Reviews (page 11 of 15)
Good stuff
Van Halen are the prototype for a rock band. Ultra talented guitarist, singer with a wild personality, and solid rhythm and drums to go with it. This was their peak album with that lineup before things got crazy. I don't mind Hagar but it is definitely a tone shift between what DLR brought. Just over 30 minutes long, this album is a just a good, high energy, rock classic. Panama is one of the greatest cruising tunes, and over half the tracks are hits. Favorite track "Panama" 5/5
It goes pretty hard. The last couple songs fall off a little though.
Jump is rock? Oh okay if you say so... Its more iconic than rolling stones though
Feels like very safe rock music which never gets that exciting. Not offputting at all but not particularly interesting either.
The guitar is good. There’s too much synth for my liking. Songs are very 80s vibe I’ll give it solid 3***, it’s a solid listen and wouldn’t mind it on car journeys
Excellent guitar sound although im not a massive fan of the glam rock sound - feels a bit manufactured
I was born in ´79 and have no recollection of enjoying music when I was 5 years old. However, I remember watching Van Halen music videos on MTV around the late 80's. Van Halen and other 80's rock never quite did hit me in the right spot. Many years later, (late 90's) some of my metal friends was reviving Europe, Ironmaiden, Twisted Sister, Manowar, Van Halen and AC/DC. At that time, it all sounded the same to me. Im pretty sure I can distinguish the bands today. And I can the see how Van Halen layed out the groundwork for later bands like Guns N Roses and Bon Jovi. Still Van Halen is a long way from my prefered genrers. But somehow I found myself enjoying the slower track "I'll Wait".
I liked the vocals and the guitars quite a bit. I think the intro going from a motorcycle into a floor tom fill on Hot for Teacher is really cool
Not a long album, but pretty much everything on it is top notch.
Hair metal before hair metal technically existed — the godfathers of hair metal, I guess. Musically, this album is really fun. Great guitar solos and drum fills — obviously, it's Van Halen. The whole album is high energy and catchy. The synthy intro at the beginning wasn't something I really expected from them — it's got kind of a Rush flavor to it — but it flows perfectly into the opening of "Jump." Lyrically, this album is pretty corny. And David Lee Roth's voice ranges from great to kind of grating. 4/5 — just don't pay too much attention to the words and it's a good time. Also, I like to imagine that the kid on the cover grows up to be Ace Merrill from "Stand By Me."
Hair metal is as dumb as the day is long but this is some of the best of it. I can't say it's a masterpiece but it brings the energy and playing and fun and style it's trying to. I could 100% see people learning to play a guitar after hearing this. That's easily the standout instrument.
Terrible album art. Right away love the length of this album. The music has some good bits, the musicianship is solid, but it all blends a bit. I've heard most of these tracks so many times in the background that my brain is trained to wander away. It's a sugar rush.
7/10
Badass😎😎😎
Gran disco pero no estoy en el mood de este rollo de música
A galloping cocksure cocktail of excess, speed, and libidinous glutton, this album packs in more notes per second than the Micro Machine Man’s stenographer, all the while trailblazing headlong into self-centered hedonism while the rest of the 80’s followed obediently in its wake. Gloriously self-indulgent
I wish I could experience the level of exuberance these songs express even one day in my life. To feel so alive, so cocky, vamping and strutting along, karate kicking the air in my animal print spandex, mugging for the camera. Alas, these emotions are apparently beyond my scope, so the effect of witnessing such a display, as someone who can't really relate, is like hearing a jubilant trumpet blasting its cheerful herald right into my face. This album is like aural cocaine. I'm trying not to be a hater, but to me this is the embodiment of Dad Rock, of the white American Boomer male. I can't shake the memories of my father listening to Van Halen when I was a kid; this was one of "his" bands. And I was happy to leave these bands to him in favor of my own bands, many of which he probably thought of as aural heroin. Much like my dad himself, I find this album full of energy and talent, fun, happy and arrogant, often veering into the obnoxious and exhausting. I'm too young to really view this in the context of its own time, although God knows I remember watching the videos for "Jump" and "Hot for Teacher" dozens of times on MTV as a kid (I can still hear David Lee Roth's voice: "Awww man, I think the clock is slowwww..."). No one can deny that Eddie was an amazing guitarist, and the obvious theskill of the band, especially musically, is the main redeeming factor for me. Although I find the artistry lacking in sensitivity and nuance, and the overall vibe a bit cheesy and try-hard, I have to question my own Gen x ethos and ask myself if trying hard is such a bad thing. Van Halen definitely tried hard to entertain us and push themselves to go bigger, faster, and louder...maybe even all the way to 11.
This is a great album. I am very familiar with all the classic songs on it but never really gave the deep cuts much of a listen. This album really shows that for an 80s rock band Van Halen was trying to do something different and set themselves apart from other 80s rock bands. Giving it a serious listen, this album really shows the talent and musicianship of Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen. Being a child in the 80s and remembering the music of the time, I have to say Van Halen were ahead of their time. I never realized how many different influences make their way into their music, but you can hear them on this album. Early Jazz, Hard Roc, Blues, Barbershop Quartet and even Big Band jazz and Yes type Prog Rock can be heard. I like all the time signature changes and cross rhythms that keep occuring. What's funny though is David Lee Roth's lyrical content against 3 seemingly well trained musical intellectuals. Dave has a good voice but his lyrical content brings a frat boy/ meat head feel to the music. It was the excessive 80s though.
Honestly, it's not a genre that I ever gravitate towards. Yes, "Jump" is a classic and I kinda like the beginning of "Top Jimmy", but that's it. Nothing else stands out for me.
Great rock album. A little bit similar to AC/DC. A few really good songs.
I detest 1980s hair metal and Van Halen is not an exception. It's superficial rock music, which don't have any greatness about it musically or lyrically. It's just way too commercial but at least it's not completely unlistenable as some other albums on this list. I got through it but it is not something I want to listen to again.
Made it through almost the whole thing, which is impressive for sensitive ears like me. Never realized how artful Van Halen is. I get the hype, dads.
God this sucks. Van Halen is music for people who think they are cool but they almost alway the worst person in the room. “Jump” ranks high on the list of worst song of all time and now that I’ve listened to the songs I hadn’t heard on this album I’m surprised to find almost all the other songs are worse. Shitty choruses, boring production, and songs about trivial and misogynistic topics. “Hot for teacher” is somehow the best song on this pile of burning shit.
Good ^^
Rip roaring rocker! I forgot how talented these musicians were. Each song just pushes the boundaries in showmanship.
Listened April 25th Classic rock, killer riffs, short and sweet and power
Classic middle school jam for me
The singles off this one are classics. The other tracks are fine, but feel like filler.
Maybe the most 80s album. Fantastic vibes and good times. Maybe not the greatest record ever made but one of the funnest albums.
Good album. Close to four stars but doesn't quite get there. 74/100 though.
Utterly uninspiring with a healthy dose of childish misogyny. Was going to get a 2 for the fun guitar playing but, nah.
Great guitar work, cringey Cock Rock vocals. I knew what to expect and VH delivered. Two stars because it was short and I've heard half the tracklist already so I got to skip a lot of it, as a lil treat :)
An iconic album. And yet it felt a little dated. Which I suppose it is. I don’t know, I expected to enjoy this album more. There were good songs, but overall it was just aight
As rad as a pair of sick troop hightops paired with a dayglo-accent shellsuit. In other words then, not very. It was fun at the time but dated quickly, athough it certainly has its moments 😎
Pretty generic, absolutely carried by Jump
Rock zoals ik het kan waarderen, wel met harde gitaar, maar ook met melodie en niet overheerserd. En natuurlijk met Jump.
Great album
They were a great band at this poiny. Just one huge ball of talent (and ego unfortunately_)
Alright
Cheesier than a triple cheese burger with cheese fries and shake. Without the hair, the spandex or the bikini's, it all sounds a bit too formulaic. Best track is Panama, but that's a jock anthem and feels sub ACDC on all levels. Jump is too synthtastic and just overplayed Hot for Teacher is Beavis and Butthead boogie fun though
Jump!
So here’s the thing. My last several albums have been painful, so even though I would never choose to listen to this one, it was a welcome and familiar assignment. 1984 was the year I graduated from high school so when I hear these songs those awesome memories flood my mind. Jump was the theme song to WGN Cubs baseball and I can vividly picture Panama and Hot For Teacher videos playing on my dorm room tv (back when MTV was pretty much just music videos). So I’m going to have to give it a 4 as a thank you for this brief trip down memory lane.
Good 80s rock
Best album in the career of arguably the best band of the 80s. Seeing them reunite in 2007 will be a top-10 concert highlight of my life.
Plenty of good songs here, just not quite my kind of good songs.
Where to begin? When the video for Jump made it's debut it was a shock to the system. Eddie playing keyboard?!? But where egregious keys had taken down other rock bands of the era, Eddie was so talented and revered that he emerged victorious. Hot For Teacher ("I don't feel tardy") - smokin'est guitar and drums you'll ever hear Panama - every high school metal band formed between 1984-1990 played this song I'll Wait - the closest we'll ever get to hearing an introspective Diamond Dave and a soulful Eddie. These are songs I'll pull over for. As albums go, it's on the shorter side and the songwriting peters out toward the end, but the first 20-25 minutes are peak 80s. Not my favorite Van Halen album, but the one that should be in the Smithsonian for sure.
I'm really surprised there are (at least) two Van Halen albums in this collection, but I always enjoy vintage Van Halen (pre-Hagar), so no complaints here. This definitely isn't as good as their debut album, or some earlier ones, but I'm pretty sure this is the first truly commercially successful album (or at least the only album with a #1 single), so it makes sense to have it here. Even when this came out I was a bit surprised at how synth-heavy some of the songs were, and that hasn't aged all that well (in my opinion); it's a bit like how we got "Hysteria" instead of "Paranoia" for Def Leppard. (I didn't know until reading the Wikipedia entry that the synth/keyboard was Eddie's brainchild; a still mystifying preference given his guitar virtuoso/diva side.) But I've always loved "Panama" (and never could play it very well in my brief-lived guitar years), and "Hot for Teacher" is also definitely in the classic Van Halen vein (as is "Top Jimmy" and "Drop Dead Legs"). It's too bad that David and Eddie struggled to share the spotlight, as they had a great sound.
lots of fun though not too my taste. Guitar's great and I love the bouncy drums.
While not sonically bad, I'm just not a big fan of a lot these songs. We have so many interesting perspectives on this list, why do we need a dude in his late 20s talking about wanting to bone his teacher?? I dunno, it's fine. Fav songs: - Jump - House of Pain
Not a Van Halen fan, but this was ok.
Not my kind of metal - bit too synthy in places - but I'll give it an extra star because I've just binge watched the first ten seasons of Supernatural which had raised my tolerance for all things classic rock
Van Halen in their absolute PRIME. This record reminds me of high school and that's why I love it. Timeless songs like Jump, I'll wait, Panama
Classic
Several bangers on this album
It's OK.
When Van Halen are good, they are good and when they are bad, they are bad but not terrible. You definitely have to be into a certain sound to really dig these guy or this album. I’m not a huge Van Halen fan but I have respect for the work, regardless of who is singing for them. This album isn’t disappointing, it has some lesser known bangers. Choice Cut: Panama
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Eddie Van Halen is truly blistering on guitar and David Lee Roth's powerful voice compliments that. The 80s casual sexism hasn't aged well but it is of its time. I would love to play 'Hot For Teacher' at our next Prom disco.
The synth opening up with Jump always makes me smile. 1984 is a damn good album. It's such a fun time. David Lee Roth doesn't have the best voice but it just fits perfectly with the band. Marc Anthony, Alex Van Halen and of course Eddie Van Halen just crush it. If I had to pick a favorite off the album I have to go with Panama. That guitar work just hits me just right.
Quite a head bopper, but some of the lyrics are a bit cringy
Brilliant. Love the tension and build up. Great album to just lose myself in.
fun, energetic, and doesn't overstay its welcome.
Another rock classic, how can you not rock out to Panama and Jump. Drop Dead Legs is probably one of my fav Van Halen songs.
Van Halen are weird for me. I love their records but I unreservedly hate almost everything they inspired. Maybe they were just so much smarter in their dumbness than all the dummies that tried to copy them.
Really enjoyed it. Especially after days and days of duds, a bit of good old fashioned rock music. Easy to get into, rock out a bit and not overthink my 4 star rating. Knew Jump was great but there are numerous bangers here.
Some very iconic songs on this album
Enjoyed a lot.
Wow, only 3 songs in and this thing is a beast. Wow. Jump is a fucking record!!! Yeah okay this whole thing is classic.
Pretty corny sounding. Some of the elements, whether it be the guitar riffs or the drums, sound cool on their own, but all together it's all just dripping with bravado and self-importance. The lyrics are corny. Even the singles aren't that enjoyable. Without the synths, "Jump" doesn't have anything going for it and just drags on
This album has some good songs on it so I guess it was OK even though Van Halen or other bands of this era/ilk aren't really my thing. Everyone seems to revere Eddie's guitar playing but all that shredding and tapping crap is more showing off than it is playing and it does nothing for me. Diamond Dave and the massive ego which made him such an attention-drawing showman was probably the most interesting part of this group and I don't think they would have become what they did without him. This is closer to a 2 than it is a 4 for me. 3/5
In the year 1984 this album was so present. This album was bigger news than Michael Jackson's head on fire (forgot that one?). 1984 is legendary and sounds just as fun now as it did 40 years ago. Awesome to hear guitar god Eddie bringing his magic to the keyboard. Not all the songs are fantastic, but the album as a while has an infectious energy and attitude.
Best thing about the album: it's only 30 minutes. Second best: Jump sounds pretty good, even if it's mostly here to show up how shit, dated and regressive the rest of the album is.
Such a fun, energetic album
I got Van Halen’s debut recently, so it was interesting to listen to this and see their sound progression. There is a much higher use of synths on this album. The guitar playing was on-point as always. I just can’t get past the juvenile lyrics. Cringe at times.
No album with Jump on it can be truly bad, but it peaks there, and doesn't throw anything that thrilling from that point...
3 good songs
Not bad, actually. The synths add a lot to make it palatable and less "look at me play guitar." The songs are short enough to not feel self-indulgent. The subject matter is pretty meh.
So not 1001albums, but I listened to British Steel by Judas Priest a few weeks ago and it sounded really flat? and I remember thinking "okay this is why people in the '80s loved concerts so much, because their recordings sounded like poop." Spotify SAYS this is 1984 Remastered but really?? it has no depth, it feels like. I like the synths
Surprised I have heard more of these tracks than expected, probably on radio or movies. It’s amazing what nostalgia can do for rock mediocrity.
Simple and fun. Lots of guitar noises.
absolutely banging. guitar playing excellent ofc but i also really enjoyed the songwriting. vibes 5/5
cool
Definitely a piece of rock history. Not completely my type of music, but I doubt anyone in America hasn't heard at least one of these songs, Jump being the main one.
A couple of good songs, but I'm really not a fan of that generic 80s sound.
Several bangers, as made famous by tiktok
Not bad, but apart from "Jump", not great either.
It’s good probably their best
En general el álbum está bien. No creo que sea un álbum que haya qué escuchar antes de morir, puedes pasar un rato corto escuchando un álbum considerado de los mejores de un grupo top en su momento , y cierto es que en ese entonces tuvo mucho éxito. Ahora una vez terminas de escucharlo me cuesta clasificarlo como hard rock y mucho menos como heavy. En mi opinión la canción de Panamá, Hot for teacher, y Girl gone bad son las que más me han gustado. Y con la canción Top Jimmy, aunque me ha gustado también, me deja la sensación de que parece que va a reventar en un temazo en cualquier momento y al final se queda pues en un tema decente. Le doy un 6 sobre 10.
Some great songs. Some not so great. But was very surprised that the album ends so anti-climatically with a slow, dull fade. Some great guitar work and David Lee Roth will always be Van Halen’s singer in my mind though.
The hits are good, but, I see why people hate on hair metal
Many hits several misses - great ‘80’s rock
Can Halen at their best
Not neven the best Van Halen album let alone in the top 1001
i wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did but it was pure fun. #dudesrock
i'd never listened to this album all the way through but it kinda slaps. the songs are often cheesy and juvenile but they're also just plain fun. the album flows really well, like 1984 segueing into Jump, Jump leading into the first word of Panama being "jump", Panama flowing nicely into Top Jimmy (feels kinda like the daytime and nighttime versions of the same song to me), etc. and of course, absolutely insane guitar and drums on this album. van halen are truly in their prime here. in terms of subject matter and lyrics, this album hasn't aged super well, but the music is still spot on. favorites: jump, panama, top jimmy, hot for teacher, i'll wait
Some great tunes albeit a bit repetitive like most van halen stuff. Hot for teacher is a great track also has a killer video. AS always the guitar playing is the highlight, some excellent solos in there.
Classic 80s Rock...works for me :)
I keep getting surprised by how repetitive and pop-y 80s rock music is. Even still, I can’t say I don’t like it. Hot For Teacher will always be a bop.
Fun, very rock & roll. Love the smoking baby cover art
Hell yeah brother honestly love this album. Jump is amazing, Panama is dope and I’ll wait is definitely my favorite by far. Drop dead legs was something I hadn’t heard before and I really liked it as well.
Fun but kind of silly. David Lee Roth can certainly sing.
3.5. Maybe I'm slightly biased, as I'm a Van Halen enjoyer, and I consider Van Halen to be one of the first bands that got me into classic rock as a genre, but I think this album is pretty solid, even if it's not their best.
Not the best van Halen album
It's an album that swings wildly, but not all the punches hit the same.
Aside from “Jump,” which was passable, the rest was bland, generic, and forgettable. Usually this sort of thing is at least kind of fun in a dumb way, but I wasn’t feeling it at all today. At least it was pretty short.
This album has "jump" and "panama". All time classic!
Classic rock with four great singles.
I don’t like Van Halen, but goddamnit I respect them … actually I’m not sure I do. A lot of songs on 1984 are cringeworthy but it’s extremely impressive that Van Halen has written so many hits of their genre. Without them there would be no jock jams, no music between face offs at hockey games. Are they a plague on society… likely 6.0/10
VIOLEMMENT années 80
It Is a great album to listen while you are driving.
This album has so many classics (or potentially just one of my dads favorite albums!), but I don’t think I’ve ever listened all the way through before. Really good album, I added the whole thing. Favorite song is Hot for Teacher.
Jump, Hot for Teacher, I'll Wait
Nothing jumped out at me.
Yeah boy
This album is pretty good. I’m not sure if it’s super deep in meaning, but at least everything flows well together. The guitar and drums were great, but I think the keyboard is really where the songs shine. The voice was decent enough. It kinda felt like it was missing something for me (maybe cohesion of the album?), but still liked it quite a lot. Favorite track: I’ll Wait
I've talked about 'poser rock' before on my reviews, and this is the album I always think about. A great band that just completely lost its way. Jump is such a fing stupid song. The only redeeming part of this album is 'Hot for Teacher' and 'redeeming' is a strong word here because the song is so pervy. 'House of Pain' as well, but it just feels like a D-side song from Led Zeppelin. Highlight: 6.
De bons classiques, ça passe vite, mais les autres sont moins hypes. Bonne guitare.
Ван Хален это громкое имя! Есть ощущение, что я слышал у него только Jump и это неплохой трек, заводной, яркий. Как раз на этом альбоме и есть Яркие, сочные синты с лютейшим вайбом восьмидесятых, хочется быть школьником, который бежит в игровые автоматы в новой пластиковой курточке и блестящих кроссовках. Жаль, что я никогда таким школьником не был ) Вокал приятный, чёткий, яркий, заводной panama тоже знакомый трек. Гитарное соло приятно ложится. В целом знаете что это за музыка? Это синтвейв без иронии, постиронии, ностальгии. Это музыка крутого парня в стране крутых парней.
Fun album.
Music for the quad
First time we’ve ever listened to a VH album from beginning to end. Good album; starts strong and has some memorable hits. Last two songs on B side were a weak finish which brought it down a bit. (2.4*s)
This album is so 80's it hurts. "I'll Wait" is the best track but I wasn't impressed otherwise. I'm not a huge fan of "Hot for Teacher," the song itself bugs me and the track title sends it over the top. Don't even get me started on "Drop Dead Legs," I despised everything there. I like the album art and there's some good guitar riffs but this felt mundane and a bit cliche'. Some classics but not enough to warrant a higher rating.
Van Halen gets a little hokie on this album but still stocked with some classics (I'll wait is my personal fave by the band). Even though I'm not on board with their approach of less guitar and more keyboard, the songs are fun. Def some skips in between the hits. Not a bad final send off for the complete original band.
Another solid entry by Van Halen. 30+ mins of more of their recognizable sound. Not as good as their debut but still a worthy album entry. 3.53 stars
weww from the jump u can tell how influential he was. overall it is not the sort of thing i would often return to but it goes p hard & i did mostly enjoy it :) faves: mannish boy i want to be loved #2 i can't be satisfied
Great album from start to finish. The introduction of synthesizers was the perfect bridge from the David Lee Roth era to the heavy synth use of 5150 with Sammy Hagar as frontman.
Some classics, and I really liked that it was only 30 minutes long
3/5 Like Van Halen, and this album is good. Nothing compares to the OG tho.
Hop in the Chevy, break out a pack of smokes, crack a cold one, pop open the cassette deck and fire up this bad boy. Alright alright alright it's 1984, man.
I unabashedly love this. You’re a fool if you can’t admit this is chock-full of bops. It’s a certified SCC (stone-cold classic,) if you will.
Rating: 8/10 Great album overall. Plenty of great guitar riffs, solos, and melodies, Eddie Van Halen definitely carries this album. The singles are all fantastic and the highlights of the album. The rest of the songs are mostly good but sometimes questionable vocally and lyrically as well as having a few subpar riffs. Favorite songs: Jump, Panama, Top Jimmy, Hot For Teacher, I'll Wait, Girl Gone Bad. Worst songs: Drop Dead Legs, House of Pain.
It feels like the end is nigh. The grit has gone and they're coasting on the wave of guitar wank Eddie started in the 70s and the 80s od-ed on. David Lee Roth seems very happy with the "hey, aren't girls hot, let's party" schtick, you can tell Eddie isn't. Even the good songs are laboured. You can hear Eddie get bored when the verse hits for Panama. He just holds a chord, probably turning the page of the want ads looking for available singers. When Eddie does turn in some decent guitar stuff, Dave gurns tired, sexist gibberish over it on "Girl Gone Bad," "Drop Dead Legs" and "Hot for Teacher".
Jump is a classic, but the rest of the album doesn't hold up as well.
1 star quality, but 2 bonus stars for nostalgic icon status
Hot For Teacher is a great song. From Alex Van Halen's "motorcycle engine" drum opening to the clever snark of the lyrics to the bluesy guitar line, this is easily the best song Van Halen ever made. Just brilliant. The rest of this album doesn't live up to that song. Jump is terrible IMO. Eddie's fascination with synth guitars just doesn't do it for me. I hate that song. Can't stand I'll Wait either. Panama, Top Jimmy and Girl Gone Bad are the other standouts. The rest of the album is okay I guess. One brilliant song, some okay songs, and a few bad songs representing the shift the band was making. It is really no surprise why Roth left after this album as the band was clearly heading in a new direction.
Couldn't even sit through the entire album. Guess it's one of those "you should've been there" experiences
I Love ❤️ Van Halen!! Eddie Van Halen is IMHO one of the top 5 greatest guitar players of ALL time!!
Yes. Nothing much to say other than one of the most influential albums of all time and a real good one.
short: Epic party album. Epic guitar hero album. Pure fun rock album. long: I'll pull the age card here and state that as a teenager in the 80s there was nothing like the spectacle of Van Halen. Nothing. Eddie and Dave were the coolest duo (never mind their toxic relationship and all the ugliness that we learned about later, when you're 12 you do not give a shit) in rock, in entertainment, in pop culture - everywhere. The anticipation for this album was only exceeded by the quality, shock ("keyboards???"), and absolute phenomenon that the album and band were in the year 1984. They were my first concert that spring and I'm sure nothing could ever have topped it afterwards - Dave coming out screaming and they kick into "Unchained" ...? game over. Yeah the album 1984 is all that and everything else. Van Halen were never taken "seriously" by the un-fun button-downed, (self-appointed) "serious" music critics but beneath the bluster, egos, and pomp and circumstance these guys were (mostly) more self-aware than they were given credit for. And WAY more talented than anyone else in the genre not to mention what/who they may have wrought... I mean, Van Halen the band (and guitarist) probably unwittingly spawned much (most?) of the terribly-boring to downright-awful so-called "hair metal" bands of the 80s - almost every one of them kinda sucked and were *nothing at all* like Van Halen - yet sometimes VH still gets lumped in with the dull/guitarpop/all image/schlock of the 80s. My hard rock loving era was intense but very brief in high school yet this album STILL fking rules and somehow sounds even better all these decades later. Maybe *because* of how much Van Halen completely lapped the field back in the day. Even though this was their final album (you heard me) they would always be the last ones of that era standing and to me still are. There was a time where/when I think I forgot how holy shit good this was and ignored it - I fell into the trap of this being more flash than substance in my moody 90s/2000 era but it's both flash AND substance and what rock was always supposed to be - fun. Favourite song? Impossible. But I'll go off the board a little and name "Drop Dead Legs" that shows the groove side of Ed's playing. Bottom line: this is goddamned genius rock and roll. 10/10 5 stars.
Favoritlåt från albumet var: Jump Albumet får 4/5 stjärnor. Perfekt längd för ett album!!
3 stars. I like the synths.
Classic
Liked songs Jump I'll Wait
Great Album!
A big success at the time, though some of us that loved the first couple of albums found this one to be a bit more "pop" than our taste would prefer. There's no doubt that Eddie Van Halen redefined rock guitar technique and style in the 1980s.
Classic Rock and Roll, I’m not a huge fan of the synths, but love “Hot for Teacher”
Fun album with some real bangers.
I prefer Eddie's rhythm guitar to his asymmetrical solos. But this is a good album, and overall the guitar is amazing.
The best three songs are all timers, the rest is not. Hard to rate that. 3.5
I really enjoyed listening to “1984” and “Jump” together, but the rest of the album was meh for me.
Shit is so awesome
#8 Van Halen - 1984 (1984) Hard Rock AOR, Heavy Metal, Pop Rock, Glam Metal Essential cock rock. The production kinda sucks, but the songs absolutely hit when they need to. Favourite Tracks: I'll Wait, Hot for Teacher Least Favourite Track: 1984
Ultimate 80s rock pop
Das Album war okey. Aber nicht so mein Ding.
33 minutes of in your face, guitar shredding, fun rock and roll. A great ride from start to finish! I've heard this album a few times before, and it never lets you down.
Just pure rock from start to finish. Everyone involved knew the assignment. I would give it 4.5/5 stars only because some of the 80’s synth sound isn’t my style and sounds a bit outdated.
For me this is one of so many 80s albums which are ok, but kind of boring. You can listen to them again and again but it simply does not get interesting.
Not normally my type of music but this album wasn't too bad
Jump is clearly the best piece Hot for Teacher very blues-influenced I'll Wait sounds like a faint echo of Jump only 33 min
Enjoyed this way more than i thought i would. Always just wrote off Van Halen as a boring classic rock radio band with a few hits that i heard a million times but actually sitting down and listening to this album has changed my opinion completely. This record hauls ass from front to back. It is fun and creative and entertaining as all hell. Even the hit tunes i had heard a million times on the radio sounded more interesting when i actually sat down to listen to them. The guitar playing is unreal. I was ignorant to Eddie Van Halen's style but i am now enamoured. I will definitely be doing a deep dive on Van Halen.
A fun album of a time long gone, but don't look for anything deeper than some cool guitar riffs and a couple catchy chorus lines.
not as good as the first one (Van Halen)
Jump
"To summarise...this album and the genre it belongs too should be sealed in a large container and buried in a secret location...never to be found and/or opened again. 0 Stars!" Couldn't have said it better
Le doy un 4, pero por Jump.
Lyrically sophomoric, but I enjoyed the hell out of the music.
I don’t wanna jump
One of the all time great album covers! Saw Van Halen at Cobo Hall as a teenager and Van Halen will always be a band that will have a place in my heart until I can longer listen to music. I love all their albums, but always felt this album never got the recognition it deserved. Best song on the album is Drop Dead Legs. Love the "sloppy" guitar, but never loses control of the song. Panama will now forever remind me of the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert at the Forum. Love the lyrics to House of Pain. Hell, the lyrics are great throughout the entire. Great from start to finish. Some iconic songs, with great lyrics and just being Van Halen = a solid 5 for listener. 5
4 I previously referred to Van Halen as cock rock on this very list and then went on to give their debut a 4, and I’m about to do the same thing now. For as cheesy as hair bands from this era are from a modern perspective, there’s no denying that Van Halen with David Lee Roth had guitar-driven rock and flamboyant frontman showmanship down to science, and while I really don’t think they had a bad release during his time with the band, it seems appropriate that the two albums that ended up being the group’s best and most defining were the ones that bookend his involvement with them. On paper, it really doesn’t seem that the album should work as well as it does given the creative power struggle behind the scenes between Eddie wanting to venture into new wave synthesizer-driven sounds and David wanting to stick to their hard rock roots, yet somehow, they were able to establish a perfect balance of the two (though it did lead to Roth’s eventual departure). For as big of a musical leap as it was for the group (avoiding the obvious pun there), Jump is a fantastic tune, and while it very much is a song that feels like a product of its time, it has such a fun, light-hearted energy to it that’s hard not to appreciate and feel a sense of fondness for the era, even as someone born in 1997. Though, I am someone who grew up in a Van Halen household, so there very much is a sense of nostalgia to it for me. However, while a lot of these songs are ones that I grew up hearing, many of them have gone on to develop further appreciation from me as new memories have become attached to them. While I’ve always enjoyed Panama, I now can’t think of the song without thinking of Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins Tribute Show in Los Angeles - there were a lot of incredible and memorable performances at the show, but something about hearing Panama live from Eddie’s flesh and blood honoring both Taylor and his own father sticks out to me as one of the most hype concert moments I’ve ever experienced (also shoutout to The Darkness singer Justin Hawkins for being a fantastic David Lee Roth fill-in). Hot For Teacher is another incredible track that I adore simply because it just goes hard af, but another part of me will always think of it as the final song to Guitar Hero: World Tour, where I would fail it about five seconds into the opening solo and then have to sit through all 30 seconds of the drum intro each and every time before immediately failing again. Drop Dead Legs is a song that always makes me think of my dad, mostly due to how it managed to appear in about every incarnation of our Spotify Family Mix that was ever generated (RIP) presumably due to how much my dad must play it - for all 21 million streams the song has on Spotify, I’m assuming he must be half of them. Final song I’ll shoutout is Top Jimmy - I don’t have a specific memory associated with that one, but it’s a fun tune that I remember hearing growing up, though I will say, in this listening, it occurred to me that there was a bit of a missed opportunity in not segueing it directly into Hot For Teacher. Listen to the drum fill at the end - it sounds just like the opening to Hot For Teacher. Anyway, realize I’m just sharing anecdotes at this point, but isn’t that what a good album should do? Bring back good memories? (Even though Hot For Teacher nearly had me smash my Guitar Hero controller at a time). I evidently have quite a few with this one, though at its core, I just think 1984 is a fun album. Call it cock rock if you want, but if you genuinely hate this, I would question how fun of a person you are to be around. RIP Eddie, and shoutout to David Lee Roth as being, in my opinion, one of rock’s greatest frontmen. Though, I did lose a little bit of respect for the guy when I found out about his beef with Joe Strummer. Sorry David, mano a mano, I’m in Joe’s corner ten out of ten times.
5/5
Ridiculously cheesy but infectious
- Jump is the most 80s song to ever 80s - Some fun jams on it with great guitar - I appreciate its shortness
- couple of all-time classics on here - guitar work is insane - good length, really enjoyed the listen
Van Halen will always have a special place in my heart. This is a great album. I love the synths incorporated into this one, and plus this album has so many tracks that will never get old to me.
I know you're not too fond of rock but man did I miss it. Don't want to go to the blues and blues accessories aisle ever again
radio sanitized, safe and boring Top Jimmy had a nice instrumental
3/5. They are undoubtedly skilled musicians, but this entire album screams 80s bro in the worst way. Hot for Teacher was my highlight.
I think I said this for another album, possibly another Van Halen, that I can see how if you were a college aged white boy when this came out, I can easily see how it would seem like the greatest album of all time. To me in the year 2024? Doesn't sound too great, if I'm being honest. Sorry Dad, I know this is one of your favorite records. The only thing that saves this from 1 star is that "Jump" is a pretty undeniable banger.
80s hair metal just doesn't hold up at all today. From someone with no nostalgic attachment to this kind of music, there's nothing positive or enjoyable I can pull from it aside from a few cool instrumental parts.
Jump has a really iconic riff, but I found the rest of the album rather forgettable. Not a huge fan of the vocals.
So many classics pushed into a 33 minute kickass sonic experience. All hype and fist pumps
Never realized how little music is on this album. 33 minutes. That said, for me, when i think of Van Halen i think of Jump, Panama and Hot for Teacher.
80's heavy metal. Van Halen gets lumped, perhaps fairly, with the other 80's hair metal bands but they are on another level than the Poison's of the world. Eddie Van Halen's virtuosity and creativity on the guitar and a certain pop sensibility allows Van Halen to create songs (not all of them) that still play well decades later -- such as Jump & Panama from this record. They are still hard rock but talented enough to cross over to other audiences and be the standard to which other hair bands always aspire to (and fail).
One of the Greatest Albums of All Time by One of the Greatest Bands of All Time. ‘Nuff Said.
Really rock 🎸
Too short to be this sweet
Great
As much as this album might sacrifice substance for style, you have to admit, absolutely no one does it better than VH. The use of pure talent to create the most intriguing and sexiest rock songs of the decade is something special. This is the band at their peak, and while it would all be downhill from here, it’s a hell of an ascension.
My pops didn’t raise no fool, and he sure as hell didn’t raise his son to give MCMLXXXIV anything less than a V.
Faves: Jump ⭐️ Top Jimmy (GUITAR) ⭐️ Drop Dead Legs (GUITAR) ⭐️ Hot for Teacher ⭐️ Liked: Panama (the bridge) ⭐️ I’ll Wait Girl Gone Bad House of Pain Disliked:
5/5
These guys must really hate spinal tap
Je ne sais pas vraiment pas pourquoi ils ont pensé nécessaire d'appeler ce disque 1984 alors que tout dans ce disque hurle déjà 1984. Ce son de guitare, ce chant et surtout, par dessus tout, ce son de synthétiseur complètement daté et crispant sur l’intro et “Jump”. Il est des moments dans l'histoire de la musique ou les artistes s'égarent dans de nouvelles modes qui semblent de bonnes idées sur le coup, et les premières notes de synthé nous renvoient ça en pleine gueule. Que tout cela est moche et d'un goût douteux (“Hot for teacher”...). Des solos interminables qu'ils ne savent pas terminer comme sur “Drop Dead Legs” qui disparaît mollement avec la fin de la chanson, ou même le final de l’album. Combien de solos de clavier, de batterie, de guitare sont vraiment nécessaires, dans un festival de son hard rock FM et de cheveux permanentés. Si j'écoute ça en passant sur un pont, I might as well jump.
Yusssss!!! All hail our sexy 80s gods, the Van Halen boys and David Lee Roth. And that other guy, I guess. Fuck yeah! I had this CD in high school and I listened to the absolute hell out of it. This record is an epic tour de rock force that slaps you in the face with its big meaty dick and makes you beg for more. I love it. I FUCKING love it!
Ik ben niet zo van de glam/hair metal en dit zit qua sound vol in die hoek, maar de gitaar en drums zijn wel beter dan wat je normaal hoort bij bij die genres. Het nadeel is dat het regelmatig even fout klinkt als de hoes eruit ziet en dat is voor mij een smetje. Ik kan me daar niet goed overheen zetten. "Jump" is een klassieker en daarna vond ik "Top Jimmy" het beste nummer. Ik hoef hier eigenlijk geen heel album van. Met een totaal van 33 minuten is het ongelofelijk compact. Er wordt geen minuut van m'n tijd verspild en dat vind ik een dik pluspunt, maar alsnog heb ik dit liever af en toe in een playlist-roulatie dan als album. Qua cijfer kan ik zowel een 3, een 4 als een 5 naar mezelf verantwoorden. Een 3 omdat het fout is, een 4 omdat het leuk is, een 5 omdat het goed is.
This just made me think of an Adam Sandler film. I enjoyed Jump but didn’t really get much out of the listen.
Ytterligare en bra artist. Har inte lyssnat så jättenoga, men allt låter ganska likt Jump. Inte för att det är dåligt. 4 / 5
• En bebis-ängel som röker? • Synth • Jump & Panama har man hört några gånger, inte dåliga låtar • Elgitarr • I’ll Wait va bra Betyg: Vill man lyssna på 80-tals-synth-elgitarr-rock kan detta nog vara ett av de bättre albumen => 4/5
En del bra låtar men inte riktigt min favoritgenre
Such a classic album, iconic sounds. Even though I’m not the biggest 80s rock fan, this album slapped Top tracks: Jump, Panama, Hot for Teacher
A Classic!
