A thread that I just couldn't resist - and I tried!
I bought 'A Different Kind of Truth' on the day of release. I think that I wanted to believe that it would re-ignite my faith in Van Halen, the band. As I was born too late to experience everything before 5150 I had to gradually explore the VH legacy, and generally I loved it all. To be fair, as a 12 year old I loved 5150 and it never occured to me that the band had another earlier, more dynamic version.. Anyhow, I guess I wanted some of the old pre - 5150 magic back.
With 'A Different Kind of Truth' they may now have3/4 of the original line-up, but for me the dynamism is totally lacking. I fully accept that Eddie in 2012 is never going to sound like Eddie circa 1979 and I agree that his tone sounds a little less processed than in previous outings, still something is missing. I dont hate the album, in many ways I agree that it sounds better than it deserves to be but I actually feel indifferent to their music and that is worse.
Some comments about Eddies well documented problems in this thread and their effect on VH's output. I bought Sammy Hagar's book earlier in the year and frankly, if half of it is true (he maintains that he didn't say anything that Eddies ex-wife hadnt already published) then the chap is doing pretty well even functioning these days. One thing in particular that struck me is that (according to Hagar) Eddie and Alex were really slow on the uptake as far as exploitng the VH brand was concerned and didnt invest wisely. I guess things have changed now given the EVH brand and this new outing. Anyone who successfully sells his own replica gear (including a tastily price custom humbucker designed to imitate a miswound PAF) has clearly learned a thing or two.
I think what it comes down to is whether or not people are bothered by a shameless attempt at marketing an old formula for a stack of cash. Lets face it, Van Halen are hardly the only band out there making millions of dollar doing a karaoke version of their own hits. The music isn't terrible, it may not be what it once was but then its not (thankfully) Chickenfoot either. Eddie seems to be on the straight and narrow and he is not writing porno soundtracks currently..
In many ways the mediocrity of 'A Different Kind of Truth' makes me realise just how good the band were between VH and 1984. What ever happens from here on in (Does anybody expect this lineup to survive to record another batch of new material) that neednt detract from their glory days.
