REVIEWS: DAVID LEE ROTH Diamond Dave back to artists page Discography • Audio • Tour Dates • Reviews Released July 8, 2003! Just as Frank Sinatra was a defining voice of a generation most of us are too young to remember, David Lee Roth is a defining voice or our generation. He's a crooner in an age of coughers, an entertainer in an era where performers are an endangered species, and is as comically manic as he is regally rooted in rock 'n' roll's past. He's earned the title of Diamond Dave, and his latest release of the same name, does the same, brilliantly showcasing a talent that goes beyond the vaulted highs of Van Halen and the flamboyant flash of a multi-platinum solo career. Diamond Dave unveils every carat of Roth's vocal charm, from the shimmy and sway of Steve Miller's "Shoo Bop" -- eleven of the album's fourteen tracks are obscure covers, the only memorable original being the turbo-charged "Thug Pop," co-written by Roth and Marilyn Manson guitarist John Lowery -- to the old-school, Motown flavor of "She's Looking Good" and the classical, psychedelic swagger of The Doors' "Soul Kitchen." As remarkable as Roth is, his band earn equal marks, Brian Young displaying an inspired diversity on guitar throughout, and bassist James LoMenzo and drummer Ray Luzier -- the same trio that have accompanied him on the road for the past two years -- providing one of the most gifted rhythm sections in rock. Van Halen fans won't be the only ones to appreciate the new, swinging take on "Ice Cream Man," but by that point in the platter, it's just icing on the cake, as the whole offering is as sweet as it is sultry, sassy and sophisticated. Rock fans may have to look elsewhere if they want to pump their fists in the air, but there won't be a true, blue, red, white and sonically stewed music fan that doesn't find this one of the most satisfying listens of Diamond Dave's heralded career. – Review by Paul Gargano, Metal Edge Magazine –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Ytsejam: David Lee Roth - Diamond Dave (Magna Carta) While Diamond Dave isn’t David Lee Roth’s big fat American comeback record, it does stand as incotrovertable proof that America’s last great rock star remains capable of cutting heads and stripping off halter tops with his stoner/surfer growl. Backed by an ace band (one of the best he’s assembled since Eat ‘Em and Smile), tracks such as “You Got The Blues, Not Me,” “Made Up My Mind” and “She’s Looking Good” stand as glimmering examples of the man at his best. Sometimes criticized during the Golden Age of Roth (circa 1978-1987) for being too over the top, what keeps Diamond Dave from becoming a wholesale victory is, ironically, that it’s barely over the top at all. His version of “If 6 Was 9” (Jimi Hendrix) smokes for the most part but gives up too quickly, right around the time it seems that Roth’s really ready to take off and unload the store, something he does do with one of the few bearable Doors tunes around (“Soul Kitchen,” a track that was tailor made for DLR if one ever was). Still, there are far worse things to do with your time and Diamond Dave remains better than much of what the Rothless Van Halen turned out in the ‘90s and you can’t help but get the feeling that Roth is just one step away from bursting the doors down to announce his second coming. Since a Van Halen reunion is, at this point, about as likely as Jimi Hendrix turning up as a presenter at next year’s Grammy Awards, the burden of keeping the spirit of ‘78 alive is on Roth’s shoulders and, frankly, with Diamond Dave, he seems ready for that task, though calling on his old collaborators Billy Sheehan and Steve Vai might not hurt. Don’t bet on it, though it never hurts to ask. Failing such a reunion, you can trust that, one way or another, Roth will bounce back. He always has before. – Review by Jedd Beaudoin, Ytsejam.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– David Lee Roth - Diamond Dave (Magna Carta) "I'm tired of living up to what people say" are words from one of David Lee Roth's new songs, and for that reason Roth's fans should not expect a full hard rock album from this rock god, when in fact this is blues based covers album with jazz and funk influences, even more of a departure than Your Filthy Little Mouth or Crazy From The Heat like the catchy 'You Got The Blues Not Me' which could have come off any of those two albums. Let's face it, Roth has been threatening to put an album out like this for years with sneaky songs of this style always appearing on his solo albums and VH albums, so it feels natural, if not entirely to Roth's die hard fans tastes. But in music as we all know an artist has to move on and make music for himself, he has given us great albums over the years, so perhaps history does not need to be repeated anymore. I can appreciate that everyone is expecting something with a huge punch of VH fuelled hard rock, I was expecting the same, and I was at first a little disappointed with these new songs, but to say it's boring because it's not what the doctor ordered is a little ignorant of us all to say, however saying that - some of the songs do go towards that vibe of the two songs Roth did for the VH Best of album, only with a little more maturity. Diamond Dave, as a whole, is as far left field from classic Van Halen as VH III was from the classic Van Halen signatures. After repeated