Corny
Really great album
Great riffs. I can imagine the hair
Oh that song. Yeah I enjoy that song. Very 80s. The rest is just meh. At least it's short.
I admit it, I just loathe classic rock like this. So much of this is so cringe
The peak of Van Halen's cross between hard and glam rock. Heavy singles that appealed a wide audience while appreciating long-time fans.
Straight hardrock from the 80's.
C’est peut-être du gros rock de blanc sale, mais je suis après tout un blanc sale
This album blew me away in 1984. And while I'm a bit tired of it after all these years, it's still just amazing how they managed to pack so many hits onto one album.
Instrumental. Check. Bands most iconic song, check. EPIC guitar solo. This is how this album starts in the first three tracks. I didn’t feel it let up after that. Overall a brilliant piece of ‘80s rock. Brilliant!
Another album I know. Dad educated me well. Great songs. Can’t go wrong with “Hot for Teacher.”
If you enjoy consuming your albums at a blistering pace, this is one to throw in there. Fastest 33 min album of my life. What a ride! Always have to pay respect to EVH, one of the best to ever do it. These solos and riffs are killer and always above par. I don't know the drummer off-hand, but I think he's highly underrated. It just makes you want to move. The whole thing screams fast cars, hot weather, and beautiful women. It's a little bit same-y, a little too breakneck, and I'm not a big fan of the misogynistic lyrical content, so drop it down a level. But a solid 4 for sure and not a bad song on here. Fav tracks: Panama, Hot For Teacher, I'll Wait
Solid van Halen album. Fun time 👩🦱
Is this hard rock? Unmelodious songs and bad vocals that destroy the songs that sometimes start well. Maybe VH should have done more pop songs.
Epic shredding by EVH but dated
Excellent They integrate the synthesizer really well
Classic VH
Insane guitars. Classic rock sound
A little face melty but also somewhat generic. I appreciate the energy behind this. That little riff where all the background instruments cut out and the guitar wales for a bit sounds very cliched. But it is also nice to hear some very good old rock. I'd give it a smidge over 3. Not something I'd buy or actively seek out, but there's a couple of songs perfect for a beach or volleyball mix.
Classic
I bought all VH albums up too this one. Not my fav
One of the very few good collections of music to come out of the 80's.
Can't not give this album a 5. Classic songs, and music is a power house. Great guitar sounds, and great drumming, especially on Hot for Teacher.
Nothing quite like them before, and nothing quite like them since. Eddie completely changed the game with what is possible with guitar and inspired so many after him. The band kind of feels like they are always on the edge of disaster with their off/odd timing sections but always pull it back together. Great choruses, creative songs, fantastic guitar.
If you like guitar-oriented album rock, this is for you. Superior musicianship across the board and clever, albeit juvenile, lyrics that extol the virtues of that rock musician lifestyle. I feel like they were able to capture a live rock sound/show/energy in a studio album.
Knew the hits, and liked the rest as I listened.
Hot for Teacher just might be the best hard rock song ever written.
The «radio hit rock» that never gets old! Classic!
"1984" by Van Halen, released in, well, 1984, is a powerhouse album that blends hard rock with pop sensibilities, showcasing the band's exceptional musicianship and songwriting prowess. Tracks like "Jump," with its iconic keyboard riff, and "Panama," with its driving guitar and infectious chorus, are standout examples of Van Halen's ability to craft anthemic rock songs. The album also includes instrumentals like "Eruption," highlighting Eddie Van Halen's virtuosic guitar skills. While "1984" leans more towards a commercial sound compared to some of Van Halen's earlier work, it retains a raw energy and edge that keeps it from feeling too polished or formulaic. Overall, "1984" is a classic album that has stood the test of time, earning it a solid 4/5 rating. It's a must-listen for fans of rock music and a testament to Van Halen's enduring legacy.
I've never been a Van Halen person, maybe because I never gave their music more than a cursory listen when their songs came on classic rock radio. I will say that hearing "Jump" with headphones instead of my dad's 2001 Ford F150 speakers gives it some shine. (Although, Van Halen definitely makes music for car rides.) It's still a bit too meathead rock for me to really love it, but I appreciate the musical proficiency and the fun this album exudes. I can understand why someone would love Van Halen, and why this album is on this list. Highlights: Jump, Panama, I'll Wait
Good but not great. Favorite song: hot for teacher
Jump and Panama are great and pull the weight for the album. Hot for Teacher I guess has a legacy of sorts. If youve heard the debut album though idk that this is needed to hear before you die, EVH's innovative guitar technique doesn't go through a distinct further evolution or anything as far as I can tell. Solid 3
Not gonna pretend that Panama and Jump aren’t bangers. The rest does not come close. Still a decent listen though.
Loved listening to Van Halen as a kid with my dad. The shredding is ridiculous on some of these songs but the songs themselves aren’t super special. Was torn between a 3 and 4
Not a big Van Halen fan beyond Eddie's guitar mastery. This is the epitomy of 80's hair metal. The only song on here that I really like is Panama -- which for years I thought they were saying "Panic and Run". I despise Jump and Hot for Teacher; the other 2 big hits here. I don't think it's a terrible album but I wouldn't choose to listen too it. Would give it a 2.5 if possible, but I hate Jump so much, downgrading to a 2.
Not nearly as good as the debut album but still fun. The first half is way stronger. “Panama” has a great guitar part and “hot for teacher” is gross. Would do a 3.5 if possible.
Certainly got my head banging for a Wednesday morning!!
Pretty good overall. The riffs are so great!
The guitar/music was impressive, song content less so. Listens: 2 Fave Track: Jump Rating: 3
I enjoyed the album but have never been over the moon for Van Halen. Obviously, Eddie is revered as a guitarist so I'm likely missing the boat on that portion. Van Halen, for me personally, may also suffer from the fact that they were the standard for their particular sound and therefore almost feels generic to me because I didn't experience it in real time.
A bit of fun! A few stand out songs, and the rest was a bit meh bit still fun.
A solid rocker from start to finish, sweet and to the point. E. Van Halen's insistence upon cheesy Yamaha-tinged synth throughout means some songs wear thin on modern ears. Not as hot & heavy as some Roth-era VH.
