Part 1 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we dissect the disaster that was Van Halen III.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Check out Brian's comics podcast The Hour Cosmic

- An addendum to our look at 1998

- VH III featuring Gary Cherone on lead vocals

- Jay hasn't heard the album, Brian's heard it twice

- Last VH album with Michael Anthony

- Many long songs

- Produced by TV theme composer Mike Post

- Pleasant acoustic instrumental to start album

- Mission statement: We will wuss you

- Cherone sounds a lot like Hagar

- Brian: "Without You" not as bad as I remember

- Eddie needed an editor

- Tough position for Cherone to be in

- EVH played some bass on album

- Restrained drum sound from Alex VH

- Songs drag on way too long

- The "go get a beer" song

- Extreme acquitted themselves well at Freddie Mercury tribute concert

- Mike Post produced artists like Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton

- Severe lack of kickassery

- Jay saw both Van Hagar and DLR in the summer of '86

- Brian saw Pixies recently

- The greatness of Lindsay Buckingham

- To be continued

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

The opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.