OU812

Performer: Van Halen
Engineer: Donn Landee
Producer: Van Halen
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Van Halen: Sammy Hagar (vocals); Eddie Van Halen (guitar, keyboards); Michael Anthony (bass); Alex Van Halen (drums, percussion). Recorded at 5150 Studios, Hollywood, California. In the late '80s, both Van Halen and David Lee Roth were at their commercial peaks, with the two camps competing fiercely against each other for Top 10 dominance. While lacking the overall crunch of earlier albums, OU812 does take the band into credible pop/electronic territory. Showing that party rock can grow and develop, the album contains some premium musicianship. "Mine All Mine" features Ed Van Halen's continued use of synthesizers and is an introspective tune about believing in one's self. "When It's Love" is a catchy power ballad that continued the band's streak of Top 10 hits, along with "Finish What Ya Started," with its good-natured country licks. "Feels So Good," a 180-degree turn from the heavy rock of the band's early days, is a keyboard-driven pop ditty. The band doesn't totally stray from its roots though, as "Black And Blue" is a greasy, bluesy salute to an active sex life.

Van Halen rode the crest of 1970s riff-rock into 1980s abandon. Always able to produce a smile and a killer hook, their songs captured a West Coast attitude that combined Eddie Van Halen's guitar gymnastics and the high-energy antics of vocalist David Lee Roth with solid backing by bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen. Following Roth's less-than-amicable departure, the band signed up reckless driver Sammy Hagar, and their success continued into the '90s. When Hagar left after several albums, the band's fate seemed uncertain, but they soon found a temporary replacement in ex-Extreme frontman Gary Cherone.

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