Much of the high-powered energy on the latest album by seasoned vet, Sammy Hagar, can be heard on the title track, and can be largely attributed to the extraordinary play of the collaborative band, Baghdad.  This band actually hails from the war-stripped lands of Iraq and collaborated online with Hagar to complete the song.  With the leadership of Hagar, they combine to contribute to what is one of Hagar's stronger albums to date.

Cosmic Universal Fashion, which is Hagar's eleventh solo work, opens with the title song.  It is in many ways different than the other songs on this album.  I'd love to hear Sammy Hagar do a full album with the Baghdad guys just to hear what strength can be produced from that relationship.  Based on “Cosmic Universal Fashion,” with its gritty NIN feel, I'd have to say that an album of songs with that level of musical energy would be unreal.

However, the strength of The Wabos, Hagar's current band, is nothing to dismiss.  Their treatment on the album's remaining nine tracks (the last track is a Live performance of “Dreams/Cabo” which feels right on this set) provide a standard Hagar sound, always a pleasant thing given his early-era Rock'n'Roll history. 

“Psycho Vertigo” sounds like an outtake from Hagar's years with Montrose.  It has that historical feel and is a very good track.  It's followed by another NIN-like track, the high-volume “Peephole.”  Hagar changes things up a bit with his version of The Beastie Boys' breakout hit, “Fight For Your Right to Party.”  It juices up the song a bit but otherwise, it is Hagar doing Beastie Boys with a fairly faithful recreation.  There are also the standard Hagar solo tunes that fit in with what we have come to expect from him.  “Loud” is one of those.  “Switch on the Light” is a funky song that changes things up a bit, aided by the swampy, country fare of “When The Sun Don't Shine.”

The familiar voice that worked for Montrose in the '70s, and Van Halen afterwards, as well as a slew of solo albums, makes this a recognizable album and a very good one at that.  With its mixed bag of songs, it makes a strong case for being one to pick up.