We have reached review number 300!!!
This started as a release from the COVID negativity, and has now turned into a challenge for myself to try and review all of my vinyl records. Only another 1700 to go!
For this little milestone, I have picked this one myself. It’s another of my desert island albums, Van Halen’s – Fair Warning. It was the band’s fourth album and the first not to include any old material from the backyard party days. A lot of fans call this the dark album, as Ed’s guitar sound and Dave’s lyrics – plus the cover art -gave the album that darker feel.
The album starts with a “how the hell is he doing that” guitar intro to Mean Streets, which is my favourite Van Halen track. The guitar sound, the chord structure, the harmonies, Dave’s lyrics, the really cool groove – everything about this track was head and shoulders above anything around at the time, and another benchmark had been made. Even the outro is pure gold with the cool ringing chord sequence. The intro to Dirty Movies is sublime, until the big power riff kicks in and the groove is almost funk. Again, Dave’s lyrics are pure gold, and a killer middle eight make this another sure fire winner. Sinners Swing opens up with one hell of a riff and is almost two tracks in one – with the slow verse and rockin’ choru, and add to that the small but perfectly formed solo – awesome! Hear About It Later closes out Side 1 and is such a killer tune. The guitar tone alone is worth the price of admission boys and girls, and what a great melody and hook. The middle eight is jaw dropping and groovey as hell. Do you want to know what made Van Halen better than all the wannabes? Just listen to this track!
Unchained opens up Side 2 and everyone should be aware of this monster. Quite a simple riff and groove but hit hits the spot. “C’mon Dave gimme a break”. The reggae vibe of Push Come To Shove follows and it’s a freakin’ awesome tune. It was so against the grain for rock bands to do anything like this at the time, especially hard rockin’ bands like VH. The solo is just so freakin’ cool. The other single from the album, So This Is Love, is next up and it has a rocked up do-wop vibe – complete with a short snappy solo. Sunday Afternoon In The Park is a short weird intro piece to One Foot Out The Door, and is the first time a synthesizer was used on a VH record – Edward bolted it onto his guitar! One of Edward’s best solos is towards the end of One Foot Out The Door – it’s just jaw dropping in its execution.
I know I say this a lot, but we will never see the likes of a Van Halen type band again. When I think about Edward no longer being with us it makes me so sad. This is obviously an everyone should own one.
10,000/10 from The Grooveman.
