Reviews (page 7 of 15)
Few good tracks and others empty stuff with 80s sounds. Next week I wont remember much about this album.
Van Halen was never in my rotation, I think they edge too close to the technical side of hard rock for my liking. One can't deny Eddie VH's skills as a player, but guitar heroes are just not my thing. Lots of familiar songs. None of the unfamiliar songs grabbed my interest, but few of the hit songs are cool tracks.
Not a big fan of the more synth-heavy tracks, but it contains a lot of great guitar riffs.
Probably the best Van Halen albums made. The entire band is going on all cylinders with this one. Great guitar work, amazing drums and Diamond Dave at his peak. They do not take them selves seriously with this and it's so much fun because of it. Hot For Teacher is one of the best rock songs ever because of it. Panama is just fun as hell. This album makes you want to drive around in summer with all the windows down blaring this album. It annoyed so many parents when it was released. I had to hide the tape of it because my mom just hated them. Great album.
Amazing talent but pure junk food, cheese pizza with extra cheese.
Good ablum love the bangers but besides the bangers the other song don’t feel as well polished. But Alex Van Halen’s drum parts are so cool and unique big fan. Basically the highs are high and the lows kinda low highlights: jump, 1984, Panama, hot for teacher
Норм радіо-рок на фон запустити, хіти теж є. З синтами трохи перестаралися. Присутність в цьому списку не зрозуміла
Ох як же мене бісить ван хален 80х, особливо трек Джамп. Я просто ненавиджу це клавішне інтро, а ще більше ненавиджу кліп.
One of the most recognized albums of Van Halen, songs are cool, sound and guitars are incredible, enjoyable all the way through. A standout that no one can miss.
Well, this is going to be a tough listen Really not my thing Jump is great.
Speed and volume with a vivacious front man makes this a one of a kind experience
A very 80s glam rock record powered by synthesizers and guitar solos. It's not bad and it's very much a trademark sound of 80s rock. Roth's singing voice is super distinctive and works well for this type of rock. Eddie Van Halen does the heavylifting here, both with great guitar lines and interesting synthesizer work. Everything else is pretty standard in my opinion. There are 2 great songs, the classic "Jump" and the very catchy "Panama". Everything else is kind of average, nothing that good but not bad either.
The best thing you can say about this is at least it’s short! Jump is a great track but the rest is piss poor insubstantial noodling around Roths whoops and Eddies guitar histrionics. Much prefer their first album.
3,5 🌟
Fairly dense. Both carried and undercut by Eddie’s great/overdone guitar playing
Van Halen has an element of cheesiness that I can’t get on board with, but this was fun enough
I don’t think any songs really stuck out other than the three I’ve heard hundreds of times but those three songs are enough to give the album a 4
Maybe this has aged but it wasn’t for me.
I joined this site because I wanted to broaden a horizons and challenge myself with stuff that I would never would listen to myself. Now it's third week and so far randomizer mostly feeds me my favourite heavy rock bands, that I would listen to anyway? Damn! :) Well, this is album is famous because of its synth-driven hits Jump and Panama, but the guitar-oriented stuff on this album is actually as good like on an earlier ones. I'd give it 4.5 if it was possible, just because while they are fun songs, Jump and Panama will never have this extra coolness factor as I'm The One, Somebody Get Me A Doctor or Romeo Delight. Still amazing stuff!
Good just not for me
not my cup of tea
Not bad for hair metal. Stupid childish lyrics but the addition of synths makes the music interesting.
This album is an absolute banger to me. Reminds me of my teenage years. Also, every song is good, not a bad one in the bunch. A+
It just got worse the longer I listened. For an album that’s only 33 minutes long, it really dragged on.
Iconic in every sense, projected the bands to new heights and solidified their place in the musical world
favs: - jump - drop dead legs
Everything about this album is iconic. Its humor was on display with that smoking cherub painting on the album cover. One of the first albums I purchased for myself with my own income. The other was Quiet Riot METAL HEALTH. I was already in love with synths, but this album showed me that I could have my synths and my hard rock. A very brave album at a time when the use of synths was heavily frowned upon by mainstream rock. Eddie showed that he wasn't just a master guitarist, but also a master with an Oberheim synth. A very tight, and short album that is a stone cold classic. More than half of the album are all time hits in the genre: "1984", "Jump", "Panama", "Top Jimmy", "I'll Wait" and "Hot for Teacher". It took me seeing the band live to figure out the awesome idling motorcycle engine thunder of the intro in "Hot for Teacher". It showed me what a double bass drumming and more importantly what a double bass pedal could do for drumming options.
