A Different Kind of Truth
Van Halen
Interscope Records
As I type, I gaze over to the corner of the room where my custom Van Halen painted guitar sits and I think about the music that inspired me to play. Songs like “Hot for Teacher” and “Runnin’ with the Devil” changed the way rock was conceived.
However, from the very first song on the band’s new album, A Different Kind of Truth, it becomes apparent that this isn’t the same Van Halen your parents grew up with.
On the opening track, “Tattoo,” the listener is greeted with the familiar voice of David Lee Roth, whose range and clarity show noticeable signs of age as he describes his tattoo. “I got hula girls on the back of my leg and she hulas when I walk,” he sings.
When the band started off in the late ‘70s, a young Roth’s high flying vocals, coupled,with impressive guitar work, defined the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. However, their commercial success with 1984 and the departure of Roth signaled a significant shift in the song structure of the band. After a brief reunion in 1996, Roth returned in 2006 to record a new album.
Another noticeable difference is the absence of original bassist Michael Anthony, who has been replaced by Eddie Van Halen’s own son Wolfgang. As always, Eddie delivers a star-studded performance with his signature two-handed tapping aesthetics. Several songs experiment with lower tuning, particularly “As Is,” which is somewhere in the range of low B.
When it comes to vocals, there are many lyrical gems on the album. “Outta Space” talks about decreasing personal space in our modern world with lyrics like, “Danger rides the web tonight./ Burst mode dynamite./ Spinning up my Facebook page/and I’ll ride out towards the outer maze.” It should be noted that the songs on A Different Kind of Truth were written years ago, in some cases, before Roth even joined the band.
The album is a rehashing of music that never really found a place in any previous albums or perhaps was reserved for a solo album Eddie might have wanted to produce in the future. Many of the songs are refreshing and original, yet still reminiscent of classic Van Halen, such as “Beats Workin’” and “The Trouble With Never,” but with a heavier, modern sound.
A Different Kind of Truth holds true to Van Halen’s original recipe of fast guitar licks and drums, demonstrating that a strong album doesn’t need to rely on lyrics to make it great. The album sounds aged and I wouldn’t recommend it for someone just getting into the band — it’s simply a nostalgic nod to the return of Roth.