Its very similar to the van Halen album I had on two days ago, its fine you know what you are getting and I probably enjoyed it as much as I did the self titled one.
This is the easiest five stars for me so far. I love it. I love Eddie's guitar riffs and solos. I love the way David Lee Roth can leap in the air and yelp. I love how Alex Van Halen can whack a drum. I love the way Michael Anthony can play a bass in the shape of a bottle of Jack Daniels. And after listening to Joy Division, this was mood altering in the best way. 1984 is a positive recipient of the Whigfield Effect, in that it IS music I grew up with, or at least loved as a teenager. Also it has a song about how great someone called "Jimmy" is, which is a huge bonus point from me. Can you give an album 6/5? "Jump" is the famous track of this album (and also the cheesiest). "Hot for teacher" is pretty famous. But "Panama" is my favourite, and also the first song I heard / video I saw from them, with the band mucking about on stage, partying and having a good time, Eddie Van Halen blowing smoke rings whilst playing piano and so on. It just seemed like a positive vibe, in the same way that Bill and Ted are just sort of gormless upbeatness. They seemed to be cheeky rather than sleazy. Also, whilst Eddie is known for his crazy guitar solos, he writes great songs and riffs. He's not a Satriani or a Vai putting out entirely instrumental noodle fests. Love it.
I’m jumping!
Jump Panama Hot For Teacher
Has some classic songs, but not my fav Van Halen album. Still incredible playing, of course.
I hate that my biggest compliment to most of these is that it's short. This isn't terrible but I've heard it all a million times and it's not my type of music. Panama especially I've just heard so much I can't stand it. Top Jimmy is probably the best song. Girl Gone Bad was surprisingly good, esp since i hadn't heard it
Perfect combo of drum & guitar! Rock beat seamlessly blended with synthesizer.
don’t often listen to rock but this was fun! the lil synth-pop moments were a good addition
Enjoyed the music, Panama is a banger. Didn't like the vocals as much.
Van Halen
Great album with Panama, Jump, Hot For Teacher, but the rest are not as good.
There’s Jump, Panama, and a bunch of vessels for Eddie Van Halen guitar solos. Hearing David Lee Roth’s very 30-year-old-man speaking voice pretending to be a kid on Hot For Teacher was very interesting.
A peppy, positive form of boomer rock
Definitely some classics on this album, but other than those its pretty mid cap
1st album purchased as a kid- one of many great albums
Oh the misogyny.
Banger after banger, then the last two songs dip slightly. Yes there are more technical, more thoughtful albums but this one is just too fun. Still reminds me of driving too fast in my dad's tundra
Standout songs: Tom Jimmy Girl Gone Bad
Fun Memories. Top Jimmy
Unusually good for a "classic" rock album in the 80s. Blends the sounds of the time well which a lot of acts couldn't do. Songs are good!
some crazy good guitar
meni top
good ol' rock and roll. Nisam fan tappinga na gitari, ali dobar album
TOOOOOP, isla san trcat uz ovo, mozda mi inace osim te dvi pisme najpoznatije ne bi bilo dobro
Eddies guitar work is absolutely unique. And his brothers drumming is sharp and driven. But the lyrics are something only a 14 year old boy could love.
Awesome!
ganz ok
„Jump“ kennt man, dann wird es ein bißchen langweilig.
‘Jump’ is always a classic. Just pure 80s song. ‘Panama’ was okay/good. These fast hard rock songs really get me. And their natural talent is just great. A pleasant experience.
Some wild LFO of the top here... and the transition into Jump -- really something. I like the synth bassline on I'll Wait. I'm struck by how much fun these fellows seem to be having although the virtuosity got a bit much for me towards the end. If the album title is an Orwellian reference, it's really at odds with the content.
Awesome. Classic songs, big sound.
I don't have anything positive to say about hair metal. Some of this was tolerable.
This had awesome energy and was surprisingly very good.
I yump.
One of the best rock albums of all time.
It finally struck me why I don't like Van Halen... they sound like a juiced-up Def Leppard. I hate Def Leppard. Of course, it's technically very impressive and some of the solos are great, but the actual songs? Not so much.
Classic rock
I bought my pencil...Gimme somethin' to write on! Van Halen I is still probably their 'best' record but 1984 has always been the most fun and my personal favorite. My older brother had a copy of this when I was growing up and it was the first album I listened to in its entirety. And I listened to it A LOT. Every guitar solo, every beat of Alex's toms, every pervy DLR aside. This record is coded in my DNA.
Fun fact: I always thought it was 'Animal' not 'Panama'.
In my opinion, the best version of Van Halen. The synthesizers mark this as an 80s pop rock album instead of a more timeless guitar-driven heavy rock album, but it all works. "Jump" is just a timeless earworm, as are "Hot for Teacher" and 'Panama," but the whole album is fun. As an 80s kid, the videos that accompanied this album are burned forever in my brain, and there is no greater embodiment of the rock n' roll frontman than David Lee Roth. And Eddie Van Halen's guitar work is justifiably legendary.
Подобається, старий роцк
Pure rock!
Absolute Classic!
fun songs I recognize and enjoy but I would probably never put on
Angel fumeta
Ti ti ti ti ti ti ti. De pequeño siempre confundía Van Halen con Bon Jovi. La más famosa es Jump y es la mejor, claro está, pero el resto están bien. Música típica de la época y que te clavan en Rock FM entre una de Queen y American Idiot.
Jump alone puts this at five stars
Eddie discovered keyboards, filling space and time Goodbye David. Bye.
Favourite tracks: jump; hot for teacher; Panama; I'll wait
Not a huge fan of Van Halen, but I am a big fan of Jump. Nothing special or terrible about the rest; standard 80s rock.
Not really anything wrong with this, but just not my vibe
Great songs.
I'm not sure the first track is needed. They should have just started with jump. The instrumental at the end of drop dead legs is far too long. Was a little disappointed by the album, but its still a good listen
Very impressive guitar work from Van Halen but nothing massively jumped out to me. Liked it but didn’t love it.
An absolute classic. This album came out when I was in 8th grade. It was everywhere all the time. VH was a band at its peak. The musicianship is top notch. The soundtrack of my youth album. 5 stars all day and easily in the top 25 albums from the book.
No lo he escuchado súper atenta, pero parecía guay.