Don't count Roth out yet

By James Blue
Da Blue Guy

: He's baaaaack. The Best, David Lee Roth's greatest hits CD on Rhino Records, recaptures Roth's flair for hard rock, but is hardly worth paying full price.

Fresh off his boot from Van Halen, which was a travesty in itself, Roth has released a greatest hits album with one brand new track, letting his former gang know that he's still in there.

The only new song on the album, "Don't Piss Me Off," is hardly worth buying this CD for. It's a decent song, but doesn't really exemplify any of the style for which David Lee Roth is known. "Don't Piss Me Off" is a slower, country-blues type of song, and really contrasts to Roth's other songs on this CD. If you're looking for new material, look elsewhere, because this song alone isn't worth it.

Now if you're just looking for plain good rock and roll and for some strange reason you don't have any of Roth's CD's yet, then look no further. The Best is the definitive collection of one of the best rock singers of the 80s. All of the songs you think you'd forgotten years ago are right here. From David Lee Roth's unforgettable cover of "California Girls" to the shamefully underrated "She's my Machine" off his last forgotten CD, Your Filthy Little Mouth.

David Lee Roth's style is unmatched. Ever since Van Halen's first album in 1978, Roth's "in your face" unruly personality has made him an 80's rock icon. His act may be a little corny (check out his music videos sometime, you'll see what I'm talking about), but his music is classic. Songs like "Just Like Paradise," and "Just a Gigolo," my personal favorites, are timeless rock treasures that deserve to be dug up to show America what real rock was like and how it should be.

Don't buy this CD for one new song, you'll be disappointed like I was. Buy it for the classics. David Lee Roth may be down, but he is far from out. The Best shows exactly why Roth is a rock legend and should not be written off as a has-been.

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