Controversial statement: As compared to Balance and III, if we didn't know that Mike wasn't on ADKOT we would never know Mike wasn't on ADKOT. I actually just listened to the first 11 (out of 13) songs in the car and it holds up. It's almost like a "Van Halen Career Pastiche". I can't imagine they DID know this (back in 2012) but that's an album that is sort of a career summation. There's something on there that evokes just about every period of the bands career, IMO. And in solid fashion.
I am normally so with you on this topic, but this one point where we diverge. I doubt that I need to tell anyone the value Michael Anthony brought to the table...especially in the vocal department. MA flatout carried the choruses on those early records and man, oh man could he harmonize with Hagar.
While I LOVE ADKOT, there is absolutely no mistaking the fact that Anthony is not there. I think the part that makes it palpable for me is that Wolfie does a bang-up job in both the bass and vocals department.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: it sucks Anthony wasn't involved, but without Wolfie, ADKOT never gets made. So, given the choice, I'll always take the option that leads to more music. Is it the line-up everyone wanted? No. But, in and of itself, the final version of the band had something to offer.
On a side-note: as a father of two, I can honestly say that playing music with my kids is the dream. Thusfar it has yet to happen, but if the stars were to someday align, I'd probably stop at nothing to have a chance to jam with either of my kids. In that regard, I'll always have a soft spot for ADKOT, because I feel like you can literally hear the joy in Eddie's playing.