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

[BlobVanDam]

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.

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.

Can people stop with this retarded criticism? Considering how pathetically baseless and lame it is, it's ridiculously overused. You know what? I welcome both of you to get your kids to write better songs so they can sell tens of millions of albums too.

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

I must be out of my mind too, because I'm agreeing with you.
Jump is a damn well constructed pop-rock song, and blows this song away. It's got that iconic and memorable synth riff that gives the whole song such a unique sound, a great upbeat rhythm, an amazing pre-chorus, a catchy chorus, a blazing guitar solo. I would say it's one of my all time favourite songs.
While I don't dislike Tattoo at all, it's very straightforward and has a relatively weak chorus. Not even a comparison.

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

Balance is one of VH's worst albums, but 5150 is a fantastic album. I'd say VH1 is the only other VH album that definitely beats it.

[SystematicThought]

I love Balance for some reason. I just have memories associated with it. And I guess I just like it...

Anyways, some of the songs may be direct demos rewritten, but She's The Woman will at least be somewhat different as the solo from that song was used on Mean Streets

[BlobVanDam]

I love Balance for some reason. I just have memories associated with it. And I guess I just like it...

Anyways, some of the songs may be direct demos rewritten, but She's The Woman will at least be somewhat different as the solo from that song was used on Mean Streets

From the live performance of it at their recent club show, people have said the solo has been redone. I think the rest was pretty much exactly as the demo though.
And I don't think Balance is bad, I just don't find it particularly interesting. They do have worse albums (and not just VH3 ).

[SystematicThought]

Does 3 even count? 

Although I do like Without You. That's about it though.

[BlobVanDam]

Well no, I guess it doesn't count. I also don't like Women and Children First very much, and Diver Down only has one or two redeeming tracks, so those count.

[SystematicThought]

Women and Children first reminds me of summer for some reason, but I don't like it as much. The last half is okay after Romeo Delight, Simple Rhyme is cool.

Diver Down is Dave's album and I like that album. Intruder into Pretty Woman is excellent and Little Guitars is great. I've also never really liked Fair Warning apart from the album art

[Vivace]

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.

Whatever you be smokin' it must be some powerful stuff. 

[BlobVanDam]

Women and Children first reminds me of summer for some reason, but I don't like it as much. The last half is okay after Romeo Delight, Simple Rhyme is cool.

Diver Down is Dave's album and I like that album. Intruder into Pretty Woman is excellent and Little Guitars is great. I've also never really liked Fair Warning apart from the album art

On Diver Down I love Dancing in the Street, and that's about it. I don't like anything about Women and Children First. It feels like a rushed album with no thought. The best it has is And The Cradle Will Rock, which is just really sad.
I quite like Fair Warning though. It does have a few songs I don't care for, and it doesn't have a lot of hits, but it's a good heavier VH album. Unchained is one of my favourites, and the first three tracks are great too.

[KevShmev]

Fair Warning is awesome; I think that is definitely the 2nd best album of the Roth era, behind the debut of course.

F.U.C.K., Balance and 5150 would round out my VH top 5.

III is still a good album, damn it.  Some of the songs haven't aged well for me, but Once is still one of my favorite VH tunes, and Without You, From Afar, Fire in the Hole, Dirty Water Dog and Ballot or the Bullet are all good tunes.

Diver Down is easily the worst, with OU812 only a little better.

[SystematicThought]

I like that shot at Dave with the album title OU812. But where is the bass?

Blob: Unchained seems to rank in the top 3 on a lot of people's VH song lists. I was always surprised by that. And concerning WACF sounding rushed. It was recorded live in one take without any fixes. That part on Everybody Wants Some where Dave is interrupted by the guitar, that's a mistake. So I guess that is kind of rushed 

[BlobVanDam]

Fair Warning is awesome; I think that is definitely the 2nd best album of the Roth era, behind the debut of course.

