**** Various Artists

EVERYBODY WANTS SOME (A LOOSE INTERPRETATION OF THE LYRICAL GENIUS OF VAN HALEN)

(CherryDisc)

This may be the first tribute album that doubles as a parody album, but it's true to the spirit of the band being saluted. Who wants to hear reverent versions of songs that were meant to be dumb fun? Even though nobody covers "Runnin' with the Devil" (which everybody knows is the best VH song, right?), these twisted covers wind up proving how much the bands love and understand Van Halen, whether they want to admit it or not.

Talking to Animals' bossa nova "Everybody Wants Some," Jayuya's mambo-ized "Janie's Crying," and Cherry 2000's "Could This Be Magic" (done in Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks style) come out as funny and hedonistic as the originals. And Gigolo Aunts improve "Why Can't This Be Love" by throwing in all the Beatles moves they know, which is plenty. For a change of pace there are achingly sensitive renditions of "Jump" and "Dance the Night Away" by Mary Lou Lord and Tom Leach. The real VH will be home free if their forthcoming album with Gary Cherone is this entertaining.

-- Brett Milano