Ahh fine. Not really for me. I think I’m just getting a bit tired of 80s rock? Like it’s still fun but I’m just kind of over it in general lately. The artwork is creepy too!
There was a really sick guitar solo in the second or third song, but other than that, what a waste of good Saturday morning cleaning music time.
I skipped most of it tbh hot for teacher: I don’t get the point of this long ass intro I’ll wait : the best atp hate these long intros 😑 house of pain : the best I would’ve put 1,5 stars but I can’t so 1 it is
Not quite my style, but some good songs
Great album
4.5. Prefer the debut but this has some absolute classics on although some of the lyrics haven’t aged so well! 😂
Can't lie, Van Halen threw me for a loop here. Given the synth-y, semi-futuristic intro and iconic banger 'Jump', I was expecting this to be more of a new-wavey album, one that embraces all the genre's clichés. However, aside from 'I'll Wait' later on in the album, this thing moreso just plays into the standard hard rock and glam metal sounds of the '80s. But I think I still really liked it? I mean, 'Panama' is a straight-up banger, and I can't hate 'Hot for Teacher' given just how ridiculous the premise is paired with some genuinely incredible guitar work. Speaking of great guitar work, 'Girl Gone Bad' has this very reverby tone on the lead guitar which, when the song dips into its little atmospheric interlude, sounds almost gothic. Eddie kills it on this album. I get the praise he gets now. 'House of Pain' has maybe the most outwardly punk-metal sound on here, and is another incredible cut. And I'll mention 'Jump' again, a black sheep in the tracklisting, but such a fun and uplifting song. So yeah, oddly enough, really liked this, just really enjoyable start to finish, and it doesn't overstay its welcome.
I liked the songs I didn't know particularly, great album
This does nothing for me at all Can imagine them being a fun time live, but it's not interesting listening to this at home. Also grown men saying they're "hot for teacher" is just weird
“jump” is a hit, not really something i’d put on myself but enjoy when i hear it elsewhere. “house of pain” was great, it felt like the only “metal”, hard rock song on here. most of these songs aren’t really my thing lyrically, or sound wise tbh. it’s too much. 2/5
I hated this.
More-than-reasonable classic power rock. The singles from this album are always a good listen. The album tracks, which I don't recall hearing before, were all typical Van Halen, but nothing grabbed my attention in the way the singles do.
Bombastic, fast-paced, and with the energy only a cocoa plant can provide, 1984 is quintessential rock and roll of the 1980s. That of course comes with the usual caveats; rampant misogyny, uninteresting lyrical themes, no slow songs whatsoever, and wildly short 33 minute run time. Surprise tracks that I hadn’t heard; Top Jimmy, I’ll wait, Drop Dead Legs. Eddie at the top of his game and brilliant as always, just wish it wasn’t in such a generic package. DLR is not a top-tier lead by any means. Not sure I would have bought this album while copies of thriller were on the shelf.
Loved, loved, LOVED everything about this album! Can't help blasting these songs at full volume. Eddie Van Halen is a genius on the guitar and keyboard and David Lee Roth really shows his talent on this album.
Very excited for this one, and it did not disappoint. I knew 4 songs right away. I have never heard the other ones. They are not bad, but the ones I did know are fantastic.
It's a great album - I just don't think it's their best. They have some albums that are flawless from front to back, and this has 2-3 that are skippable for me. They clearly grew even more into an arena band with hits like Jump and I'll Wait. Still, give me Van Halen 1 or even 5150 with Sammy.
Rock is not my vibe
iconic music
Awesome!
I didn’t think I was at all familiar with this album beyond having heard the name Van Halen before and then Jump started playing. Evidently I was very mistaken. It remains to be seen if I know any of the other tracks as well. Neutral on Panama. Don’t hate what’s happening in the guitar but this one word chorus is pretty cringe Honestly I think the above remarks could characterize a lot of my reactions here Gotta say I don’t love this one about the legs Yeah on the whole I think it’s okay. Certainly it’s not bad but I don’t think I’d revisit most of the tracks. Some of the instrumentation is impressive (as I guess you’d expect from a band named after its lead guitarist) but some of it’s kind of tacky
A totally fine 80s album. But oh man is it an 80s album. Relentless synth, guitar solos, and vocal wailing from Roth. Overall an enjoyable listen. Some noteworthy, albeit repetitive, singles.
I really don't like this album cover so I have avoided this album. There's all these great openings in this songs and then it doesn't pan out into a song I like fully. The guitar can be fun and then kind of looses it's edge.
stinks. jump is good.
I found this one to be a lot stronger than their self-titled album from '78. If I were more interested in the glam metal genre this might be a 5. I especially like the synth-driven opening tracks on side A (and even the electronic instrumental at the beginning is a nice touch).
Trying to give this a fair listen since I've never really liked van Halen (but can appreciate talent and rock 🤘 so no hatred) and God i just cannot get behind Panama it makes my ears unhappy. However top jimmy afterward cured my queasiness Hot for teacher goes unbelievably hard as always, and it was a solid final few songs! I liked this album
Core memory, origin story, etc. When I hear the words "Van Halen," THIS album is the first thing that comes to mind. One of the first cassettes I asked my parents to buy for me (the very first was Def Leppard's Pyromania. Thriller was somewhere in there too.) When I was a kid I would get to the end of "I'll Wait" and fast forward to the end to flip it over, but when I got a little older I realized "Girl Gone Bad" and "House of Pain" were great songs too. It is hard to describe the excitement I would feel when the VJ would say "Up next, it's Van Halen with 'Jump'!" I loved a lot of the music this band made (and I hated a decent amount too) but nothing they ever did was as great to my developing ears as this album. (P.S. - It's kind of insane that on Van Halen's greatest album you don't hear a guitar until about a minute into Track 2.)
Gratamente sorprendido. Me gusta mucho esa estética de rock espacial con fuerza. Seguramente chequee para sacar likes de ahí. Nota: 3.8
hadn't listened to any van halen before this - i was impressed with the energy and intensity of the tracks and was blown away by EVH's guitar parts. i was already familiar with 'jump' - it gave me goosebumps from start to finish and was the first one i replayed. other standouts for me were 'panama' and 'hot for teacher', they're both everything you want in a rock song. also loved how much the synths and the guitars complimented each other. the fact that it was short boded well - might have ended up having enough if it was any longer than 40 minutes but it remained tight and compact.
My nightmare. 80s bubblegum rock and me do not mix
++: Jump, Panama, Top Jimmy, Drop Dead Legs, Hot for Teacher +: 1984, House of Pain +-: I'll Wait, Girl Gone Bad 7,7/10
I wouldn't describe myself as a huge Van Halen fan but I think given the right time and place their music is pretty fun. It's light hearted and a little silly but they are talented musicians. I always found it somewhat ironic that they are associated so strong with touch guy / metal / biker culture, to me they are peak suburban 80's pop. In did enjoy this but probably won't seal out much more Van Halen any time soon.
Van Halen was a band I tried to get into in middle school when I was learning guitar because Eddie was supposed to be a guitar god and all pre-teens learning guitar think they can grow up to be guitar gods too. Well, I quickly learned that the gimmicky 80s pop infused hard rock with all its soulless guitar shredding just wasn't for me. If you hadn't guessed, I went into this one with a pretty hard bias against Van Halen, but I tried to put that aside and honestly, I was fairly surprised. This wasn't nearly as gimmicky or soulless as I remembered. It was actually kind of a fun listen! That said, it does feel like music that only someone who is stuck in memories of their prime high school days in the 80s would listen to regularly.
Nah
Jump is overrated and Panama is probably more associated with strip club floor routines than anything else. These dudes are horny. Drop Dead Legs is a good album track. Hot for Teacher is the best song on the album, there's a ZZ Top vibe to it. I'll Wait is good even though I don't usually like the futuristic laser keyboards.
I can still recall when this record launched. I listened to it a few times and remember being disappointed more at each listen. I feel they were departing from the "heavier" rock sound into more of a lighter hair band sound like Poison and the rest. Panama is the only song on this record worth listening to. I think I ended up throwing it in the trash.
Not bad
fine i guess
A few classics, not really my thing though.
4.5 stars. Hard to pin down a genre (glam metal, hard rock, heavy metal, pop metal, cock-rock) but the sound works well. Catchy hooks but still has impressive riffs. Standouts are "Jump" and "Panama".
Another one that's just very good at being what it is. Silly energetic fun.
More than a solid rock album. First two songs are legendary and really set the tone. Looking forward to getting more into them as more albums come up.
On which the band tries synths and sounds like every other 80s rock except for the guitar, which is amazing but frequently shoehorned in, and Dave’s characteristic swagger, which is mainly incoherent. Their first record is ten million times better, but Jump and Panama are terrific and the rest? Not so much.
This album came out when I was 10, and to this day it is still one of my favorites. Eddie’s guitar playing is amazing as usual, and the addition of keys really works well. Great songs front to back whether or not you are fan of keyboards.
Hard rock. The real thing that elevates this album is EVH’s guitar. It’s fast when it needs to be, but even slow it’s captivating. Even the singer’s high pitched screeches doesn’t bring this album down.
I have some nostalgia attachments to this, and they are undeniably talented, but this isn't music I'd listen to very often.
One of Janice's favs. I like their early work. Still great
An album that doesn't out stay its welcome, consisting of just 9 tracks. It's an iconic album, for an iconic band. This was the last album with the original line-up. It's a classic Hard Rock album with a pop sensibility sprinkled in. The use of synthesizers caused quite a stir at the time, as it was a marked departure for their sound, which alienated some of their fan base! It's superbly produced, the songs and performances are excellent. For me, Van Halen would never be as good as this again. 5 stars . "Class dismissed" 😊 Would I listen to this album again? Yes. Would I buy this album? Yes, I did. 1-"1984" - The track in which Van Halen let us know that a change was afoot, and that keyboards were now to be expected! It caused a bit of a stir at the time. As did the rather different, for them, following track. - 4/5 2-"Jump"- The track in which Van Halen let us know that can do Pop/Rock. Catchy as hell. - 5/5 3-"Panama"- “Panama” is pure, unadulterated Van Halen. A fabulous hard rocker that still maintains a catchy hook. Great guitar solo. - 5/5 4-"Top Jimmy" - “Top Jimmy” is a tribute to Top Jimmy & The Rhythm Pigs. Great, bluesy guitar work. - 4/5 5-"Drop Dead Legs" - This has a certain groove to it. - 4/5 6-"Hot for Teacher" - A classic. From the drum introduction, to the following guitar introduction, this a wonderful song. Great riff, great harmony vocals and a great chorus. David Lee Roth’s spoken monologues and Eddie Van Halen's guitar runs make for a song that’s both tongue-in-cheek and technically dazzling. It's a fun song, not to be taken seriously. - 5/5 7- "I'll Wait" - Pulsating synth riff. A marked change in style. A wonderful song. This song gives a nod to where the band will go with Sammy Hagar. Great guitar solo. - 5/5 8- "Girl Gone Bad" - This is more in the style of the earlier Van Halen records. Excellent hard rocker, with a nice break down in the bridge. - 5/5 9- "House of Pain" - Again, maintaining their earlier 'Hard Rock' style that then wanders, briefly into the newer sound, before crashing out into classic Van Halen. A great album closer. - 5/5 Total - 42 Average - 4.67
Great album. David Lee Roth as a front man really ads personality to this band. Enjoyed it.
Peak, was surprised that every song was a banger.
This is peak Van Halen.
Overplayed not really that great after all these years. I don't think it aged well. Definitely not a go to album for Van Halen. Just Meh
Van Halen are one of the hard rock bands I never listen to but this did surprise me. Side B has some solid deep cuts. The main hits dont really do it for me. I know EVH is mega talented but I dont like his style or tone, never like David Lee Roth's vocals either.
Top Jimmy? What the fuck was that? You have hits, some synth but the whole album was the same song over and over.
I would write a long piece about how EVH is a very talented guitarist or how his brother kills it at drums or how I'm not a fan of a lot of 80s over the top rock bands with the exception of these guys because they do their jobs very well. However, I feel like my statement can be reduced to this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrFxKY6aFrQ Van Fucking Halen everybody (7/10, 4/5 on this scale)
Great album that capitalizes on great guitar playing, fun songs, and an easier time of life. Almost captures a live Van Halen performance.
