Reach Down Between Your Legs, Ease The Seat Back, And Enjoy The Hell Out Of VAN HALEN RISING.
583056
Only got mine late last night, so I'm about halfway through it.  Even at this point in reading it, it's the best book ever written about this band.  If there were a Battle of the Bands between books about Van Halen, VAN HALEN RISING would actually BE Van Halen-- that's how much it destroys every other book.  The level of new detail and never-before-revealed history is amazing, especially for a band everyone thought had been well-chronicled up to now.

Greg Renoff has done an excellent job here, and even if you're not a VH super-fan, it's worth checking out from a pop-culture perspective.  Highly recommended.
1252150
I just went to see Vertical Horizon (VH) in concert about a week ago, and for my first ever rock concert, I think I made a good choice.
It's funny how I found out about VH, now my favorite band.  I had heard the single Everything You Want on the radio, and loved it.  I had also seen the cover to Everything You Want (with the upside-down girl) and liked it.  AND I'd heard the name Vertical Horizon, and thought it was a great name.  Then, after a few months, I was able to put two and two togeter, and realized that Everything You Want was the title cut from the Vertical Horizon album.  But I didn't buy it as soon as I found that out--that was a mistake on my part.  But I did buy it the next time I went to the record store.  I was in line to check out, and saw the person in front of me carrying Everything You Want, and he was wearing a Goo Goo Dolls shirt (great band, another fave of mine).  For me, that was the kicker, and I went and bought EYW.  I have not regretted the four dollars I borrowed from my mom to buy it in the least.
As soon as I found out that they had other stuff out, I went back to the store and tried to find another album.  Live Stages was the only one they had, and i was a bit skeptical at first.  But as soon as I got home, I put it on, and was blown away.
If you like EYW, buy this CD.  If you like Running On Ice (their wonderful second CD) or There and Back Again (their acoustic debut), this is also for you.  My personal favorite tracks are The Man Who Would Be Santa, Japan, Wash Away, Falling Down, Great Divide, On The Sea...and everything else is great too.
Try to get a recent MP3 of Wash Away (one with Sean Hurley, probably the Live at the House of Blues one), and the bass guitar solo will blow you away.  Or better yet, buy tickets and be amazed.  People dismiss these guys as one-hit-wonders, but if they only have one hit, it would be a tragedy.  Personally,I think that their unreleased song Glass Waltz is the best they've done yet, and would make a great single.
If you like VH, check out these guys: Nine Days, Dave Matthews Band, Jackopierce, Collective Soul (Blender is semi-similar to EYW), Evan and Jaron, Goo Goo Dolls (esp. Dizzy Up the Girl), Gin Blossoms, Gas Giants, Matchbox 20, and Toad the Wet Sprocket
211751
Wanna take a trip without having to go anywhere? Or without the use of psychoactive drugs? Glowsun is that band that'll take you there. The music in and of itself is highly addictive. Very much a mood changer. Feelings of euphoria abound within these songs. Close your eyes. And enjoy the ride.
368906
Ok, I was buying the Jamie's Crying mp3 and I noticed that Van Halen 1 only got 4.5 stars with 306 reviews.  I had planned to sit back and ENJOY all of the samples but those 4.5 stars were a terrible reminder that something was seriously wrong with some people in this world.  I do not mean that maliciously as I am not a malicious person.  However, we are speaking of VAN HALEN 1 PEOPLE!!!  This is probably the absolute best album of all time.  This guys revolutionized just about everything in the business.  If they didn't they might as well have because EVERYONE loved them.

  I seriously do not remember a single soul who do not at least like them.  Even the rednecks and preppies liked them and then you kinda had to force that out of them because they still wanted to make fun of the "freaks" who listed to rock and wore black clothes and smoked.  This is how friggin wonderful these guys are....I heard "You Really Got Me" on some movie about bored kids in suburbia with Matt Dillon playing his very first role, after being discovered skipping class at his school.  Anyway Matt Dillon gets killed in the end.  Sad, I like Matt Dillon.  But...THIS IS VAN HALEN PEOPLE!!!  I loved that song so very much and the credits were so messed up at the end of the movie that I could not see who the band was.  I was 14 and it was the summer before I started high school.  I went to the only record store in my town and searched through all the albums for the name of the SONG--You Really got Me.  Do you guys know how long that took me?  We are talking seriously long days, I mean the people at the store were beginning to become suspicious of me.  I could not find it.  None of my friends knew who it was either, we lived in a major "adult contemporary" town. They helped me in my search though like the loyal, loving, freak friends they were.  Imagine my thrill, my joy, my RELIEF at finally finding the words "You Really Got Me" on the back of the band Van Halen's 8 Track tape..  I finally found it at J.C. Penneys.  (Yes they sold music).  It was in the V's and it took me at least another 3 hours search to find it.

