. Will be picking it up this weekend.

[galaxyexplorer42]

Guitar World magazine's website was posting 45 second clips of each song as they became available, and I was listening to those as they came out. I pretty much dug all of em. I'm sure i'll get the album soon..... I still have the first 6 VH albums, and still listen to all of them.... DOA is still probably my favorite VH song, & the first album is still my favorite VH album.... I'm glad to hear that the new album has an overall "heavy" tone to it......

[boss]

I've been listening to it for about a week. There aren't a lot of hooks but there aren't any stinkers either. I told my wife if you took the first 6 albums and removed you favorite 2 songs off each, this record would fit right in.

Plus, DLR can still turn a phrase.

[jacoblb]

I like the album and the more I listen to it the more it's growing on me. Tom, pretty much said it all in prior posts. If you're a hardcore fan of Roth there's no reason to skip this album.

On one hand I'd like to think that the band had plenty of time with their post "Greatest hits" reunion to make this album as good as possible. On the other hand, I wonder if the best is yet to come and they just need to get in their groove after a long absence. And ditto, Michael Anthony is sorely missed. Fortunately, Chickenfoot takes care of that longing.

[Bulldog6125]

At first I only liked a few of the songs but now after listening to it several times I am really into the whole cd.

[Blue Meanie]

I went to the page that was posted a few weeks back to get a sample of the album...and it gave you parts of the songs...it all sounded like one REALLLLLLLY long song. Nothing about it impressed me one bit. Lot of the vocals are double tracked cause Dave can't sing anymore. That's one thing you didn't have to worry about with Sammy...you ask him to hit that high note and he did. Same went for Michael Anthony. I personally think that this is one last hurrah for VH. Everyone will make big $$$ off of the tour and Eddie will call it a career.

[huedell]

I've been really waiting for this album... and my biggest disappointment was
Dave's compromised high range, and the various odd production choices.

I really have loved the album overall though... people have said there are minimal hooks.... like a lackluster DLR solo album.... and sorry but
I can't see it that way as the 1998 DLR band album was made pretty
much in a Van Halen style and there's only like 3 songs on there that I
think are above average, while on the new Vh album... I think about 6 songs
are.... and I think 6 songs over 3 songs is an achievement of sorts.

[Captain_Dan]

Ive been listening to it since it came out and I love it. It is heaveier than I thought, except for Tattoo. Dave still has his catchy lyrics and Ed hasnt lost his skills at all. Daves voice is not what it was 30 years ago during 1984, but can still pull it off fairly well. It did debut at #2 behind Adel. In this day and age, any classic rock band to come in in the the top 10 is impressive. It is the #1 cd on billboards rock albums chart. I suggest any rock fans to purchase it, good ol classic Van Halen.

[Nostalgiabuff]

I don't know. i lost a lot of respect for the band after the kicked Sammy out. then when they forced MA out as well i said that was it. i won't even give it a listen. the VH brothers are strange people

[boss]

I think about 6 songs are.... and I think 6 songs over 3 songs is an achievement of sorts.

I'm curious, which 6 do you like? Here are the one's I dig (by track order):

Tattoo
She's the Woman
Blood and Fire
As Is
Stay Frosty
Big River

Outta Space is starting to grow on me, too.

[huedell]

boss...

I'd say 1- Blood And Fire 2- You And Your Blues 3- Bullethead
4- As Is 5- She's The Woman and 6- Big River are the "greats" to me.

7- Beats Workin' 8- China Town 9- The Trouble With Never
and 10- Outta Space, are the second wave of quality to me... pretty good,
but not as good as the others above.

11- Stay Frosty and 12- HoneyBabySweetieDoll are just "okay" to me...

and 13- Tattoo is my least favorite song on the album.

[Steeler80]

I don't know. i lost a lot of respect for the band after the kicked Sammy out. then when they forced MA out as well i said that was it. i won't even give it a listen. the VH brothers are strange people

Like I said, VH was, bar none, my favorite band in high school but I lost touch with them after I got out of college (for instance, I've never listened to III--although I've heard that's no big loss). What's the stories behind their forcing out of Sammy and MA? I heard some bits and pieces and lost quite a bit of respect for the VH brothers as a result.

For instance, I understand Eddie wanting his son to play with him, but why force Anthony out? Why not let Wolfie play keyboard or rhthym guitar? Having another guitar under Eddie's would give Ed some more freedom.

[Nostalgiabuff]

I understand they not only forced mike out but made him sell off his rights to royalties as well