1001 Albums Summary

Technically proficient as the guitar playing may be, it seems more interesting when paired with synths because it manages to create the spark of an identity in the relationship between the two, otherwise it's flavorless. It's difficult to pin anything specific about Van Halen's sound, in comparisson with the avarage rock band of the time; it's just bursts of energy from a completely uninteresting Hard Rock sound. It confuses complexity with electricity and expressiveness. And lyrically, when it's not a complete vacuum, it's just utterly unbearable. Also thoroughly unsexy for a record that is trying to act very horny. Often just disgusting when it ventures through those areas.

Very ingeniously constructed. Kraftwerk built an universe and a vision of a future automated, indifferent yet dazzling. Technology amazes us as it makes us less human and more robotic. Some hear a melody, others hear whips. In reality, it's the whips form a melody, the melody of the urban. It both dooms and enchants us.