Great album
Another album I bought at the time. Contains a great pop song, Jump, and catches the band on the crest of their wave. Lots of fun and great to hear hard rock n' roll with some swing.
such a fun album!!! kinda makes you want to just dance around and smash out some guitar solos, love this album and enjoyed listening to it! my honourable mentions are: top jimmy, drop dead legs and girl gone bad
Reminds me of my dad
This album reminds me of the Blink 182 music video of First Date. The video is supposedly set in 1974, but 1984 very much felt like that vibe too. Rock songs about getting girls and partying. I was a little young for that in 1984 but this album was floating around back then. 4 out of 5 for the, not always great, memories.
Jump is sort of alright but only just. Rest is somewhere between uninterresting and annoying.
3.5
Most people will tell you that David Lee Roth leaving and Sammy Hagar replacing him is when Van Halen "lost it." That's not entirely true, 1984 is a huge drop off from VH's previous work. It's a mishmash of pop and rock with very little of the harder music they had been known for. I was in high school came out so nostalgia wants to score it higher but in actually listening to it again, it's just not that good.
In a nutshell: synth rock with swagger. Overall: 5/10
If only for Hot For Teacher. Now Eddie! After Ozzie, suppose Prince is next on my list. This one is great. Takes me back. I dont care for I’ll wait and jump was overplayed for me. Other than that this one RIPS. 8.0
You can’t argue this album made lots of people rich, and so epic in one way. But essential?
7/10 It's all about the guitar, which is always excellent. The songs are good, but the lyrics peurile. That doesn't bother me much though
me gusta
Awesome
это мой пожалуй самый нелюбимый жанр, но на удивление альбом зашел очень даже бодро и вполне годно. переслушивать конечно не буду, но потраченного времени в целом не жаль.
Great album. Probably my favorite. They were just on the periphery to me until this album came out.
Do I vote based on the fact that this has some the best 80’s rock songs or do I vote based on the fact that it isn’t really my style of music and will probably never actively put this album on? I’ll go for a 4-star because I can’t give an album less that has so many classic songs. Plus Jump and Panama are two of my favorite 80’s songs.
Insane guitar but that's about it
This is nothing
From the sublime to the ridiculous. Spent the day listening to Cyndi Lauper's She's So Unusual instead.
a mild foot tap to Jump & then I lost interest.
1* extra for the hits. For the rest: lame lame lame
Can’t say I really cared for any of these songs, not memorable at all
Not my cup of tea
Finalmente il mio angelo è tornato dalla sigaretta. Album stupendo, gasa il giusto cioè tanto. Da prendere assolutamente in vinile anche solo per godere della copertina.
Van Halen's peak. RIP Eddie. 5
Hot for teaching the younger generation about this album.
Obviously a few classics on here, but the second half of the album doesn't maintain the peak of the beginning. Loses a little from the big songs being overused in commercials and movie trailers, etc.
Great album.
Haven’t I heard this already? It’s fine
Interesting
Absolute Gods of rock. Eddie Van Halen and DLR bro come on the absolute best.
Short but Sweet. Some pretty legendary songs on this one, but my preference for concept albums mars the experience.
Last of the "original lineup" era, and a mixed bag. Eddie's keyboards are used well in places, out of place in others. "Jump" is clearly radio fluff, but other songs are more nuanced, "I'll Wait" a good example. If I never hear "Hot For Teacher" again, it'll be too soon, and, I'll take "Songs that haven't aged well for $1,000, Alex" :)
Surprisingly boppy album! Pretty fun listening but got a bit repetitive by the end, guitars were decent but some of the lyrics were dated.
Love it!
Great
Yes!
Such good craic
You likely know two or three songs from this one even if you haven't heard it, but all three of those songs already have major flaws. "Jump" and "Panama" are both catchy but a little too simple, while "Hot For Teacher" is less a song and more a show of the band's instrumental prowess over some hastily written lyrics. I might like "I'll Wait" more than any of those songs, but all of it is pretty standard 80's hard rock fleshed out with some synths. A little more variety or better lyrics might save this a bit. As it is this is the same so-so formula repeated for pretty much every song.
What a fantastic rock record with incredible grooves, face-melting guitar solos and riffs, and some of the most recognizable songs on the planet.
PANAMA! PANAMA-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH! PANAMA!
This record was okay. There are hits on this record, but the deeper cuts didn't hit for me. The lyrics and more importantly, the vocals didn't do it for me. The second half of this record was more enjoyable. Favourite Tracks(s): Jump, Hot for Teacher Least Favourite Track(s): Top Jimmy
I actually liked this one more than I thought!
