Not 4 Sale

Not 4 Sale is a record on which Sammy Hagar, with hard rock’s drive at the core, naturally takes in blues, funk and even a Caribbean sway. The thick voice is intact, but here a lightness of giving himself to the band’s groove stands out over grandiose staging. It is a free record that leaps lightly across genre lines. From the strength of the opener “Stand Up” and the lift of “Hallelujah” to “Whole Lotta Zep,” which carries a humorous nod to Led Zeppelin, and the melody of “Karma Wheel,” the songs show varied faces. With cheerful rock and roll set beside slightly shadowed songs, an unforced maturity wraps the whole. Its appeal is a stance of enjoying various musical elements naturally rather than showing off technique. You can savor the heat and friendliness of Hagar’s vocals at once. Showing the broad musicality cultivated over a long career in a relaxed form, it is a richly flavored solo record.