Midnight Phil ADKOT review

Yeah….I like this guy. He is pretty much spot on, as well as, entertaining.

Pretty cool review. Geeky yes, but mostly spot on. I never have chimed in on the album, so this seems like a good opportunity to do so.

The only thing he said that I really don’t agree with is that Tattoo is the worst song on the album – I think that’s Honeysweetiebabydoll, or however you say it. Yes, Tattoo is kind of midtempo boring, but I can’t even listen to HBSD. I realize I’m in the minority on that, but it’s how I feel. I could take or leave the Tattoo lyrics, but Dave sounds much less forced on this one than much of the rest of the album.

That being said, I totally agree that As Is is the best song on the album. His reasons were all good ones, but I’ll add that it’s the best of the old and new VH. The riff is smokin’ like back in the day, but it has a modern edge that seems to embody what Wolfgang wanted the guys to do for the album – write classic riffs and make them sound new. There’s also an energy to the “dunzo/funzo” shout outs that sounds youthful – kind of like 30 Seconds To Mars’ Closer To The Edge “No, No, No” shouts. I love it. I also agree that it has become one of my favorite VH songs, period.

I’m glad he took on the demo issue. He pretty much nails what I think about it too. What’s the statute of limitations on an unused idea? The House Of Pain example was legitimately funny.

With that in mind, I think the best of the remakes is Blood and Fire. Truth be told, it probably is because of the newness of it. He’s right. It does have that final draft feel to it. Whatever it is, it just sounds gorgeous to me. I actually like when Dave stays away from straining his voice at the top of his range. It’s when it sounds most like old VH to me. The solo is good, but not very different than any number of melodic ditties that Ed has played since 1986.

The man is spot on when he says that China Town is Wolfie’s tune – he tears it up in a way that Mike never did. Like it or hate it, the kid can play. Ed seems inspired by the interplay and delivers his best solo on the record. I’m not a huge fan of the verse – it reminds me of the Van Hagar Pleasure Dome feel – and it doesn’t seem to fit with what Al’s playing, but the song overall is ok. One final thought about CT: Ed’s use of the wha is much more tasteful than The Trouble With Never….

Speaking of TTWN, not only are we in wha wha hell, but the Crostown Traffic chord structure, generic riff, and Dave’s trying-too-hard lyrics make the song somewhat annoying for me. It’s funny that the only thing pleasant about it is Wolfie and Ed’s background vocals on the chorus, b/c they don’t seem to fit with the rest of the song. Oh well….

I don’t know what the hell he was talking about with You and Your Blues. Ed sounds like he did in the Hagar era throughout the song. It’s not bad, it’s just not very inspired. If I’m being honest, I have to be in the mood for this one. The lyrical quotes and Dave’s screeching make it tough to listen to, but again, the background vocals make it sound a little more like pleasant Van Halen.

Basically, that leaves the rest of the remakes and Stay Frosty. He did a good job of summing them up, but I’d like to add a few thoughts.

She’s The Woman does strut, and it’s because of Dave. His lyrics and attitude on this one are classic. IMHO, the second best remake on the album, most likely because I do not care for the new breakdown section as much as the original.

He’s definitely right about Bullethead being somewhat of a letdown, but for me it’s because the tempo lags a little.

Outta Space is Let’s Get Rockin’ on steroids. I just can’t decide if the lyrics are funny and cool or just weird. Dave’s 90′s, high-end screaming through much of the verses is a taste I haven’t totally acquired….

Beats Workin’ is the third best remake on the album, the thuddy verse guitar and Dave’s top-of-his range approach notwithstanding. I like the lyrics much better than Put Out The Lights. It seems like Dave’s meditation on his station in life.

Big River seems pointless to me. They recorded Big Trouble for VH I, Diver Down and 1984 and it never made the cut. I don’t know why they did this song instead of Get The Show On The Road or something else. For me, the demos were better in every way except production. This one suffers by comparison to the old…

Finally, Ice Cream Man…. I mean Stay Frosty. For me, this song is entertaining, but it’s not replacing Ice Cream Man on my setlist; however, I do believe that this song stands on it’s own. It’s only really like ICM because of Dave’s acoustic, and that’s because he’s a limited player.

What do the rest of you think now that we’ve had some time to live with the album?

I got a haircut today and the barber shop had classical music playing. I have to admit . . . it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be.

VAiN: With one sentence you make your entire post irrelevant.

And why is that? Because I’m old enough to have kids that are almost Wolfie’s age and hear what they are listening to? I’m sorry you don’t hear the youthful edge Wolf has brought to the band, or is it just that you had to pick through the entire thing to find something to fault me on b/c I told the hard truth about Dave’s voice? Hmmm….. Obviously you’re getting so old and forgetful you can never seem to remember that I’m a CVH fan. Whatever….

