Liner Notes

He may be vying for the title of the world's oldest teenager, but mop-topped, Hawaiian-shirt-bedecked Sammy Hagar wears it well. Solo sailing has been successful for the former Van Halen and Montrose singer. And proving that age hasn't mellowed him, Hagar boldly entreats his faithful fans to "Stand up and shout!" on the booming, bluesy, Led Zeppelin-influenced opener. On "Stand Up," psychedelic guitar tones and Hagar's pleasingly piercing vocals may be a bit timeworn, but they're also timeless. From the retro organ flourishes on "Hallelujah" to the power ballad "Halfway to Memphis" to the Black Crowes-like "The Big Nail," Not 4 Sale mines time-honored blues-rock without bringing much new to the plate. Hagar's Zeppelin influences are made all the more clear via "Whole Lotta Zep." And while he's no Plant, the buoyant lyrics to the bouncy pop of the title track indicate that being Sammy is a good place to be. --Katherine Turman