Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth

New song sounds a'ight, I guess.

They were givin' away tickets to the VH show at Madison Square Garden on our local rock radio station (WDHA-FM) this morning... I figured, what the hell, and called in... but I wasn't caller #5. Oh well. It was worth a shot.

The new song is a little on the bland side... Eddie and Alex sound great. Unfortunately, DLR's vocals are kinda weak and the chorus is awkward.

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed with the new tune too. I need to give it a few more spins. Lemme get some coffee and try it again.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed with the new tune too. I need to give it a few more spins. Lemme get some coffee and try it again.

I just listened to it again and yeah, it's a little... underwhelming. I would've expected their big comeback single to be bigger and badder sounding.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed with the new tune too. I need to give it a few more spins. Lemme get some coffee and try it again.

I don't know what the rest of this album is gonna sound like, but to be honest... I like those two newer songs they did back on that "Best of" album from the late 90's better. "Me Wise Magic" had more of that VH sound to it.

Troublezone wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed with the new tune too. I need to give it a few more spins. Lemme get some coffee and try it again.

I don't know what the rest of this album is gonna sound like, but to be honest... I like those two newer songs they did back on that "Best of" album from the late 90's better. "Me Wise Magic" had more of that VH sound to it.

I 100% agree with you, as far as those two songs go, but keep in mind at that time both Van Halen and David Lee Roth were still actively recording and touring, unlike this album where neither of those guys had stepped foot inside of a studio in eons.

New song blows

manny wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed with the new tune too. I need to give it a few more spins. Lemme get some coffee and try it again.

I don't know what the rest of this album is gonna sound like, but to be honest... I like those two newer songs they did back on that "Best of" album from the late 90's better. "Me Wise Magic" had more of that VH sound to it.

I 100% agree with you, as far as those two songs go, but keep in mind at that time both Van Halen and David Lee Roth were still actively recording and touring, unlike this album where neither of those guys had stepped foot inside of a studio in eons.

DLR maybe...but EVH, by all accounts, is either sleeping, taking a dump, or writing/demo'ing in his studio...haha!

This song is a reminder of how important Mike Anthony's vocals were to the VH sound. He could've made this song a lot better.

Fat Freddy wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed with the new tune too. I need to give it a few more spins. Lemme get some coffee and try it again.

I just listened to it again and yeah, it's a little... underwhelming. I would've expected their big comeback single to be bigger and badder sounding.

I think that's it. It needed to be more bombastic for the first comeback single. Something with Eddie really lighting up the fretboard, showing these young punks hows it's done.

And maybe I'm being too hyper-critical, but for a band that's not known for full-sleeves of ink, singing a song about tattoos is a little odd to me.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

manny wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed with the new tune too. I need to give it a few more spins. Lemme get some coffee and try it again.

I don't know what the rest of this album is gonna sound like, but to be honest... I like those two newer songs they did back on that "Best of" album from the late 90's better. "Me Wise Magic" had more of that VH sound to it.

I 100% agree with you, as far as those two songs go, but keep in mind at that time both Van Halen and David Lee Roth were still actively recording and touring, unlike this album where neither of those guys had stepped foot inside of a studio in eons.

DLR maybe...but EVH, by all accounts, is either sleeping, taking a dump, or writing/demo'ing in his studio...haha!

He was writing a soundtrack to a porno film the last time I heard any reports.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed with the new tune too. I need to give it a few more spins. Lemme get some coffee and try it again.

I just listened to it again and yeah, it's a little... underwhelming. I would've expected their big comeback single to be bigger and badder sounding.

I think that's it. It needed to be more bombastic for the first comeback single. Something with Eddie really lighting up the fretboard, showing these young punks hows it's done.

And maybe I'm being too hyper-critical, but for a band that's not known for full-sleeves of ink, singing a song about tattoos is a little odd to me.

It's Dave's lyrics. Maybe he has a fetish for ink on chicks...

Troublezone wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed with the new tune too. I need to give it a few more spins. Lemme get some coffee and try it again.

I just listened to it again and yeah, it's a little... underwhelming. I would've expected their big comeback single to be bigger and badder sounding.

