Tribute To Van Halen (Best Of Both Worlds)

Despite its subtitle, Best of Both Worlds is really more a tribute to the veteran band's vocalists, since it mixes classic VH material with high points from David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar's respective solo careers. The "Diamond Dave Side" features three songs from 1986's Eat 'Em & Smile, as well as passable runs through "Panama" and "Take Your Whiskey Home." The highlight is probably "Shy Boy," where George Lynch, Tony Harnell, and Jason McMaster reach insane heights of weedly-weedly guitar madness. While Lynch and the boys approach Dave's VH work with the casual feel of a particularly ragged bar band, the "Red Rocker Side" of Best of Both Worlds has some guys who are really trying to sound like Van Halen did during the Hagar era. Gravity Pharm tears into "Why Can't This Be Love," while the vocalist of the unfortunately-named 5150 really does sound like Sammy. Best of Both Worlds certainly has its moments, but it's really more a novelty than anything, since the real Sam and Dave regularly mine the Van Halen vaults themselves. (2002's hokey "Sam & Dave" tour would be proof of that.) ~ Johnny Loftus|