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Van Halen - 5150

 

	RELEASED: 1986 PRODUCER:Andy Johns LABEL:Warner Brothers BAND: Sammy Hagar Eddie Van Halen Alex Van Halen Michael Anthony
+ Songs, Eddie - Production No DLR	TRACKS: 1.Good Enough 2.Why Can't This Be Love 3.GetUp 4.Dreams 5.Summer Nights 6.Best of Both Worlds7.LoveWalks In 8.5150 9. Inside

 

OVERVIEW

For good reason, so many were sceptical of this album. But Van Halen came up trumps and landed their first No.1. Whether you love him or hate him, Sammy and the boys go together like peas and carrots on this album. From the first 5 seconds, you know the band hasn't lost its edge. There's no doubt they've moved towards more pop orientated territory, but they do it just a well. Some of the production leaves a little to be desired, especially in the bass and drum department. But the songs speak for themselves.

 

SONGS

Straight off the bat, it sounds like Roth never left and Sammy's just singing his song. Good Enough rocks and swaggers in the cheeky way that Van Halen always did. Things change though, once the synth heavy; Why Cant This Be Love starts. But it's nothing to complain about, this is top quality pop/rock. Just so fans don't lose interest, they launch into the beat heavy; Get Up, which just never lets up. It go straight back into pop/rock territory with the inspirational and fantastic Dreams, before finishing off the albums first half with the great Summer Nights. Best Of Both Worlds kicks in with an awesome riff and your really sucked into it by now, this album is great. The synth makes another strong appearance in the 80's movie soundtrack style: Love Walks In. The album starts to finish up with arguably their most underrated track: 5150. With a long melodic intro from Eddie and a strong chorus, I can't help but wish they had have gone more down this road. It closes with the different, but enjoyable Inside.

 

CONCLUSION

Many consider this to be the starting of the end for Van Halen, while others argue it was their definitive peak. I believe it was both. Though incomparable to their debut, 1984 has more hooks than a bait shop and still manages to deliver all the guitar and front man antics that was always expected of them. Though the album is great, it’s a little short of definitive. You can’t help but think it’s lacking just a little, and that’s probably due to its short track list (just 8 full songs). Most of it still sounds great, more than 20 years later. It makes you wonder ‘what if?’ they had kept on growing together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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