I think that's it. It needed to be more bombastic for the first comeback single. Something with Eddie really lighting up the fretboard, showing these young punks hows it's done.

And maybe I'm being too hyper-critical, but for a band that's not known for full-sleeves of ink, singing a song about tattoos is a little odd to me.

It's Dave's lyrics. Maybe he has a fetish for ink on chicks...

It's a song about something else...the tattoo is a reference for how fast something happens..."in the time it took to get that new tattoo"....

Anyway, after only one listen I'll say it's "not bad"...I'll buy the album for sure. The 3 new songs on Best Of Both Worlds had more balls on first listen, IMO. But it certainly feels like Van Halen, IMO. Anthony's backing vocals would have been nice to hear, but their absence doesn't harm the song, IMO.

Troublezone wrote:

This song is a reminder of how important Mike Anthony's vocals were to the VH sound. He could've made this song a lot better.

Kind of weird you mention this, I love the song but without Michael Anthony's vocals it sounds more like a David Lee Roth solo cut then a full fledged Van Halen song.

manny wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

This song is a reminder of how important Mike Anthony's vocals were to the VH sound. He could've made this song a lot better.

Kind of weird you mention this, I love the song but without Michael Anthony's vocals it sounds more like a David Lee Roth solo cut then a full fledged Van Halen song.

I don't think it would have made the actual song better....but they would be nice to hear.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

manny wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

This song is a reminder of how important Mike Anthony's vocals were to the VH sound. He could've made this song a lot better.

Kind of weird you mention this, I love the song but without Michael Anthony's vocals it sounds more like a David Lee Roth solo cut then a full fledged Van Halen song.

I don't think it would have made the actual song better....but they would be nice to hear.

Your probably right, just when it come to this line up Anthony's vocals were, at least to my ears such big part of their sound, I still expecting to hear him come in right behind DLR.

manny wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

manny wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

This song is a reminder of how important Mike Anthony's vocals were to the VH sound. He could've made this song a lot better.

Kind of weird you mention this, I love the song but without Michael Anthony's vocals it sounds more like a David Lee Roth solo cut then a full fledged Van Halen song.

I don't think it would have made the actual song better....but they would be nice to hear.

Your probably right, just when it come to this line up Anthony's vocals were, at least to my ears such big part of their sound, I still expecting to hear him come in right behind DLR.

I do agree...

This new song is not very good. The music is OK I guess but the vocal melody/lyrics are just not catchy enough.

I liked "Without You" more than this. And people hated that album (for good reason).

I like it. Sounds like VH to me. Hoping the album has some faster, heavier stuff though and if it does, I would've picked one of those songs as the first single.

It's not a bad song, but it's not a good lead-off single, especially for a comeback. Unless of course they think it's one of the best songs off the new album. In which case, we're screwed.

It is a little laid back for a lead off single, IMO...but it's not bad.

Wake me up when they release a song that actually sounds complete. This one sounds like they had to hold it together with duct tape it's such a clumsy arrangement. Really bad chorus weakening an already mediocre groove...this doesn't work.

S.D. wrote:

Wake me up when they release a song that actually sounds complete. This one sounds like they had to hold it together with duct tape it's such a clumsy arrangement. Really bad chorus weakening an already mediocre groove...this doesn't work.

It gives credence to what Hagar has been saying all along.

Temple of Blood wrote:

S.D. wrote:

Wake me up when they release a song that actually sounds complete. This one sounds like they had to hold it together with duct tape it's such a clumsy arrangement. Really bad chorus weakening an already mediocre groove...this doesn't work.

It gives credence to what Hagar has been saying all along.

It's definitely not as hooky as the Hagar years...and the chorus could certainly be stronger. The solo was good (obviously) and I found myself singing bits of it after it was over.

Like I said..."not bad"...but it didn't wow me, either.

Troublezone wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Honestly, I'm a little disappointed with the new tune too. I need to give it a few more spins. Lemme get some coffee and try it again.

I don't know what the rest of this album is gonna sound like, but to be honest... I like those two newer songs they did back on that "Best of" album from the late 90's better. "Me Wise Magic" had more of that VH sound to it.

I have to agree. The new song is ok at best.