The smirking title indicates the true nature of
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
,
Van Halen
's third album with
Sammy Hagar
. Backing away from the diversity of
OU812
, the band turns in some of the most basic, straightforward
rock & roll
of its career. At times,
F.U.C.K.
recalls the sleek
hard rock
of
Hagar
's early-'80s albums, and it's undeniable that his limited vocal power had a great deal to do with the obvious nature of most of this music. While the band is still tight and professional -- and
Eddie Van Halen
's guitar work remains impressive -- the songwriting is, by and large, undistinguished, with the anthemic
"Right Now"
standing out as the most memorable song of the batch, mainly because of its incessant chorus. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine