One of only three 90s studio albums from axe-master Eddie Van Halen and his band, Balance comes across as being a mixed bag of sorts. Supposedly a downgrade in sound from their lightweight metal roots, this hard rock number could hardly be considered soft. It still sounds delightfully Van Halenish, which is always a plus, but it is also tarnished by the likes of "Strung Out" and the drum/percussion instrumental "Doin' Time", both of which are short, odd and essentially serve no purpose apart from being fillers. Don't get me wrong, it really does sound like effort has been put into this record, but it also seems like Hagar's best is well and truly behind him. "Can't Stop Lovin' You", "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)" and "Amsterdam" are my top three. "Not Enough" is worthy of some attention, but I can't see anybody getting all lovey-dovey about it. B