Diver Down [LP] in Bloomington, MN

Fair Warning
was such a dark, intense record that
Van Halen
almost had no choice but to lighten up on their next album, and 1982's
Diver Down
is indeed much lighter than its predecessor. In many ways, it's a return to the early albums, heavy on covers and party anthems, but where those records were rough and exuberant -- they felt like the work of the world's best bar band just made good, which is, of course, kind of what they were -- this is undoubtedly the work of a finely honed band who has only grown tighter and heavier since their debut. As a band, they might be tight, but
is anything but tight. It's a downright mess, barely clocking in at 31 minutes, cobbled together out of five covers, two minute-long instrumentals, and five new songs. By most measures, this should be the kind of slop that's difficult to muddle through, but it's not: it's one of
's best records, one that's just pure joy to hear. Like the debut, it's a great showcase for all the group's strengths, from
Eddie Van Halen
's always thrilling guitar to the bedrock foundation of
Alex Van Halen
and
Michael Anthony
's throbbing pulse to, of course,
David Lee Roth
's strut. Each member gets places to shine and, in a way, covers showcase their skills in a way none of the originals does, since they get to twist
"Oh, Pretty Woman,"
"Dancing in the Street,"
"Where Have All the Good Times Gone"
inside out, all the better to make them their own. But this isn't complacent;
is stretching out in different ways, funneling the menace of
into the ominous instrumental
"Intruder,"
playing with the whiplash fury of a
punk
band on
"Hang 'Em High,"
and honing their
pop
skills on the bright, new wavey
rock
of
"Little Guitars"
and the sweet
"Secrets,"
which displays the lightest touch they've ever had on record. Combine that with the full-throttle attack on the covers, along with
Dave
's vaudevillian song and dance on
"Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)"
-- a shtick that's electrified on the equally fun
"The Full Bug"
-- and the result is a record that's nothing but fun, the polar opposite of its predecessor. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine