Zoom Gear & Home Recording Forum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoXYiG0t_H0

The last song at around 12:30 is the best IMO, but they're all good.

Thanks for posting this Howard......really cool to hear 'em strip these songs down to acoustic.......thanks again!!!!!

Ed has had the same pie eating grin for 30 yrs now.

Wolfie is quite possibly the luckiest boy in the world.

I really hate those 'Downtown Sessions'.....
As much as Eddie is a genius on electric, his acoustic playing is sloppy.
Rhythmically he misses the boat quite a few times.
And i am a big EVH fan...

I doubt if they were aiming for technical perfection on these recordings I simply enjoyed the groove and the harmonies once they got warmed up.

Oh, c'mon Henky, he did Spanish Fly (easily the best nylon string solo recorded like ever on a rock album) and the intro to Little Guitars, which isn't shabby either. In Ed's defense, not only did he earn (imo) exemption from our guitar playing critiques but he's a player that locks in with the drums and they're all but non-existent in the Downtown Sessions.

That said, I just watched the whole thing again and think he did a solid job (I have the DVD that came with the new album). He's always been a loose rock player, as opposed to a technician, so I never expect perfection from him just butt kicking rock guitar. When he's able to leverage noise (as in, when he's on an electric) he kicks much harder, but I really don't agree with what you said and just wanted to go on the record man.

For a second there, your voice, in my head, changed to that of a 'valley girl'.

Well what's Alex doing then?
He's beating on something.
I don't know why and Eddie indeed normally locks in with the drums/rhythm but not this time.
Maybe he could not hear Alex, or he needs a snare and kick to lock on to, or it's just the boose.
And of course Eddie is a god and one of the most influential guitar players of all time and i respect him for that.
The new Van Halen album is really great and i have been listening to it 24/7 for the last 3 weeks hahahaha.

But these downtown sessions are poor and i hate them because i know Eddie can do so much better, they are Eddie unworthy.
And because it's Eddie, he can't do anything wrong for some but i'm still down to earth and i hear what i hear...

Well there was that whole hiring Hagar thing and the substance abuse, but he's pretty much golden otherwise.

It was a treat for them to do it and I accept it for what it is. I don't see the point of dis'ing it. That's all I'm really saying man. Nothing personal against you (of course).