I don’t want to leave you hanging out there by yourself Bill, so I will chim in as well. In my opinion ADKOT should be a shining ten out of ten, but Dave’s voice has diminished to a level that’s almost un-listenable to me. I rate the album a 6.5 because of vocals alone. The band sounds great from beginning to end. I admit I still miss Mike’s vocal harmonies, however Wolf has stepped up nicely with a great vocal performance. Eddie’s playing and tone haven’t sounded this good since VHIII.
I respectfully disagree about Honeybabysweetiedoll. For me it’s one of the more interesting songs performance wise. Eddie plays some real interesting guitar on that song. I can’t stand the vocal cadence or the lyrics, but Eddie saves this one for me.
I agree about As Is being one of the best songs. Eddie’s guitar work is outstanding on that one. (I like to listen to the soundcheck version of this song)
I like the way Eddie plays on You and Your Blues. The rhythm sounds like something post CVH, however with Dave’s singing it doesn’t sound like Van Hagar.
I’ve never really got into Stay Frosty. I like a good blues boogie and Eddie’s solo and outro really cook, but the song sounds pieced together, both vocally and musically. Not organic at all. Sonically Stay Frosty is killer, I really like the acoustic to electric groove. Kind of a Over the Hills and Far Away vibe. With such a killer groove I just wish they would have taken more time to make the vocal match up. The Stay Frosty parts are cut in and sound out of place over what could have been a good song.
I haven’t said anything about the way I feel about ADKOT because I’ve been hoping in time I would change my mind. I also didn’t want to be a buzz kill for all the people that do like the album. I listen to it every so often hoping to hear it a different way. Like I said before, the playing is great, but Dave’s voice makes me cringe in every song. It’s when he reaches for the upper register or strains that it is just unbearable for me. I wish they would have made this album even as soon as five years ago. Dave still sounded good to me on the 07/08 tour. I love the first six albums and the two songs he did with VH on the Best of compilation. This album however I rate next to VHIII. Nothing on ADKOT is as bad as How Many Say I, but not every song on VHIII makes me cringe either.
I also like the demo versions better than the remakes. I think this might be because I’ve had the demos for years and I’m used to hearing them that way. The production quality is definitely much better on ADKOT. For me though, the early versions have a young Dave singing and Mike’s vocal harmonies in the mix. Can’t beat that.
With this being said, it is just my opinion. I wish I did like the album better. I really want to, I just don’t. I’m not jaded about it. I just listen to all the previous albums instead.

I don’t want to leave you hanging out there by yourself Bill, so I will chim in as well. In my opinion ADKOT should be a shining ten out of ten, but Dave’s voice has diminished to a level that’s almost un-listenable to me.

Thanks Matt. I actually understand what you mean. I didn’t think the album was as bad as the tour, but that balls in a vice screaming sounds tortured to me too.

I haven’t said anything about the way I feel about ADKOT because I’ve been hoping in time I would change my mind. I also didn’t want to be a buzz kill for all the people that do like the album.

I understand this as well. It’s why I didn’t say anything about it when Ron was posting all of the reviews online in February and March. There was one that sticks out in my mind that talked about Diamond Dave now being embarassing Uncle Dave that made me cringe, but I understood the feeling.

Like I said before, the playing is great, but Dave’s voice makes me cringe in every song

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I’m not quite there yet. I still like the album, just not all of it, like I did back in the day.

I wish they would have made this album even as soon as five years ago. Dave still sounded good to me on the 07/08 tour.

I agree with you there. The only problem is that Ed would not have sounded nearly as good. Truth be told, he wasn’t all the way back on the album when they finally did record either. As someone who’s studied his playing for a long time, I may be splitting hairs, but he still can’t do things after the surgery that he used to do with ease back in the day. Things like alternate picking, stretching, etc. He tries at times, but it’s not quite all the way back. That said, 85% Ed still sounds better than 99% of what’s out there…

This album however I rate next to VHIII.

Now you’ve gone too far! Ha ha. I get what you’re saying, but I like listening to As Is, Blood and Fire, Beats Workin’ and She’s The Woman. There are others that I noted that give me that same feeling I had when I first heard VHIII too. It just didn’t sound good to me…

I also like the demo versions better than the remakes. I think this might be because I’ve had the demos for years and I’m used to hearing them that way. The production quality is definitely much better on ADKOT. For me though, the early versions have a young Dave singing and Mike’s vocal harmonies in the mix. Can’t beat that.

I agree with most of that, but the lyrics for some of those songs were pretty bad. A song like She’s The Woman got a major upgrade in that area, whereas Let’s Get Rockin’… I just don’t know….

With this being said, it is just my opinion. I wish I did like the album better. I really want to, I just don’t. I’m not jaded about it. I just listen to all the previous albums instead.

This is totally fair. They are a different band now. There’s no way around it. There are echoes of their former selves, but they’ve moved into a new phase b/c of age and personnel. Maybe they’ll make another album that’ll be better than ADKOT. Maybe they won’t. Either way, I’ll buy it. I just won’t shell out $200 per ticket to go see Dave ruin Dance The Night Away and other songs I’ve loved for all these years and lamely blame the blowers.

My review wasn’t intended to sound hateful. It may sound like I’m picking on Dave, but he is the reason I don’t like the new album. It’s not because of his lyrics, I like most of them. His voice to me has diminished to a point that I have trouble listening to. Even She’s the Woman. A great song, with a tremendous groove. Dave’s attitude definitely helps drive that song, but when he tries to hard it hurts my ears. Same with Blood and Fire. Cool song, with a catchy hook. When he belches out the Blood and Fire line it sinks it for me. This being said is not out of hate, but utter disappointment. It is great to hear Dave back with VH, but unfortunately for me he’s lost it.