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Post by Pete on Jan 10, 2012 12:25:42 GMT -5
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Post by Pete on Jan 10, 2012 13:28:21 GMT -5
Van Halen, ‘Tattoo’ – Song Review by: Matthew Wilkening Yesterday Van Halen
Van Halen‘s new single ‘Tattoo’ has arrived, and it’s a blend of old and new styles that’s sure to stir some fan debate and heighten curiosity about the band’s upcoming album ‘A Different Kind of Truth.’
The first song to emerge from the new record, ‘She’s the Woman,’ as debuted at the band’s New York City club show last week, was taken nearly intact from the band’s original 1976 demo tapes. ‘Tattoo’ has a clear link to an old unreleased VH track as well, sharing the main riff and basic verse structure with ‘Down in Flames,’ which according to the Van Halen Encyclopedia, was performed several times on the band’s 1978 tour.
The 2012 version, ‘Tattoo,’ has brand new lyrics, a fresh chorus and some more modern touches. To be clear, that’s “more modern,” not “modern.” The whole song has a bit of a laid-back ZZ Top vibe, although the light backing keyboard bed and super-clean production puts us more in the territory of 1990′s ‘Recycler’ than, say, 1979′s ‘Deguello.’ The effects on Roth’s vocal intro and chorus sound more like something off a late-era Cars record.
(Can’t believe we went this far without mentioning: Eddie sounds typically fantastic throughout, of course, with a classic and very traditional “in case you forgot…” solo highlighting the song’s back half.)
Overall, the song seems a slightly odd, relaxed choice for the first single and lead-off track on such a momentous album, although there’s a definite “grower” appeal that comes up on repeated plays. Some of us old-school fans were undoubtedly hoping for something a bit more aggressive and raw sounding, but this is after all the single so hopefully (and presumably) we’ll get those kicks on other tracks.
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Ricky
Club Rocker
Long live Rock and Roll
Posts: 501
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Post by Ricky on Jan 10, 2012 14:37:53 GMT -5
not the best song they have done...but I like it better than Hot for Teacher
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Post by Frank on Jan 10, 2012 18:08:00 GMT -5
This song does nothing for me
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Post by Equinox on Jan 10, 2012 18:13:46 GMT -5
They played it every hour on the hour on my classic rock station today.
OK. Maybe better than I expected, but nothing that gets me real excited. In fact, I'm a bit nervous if they brought this out as the best thing on the new album.
I do agree with Pete that Eddie's playing is right on. I miss the Mike Anthony harmony bridge... When DLR says Tattoo,Tattoo repeatedly it is kinda offputting (sorry, just a nitpick).
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Post by Equinox on Jan 10, 2012 18:14:42 GMT -5
not the best song they have done...but I like it better than Hot for Teacher I can't agree with this
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Ricky
Club Rocker
Long live Rock and Roll
Posts: 501
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Post by Ricky on Jan 10, 2012 18:55:16 GMT -5
not the best song they have done...but I like it better than Hot for Teacher I can't agree with this ...oh well
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Post by Trexx on Jan 10, 2012 22:20:25 GMT -5
Cool and relevant. Yay! I like it.
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Post by bluecheer on Jan 11, 2012 15:28:37 GMT -5
This sucks.
This is not the follow up to 1984 that I wanted.
Thank god for Yankee Rose.
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Post by spacel0rd on Jan 12, 2012 8:00:20 GMT -5
When DLR says Tattoo,Tattoo repeatedly it is kinda offputting (sorry, just a nitpick). I don't think you're nitpicking. I think you're dead-on.
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Post by snakesandladders on Jan 12, 2012 14:25:05 GMT -5
It's better than Jump:)
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Ricky
Club Rocker
Long live Rock and Roll
Posts: 501
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Post by Ricky on Jan 12, 2012 15:44:25 GMT -5
It's better than Jump:) ....YES!!!!!!
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Post by Equinox on Jan 12, 2012 20:15:55 GMT -5
It's better than Jump:) ....YES!!!!!! Agreed But I hate Jump
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Post by Trexx on Jan 13, 2012 21:03:38 GMT -5
Damn music snobs... WTF?!?
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Post by Trexx on Jan 13, 2012 21:16:24 GMT -5
They played it every hour on the hour on my classic rock station today. OK. Maybe better than I expected, but nothing that gets me real excited. In fact, I'm a bit nervous if they brought this out as the best thing on the new album. I do agree with Pete that Eddie's playing is right on. I miss the Mike Anthony harmony bridge... When DLR says Tattoo,Tattoo repeatedly it is kinda offputting (sorry, just a nitpick). At least you have stated a reason for not totally liking it. Spacel0rd used to do that too when he had criticisms. I think the word, "tattoo" is a dang wierd one (noun) and the band was having fun with diction and the wierdness of it. Not to be a total Cliff Clavin, but... 'tattoo' comes from the term, "to tap". Tattoos first encountered on Pacific Islanders and New Guinea were applied with a long, springy mallet-like awl with a tapping action.
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Post by DrJJones on Jan 14, 2012 13:47:49 GMT -5
Could only take the first minute or so of it. That is absolutely dreadful. Basically though I am not surprised. Van Halen lost it years ago & in my opinion every album they have released has been worse than their previous one with only the first two being deemed classics. I was unlucky enough to witness the band with Roth in 1984 & they sucked big time. I did see them with Hagar later though & they rocked. I then saw the debacle of the Sam & Dave tour in Fresno where Hagar slayed & Roth was just embarrassing. Van Halen today?
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Post by spacel0rd on Jan 16, 2012 11:06:26 GMT -5
The more I hear the song, the more I like it. The "Tattoo Tattoo" part didn't bother me as much when I see the video...for some reason.
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Post by Frank on Jan 16, 2012 18:03:46 GMT -5
The more I hear the song, the more I like it. The "Tattoo Tattoo" part didn't bother me as much when I see the video...for some reason. Im starting to feel the same way. They keep playing it every day on the local classic rock station. Its definatly missing Michael Anthony on back ground vocals.
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Post by Frank on Jan 16, 2012 18:05:20 GMT -5
Could only take the first minute or so of it. That is absolutely dreadful. Basically though I am not surprised. Van Halen lost it years ago & in my opinion every album they have released has been worse than their previous one with only the first two being deemed classics. I was unlucky enough to witness the band with Roth in 1984 & they sucked big time. I did see them with Hagar later though & they rocked. I then saw the debacle of the Sam & Dave tour in Fresno where Hagar slayed & Roth was just embarrassing. Van Halen today? I saw them in 80 with Roth & was very dissapointed. Saw them in 86 with Sammy & they kicked major ass.
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Post by Trexx on Jan 17, 2012 19:34:04 GMT -5
Could only take the first minute or so of it. That is absolutely dreadful. Basically though I am not surprised. Van Halen lost it years ago & in my opinion every album they have released has been worse than their previous one with only the first two being deemed classics. I was unlucky enough to witness the band with Roth in 1984 & they sucked big time. I did see them with Hagar later though & they rocked. I then saw the debacle of the Sam & Dave tour in Fresno where Hagar slayed & Roth was just embarrassing. Van Halen today? Dreadful??!! Oh gawd. Really? Like compared to White Stripes or Papa Roach Black Eyed Peas or what? Dreadful is way, way harsh. Why do you think it's so horrible?
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