  I had two friends and my sister with me.  We immediately rode our bikes back home to my house where we proceeded to skip to the "You Really Got Me" song.  We put the stereo on "10" and rocked out!!!  Thank God my mom and dad were at work!  Then the REAL surprise came when we listened to the whole 8 track.  It was unbelievable!!!  I think we just sat there with our mouths open and drooled, it was like Heaven.  Now, I have to state something I noticed about my fine friends who gave 5 stars.  I review a lot here and I read even more reviews.  I mean I read reviews for vitamins and cleaning supplies.  I really like to read reviews.  Reviews and forums, they are my facebook.

  Anyway, I have NEVER, EVER, seen reviews as long as the 5 star ones for Van Halen 1.  Do you 1, 2, and 3 starers even get that?  There are about 6 each of you and over 250 5 stars.  I totally believe in individual taste.  Believe me, I was the total "underground music" and "pre-goth" movement girl.  But COME ON PEOPLE!!!  This is Van Halen.  I do not need to tell you of the musical talent, genius and charisma that this band put forth on their first album, my other reviewer companions have done so BEAUTIFULLY.  I could not state it any better than they have.  I just had to get this tension I felt from staring at those horrible 4.5 stars for too long off of my chest.

  I am now 41, a wife, a mother, a college graduate, an about to be teacher, a published poet and a kitty cat lover.  When I hear anything from this album I am simply a 14 year old, skinny, innocent and shy little girl experiencing pure rock and roll for the first time in her life.
323843
Pour a glass of wine and start the music...now that's how to unwind!
2555839
"Guitar Hero World Tour" is my first foray into the "Guitar Hero" world. I must admit that I was a bit nervous in the beginning, but after playing just the intro to a few songs, I began to feel very comfortable with the guitar in my hands. "Guitar Hero" allows you to practice, start out in a garage band and then work your way to the top. You can also battle it out with guitar gods like Ted Nugent. As you get better and play more songs, you get cash for gigs and unlock rockers like Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame.

This set also features a nice batch of tunes ranging from Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" to Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher." Jane's Addiction, Foo Fighters, Sex Pistols and the Hush Puppies are just a few of the other bands that have tunes on this game.

"Guitar Hero World Tour" is highly addictive and terribly fun. You'll feel like a star and won't be able to stop rockin' once you get the hang of the game. Plan for a few hand cramps as well.

Highly recommended.
1749841
Sit back, read a book, your newspaper, sip your favorite beverage and listen contentledly to great music played with loving care. What more can one ask for?
4458818
This DVD shows Van Halen in great shape. Band is fresh andnew vocalist is really trying to show that he deserves to be in band.

So we can see great guitars and great vocals. There are almost all songs from 5150" album, and there is one Led Zeppelin cover!

What is more, no Jump (thanks God!).

The best thing is Eddie's solo, which is his finest i have ever heard, espesially those improvisations on "mean streets" intro.

Also very nice is part just before "Best of both worlds" when Sammy is singing and shouting and Eddie is trying to immitate it on guitar:)

Highlights: Get up, Best of both worlds(band is dancing all way long), 5150(Eddie improvisation during solo), Guitar solo. And of course "Summer Nights" - only one thing - Sam could try to scream longer during repeat of intro riff, just after solo - I love this part from album - riff, wild drumming and this long scream:)

And one more thing I don't understand - GOOD ENOUGH is not included, even though it was planned to be on it, one of the best VH songs

Anyway 5 stars

:(
2053738
David Lee Roth was gone for the album (Duh!, you already knew that) and Sammy Hagar was in. Although most people decry the vocalist change, it actually worked. Hagar is something of a chameleon; he's able to adapt to newer styles and era's without feeling as though he's selling out. And, hey, he was the same sought of sleazebag womaniser that the last guy was, that's gotta count for something! And what could be better than replacing one super-confident sleazebag with long blonde hair with another super-confident sleazebag with long blonde hair? Man! That almost sounds like a good idea... And hey, he'd been around since 1973 with Montrose, so he brings a lot of experience to the table, experience is a good thing, right? Well, usually. Though sometimes... like if you have 40 years experience under your belt, (literally?) well, you know... you must be kinda old...

Anyway, Hagar wasn't that old when he took over Van Halen, and for all the people saying that David should have stayed in the band, well, his star shone bright in 1986 with the extremely successful Eat Em and Smile, but his album sales soon fell away. Hagar was able to keep the Van Halen brand selling platinum right through to the mid-90's. SO There! But all that matters is the music right? Right! Well...