Finally, I can say this really is literally, 1984. It’s not just because I got thrown out the YMCA for plugging in my hot dog roller near the pool. How am I supposed to swim without my farm fresh dogs gently rolling next to the pool? I ask you sincerely. It’s the only thing I know. Let’s get another album on the go as j near the end of another scintillating week of wishing I wasn’t working and dreading work. 1984- Intro. Perhaps January in the year that was 1984. Nothing much going on. Jump - I kind of hate this song now. It’s just been too much. I’ve never like the radio friendly synth stabs that carry this thing. Once we get the bands namesake involved on guitar it gets a little better, but this isn’t the strongest output Van Halen has. Looking forward to improving past here. Panama - Once we turn the battered first page of this album you get the much more exciting “Panama.” A song that probably should’ve kicked off the album. Overplayed? Absolutely. You can’t deny that it still goes very hard. Top Jimmy - The top Jimmy? We talkin’ Carter? I’d say that’s accurate. Cool intro, kind of a lame track. Drop Dead Legs - Damn. Such a heavy intro. Meanders a small amount but honestly a pretty fun song for the subject matter. Thumbs up. Hot For Teacher - This is pretty much the perfect party hard rock song. It absolutely rips. Takes you everywhere, almost veers into heavy metal territory and somehow charted. I’ve said it before, the general populace glugs down so much smelly garbage music, that when a real decent song breaks through, it has to be special. Undeniable. And hey, at least it’s not talking about schoolgirls. Flip that creepy old trope on its head. The slow breaks back into the speed are absolutely electrifying. I’ll Wait - Ah see when they leave the guitar behind, I’m just not interested. It’s schizophrenic. This could’ve been a Duran Duran song without the sweet guitar solo near the end. I’ll be damned if it isn’t catchy though. Girl Gone Bad - Man that twang-y riff over the chorus rules HARD. Bass all over the place. Not my favourite song either, but some pretty gnarly elements. House of Pain - Did the rapper/rap group get everything from this album? Jump? Oh it was Jump around. Jump was child rap group “KrisKross.” Anyway. Who cares. Decent close. More guitar virtuosity. I imagine if you were some teenager in 1984, where you lived in Los Angeles or some beach town and enjoyed driving down the street with your friends, this is the kind of thing where you’d throw on and feel like you were the king of the god damn world. As a boring adult in 2025 who likes the cold, this didn’t hit THAT hard. I will say though, when this thing kicked into gear, boy howdy did it ever rip. Too much filler to really put it over the edge, but a rock solid output from Van Halen here. Hey, I wonder where that baby is now. It’s an illustration? There wasn’t really a live angel baby in studio smoking Marlboro Reds? Hollywood is a sham. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Panama, Hot for Teacher
Ciepłe kluchy
Incredibly dumb and extremely fun.
Obnoxiously fun music Best Song: Jump Rating: 8/10 (Great!) Stars: 4/5
'Top Jimmy' made me think this would be a fairly good album, 'Drop Dead Legs' put a swift end to that. 'Panama' is excellent and easily the best song on this album. I'm not actually a big fan of 'Jump', maybe I just think it's too long or overplayed. 'Hot for Teacher' could have been good if it was about something that isn't so damn cringe for 27-30 year olds to write. I don't think I've ever been excited about a guitar solo and they often feel a little unnecessary. This album is primarily guitar solos.
Good stuff
Le son des années 80.
Excellent!
I can only speculate that Eddie embraced synths in order to save his fingers from the constant onslaught of women and requested guitar solos. Roth was adamantly against it and I would have to agree, except that Jump is more famous and recognizable than any of Eddie's riffs. Rich and famous has a price, and the price this time was being cemented into history as just another group known for Redneck anthems. Hope they didn't spend it all. 4/10
Catchy tunes. They had missed opportunities with lyrics though… about animals..
A synth-soaked prophecy of American decline, wrapped in spandex and sprayed with Aqua Net. What masqueraded as a party turned out to be a funeral for nuance—“Hot for Teacher” grins through the collapse of public education, “Panama” worships fossil fuels and male insecurity, and “Jump” offers the kind of motivational poster you'd find taped inside a hedge fund intern’s locker. By the time Dave's libido finished crowd-surfing through Drop Dead Legs, America was already halfway into the mall, wallet open, brain off. In retrospect, 1984 wasn’t the soundtrack to a good time—it was the opening credits of the dumbest timeline and the user manual for late-stage capitalism in tight leather pants.
