VAN HALEN — For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (review)

VAN HALEN — For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge album cover Album · 1991 · Hard Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Negoba
Don't Call it a Comeback

Van Halen were the kings of rock for over a decade. The weathered the loss of David Lee Roth with an updated sound on 5150, and still did quite well commercially with OU812. But one could tell the band was starting to coast a bit. Sammy was turning into Jimmy Buffett and the most interesting guitar on the album was the clean pluckiness on "Finish What Ya Started."

Well in 1991, Van Halen came back with a shout, an album brazenly named F.U.C.K. Eddie had a new line of guitars, cut his hair, the band seemed to be positioning themselves for a stable adult run. (This wouldn't happen though). This album was part of a fantastic year or two of music that was seeing lots of transition before most people had ever heard of Nirvana.

The electric drill of "Poundcake" upstaged the shred outfit of Mr. Big. The upbeat pop-rock of "Right Now" was given more serious credit than the band had ever gotten lyrically. (It could be argued whether the song had earned those accolades). The songs ran from happy "Runaround" to randy "Spanked" to heavy "Judg(e)ment Day." Eddie seemed to have rediscovered his love of the instrument with his new Ernie Ball.

Alas this was to be the last great Van Halen album. As they did after 5150, the band came out with a mellow copy of a successful formula. After that, the band fell apart. This marks the end of an era.
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