So, after EVH's passing I have gone through their album catalog minus III, which I don't own.
Random thoughts about each:
*FWIW, 1984 is where I got into them. Never even knew about 5150, but picked it back up with 0U812 and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. I previewed Balance and passed on it. Then they used that old VH tune for that Nissan commercial and I went back and got I, II, Women and Children First, Diver Down, and Fair Warning. I got A Different Kind of Truth when it released--I really liked it. I got Balance this year in March.
Anywho:
A really good sound of late 70s LA. I really liked Runnin With the Devil, You Really Got Me, Ain't Talkin Bout Love, Atomic Punk, Litttle Dreamer, and Ice Cream Man.
--Really good late 70s album again, and a solid follow up, no sophomore slump IMO. I kind of liked Dance the Night Away. But, Bottoms Up, D.O.A, and Beautiful Girls were great. Most of the other tracks were decent.
--A darker album IMO than the first two. I was all about And the Cradle Will Rock, Everybody Wants Some, and Take Your Whiskey Home. I didn't really feel most of the other tracks.
--Darker still... I really liked Mean Street and One Foot Out the Door. I found myself not overly into the rest of the disc.
--A little lighter IMO than the last few albums. I was really liking Hang Em High, Where have all the Good Times Gone , Oh Pretty Woman, and the Dancing in the Street cover. I found Big Bad Bill and Happy Trails hilarious.
--WOW, such an epic album of mega hits. Jump, Panama, Top Jimmy, Drop Dead Legs, Hot for Teacher, I'll Wait.... so good.... The last two tracks didn't do much for me but I mean... when you got those others...
--I am still amazed at how I never knew this album existed in between 1984 and OU812. But once I heard it, I really liked Good Enough, Why Can't This Be Love, Summer Nights, and Best of Both Worlds. I find this album a good listen all the way through.
--Lots of good tunes off this album. I liked When Its Love, Feels So Good, and Finish What Ya Started. I think the whole album is a good listen.
--Such a great album IMO. Poundcake, Runaround, Man on a Mission, and Right Now were all good. I think the complete album is a good listen.
--Meh. Musically the band isn't bad but in terms of hits/jams, to me, it has none.
--Never listened to it. Probably never will. Something never sat right with me and them going for the lead singer of Extreme instead of getting back with Sammy or Dave.
--I was stoked that after the hot garbage of III they would put out another album, and the fact they went back to DLR was another intriguing possibility. I really liked it. I found myself into Tattoo, She's the Woman, China Town, Stay Frosty, and Big River. I actually think the whole album is solid.