Ok, let me get this out of the way. I was, and am, a huge Van Hagar fanboy. I know, I know…sacrilege. When everyone else was screaming for DLR’s return, I was on the rooftops shouting “5150!!!”. So, you can imagine my school-girl like excitement at the thought of Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony making a new record together. Well, the wait is over and Chickenfoot is upon us. Hagar and Anthony, along with drummer Chad Smith and guitar robot…er, I mean player…Joe Satriani, have done nothing if not brought the rock.
Oh yeah, it rocks. Obviously, it smacks of Van Halen in many spots due to the Hagar/Anthony vocal harmonizing. Musically as well, it’s not too far off course from the Van Halen formula. Satch, while not intentionally trying to be EVH, is doing a great job of delivering guitar driven groove and nimble solos. But, I have to be honest, if his rhythm guitar tone was tweaked toward that of EVH, one would swear they were listening to a new Van Halen album. The solos, however, are pure Satriani technical tastiness. Hagar sounds good, albiet a little weathered. There are no keys to be found…only guitar driven rock and roll. But here’s the kicker…it’s a little boring. It’s not that I don’t like it, but it definitely failed to kick my ass. A few of the songs, like “Get It Up”, “Avenida Revolucion” and “Runnin’ Out” are pretty enjoyable while others like “Sexy Little Thing” and “Soap On A Rope” suffer from really dumb lyrics although the music is nice and groovy. Another glaring Van Hagar moment would be “Down The Drain” complete with Sammy talking to Joe on the intro and the low-hung groove. Mix in Mikey’s backing vocals and you really can’t tell the difference. “My Kinda Girl”, one of the album’s best songs, has that “Top Of The World” melodic hook in the chorus…a nice break from the bluesy grit and pensiveness of the songs before it.
In a live situation I can see these grooves really getting people into it but as for a CD I would reach for and listen to repeatedly it would probably get pretty dusty. I can’t say it’s a bad CD, but I can’t say it’s a must-have either. The songs are decent to really good…the playing is stellar (nice to hear Anthony do a few bass fills) and the band sounds like they’re having a great time. It’s just not really sinking it’s teeth into me. If you like good ol’ groove driven rock and roll, any of Van Hagar’s material or Sammy’s solo material, it’d be worth your while to check it out…maybe you’ll dig it a little more than I did.
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Guilty Pleasure album of the summer. Nothing special but a lot of fun none the less.
I like the fact that it’s all guys seemingly without egos who just want to play and have fun. Sometimes we forget about the fun element in our Brootal Metal world.
on Jul 2nd, 2009 at 06:31Chickenfoot? I mean come the hell on… are all decent band names taken? Tongue it cheek or not, that names is fucking gay…
on Jul 3rd, 2009 at 02:37Sorry… Tongue in cheek or not, that name is fucking gay…
on Jul 3rd, 2009 at 02:38I agree, what a horrible name. I wonder where the fuck these bands come up with this shit. I’m sure the record does rock, but jesus.
on Jul 3rd, 2009 at 06:27I guess Ninjaboot was taken.
on Jul 4th, 2009 at 13:43“All guys seemingly without egos that just want to play and have fun?”
Uh the reason we have this instead of a new Van Halen album is Hagar’s massive ego.
Yeah I’m well aware the Van Halen brothers have screwed up royally on their side too, but make no mistake it was pure ego that broke Van Halen up, and not just Edward and Alex’s.
What I have heard so far off of this particular album is just like everybody has said……..BORING.
Just because you can get together and make music does not mean that you SHOULD.
on Jul 6th, 2009 at 12:43I didn’t hear the album yet but who cares about the name? I’m sure they have some bonafide demented reason behind it. Just as long as they are having fun and the music is pretty decent, so just let it rock.
on Jul 8th, 2009 at 13:50Ugh! Why bother. Hagar is one of the most over-rated guys in music. Everything he touches, he waters down to generic pap.
on Jul 13th, 2009 at 14:18