For me it would be a tough call between Fair Warning, VH2 and 1984 for second place. 1984 doesn't have the consistency, but the strength of the good songs makes up for it for me. Nothing can top the first album though.

F.U.C.K., Balance and 5150 would round out my VH top 5.

F.U.C.K and 5150 would definitely be top 5 for me. Balance has never struck with me, although I don't dislike it.

III is still a good album, damn it.  Some of the songs haven't aged well for me, but Once is still one of my favorite VH tunes, and Without You, From Afar, Fire in the Hole, Dirty Water Dog and Ballot or the Bullet are all good tunes.

We'll have to agree to disagree on VH3.

Diver Down is easily the worst, with OU812 only a little better.

What are your thoughts on Women and Children First? For me that's worse than Diver Down by a smidge. OU812 is definitely at the bottom with them, although it still has quite a few songs I like.

[WebRaider]

Somewhat surprised by the lack of love for Women and Children First. "And The Cradle Will Rock", "Everybody Wants Some", and "Romeo Delight" all rip and "Take Your Whiskey Home" is pretty sweet too (love the acoustic into). I know it's not amongst their top albums but it's still very good IMO.

[KevShmev]

W&CF is solid.  And the Cradle Will Rock, Everybody Wants Some, Fools, Could This Be Magic? and In a Simply Rhyme are all major winners.  The middle of the album isn't that great, but nothing stands out as being bad or anything; just not notable.

I've never thought II was that great.  It is solid overall, but only has a few songs that really stand out.  If I did a VH top 25, nothing from II would make it. 

[Dark Castle]

Somewhat surprised by the lack of love for Women and Children First. "And The Cradle Will Rock", "Everybody Wants Some", and "Romeo Delight" all rip and "Take Your Whiskey Home" is pretty sweet too (love the acoustic into). I know it's not amongst their top albums but it's still very good IMO.

I've never heard the original version of Romeo Delight, but Annihilator's cover was really radular.

[SystematicThought]

Not even Spanish Fly?

I just love the dedication on the back of II. To The Sheraton Inn (seventh floor), Madison, Wisconsin

[BlobVanDam]

I've never thought II was that great.  It is solid overall, but only has a few songs that really stand out.  If I did a VH top 25, nothing from II would make it. 

Somebody Get Me a Doctor is a definite standout to me, although given how strong much of their other material is (especially if we're including Hagar era here), I doubt it would crack top 25 for me though. I think the first half of the album is quite strong, it's the second half where it fizzles out for me.

[KevShmev]

Spanish Fly is awesome, but I don't really consider EVH's solos as real songs that I would rate next to their regular songs. 

[SystematicThought]

True.

I agree though Blob that the 2nd half just kind of fizzles out. I do love Somebody Get Me a Doctor though, I agree with that. Beautiful Girls is pretty good though. Light Up The Sky as well. That one just always clicked with me

[KevShmev]

I think Women in Love is one of the better tunes on II.

[Evo]

OK I must be the only one who actually likes it. It's not the song of the century or anything, but I definitely wouldnt call it bad, and I really love the bridge for some reason.

[a51502112]

Got my ticket for the Toronto show.

[Lowdz]

I really like Balance. Again some poor songs but the good makes up for it. every VH album has 2-3 less than stellar songs.

[hefdaddy42]

Balance is a fantastic album, easily second of the Hagar era (behind 5150).

Diver Down is mostly awful. 

[Vivace]

I like all of their albums with notable exception to III which I sold after two days. The only album that really isn't stand outish for me is Van Halen II.

[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.

Whatever you be smokin' it must be some powerful stuff. 

If you honestly think Jump has some earth shattering riff you must be smoking Plutonium Nyborg!!!
Jump is a wimpy pop song that is joke in Van Halen's career.
End....of...story..............

[Evo]

Balance is a fantastic album, easily second of the Hagar era (behind 5150).

Diver Down is mostly awful.

