The Best of Van Halen, Vol.1

Van Halen

Who cares whether David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar is fronting the band? The real hook is Eddie Van Halen’s guitar. Some of the cuts chosen for this compilation are forgettable, particularly those from the Hagar era that are indistinguishable from each other. But I dare you to listen to Runnin’ with the Devil without the urge to swagger around David-Lee-style. Or make it through Eruption without picking up your air guitar.

- Reviewed by Bob Dirkes

Sunrise Over Sea
John Butler Trio
You won’t find this CD on the racks at your local department store, unless you live in Australia. Butler’s self-produced CD debuted at #1 on the charts in Oz and I’m confident you’ll soon hear his music on alternative radio stations. The music is a fusion of folk and early 70’s era rock, in the same eclectic vein as Rusted Root, Jack Johnson, Phish and even Ben Harper. Like Harper, Butler’s a terrific guitarist and mixes exotic instruments like the 11-string electric guitar with double bass, djembe and amplified lapsteel into his songs. Standout cuts include Treat Yo Mama, What You Want, Seeing Angels and Old Man, but every song on this CD is worth a listen.
- Reviewed by Mike Nikolich

Déjà vu All Over Again
John Fogarty
The title could be referring to much of the music as well as the title track. If you like John Fogarty, you’ll enjoy this CD as much of it is pretty familiar. The title track is pretty much a remake of Who’ll Stop the Rain in its chords, lyrics, and construct. I liked it, but it hardly breaks new ground. Fogarty also continues his exploration of various musical genres, from Philly soul to traditional American music. There’s also a Dire Straights-like tune where he trades guitar licks with Mark Knopfler using Knopfler’s trademark Strat sound and style. This CD is strictly for fans.
- Reviewed by Ken Krause

Resonance
Mad at Gravity
Powerful guitar riffs and staccato drumming in off-time signatures make this a blend of Perfect Circle, Incubus and Staind, but with a breadth of variance that those don't provide.  Dynamics are an important part of many songs, and the songwriting craftsmanship is tight.  The closing track, "Undefined Reversion", is a head-turning shift from the rest of the CD, and either indicates a path to be taken or an attempt to break out of the mold set by the producers.  Hard to say, because MAG is a new band that is already undergoing some personnel changes, but the music on this CD lives on.  The band has announced that a new CD, under a new name, will be out this year.  Hopefully this time they'll stay together longer than one release.
- Reviewed by Dennis Collins

Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
Guess Norah Jones is what they call a "Chanteuse". You can almost feel the dark, intimate atmostphere of a New Orleans night club when she sings.  Lots of smooth piano and soulful lyrics.  I defy anyone to listen to this CD without slipping into a mellow mood.  I defy any man to listen to Jone's smoky, soothing pipes for 45 minutes without developing a silly grin and a dreamy look in his eyes.
- Reviewed by Bob Dirkes

Genius Loves Company

Ray Charles
I am a huge fan of Ray Charles. Saw him at the South Carolina state fair back in the 80s. Best rendition of America the Beautiful ever. One of the most experimental – if not THE most experimental – musicians of the 20th Century. All that being said, this experiment in duets with some of the biggest names in the business just doesn’t work for me. That doesn’t mean others won’t – or don’t – like it. After all, it pretty much swept the Grammys this year. But any time you have Ray Charles and Willie Nelson teaming up to wobble (and that’s being kind) through It Was a Very Good Year, that’s a bad sign. There are maybe three songs that I liked on this album – Fever with Natalie Cole, Do I Ever Cross Your Mind with Bonnie Raitt, and Crazy Love with Van Morrison. I hit the skip button everywhere else. Hopefully, there are some hidden tracks that reveal the true Genius and his Company that will come out later.
- Reviewed by Tim Boivin

Yeah, Well, Anyway
Smartbomb
A Northern Virginia quartet, Smartbomb infuses their rock with fun lyrics, high-energy, aggressive percussion, and actual harmonies on most songs. If you like the songwriting skill of early Gin Blossoms mixed with a Blink-182 and Smithereens feel, then this one is the Bomb. 50 in My Wallet is one of the best 'coming of age' songs in rock history, right up there with the theme from Porky's…..
- Reviewed by Dennis Collins

Hear in the Now Frontier
Queensryche
Fans of these Seattle head-bangers probably yelled "sell-out!" when this CD was released, but I think it's one the classic pop-rock albums of the late 90s. The shorter songs have more structure and Geoff Tate's vocals are lowered an octave or two, but the literate lyrics remain, buoyed by strong harmonies and fine solos. Tracks like "Cuckoo's Nest," "The Voice Inside," "You" and "Hero" feature more hooks than a Wal-Mart sporting-goods department.
- Reviewed by Mike Nikolich