Diver Down

Diver Down is a light, unrestrained rock ’n’ roll work VAN HALEN built in a short time. Eddie Van Halen’s guitar leaves a distinctive outline in every song, and David Lee Roth’s singing and humor move the work along lively. It is the fifth album, with a distinctive construction mixing covers and originals. The bold reinterpretations of covers — Roy Orbison’s “(Oh) Pretty Woman” and the Kinks’ “Where Have All the Good Times Gone!” — convey the band’s playful spirit. Original songs like “Little Guitars,” “The Full Bug” and “Secrets” breathe a firm melodic sense too. With bold cover reinterpretations and short instrumental pieces lined up, the album has a distinctive freedom. Turning the band’s skill into fun rather than seriousness, it is a compact, vivid record.