Funny - for me, F.U.C.K. destroys them so easily that I'm surprised anyone would not rank it #1 (of the Hagar era), regardless of taste and all.
Diver Down is pretty bad, but I still love a few songs on it (Secrets, Cathedral, Little Guitars).

[BlobVanDam]

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.

Whatever you be smokin' it must be some powerful stuff. 

If you honestly think Jump has some earth shattering riff you must be smoking Plutonium Nyborg!!!
Jump is a wimpy pop song that is joke in Van Halen's career.
End....of...story..............

The song was VH's only number 1 hit, that helped the album to sell over 10 million copies in the US, and remains a well known popular song to this day thanks to that very famous riff. Sounds like anything but a joke to me.

End....of.....story.........

[chrisbDTM]

jump is iconic, End....of...story..............

[ThatcrazyKISSfan]

Hey I'm new here, so hi.  Anyway I'm quite disappointed with the single but I guess it's about what you'd expect.  Reunion albums rarely work.  EVH's drinking has hindered his talent, and MA's backing vocals are sorely missed.  I understand people wanting to hear VH other than the hits, but how about just calling radio stations and requesting forgotten gems like Somebody Get Me a Doctor and I'm The One?  THOSE ARE GREAT!!!

[Vivace]

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.

Whatever you be smokin' it must be some powerful stuff. 

If you honestly think Jump has some earth shattering riff you must be smoking Plutonium Nyborg!!!
Jump is a wimpy pop song that is joke in Van Halen's career.
End....of...story..............

The song was VH's only number 1 hit, that helped the album to sell over 10 million copies in the US, and remains a well known popular song to this day thanks to that very famous riff. Sounds like anything but a joke to me.

End....of.....story.........

I wonder how many #1 hits his 11 year old wrote?

end...of.....story..........

[chrisbDTM]

i actually dont think the new song is that bad now, just heard it on the radio on my way to work. its just an awful prechorus (right before the tattoo! tattoo! chorus-y part). it really could be alot worse

[Evo]

i actually dont think the new song is that bad now, just heard it on the radio on my way to work. its just an awful prechorus (right before the tattoo! tattoo! chorus-y part). it really could be alot worse

Really? That's actually my favorite part...really melodic and catchy imo.
(are you talking about the one that goes "swamp meet sally, tramp stamp tat..."

[King Postwhore]

Like Kev said the debut and Diver Down are my favs.  Love 5150 and Balance.  Not a fan of half of F.U.C.K.

[TAC]

Somewhat surprised by the lack of love for Women and Children First. "And The Cradle Will Rock", "Everybody Wants Some", and "Romeo Delight" all rip and "Take Your Whiskey Home" is pretty sweet too (love the acoustic into). I know it's not amongst their top albums but it's still very good IMO.

And In A Simple Rhyme is the most underrated song of the DLR era. "Ain't life grand when you finally hit it" is such a classic line.

AS far as Jump goes, it's easily in my Bottom 10 DLR era tracks. Easily.

Just heard Tattoo. Not as bad as I expected, though certainly not great. It's enough to keep me interested for the new album. It's amazing how a lack of a bass player can cause so much angst. I agree though. His backing vocals were a major component to their classic sound.
I thought DLR sounded great even if he looked ridiculous in the video. I'm taking Tatoo over Panama any day of the week!

[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.

Whatever you be smokin' it must be some powerful stuff. 

If you honestly think Jump has some earth shattering riff you must be smoking Plutonium Nyborg!!!
Jump is a wimpy pop song that is joke in Van Halen's career.
End....of...story..............

The song was VH's only number 1 hit, that helped the album to sell over 10 million copies in the US, and remains a well known popular song to this day thanks to that very famous riff. Sounds like anything but a joke to me.

End....of.....story.........

I wonder how many #1 hits his 11 year old wrote?

end...of.....story..........

Oh please. That's your response? LOL
Cause will all know pop music and number 1 hits equate to great music right.