5150

Yogi Berra once said, "You've got to be careful if you don't know where you're going 'cause you might not get there." Confused? Now you know what I f ...

5150
Provided By:The Daily Vault

5150
Van Halen
Warner Brothers Records, 1986
REVIEW BY: Jeff Clutterbuck
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 06/21/2004
Yogi Berra once said, "You've got to be careful if you don'tknow where you're going 'cause you might not get there." Confused?Now you know what I felt like after listening to 5150.
I honestly don't have that much experience with Van Halen. I own1984, and their Greatest Hits and have heard various other tracks. However,I think I have a good idea of what Van Halen was supposed to soundlike back in the day. 5150 to me is a departure from that previous sound. Was itfor the better? Wait and find out.
This album is known as being the first Van Halen album tofeature Sammy Hagar, who replaced former lead vocalist David LeeRoth. So how does the change work out? Let's just say this, DavidLee who? Roth was never a great vocalist in my eyes. This isprobably considered sacrilege, but I believe Roth was just therebecause the band needed someone to sing the songs, while Eddie VanHalen tore it up. Luckily for Roth, he was extremely charismaticand energetic, and got by on that. So how does the situation differwith Hagar? He actually can sing.
From the minute you hear Hagar growl at the very start of thealbum " Hey Baby…" you know that Van Halen made the rightchoice in going after Sammy. Hagar gives each track all he's got,whether it be sultry growls on "Good Enough" to arena rock screamson "The Best Of Both Worlds," or plaintive cries on Van Halen powerballads like "Dreams," or "Love Walks In." Hagar's unbridledenthusiasm makes up for singing lyrics like, "U.S Prime, Grade AStamped Guaranteed, just grease it up and bring on the heat," onthe FDA friendly "Good Enough." By the way, he's referring to awoman, in case you didn't catch that. Hey, this is Van Halen afterall, right?

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