I didn’t realize this was The Album with The First #1 hit on it. And, because I am a child born smack in the middle of the 80s, I tend to think of VH automatically as “lame” so I tried very hard to just listen to the music with no preconceived “ew, 80s hair metal” feels (because VH is, as I have learned, not hair metal and it often mislabeled as such.) I like Panama 100% more than Jump, but I do think the synth+whatever bass thump happens in Jump is pretty intriguing- Panama is more fun to sing along with and the guitar solo is pretty sweet. Hot for Teacher is another fun one but my least favorite of the big three on this album- it’s fast paced fun but I vaguely remember the music video freaking me out because I just remember David Lee Roth’s face yelling at me about my teacher? I don’t honestly remember if my dad was a VH fan- as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized my dad loved glam/hair rock and not necessarily rock n roll inclusively-so I find myself questioning whether I ever truly had the well-rounded musical experience I once believed I did. 😂 I don’t think I grew up with VH. The other songs on this album, are fine. I understand why they didn’t get radio time, they’re just kind of white bread songs. Songs I added to my Spotify: Panama Hot for Teacher
"Aniiiiimalll!!!......Aniiiimalllllallllll!" Listened to B4? No Tracks Already Saved on Spotify: 3 - Jump, Panama, Hot for Teacher Standout Tracks: Jump, Panama, Hot for Teacher, I'll Wait (69/100)
Hot for teacherrrrrrr
Album started off super strong and was more fun than the past few I'd heard, so I was waiting for something more lively. Eddie Van Halen definitely has some talent and shreds. The back half of the album was a little forgettable, but I would definitely give it another run through, and I really like Jump, Panama, and Hot for Teacher.
Van Halen can fucking play but outside of the hits, I didn't get a lot out of this. 80's hair metal isn't really my thing anyways. 4/10
OK, I get it. Dad rock bad, 80s pop shallow. This is clearly not an album for Serious Music Appreciators. Which is great, because then I can crank Panama the fuck up and chase all the dreary, try-hard, tedious wankers away and enjoy myself. Because that's the thing some people seem to forget: joy and exuberance are human experiences that are worthy of celebrating. And duh, this particular brand of dude rock need not appeal to everyone. But you know, sometimes you end up in a class with a very attractive instructor and words fail you. Well, Van Halen's got you. Just raise your hand and yell "I brought my pencil!" And that'll probably work out great. Also, Eddie is a wizard and Dave is a genial doofus. So relax, enjoy life a little. Just reach down, between your legs... and ease the seat back.
Classic Rock
I can't be arsed to go back and compare this to Van Halen's debut from earlier (#291) but from what I remember, I'd say good for them for actually discovering catchy Songs and not just playing music to frame Eddie's guitar skills. I had a good smidgen more fun with this. And this being SO 80s, I'll drizzle a bit of nostalgia on it and even go as far as to say: this is what I'd listen to Los Santos Rock Radio for.
Awful. I find it funny that this used to be considered metal
Generic 80s album, for me personally. Nothing special.
Kult!
Every time I hear it I’m 14 year old Mikey. And I love it.
This was surprisingly awesome
Man, I think this is the first one where I've gone 'just not for me this'. Jump and Panama are listenable but there's not a single tune elsewhere I'd go back to. Best song: Jump
Solid album, but I am surprised just how short it was at 33 minutes. It has at least 3 big Van Halen hits, so it had a lot of good songs, but it struck me just how lusty all their songs are. That may have been just the times, just them, just the scene, but it was really noticeable how sexual nearly every song intends to be. Random side thought, they named the album 1984, but it doesn't feel like it ties to the other well known 1984 property despite having an intro with the same name. Seems strange, but I just doubt they were looking that deep.
I'm soooo tired of hearing "Jump," especially since it's not a very strong song. Maybe it's 80's hair metal bands that I'm tired of - the attitude, the excess, the indulgence and the misogyny. Whatever the case, this sucks rocks.
5. There is no other correct score.
Jump is good. Standard hair metal fare but a decent example of it
Jump and 1984 are classics. Very solid album all around though, liked pretty much all of them to a degree
Panama rips
Classical Van Halen album. It's hard not to add Panama to your playlist of favourite songs. Quite fresh and modern sound for 1984, the year the album was released.