plays of these songs, they do grow. and it really does feel like Roth is doing what he wants to do, and for people who liked Crazy From The Heat, I can't see any problem with them not liking this. One of the main factors about Diamond Dave is the mans vocals, they are as husky and as sexy as ever, but on this one Roth's voice is outstanding and it's great to hear him actually 'sing' in a more, how can I say 'mature' vocal tone. The songs flow easily, check out the very catchy cover of Savoy Brown's 'You Got The Blue's Not Me', the jazzy, blues tinted swing of 'Made Up Mind' (this one reminds me of Your Filthy Little Mouth and again was originally recorded by Savoy Brown), whilst the sexy 'Stay While The Night Is Young' (yet another Savoy Brown number) has some rather tasty laid back guitar riffs the style of which you would more likely find on a Lenny Kravitz or Stevie Salas album than a Dave Lee Roth album. This song is great and very sexy in a 'Coconut Grove' style. The cover of Steve Miller's 'Shoo Bop' is catchy, Roth once said in his autobiography, 'If it sound's good it is good', and this song sounds good, late night jazz for smokey bar rooms. His voice is really good on this song, although I feel some fans may not understand the song and where he is coming from. Wilson Pickett's 'She's Looking Good' is performed in a typical catchy Roth style, but without the heavy guitars, I think this sums up the record, the songs are in his typical style, only a little more mature and without the heavy guitars, which is what Roth fans will expect. For instance the cover of The Doors classic 'Soul Kitchen' is a groovy that belongs in the 50's or 60's, thus sounds like Roth is trying to rediscover his childhood influences. Good song that could at the time have been scored in a film like "The Blues Brothers" or "Big Wednesday". Hendrix's 'If 6 Was 9' is husky and seductive, a bit like 'Black Sun' from the DLR album, this is one of my fave songs on the album and is a good version. 'That Beatles Tune (Tomorrow Never Knows)' has a distorted sound, very raw and experimental basement demo sounding, kinda like the vibe on Steve Vai's Flex-Able recordings, but still nice to hear a Beatles covers that not the usual choice hit material that bands cover. 'Medicine Man' is an original Dave Lee Roth composition led by the harmonica and again has a distorted vibes, makes me think of the movie "Crossroads" and for some reason John Lee Hooker. 'Let It All Hang Out' is a cover of The Hombres song and this one bombs in with a huge funky 70's vibe, a cool song, Roth's voice is pretty sexy and husky on this one. Finally we get another original rocker in the style of the catchy 'Thug Pop' which would make a good choice single, reminds me of "Me Wise Magic". Then Dave get's to have a bit of fun and gives us a silly whacky song with whistling called 'Act One' which lasts for a minute and a half, then we hear a reworking update of 'Ice Cream Man' which as you all know Roth recorded on that classic debut VH album 25 years ago. This version is also good with more horns and a big band feel, he could have a possible hit if released as a single. Lastly 'Bad Habits' which was recorded originally by Billy Fields ends the album with a swing where Dave tries to reinvent his classic 'Just A Gigolo', I love this song the whole vibe is just cool. Diamond Dave is an interesting and varied covers album, very diverse and mature, your either gonna love this one or hate it, at least give it a chance, just don't expect a full hard rock album, also could this be a card that Roth is playing by repeating the Crazy From The Heat days as a warm up to a reunion with Vai and Sheehan and a fully blown Eat 'Em And Smile reunion album? Could be...The Diamond is 50 next year folks and hey she's looking good and growing old in style. – Nick Baldrian, AOR Dream Zones –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– "Diamond Dave" (Magna Carta, $17.98) -- David Lee Roth This is where the once (and future?) Van Halen frontman casts off the mantle of Metal God and assumes the role of Soul Man. If you remember Roth as the long-haired blond banshee howling on VH classics such as "On Fire" and "Running With the Devil," you probably won't like his new album, Diamond Dave, a collection of covers of '60s and '70s songs by The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and others. On the other hand, if you liked the four-song EP Crazy From the Heat that launched his solo career in 1985 with "Just a Gigolo (I Ain't Got Nobody)," chances are, you'll love this. Roth revels in the backbeat boogie and blues he's always been so good at while forsaking the crunching metal that first brought him fame. In fact, "Bad Habits" is very much in the big-band mold of "Gigolo," and could be another major hit. With characteristic self-confidence, Roth changes the titles of several songs he covers. For example, "Tomorrow Never Knows" is now "That Beatles Song." Also characteristically, Roth covers himself, serving up a boogie-woogie piano version of "Ice Cream Man" from the very first Van Halen album that, while tasty enough, leaves you wondering what Eddie Van Halen is doing at the moment. – Wayne Parry, AP Writer, SFGate.com Click here to order David Lee Roth's Diamond Dave direct from Magna Carta! For more info click here.

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