Fair Warning

Fair Warning is what I'd describe as Van Halen's brilliantly dark flawed masterpiece (we'll get to the flawed bit). One look at Eddie's choice of album cover and you know this isn't going to have an update of "Dance The Night Away".  I bought this album when it was released and was blown away by the approach - although similar to the previous album (Women and Children First) having all original tracks, it was much darker.  The opener "Mean Street" is one of VH's longest numbers (at 5 mins.) - what an intro, with Eddie's guitar tone now razor sharp and David Lee Roth's lyrics as bleak as can be.  "Dirty Movies" is sheer sleaze and "Sinners Swing!" shows why Eddie is the riff and rhythm king.  "Hear About It Later" ended the LP side 1 - with its gentle intro and chorus it comes as quite a surprise after the onslaught but turns out to be only a brief pause in proceedings as side 2 carried on the metal meanness with "Unchained" - Ed's drop D tuning and flangerized (is that a word?) riff dimming the already dark tone even more.  The mood lightens slightly with the reggae-infused "Push Comes To Shove" and more so with "So This Is Love?", a typical VH party number, with great bass from Michael Anthony, Eddie ripping into his solo and a familiar DLR tale of female fancification (not sure if that's a word either!).And now for the flawed bit.  Fair Warning ends with two tracks which are both 2 min numbers - "Sunday Afternoon In The Park" and "One Foot Out The Door".  Van Halen albums had always been short (30 - 33 mins) and this one was no different, but the instrumental "Sunday Afternoon In The Park" is a synthesizer-driven sonic splodge - not somewhere I want to spend a Sunday afternoon (or any afternoon).  Then there's the throwaway "One Foot Out The Door" - apparently they were being rushed to finish the album (which had taken over a week to record!).  Although Eddie's superb extended outro solo comes to the rescue, the damage had been done.  So, for me, there's only 28 mins of worthwhile material here - albeit very worthwhile material.  The album was not as successful commercially as it's predecessors but artistically is arguably the band's best.  No big hit singles this time, although "Unchained" would become a firm live fave. So a flawed masterpiece is how I'd describe it. Arguably Van Halen's finest hour (or half-hour).  VH records always sounded great due to producer Ted Templeman and engineer Donn Landee's skills in the studio but also because they were so short (which suited vinyl) - although they never seemed short to me at the time.  The remaster sounds great - just like the LP and like the rest of the 2000 remaster series it has a 3 page fold-out inlay with the original artwork from the album inner sleeve.  Although sometimes it can be good to have bonus tracks and a booklet with an essay, photos and reviews etc., I'm more than happy to have this 'just as it was' and let the original product do the talking.  It's more than capable.

Prior to buying this album (in the remastered form - which is essential), I'd only ever heard Unchained (itself one of VH's best songs). Many reviews had put me off stating this to be a darker album with less party style anthems we/I had become accustomed to. Now I have heard it in its entirety (and this is an album that works better by listening in one sitting than as standalone tracks), it ranks as my joint #1 album by the band (alongside VHII).Every song is a winner. The opening Mean Streets is full of streetwise sass, you can imagine it scoring the opening to a New York Scorsese movie. In fact, where Women & Children First was the soundtrack to many a summer BBQ along the American West Coast in 1980, a year later this soundtracks the dark neon lit underbelly of the East Coast. It is a darker album without a doubt but not darker in a sombre way.It's possibly the most `heavy metal' Van Halen have ever been......And it totally Rocks!

I loved all VH best stuff, the first release "Van Halen", 1984, I even like 5150 for all you sammy fans.Personally for me this is the best VH album ever, it has the sound of eddie finally being allowed to let loose with his own composition. Other VH feel a bit like DLR and his band where as this feels like its eddies band.Fair Warning also has the most "album" feel of any of their albums I've heard. Some albums have the feeling of a collection of songs brought together fair warning really flows much better.For eddies guitar/synth enthusiasts, this is a must. Although the last two tracks aren't my favourite all the first 7 are genius. I can live with that! You will not regret purchasing this album.

You can read a lot about the politics within the band at this point in Van Halen's career, but they still made great records together. This album has some fantastic playing, writing and hooks on it. In some ways the cracks in the band that were appearing by then, may have contributed to the slightly aggressive and blistering sound of this album, which makes it so great. "Unchained" is a VH classic and "Mean Street" is arguably some of Eddie's finest playing. One for the collection.

Excellent album, tunes vary from the bludgeoning Unchained / Mean Street to less heavyweight deliveries, Eddie Van Halens startling guitar work accompanied by a driving rhythm section and Dave Lee Roths charm at the vocal helm ..one of the best rock albums ever ...

Simply my favourite album by the original line-up!....Great songs, excellent production and what I believe is David Lee Roth's best vocal performance....Very tight and edgy as all was not well with the band during recording...any lover of Van Halen or the genre will really enjoy this record!......HIghly recommended!!!!.....

This is a great album

Excellent performance, song writing and production throughout. The band is on fire and there's even a proto-trip hop track thrown in for good measure in the shape of Sunday Afternoon In The Park. DJ Shadow take note! The debut, Van Halen, beats this for sheer impact and 1984 has the best overall selection of songs, but this one wins in the full package stakes. Buy it and unleash the tennis racket!