by Stephen Thomas ErlewineFollowing the disastrous near-reunion of Van Halen, David Lee Roth didn't lie down -- he wrote the vindictive, hilarious, near-brilliant memoir Crazy From the Heat, compiled The Best for Rhino, and finally, assembled the DLR Band, his response to the Gary Cherone version of Van Halen. Where his former colleagues aimed at world domination and serious art with Van Halen III, Diamond Dave kept his aim low, turning in a sleazy little record that just wants to rock really hard. While Van Halen stumbled hard with their revamping, Roth succeeded in delivering a kind of miniature comeback. Granted, DLR Band didn't shake the charts, but it wasn't meant to be big; it's a record that was made with the fans in mind, and they should be pleased by its down-and-dirty attitude. This is the hardest Roth has rocked since Eat 'Em and Smile. The songs may not be as funny or memorable, and his new band doesn't reach the heights of Steve Vai and Billy Sheehan, but The DLR Band benefits from its modest scale. It succeeds on its own terms, delivering a selection of fine, spirited metal songs that finds Roth's charisma at a near peak.