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When you loaded this page, I was listening to:

Courtesy of Kung Tunes

	Vangelis - Direct - 63:23 - 1988
	Vangelis' music, at least in this case, is the type of music you hear at your local electronics store playing as demo music; often as accompaniment for a computer generated animation video. It's very generic keyboard music that sounds like he was bucking to get the Miami Vice gig. Thankfully there are no vocals, just a one man computerized synthesizer extravaganza. You might expect Vangelis to open for Yani or John Tesh; or you could imagine him scoring the Siegfried and Roy or David Copperfield shows. New agers and computer nerds might appreciate this pleasant music, as for myself, I'd prefer a Best of Techno Vol. 83.

	Van Halen - Van Halen - 35:34 - 1978
	Although you may think of Van Halen (I guess depending on which association you have) as slightly dorky, red neck puberty music, (which perhaps is slightly true) the fact remains that Van Halen is/was a really cool band. This CD is a landmark release which laid the groundwork for serious guitar work. Even excluding the phenomenal talent Eddie possesses, just listen to the way his guitar is tuned, and/or filtered. That's the way it was meant to be; macho, powerful, shredding, metallic, yet artistically finessed. Everyone should own this CD.

	Van Halen - Van Halen II - 31:53 - 1979
	Perhaps the unwitting victim of the sophomore curse, II was hard pressed to follow up an album like the one that came before it. However, it is, nonetheless a great album. I prefer to think of this one as the second album, and the third one as the first. With song titles like "Bottoms Up!", "Spanish Fly", and "Beautiful Girls", you pretty much know what direction the band is headed in. This music is rock and roll: full of driving beats, pretentious guitar, fat simple bass, and flamboyant, ridiculous lyrics. One of my favorite things about VH is the queer rock star poses that adorn their covers and sleeves. I get a pretty big kick out of those.

	Van Halen - Fair Warning - 31:16 - 1981
	Though technically their 3rd release, I think if you do as I do, and that is to consider it their first, this album becomes much more enjoyable. This CD is definitely not the blatant rocker the previous two releases were, which I'm sure was slightly disappointing at the time, however it is not without some classic Van Halen fare. Songs like "Mean Street," and the blistering "Unchained" are the types of songs that you can't turn up loud enough. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Fair Warning is that, as far as I can tell, this is the only album bassist Michael Anthony actually played on. Not their most memorable, but still a great CD.

	Van Halen - 1984 - 33:22 - 1983
	Hmmm, 1984 where do I begin. I know, first lets try and forget history. In 84 Mtv was breaking full force, and our boys were aaalllll over it. Now, throw away those images of goofy Lee Roth hammin' it up with prostheticaly endowed vixens, and focus on the music. This CD is top friggin notch: the hit songs you all know are pretty good, and the songs they didn't play are infinitely better. I gotta say "Top Jimmy" is one of the coolest songs these guys have ever done. Alex also rises to new levels on this CD, slipping in sophisticated beats where you don't expect them, not to mention the wicked intro to "Hot For Teacher" that sounds like a top fuel dragster reving at a light tree.

	Van Halen - For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge - 52:06 - 1995
	The CDjunkie guide to purchasing post-Roth Halen: 1) You either have to be a hard core Van Halen fan, or a completely ignorant one. 2) Never ever pay full price (or as I like to say - fool price) 3) Don't expect much, and try to focus on the music, and you should be ok. I think this might be one of the least offensive Sammy's, as they keep the ballads to a minimum, and the rockin' is pretty good. I will concede that "Right Now" is a good song, and also the most commercial and out of place song on this CD, not to mention offering a glimpse of things to come.

	Van Halen - Balance - 53:18 - 1995
	It took me a really long time, and a coupon for a used CD, before I finally broke down and bought a Sammy - Van Halen release. I figured, well they have had a few pretty decent songs and surely the unbelievable skill of the Van Halen brothers would overcompensate for the vocals. Well, that wasn't exactly how it worked out I'm sorry to say. Just when you think "OK, this one is going to be a good one" it turns into yet another love song. I find it so ironic that the Sammy years were so profitable, yet so lame in comparison. Again, although they do still attempt to be original and fresh, along comes the love song! You hardly get a break to cleanse the pallet before you're back into another one. I would say there is 1 really good and about 3 half good songs on this one.

	Voivod - Negatron - 51:40 - 1995
	I've tried and tried, but I just can't get into this CD. It has some pretty good things going for it, but it's just not happening for me. The production values are good, the musicianship is fine and aggressive, and I even enjoy some of the lyrics. But one big turn off I have is the vocals, which remind me of a toned down Nuclear Assault. A few songs grab my attention, but overall it's just not interesting enough. I do like the multimedia portion, they did a pretty good job with that. The final track sounds a lot like something Foetus would do.

	Voivod - Phobos - 66:36 - 1998
	Just because I don't like one CD from a band doesn't mean I'm not willing to try again, so when I saw this one at the flea market, I thought I'd give them another chance, since I kind of like what their doing, just not how their doing it. Also, I noticed they did a cover of "21st Century Schizoid Man", which I had a natural curiosity about, because it has ties to ELP. Oh well, I really didn't like this one much better than the last, perhaps even less. Generally speaking, this is a really dull disc, nothing unexpected or unusual happens, it just kind of plods on through the minutes. I did kind of like the King Crimson cover though.

	Voo Doo Glow Skuls - firme - 40:57 - 1995
	What do you get when you mix ska with thrash? Why the Voo Doo Glow Skulls, I think. But don't expect sappy music like Rancid, these guys straight up rock. They are kind of like the 90's equivalent to Oingo Boingo. The pace is fast and furious, but has a very party atmosphere vibe. Even though most of the songs sound similar, this stuff is really catchy and it gets your adrenaline pumping. I'm not sure this CD will have a long lasting effect on me, but as for now I'm loving it. Bonus points for packaging: the cover is cool, as well as the mag wheel CD.

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