Van Halen - Fair Warning (Rate This Album)

[Lynch]

Re: Fair Warning

The great songs on this album are just that, great. The others, meh.. average. I never did quite understand the hype this album got, or the "darkest album VH ever did" type comments. I don't think VH has ever done anything I'd consider 'dark'. Just my 2 cents worth though.

I give it a 6, maybe 6.5. I think I liked just about every DLR-era album better than this one though.

 

[joe]

Re: Fair Warning

Hey Gilligan, where's the Skipper?

 

[Van Halen's Frankenstrat]

Re: Fair Warning

Anyone notice the crappy level adjustment right in the beginning of So This Is Love? Amateur production on that if you ask me.

Yep, it's always bugged me. Ted just turned the bass'n drums down to allow Ed's guitar to come to the fore. That's not a problem but I just loved the intro and the adjustment is a bit too noticeable for my liking.

Fair Warning - an out-and-out classic. 10/10.

 

[Powerage]

Re: Fair Warning

9/10 - Would have given it 10 had the synths not made an appearance, and crap like One Foot Out The Door.

Half the album is 4 of my favourite VH tracks.

 

[Mr. T]

Re: Fair Warning

Great

 

[ANF]

Re: Fair Warning

I like the album because it does prove that DLR-era VH was more than just a party band. One thing that shows how dark this album is, listen to the synths on Sunday Afternoon In The Park/One Foot Out The Door that sound like they could work in a horror movie or something (I'm thinking the score to Halloween II), compared to the MTV-ready top 40 synths on 1984, 5150 and OU812 that was much sunnier sounding.

 

[stepcousin]

I rated it an 8, excellent for 1981, their last great album. Not as good as the first 3 but leaps and bounds better than anything they would put out in the future. I have fond memories growing up listening to this in the early 80's. I love this album.

 

[Bocephus]

Tracks from best to worst:

Unchained
Hear about it later
So this is love?
Mean street
Sinners swing
Dirty movies
Push comes to shove
Sunday afternoon/One foot out the door

Excellent album, "Secrets" was apparently considered for inclusion on this album. It's a shame it wasn't included.

 

[Big Ears]

10/10. It doesn't have a bad track in my view.

 

[Riff Raff]

Superb album for me but not their best.