10th Jan2012

5 Thoughts about Van Halen’s new single

by Jason Ward

Driving into the day job this morning, I caught the debut of Van Halen’s new single on 97.7 HTZ-FM’s Biggs & Barr show.

Was the tune any good?  I’ll get to that in a minute.

The song, called “Tattoo,” is now available for purchase on iTunes and will also be available on A Different Kind of Truth, the band’s first album of new material with singer David Lee Roth since 1984.  Look for that on February 7th.

The latest incarnation of Van Halen – featuring drummer Alex Van Halen, guitarist Eddie and bassist/son Wolfgang alongside Diamond Dave – hits the road for a tour on February 18th.  Seven stops in Canada are currently scheduled, including Montreal’s Bell Centre (March 15th), Toronto’s Air Canada Centre (March 17th) and Ottawa’s Scotiabank Place (March 21st).  Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 12 PM Eastern.

Curious about the song?  Here’s the video, with my thoughts below.

1) The visuals above make Van Halen look like an aging cover band that has taken over the set of the “Jump” video.

2) It’s a mid-tempo rocker with a decent solo from Eddie, but wouldn’t it have been nice to have something a little harder and faster?

3) David Lee Roth looks more and more like Canada’s Kim Mitchell every time I see him.

4) What’s missing? The fun-loving presence and vocal harmonies of Michael Anthony.  Eddie, you screwed that up.

5) With a title like “Tattoo,” it’s sad the tune isn’t about Hervé Villechaize.

What say you?  Are you excited for a fresh serving of VH or disappointed that this new song proves that everyone gets old?

Category : Music, PsychWard
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06th Jan2012

New, new, new

by Jason Ward

New year, new goals, new attitude.

That’s what it’s about today.  Knowing my website has been lacking a blog, I’ve resurrected the Psych Ward to allow me greater ease in riffing on all things weird, wild and wonderful.

That, and I missed talking to you on a regular basis.

To kick things off, I have a new year’s confession:

For years, I was a resolution guy.

As every year reached its conclusion, I’d look back to see what I’d done and what I’d failed to do.  I tend to be pretty hard on myself when it comes to achievements, so I’m not usually a  happy guy come December 31st.

Eager to do more with myself, I would make long lists of resolutions for the forthcoming year.  Heading into 2009, I topped out at 32 resolutions.  By the end of the year, I was proud of a 70% success rate (yes, I had a check list on an excel spreadsheet to organize the math), but couldn’t be happy because I was fixated on the other 30%.  Turns out, those were the resolutions that mattered to me the most.  Why hadn’t I succeed with those?

In the years since, the numbers haven’t been as ridiculous, but they’ve still been numerous.  By the ends of the 2010 and 2011, achieving the big resolutions were still out of reach.

For 2012, I decided to change that.

I’m keeping it simple this year.  It’s not about resolutions.  It’s about a change in perspective.

2011 was a year of setbacks.  It’s easy to say that it was the worst year of my adult life.

But that was last year.

I’m back at the gym.  I’m back on the typewriter.  I’m back on track with two big projects I’ve been building for years.

For the first time in a long time, I’m ready to get back in the game.

It won’t be easy, surely.  My income isn’t steady and getting a job that allows me to build on my skills and make ends meet has been a struggle.  Knowing this, there comes a time when you have to admit that if you can’t find what you want, maybe it’s time to make it.

News on that front is coming soon.

I hope the new year is treating you well already.  Don’t run from your dreams, run to them.

If there’s one thing to take from today’s rambling from yours truly, it’s this:

Let the past stay in the past.  When you really think about it, it’s just that easy.

-JW

Category : PsychWard
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