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Rating:
Second episode of the Van Halen story (and it was already clear from the title), this record continues the band's advance but above all the consolidation of the guitar hero figure of Eddie at the end of the '70s.
The album follows the same path as that of the group's debut, its predecessor, but in my opinion, it stands a notch above. In fact, beyond the obvious innovation due to the guitar technique never heard before, the first Van Halen album lacked something, which this subsequent one added. Unfortunately, then, however, the latter Van Halen albums (or if we want the entire production) remained at the same level in terms of the depth and caliber of the music. This "Van Halen II" entertains and pleases with its typically hard rock pace infused with melody. "You're No Good", with the chorus where voice and guitar are in unison, "Dance The Night Away", and "D.O.A." with catchy choruses, are tracks that can't help but please all genre lovers. If we then add "Spanish Fly", a piece for classical guitar where Eddie once again displays his talent, performing somewhat Spanish-like phrasing to lead back (as only he knows how to do in any way) to the well-known tapping section of "Eruption", the picture is truly complete. The latter is incredible, electric or not, but to "tap" on a classical guitar and achieve that effect, I don't think it's something everyone can do. Beyond this, the album is simply composed of the same elements that have always characterized VH's music, and in general, the typical hard rock in its most traditional forms. Raspy voice, inimitable guitar, and decent rhythm section. All in support of somewhat clichéd lyrics with at times banal themes. If all of this had been supplemented with a touch of research, we would have had albums of a much higher caliber from VH, as I already stated at the beginning. In any case, this must undoubtedly be considered as the reconfirmation of a new style that at the end of the '70s proposed the revamping of rock guitar, projecting it towards a new way of understanding the guitar as a solo instrument.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 You're No Good (03:17)
Hahhhhh
Well I'm, feelin' better, now that we're through
Feelin' better baby, I'm over you
(Ah) I've learned my lesson baby, and it left a scar
(Ah) But now I see how ya really are
You're no good! no good, no good
Baby, you're no good. Oooh yeah
No good, no good, no good (Ah-hah!)
Baby, you're no good
I broke a heart, simple n' true
Broke a heart for someone like you
(Ah) We'll be comin' back, don't come running to me
(Ah) I wanna love you, maybe set you free
You're no good, no good, no good
Baby, you're no good. Whoa oh-ooh
You're no good, no good, no good (Ah-no!)
Baby, you're no good
Hah
(Guitar Solo)
Used to be I couldn't sleep at night, baby
Now you go on an' do what you want to
Ow!
(Ah-ow!)
No good, no good, (Ow-ow!) no good
Baby, you're no good (Ow!)
(Ow-ow!)
Ah! Uh! Uh!
03 Somebody Get Me a Doctor (02:54)
(One, two, three, four)
(Ooh yeah! Ow-ow!)
You better call me a doctor, feelin' no pain
Overloaded, down the drain
Somebody get me a doctor
You better call up the ambulance I'm, deep in shock
Overloaded baby, I can hardly walk
Somebody get me a doctor (Ooh!)
Somebody get me a doctor
Yeah! I'm feelin' over fine
And I'm speedin', down that line
(Woo-woo!)
(Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
(Woo!)
(Oh, woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo!)
(Ow!)
(Ooh!)
Ya better call up a doctor, feelin' high
I'm overloaded baby, I say "Bye-bye"
Somebody get me a doctor (Oh, yeah!)
Somebody get me a doctor (Ooh, ooh!)
Somebody get me a doctor (Ah, yeah!)
(Ooh!)
Somebody give me a shot!
04 Bottoms Up! (03:06)
(Ow!)
I been sitting here 'bout half the night, ah
Uh, momma fill my cup up
Said, I came here to waste some time
I think I'm gonna jump up
I'm singin', I'm dancin', most every night
I want to do that with you, babe
Let's do this bottle right
Oh, oh, (Oh!) baby (Ow!)
Bottoms up! (Ow!)
(Woo!)
Ah pretty maids all in a row
Go on, set 'em up, up
Come um-um-um-um-um baby, bottoms up!
I'm singin', I'm dancin', most every night
An' I wanna do that with you, babe
Let's do this bottle (Oh!) right
(Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Woo! All right. Ow!)
(Ev'ryone sing a little bit, ah!)
Come um-um-um-um-um baby, bottoms up (Heh heh heh)
Come um-um-um-um-um baby, bottoms up
Come um-um-um-um-um baby, (Woo) bottoms up (Bum-bum-buh)
Come um-um-um-um-on baby, bottoms up
(Oww!)
(Yeaah)
08 D.O.A. (04:11)
We was broke and hungry on a summer day
They sent the sheriff down to try an' drive us away
We were sittin' ducks for the police man
They found a dirty-faced kid in a garbage can (Uh ha)
(Ooh!)
And I'm alone, I'm on the highway
Wanted, dead or alive
Dead or alive
Broken down and dirty, dressed in rags
Ah from the day my mama told me "Boy, you pack your bags"
Ah send the mayor down in his pickup truck
The jury look at me, say "Outta luck" (Oo-ooh, yeah!)
And I'm alone, I'm on the highway
Wanted, dead or alive
Dead or alive (Uh-aah!)
(Alright! Ooh!)
Now, I'm broken down and dirty, dressed in rags
Ah from the day my mama told me "Boy, you pack your bags"
An' we were sittin' ducks for the police man
They found a dirty-faced kid in a garbage can
(Dirty yeah, yeah!)
Babe, I'm alone and, I'm on the highway
Wanted, dead or alive
Dead or alive (Ow-ow!)
(Wow! I'm gone! Ooh yeah-ah! Oh! Ow-ow!)
Baby, let me run
(Oh-oh, oh-oh!)
I'm a spark on the horizon
(Ow!)
(Ow-wow-wow-wow-wow-wow-wow!)
(Ow-wow-wow-wow-wow!)
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