5150

Sammy Hagar’s first studio album with Van Halen fits snugly into the band’s party-metal tradition; the wildly raucous “Get Up” recalls the nuclear-fueled boogie of “Hot for Teacher.” But key differences turn up as well: “Dreams” leans more heavily on the chilly pulse of Eddie Van Halen’s synthesizers, and the pop-driven power ballad “Why Can’t This Be Love” is tailor-made for Hagar’s gritty heart-on-sleeve vocals.