It’s hard to believe I was only nine years old the last time Van Halen recorded an album with David Lee Roth, but the wait is finally over for their much anticipated reunion album, A Different Kind of Truth, available today.
A Different Kind of Truth is Van Halen’s twelfth studio album, and only their seventh album with Roth. It’s been nearly 30 years since their classic swan song, 1984, and since then, the band has been on a never-ending roller coaster ride with different lead singers, rumored reunions, break-ups, and plenty of drama. After Diamond Dave’s departure, the band enjoyed continued success with Sammy Hagar for more than a decade, and after the ‘Van-Hagar-era’ abruptly ended, Gary Cherone (Extreme) became the new VH front man, which ultimately resulted in their uneven and critically-panned eleventh LP, Van Halen III. Despite the lead single “Without You” charting at #1 for six weeks, the band has largely ignored Van Halen III, even forgoing any of its tracks for later greatest hits compliations. So, in many ways, A Different Kind of Truth offers a breath of fresh air or, at the very least, an exciting new chapter in the Van Halen saga.
A Different Kind of Truth offers the same fun and youthful escape that garnered the band massive worldwide success over 30 years ago. Roth doesn’t sound washed up, Eddie’s solos are signature, Alex’s thundering drums remain intact, and Eddie’s son Wolfgang, fits right in on the bass. Despite the absence of Michael Anthony, the harmonies warm up each track in trademark fashion, cementing this as a genuine Van Halen release.
Many of the tracks on the new album stem from earlier Van Halen demos, some dating back as far as 1976. “She’s the Woman” recalls the sunny chorus of “Beautiful Girls” while “Blood and Fire” offers fans more of the vintage Van Halen sound, complete with Roth’s cheesy and almost ridiculously absurd lyrics. The soulful “Big River” was actually intended to be a track called “Big Trouble” for Diver Down, and displays some of Eddie’s strongest guitar work on the entire album.
“Beats Workin’”closes out the new album with plenty of energy, leaving the listener hopeful that more new music will eventually be released over the next 30 years.
Some of the tracks were not as enjoyable, such as the lead single, “Tattoo”, for example. The playing sounds uninspired and while the song is somewhat catchy, the track will likely serve as a bathroom break or beer run for concertgoers on the upcoming tour.
Tracks like “Honeybabysweetiedoll” or “The Trouble with Never” sound dated here and were probably leftovers from the late nineties.
Fans will certainly revel in Eddie’s killer guitar playing on the new record, but David Lee Roth actually makes this album a triumphant reunion. It’s clearly evident that Roth has been waiting for years to get back in the saddle again and let loose, and he successfully does so throughout A Different Kind of Truth.
Roth proudly announces “I’m doing the victory dance,” on “Blood and Fire.” Guess what?? So are we.. welcome back, Diamond Dave!!
-Will Fisher, The Showbiz Kids
The Showbiz Kids Rating: 7.5 out of possible 10 (It’s Van Halen with David Lee Roth…do you have to ask?!?!?)
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