Hagar takes on the personality of rebel womanising sleazebag and plays it perfectly, but he tweaks it a bit, not too much, but a bit. He throws in some sanctimonious sap and some tear-jerking for good measure? Or is it bad measure? Well Van Halen had always avoided ballads, but actually the best songs on this album ARE the ballads.  Sure rockers like 'Get Up' and 'Can't get enough' are ok, but I mean they are quite mediocre. 'Summer Nights' is more fun and 'Best of both worlds' (A tranny anthem?) has a great groove (actually, it's kind of a rip off... I think the ole' disco tune by Kool and the Gang, Celebrate good times or something like.... YES! Van Halen ripped off a disco song). Man it's hard not to sing along to that infectious chorus, man I caught the bug or something... Then the title track is Hagar complaining about his girlfriend or wife or something, and it's not a lot of fun. But the ballads, well, you can call 'Why can't this be love' a ballad, it's not really, but, it's emotionally powerful, with a simple yet effective message 'it's got what it takes, so tell me Why Can't This Be Love?' and 'Dreams' is a mega power ballad, a beautiful intro with acoustic guitar playing along to some nice synths, and that powerful chorus with Sammy shrieking like a coyote 'Higher and Higher'; veyr uplifting song. And then my favourite song on the album 'Love walks in' which is sought of ethereal and fuses romantic lyrics with a UFO theme. Exquisite melody and a wonderful feeling in this song. The rockers on this album are ok, 'Best if both worlds' is especially enjoyable, but it's the ballads that'll keep you coming back.
396768
Classic Van Halen. Fierce guitars, fun lyrics. Wider range than the first two albums.
1105787
I don't know if you can wear out an mp3 file but I'm sure as hell gonna try!

For the past week, I've been enjoying this rarest of rare things in the music industry... a reunion album that is actually as good or better than much of the bands previous catalog.  Eddie appears to be fully recovered from the various, highly publicized trials of the past decade.  His playing is razor sharp on every track of this album and DLR's vocals, while slightly diminished in the higher ranges, are still a welcome sound to some of us old school VH fans.

In this age of bands that do nothing more than sit a computer and manufacutre synthesized noise, and wanna be reality show rock imitators, this release stands out as a "THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE" example.

WELCOME BACK VAN HALEN!, You've been missed...
4914472
Sit back and relax, read a book, take a nap, or just turn on some music and enjoy some downtime. I love these!
2714396
this is my favourite album that came out in the last four years.
basically all i have to say about it is that you need to go out and purchase the finest pair of headphones you can get your hands on, then fall asleep to disc 1 when you are intoxicated. saints of infinity has the perfect slow down for that hard night of blunts and white russians. if make it to track four, you will most likely be spiraled into a beautiful eyelid movie as your muscles drip off your bones to the sound of that slowing down string loop. the rest of the album provides a lucid backdrop that transitions into the music your brain makes up in dreams. best friggin' sleep you'll ever get.
886479
They have their edge back! It's not their best, but it's safe to say they're back! Great to have DLR back in the mix. Not a Sammy hater, but they didn't have that edge with Hagar. This album has that Fair Warning feel to it. And oh yes, Eddie still has game. Might be one of his best efforts ever. They do miss Michael Anthony's backup vocals but Wolfgang more than holds his own on the bass. Here's the way I rank the albums:

1. Van Halen
2. Fair Warning
3. 1984
4. Van Halen II
5. A Different Kind of Truth
6. Women and Children First
7. 5150
8. Diver Down
9. For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
10. OU812
11. Right Here, Right Now
12. Balance
13. Best of Van Halen, Volume I
14. Best of Both Worlds
15. Van Halen III
3035351
"A Different Kind Of Truth" should be taken as Van Halen's follow-up to "1984", and by that I mean I disregard everything in between. What a killer album, finally! Dave is back and so are Eddie and Alex. They inspire each other so much that the excitement can be truly felt when listening to these new songs. Eddie's son, Wolfgang, is great on bass and fits in like no one. I don't miss Michael Anthony, let Sammy have him.

You get 13 songs of pure fun - Dave's lyrics are always entertaining and he sings `em like he means `em. It's like Van Halen need them to justify their unbelievable musicianship. Eddie, Alex and Wolf are obviously having the time of their lives playing together like this. It actually surprised the hell outta me, I wasn't exactly expecting this album to be THIS GREAT! It's bloody unbelievable to have this at this point in time. Rock on guys and keep them albums coming. I'll be on the lookout for the next one.
3431682
Settle in and relax. It's going to be a soft, dark journey. Brilliant. One of my favorites. Reaches further into the places where Tilt couldn't quite touch.
3703124
This is, without any doubt, the best Van Halen cd.
When you listen to this record, you'll find out that all guitar players from 1979 to present day have copied his style, his innovation and have tried to imitate his "brown sound".
I hope that the band will soon be in tour with David Lee Roth.