For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)
1. Poundcake
2. Judgement Day
3. Spanked
4. Runaround
5. Pleasure Dome
6. In 'n' Out
7. Man on a Mission
8. The Dream is Over
9. Right Now
10.316
11.Top of the World
By this point, there was no question in anyone’s mind — the Hagar-fronted Van Halen wasn’t some passing novelty. They were here to stay, and in the process, they delivered what may well be the best record of the Hagar era. The real surprise? The band edged toward something resembling “serious” musical arrangements — not lyrically, of course — which was probably the last thing the diehard faithful wanted from their party kings.
Yes, the album’s title, F.U.C.K. (subtle, right?), suggested a return to sophomoric mischief — much like its predecessor — but the joke stopped at the cover. Look down the tracklist and you’ll find In and Out, Spanked, and Poundcake, which gives you a fairly clear indication of where they wanted this thing to go. Oddly, the bulk of the album plays like one big, continuous party, with songs so similar in tone that you sometimes can’t tell them apart until nearly a minute in. But here’s the trick — that’s not a flaw. The material is tight, the hooks sharp, and the energy contagious. No, “Van Hagar” would never summon the reckless, apocalyptic abandon of the Roth years, but this is party rock executed with precision and purpose.
The exception — and the highlight — is the now-classic Right Now. From its haunting keyboard intro to the steady pulse that threads through the entire track, it’s darker and more textured than anything else here. Not bleak, not brooding, just a reminder that Eddie and Hagar, when in sync, could push beyond the band’s default comfort zone and create something enduring.
And then there’s the closer, Top of the World — fitting, given that’s exactly where the band found themselves at the time. Let the purists cling to the “old” Van Halen if they must. This was a great record, full stop.
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