Balance

Performer: Van Halen
Engineer: Erwin Musper; Mike Plotnikoff
Producer: Bruce Fairbairn
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Van Halen: Sammy Hagar (vocals); Edward Van Halen (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Michael Anthony (bass, background vocals); Alex Van Halen (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: The Monks Of Gyuro Tantric University (vocals). "The Seventh Seal" was nominated for a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. Personnel: Sammy Hagar (vocals, background vocals); Eddie Van Halen (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Alex Van Halen (drums, percussion); Michael Anthony (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Mike Fraser. Recording information: "Siso" Record Plant. Photographers: Glenn Wexler; Randee Saint Nicholas. Unknown Contributor Role: Van Halen. What happens when rowdy rockers get older? Hopefully, if they're like Eddie, Sammy and the boys, they can achieve a BALANCE between the fire from their youth and the more serious demands of maturing rock stars. The struggle for BALANCE is apparent in songs about strained relationships, drugs and greed. The topics of Sammy's lyrics range from personal turmoil ("I need a change, I need it quick before it makes me sick...I don't like what I've been told I'm feelin'") to apocalyptic doom ("Broken now I can't help but feel someone cracked the seventh seal"). However, the band still kicks when Sammy shouts about the virtues of drugs and avarice in "Amsterdam" and "Big Fat Money." Supporting this are Eddie's familiar warm tones and Alex's big-footed stomp. Tune into "Amsterdam" to hear Eddie's goofy, bearded grin, and that good-feelin' Van Halen rock. Yet although they offer three instrumental tracks, they no longer flaunt unbridled talent just because it's there. Instead of using songs as mere vehicles for instrumental pyrotechnics, the Van Halen virtuosity has been balanced out to serve the song, and it's a fine BALANCE.

Rolling Stone (3/23/95, p.122) - 3.5 Stars - Very Good - "...BALANCE is pro forma pomp rock--but with VH in top form, power aplenty remains in their slick machine....Gleefully, [Sammy Hagar] surfs Eddie's guitar waves, apparently getting as much kick as any fan does when they crash and tumble the studio walls--and that's a kick indeed..."

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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