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There's good stuff here, just not as many hits as on the rest of the discs in the Van Hagar catalog. This record actually makes me nostalgic for the Van Hagar era (and as a former diehard Roth loyalist, that's saying a lot). Listen to this and see if you don't end up sharing the same wish that the Van Halen/Hagar collaboration would have followed this up with another entry in their already impressive list of rock & roll classics.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The album itself is a decent release from Van Halen with Sammy Hagar. Don't tell me, and Can't stop loving you are nice songs. 5150 if I had choice would be my first CD to purchase for Van Halen with Sammy.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Track listing 1. Seventh Seal, The 2. Can't Stop Lovin' You 3. Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do) 4. Amsterdam 5. Big Fat Money 6. Strung Out - (TRUE instrumental) 7. Not Enough 8. Aftershock 9. Doin' Time - (TRUE instrumental) 10. Baluchitherium - (TRUE instrumental) 11. Take Me Back (Deja Vu) 12. Feelin' Details Playing time: 53 min. Producer: Bruce Fairbairn Distributor: WEA Recording type: Studio Recording mode: Stereo SPAR Code: n/a Album notes Van Halen: Sammy Hagar (vocals); Edward Van Halen (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Michael Anthony (bass, background vocals); Alex Van Halen (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: The Monks Of Gyuro Tantric University (vocals). "The Seventh Seal" was nominated for a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. What happens when rowdy rockers get older? Hopefully, if they're like Eddie, Sammy and the boys, they can achieve a BALANCE between the fire from their youth and the more serious demands of maturing rock stars. The struggle for BALANCE is apparent in songs about strained relationships, drugs and greed. The topics of Sammy's lyrics range from personal turmoil ("I need a change, I need it quick before it makes me sick...I don't like what I've been told I'm feelin'") to apocalyptic doom ("Broken now I can't help but feel someone cracked the seventh seal"). However, the band still kicks when Sammy shouts about the virtues of drugs and avarice in "Amsterdam" and "Big Fat Money." Supporting this are Eddie's familiar warm tones and Alex's big-footed stomp. Tune into "Amsterdam" to hear Eddie's goofy, bearded grin, and that good-feelin' Van Halen rock. Yet although they offer three instrumental tracks, they no longer flaunt unbridled talent just because it's there. Instead of using songs as mere vehicles for instrumental pyrotechnics, the Van Halen virtuosity has been balanced out to serve the song, and it's a fine BALANCE.Read full review
One of the Best Hard Rock Albums of All Times and one of the more underrated albums' in VH's catalogue. Although there were a lot of great bands popular in 1995--Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine--it was still refreshing to have a kick-ass new Van Halen album out. Although "Balance" was released in the days of grunge and alternative rock, it still managed to sell over two million copies. "Balance" takes up where "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" left off, but the music is overall heavier, and has more of an edge. Gone were the synthesizers and more pop oriented songs that that were prevalent in the first two Van Hagar albums. "Balance" rocks hard like its predecessor, but it is also somewhat darker. I take the general theme of the album to be the loss of a relationship, or going through a major life-change, and then getting back in "Balance." The band sounds very focused and tight. Bruce Fairbain did a great job of getting the best out of the band and gave the CD a tight, crisp production. It goes without saying that Eddie's playing is terrific and each song has one or two killer solos. The album begins with the hard hitting "The Seventh Seal." It starts with an atmospheric Buddhist chant leading into the song. This is a really cool, heavy dark song with an almost hypnotic riff. "Can't Stop Lovin' You" is a balled in the vein of "Why Can't this be Love," but doesn't have the dated, cheesy keyboards. "Can't Stop Lovin' You" is about the breakup of a relationship, not the hope of one as it is in "Why Can't this be Love." I take the mid-tempo "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)" to basically mean that love is not enough to stop a suicide. The album lightens up a bit with the fast-paced "Amsterdam" and "Big Fat Money," two good, hard rockers. "Strung Out" is a sound-byte of Ed apparently ripping a piano apart, which leads into the majestic balled "Not Enough." "Aftershock" is an excellent rocker and has one of EVH's best solos on the disc. "Doin' Time" is a very cool drum solo that leads into the instrumental "Baluchitherium." It's catchy, infectious groove and killer solos make it a favorite of mine. "Take Me Back (Déjà vu)" remains my personal all-time favorite Van Halen song from the Sammy Hagar era. It's a beautiful, bittersweet, semi-acoustic song with the theme of wanting to return back to an earlier time in your life. The album ends with the depressing "Feelin'" a song that deals with getting though life alive, without getting burned. It's by far the most morose song VH ever wrote. "Balance" was Van Hagar at it's best. It was also their last album. About a year and a half after it's release, Sammy Hagar and Van Halen parted ways. In hindsight, by listening to this dark CD, you can almost get the sense that although the band still sounds cohesive, this was destined to be the last Van Hagar CD.Read full review
Van Halen’s sound once again evolved on Balance. Eddie’s guitar sound is heavier than previously heard and this album truly highlights Alex’s skills behind the kit and a heavy and tight drum sound. A few songs which fail to move me but overall, this is my favorite Sammy album. Would definitely recommend.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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