Van Halen

Balance

Van Danniels begins to form...

Review Score:

(6/10)
... Van Danniels, you ask? This pertains to the current era of Van Halen, where their current manager (who began with this album) persuaded Eddie to assume Tony Iommi-ish control over the band and consequently, really begin to mess things up in the process (No need to bring up the Roth near-reunion or Hagar and Cherone's firing here)

As for the album. It's not nearly as bad as it's reputation. Is it the worst Van Hagar album? Nope. Carnal Knowledge steals that honor. Balance, at it's best, skillfully melds the out and out rock of Carnal Knowledge with the pop sensibility (and excellence) of OU812, and at it's worst, is downright boring, and Hagar's voice is very rough, scratchy, and worn. The guitar playing, by Eddie's standards, can get quite simplistic and predictable, too. Thankfully he'd correct that problem, and how, on the next release.

Kicking things off is Poundcake.. er.. I mean The Seventh Seal. Not an out and out ripoff, but taken at the same tempo, recycling the same riff, almost makes it feel like one. Regardless, it is a great song. Then come the singles, which are the best songs on the album, Can't Stop Loving You and Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do), the latter which is excellent despite it's 3-note melody which, while a nice change of pace, is hardly what we expect of Edward Van Halen.

At worst, Balance gets very tiring. Amsterdam is the worst song Van Hagar ever put out. Big Fat Money is decent for the crank factor but very unoriginal, and the guitar leads are a joke. Strung Out is totally unneccesary, unlike the other two instrumentals on the album which flat out are the best bits you'll hear this side of Eruption. Not Enough is the best Van Hagar ballad, Aftershock is another fine rocker, very catchy. They can take back Take Me Back because it's utterly cheesy.. but this album closes with a huge bang called 'Feelin... the song that Van Halen III's Year to the Day should've been. This one's a keeper.

People who hate Van Halen III yet like this album, I don't understand. They're very similar. What saves this album is the impeccable production by Bruce Fairbairn (something III definitley did NOT have), who turns the focus away from the lackluster performances by Edward and Hagar and keeps it rhythm oriented. Alex Van Halen hasn't sounded this good since 5150. Balance is a good album. It has appeal. It also has it's mistakes. Definitley a must buy for the Van Halen fan, though.

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