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Artist: Van Halen
Album: A Different Kind Of Truth
Label: Interscope Records
Release Date: February 7, 2012
Tracklisting:
Hearing Eddie Van Halen's lightening fast solos with David Lee Roth's voice can't be more familiar; flashback almost 40 years ago since it's inception, no one, I don't think even them, would say that they would still be playing music together, sans of Michael Anthony. Their sound has not changed at all, but is that a good thing? You bet your spandex-clad ass it is.
The biggest challenge for the reincarnation of this Van Halen will only be being compared to themselves. Yes, a lot of the songs sound very much Women & Children First/Diver Down era Van Halen but isn't that the point in someways? To have NOT changed the sound with this line-up? I'm all about artists growing and maturing but I think the greatness of this Van Halen album is that it is Van Halen in all it's 70's/80's gloriousness that we remember and embraced the first time around.
From beginning with "Tattoo" to the very end of "Beats Workin'" it's David Lee Roth's belting out tongue-in-cheek lyrics with his signature yelps and yowls (Ow!), backed by Eddie Van Halen's lightening riffs causing another generation of air guitarists dancing around their bedrooms. And probably the most important element of any Van Halen album is, simply put, fun, perfectly displayed in "Stay Frosty", an ode and even sequel to "Ice Cream Man" from their debut album. Don't be deceived though, these veterans can still get anyone's adrenaline going with the head banging and heavy riffs in "Honeybabysweetiedoll", possibly a song just to prove the point that they really can write a heavy metal song.
All in all, a very solid album. If you were looking for something fresh and inventive and new, you may not find it here but to everyone that grew up with Van Halen, it's been a long time coming, we finally have our band back.