For a younger guy, whose first music memory was the smoking cherub on the cover of my Aunt Mary's "1984" LP, this is a blast to a better time. Sure, there are politics and things that people don't like (I'm with many of you guys who think it was nasty how Mike was stink-fingered out of the gig), but there are plusses. Dave sounds pretty good with a little rust and rasp in his pipes--he may not be able to do the screaming howl as much as he used to, but to me, an old Camaro with a 350 sounds better to me than a VW GTR with a turbo when you stomp on the gas. It is odd to see him without that frizzy mane of hair of his though, but rockers age like the rest of us, and hair has to get cut. However, the day I see someone like Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith wear a short haircut that lets you see what his ears actually look like, you know hell has frozen over and the Browns and the Lions both made it to the Super Bowl.
One thing that makes me smile is that it sounds like Van Halen! It's the first lineup sound--not only with the playing and the vocals, but with the filth and sleaze the old albums had prior to Sammy taking the ropes. I like Sammy and all he's associated with (his solo career, Montrose, Chickenfoot)--don't get me wrong, but "5150," to me, is what realizing you knocked your girlfriend up sounds like on vinyl. You go from being "Hot for Teacher" to asking yourself "Why Can't This Be Love?" Plus, Dave and I both have birthdays on October 10th (just like Brett Favre, the original "hillbilly diva"), which means I feel a little obligated to stay on that side of the fence.
One thing that suprises me though--why is Wolfie built like an offensive lineman? When your parents are Eddie Van Halen (not the worst looking guy in the world--there are much uglier) and Valerie Bertenelli (who ranks up right there with Marilu Henner when it comes to ageless bombshells), you'd figure you wouldn't have such broad shoulders. For someone who grew up in California, he could pass for a corn-fed midwesterner any day.
