Released on the struggling
Beyond
record label in 2000,
Ten 13
wasn't exactly a well-publicized release. An impressive list of artists joined
Sammy Hagar
around the turn of the century at
only to release hefty musical but commercially non-viable recordings.
Hagar
fared better than most due to his solid fan base -- with which he managed to maintain a very close connection through touring, entertaining at his very popular bar and restaurant Cabo Wabo in Mexico, and by continuing to produce music generally true to his extremely popular '80s solo and Van Hagar material. After spending several post-
Van Halen
years creating a strange kind of populist party image for himself (something like a republican
heavy metal
Jimmy Buffet
)
delivered a fine offering that reinforced his eternally teenaged identity in
. Titled in honor of the singer's birthday, which is celebrated in historic proportion at Cabo Wabo each year,
also features the "Waboritas" (
Victor Johnson
on guitar,
Jesse Harms
on keyboards,
Mona
on bass, and
David Lauser
on drums.) Highlights include the tight
"Let Sally Drive,"
"A Little Bit More,"
and each of the wide open
pop/rock
cuts that fans of Van Hagar especially should get quite a large kick out of. Surprisingly even and strong,
stands up with
's best work of the '90s. ~ Vincent Jeffries