Vrij stompzinnig, maar wel leuk.
Jump is very "of its time". Catchy but I wouldn't really want to listen to this again. Quintisenntial 80's for sure. Catchy as heck, guitar is incredible. Drop Dead Legs is very forgettable. Honestly the more I listen, the guitar is very good but the songs generally are a bit forgettable.
Van Halen updated for the 80s, adding some shiny synths which brings an additional dynamic to their sound. I think it's a pretty common opinion to be sick of tracks like Jump and Panama but I'm not at all. Every band member is in top form here, I think these may be the best collective performances of their career I love the production, the first thing I think of with this album is the sound of the kick drums on Hot for Teacher. Just perfect. I appreciate the brevity as well, this just gets in, hits you with some rocking tunes and gets out I get that not everyone will be into this sort of stuff, but it's cheesy and goofy cock rock. It shouldn't be taken so seriously. I have no idea how one of the top reviewers can't distinguish this from Bon Jovi and Poison, it's just Van Halen with some synths added. I would actually like those two if they had riffs like this Highlights: Hot for Teacher, Panama, I'll Wait, Jump
Not as good as the first one, too cheesy sounding. Hot for teacher is a pretty awesome song though Will I listen to again: 45%
Never been big Van Halen fan. Good album, some classic bangers, but got distracted halfway through, and am not really super interested in continuing. It's fine, just not a huge fan of them.
Over half of these songs were released and got massive air play because this album kicked arse. Dave’s swan song when his showmanship and Eddies ego collided. This album has some great guitar licks, stellar keyboard playing, and fantastic vocals.
Almost a guilty pleasure, you're either along for the ride or not, right? I... mostly was.
Surprised at my enjoyment. jump is a standout
Not a big older rock fan and I’ve avoided Van Halen as much as I could. Although I do like the sound of this album and it was decent
van halen is just not my favourite but he was obviously a genius and all songs are good
I rarely rate albums 5/5, this one definitely earned it.
I actually quite enjoyed this, not enough to listen again though.
oh it's THIS album?
Good Album, have never listened to it all the way through, obviously knew about the big hits on this one but the rest of the album is also pretty decent.
So much talent for such little payoff. I guess I had to be there
Feels a bit dated
I didn't intend to listen to the entire album. Every song was familiar, so I guess I digested all of it at some point in my childhood. This is one that you can actually listen to, straight though. I put it on in the background and ended up listening to the twice. I don't think it is meant to be an intellectually deep record, but it's perfect for what it is. Every damn song is excellent!
The music is awesome. The lyrics are weak.
I mean it's the best Van Halen album in my opinion.
Not too bad. Pretty solid stadium rock. Can't deny the hits. Though I don't really care for this style of music, like I said can't deny the hits or the overall musicianship.
This was the age of MTV, Baby! Some real bangers on this record. And what's the deal with all these 1-star reviews? Are you kidding me?! Those Van Halen guitar solos, the tailpipe-imitating drumming opener on Hot for Teacher, David Lee Roth's undeniable charisma, the glorious synth solo on Jump? It's all so glorious and worth so much more than a measly one-star. Who's letting the plebs vote around here?!
Incredible guitar playing of course.
Some treasure hidden between the commercial successes.
Hairspray, stale cigarettes, and cocaine. I recognize EVH as one of the greatest guitarists of all time but I just can't stomach David Lee Roth. I'll Wait is my favorite song on the album - figures it's the one where they aren't as bombastic.
The most pop forward Van Halen album. It’s not my favorite from their discography, but I still come back to it.
it was fine, but i was bored the whole time.
Nice bilmusik, lite Metallica möter Kiss. Väldigt nice om man uppskattar hårdrock
Wow, I'm very impressed by this. As someone who's not a big fan of classic rock, this is definitely the best album of it's kind I've heard so far. I'll give it five stars for having so many hit songs as well
Awesome classic rock
Some very skilled instrumental play, really dumb lyrics. I grew out of this kind of music, ngl.
Okay love the photo of the album cover OHHH YESSSS ITS JUMP OHHH IMMA JUMP YIPPEEEE
Gooed voor studeren
One of those times that you listen to something fully expecting to have a new experience only to find out that you already knew and liked half the album but had zero idea who sang them.
Makes me think of those fathers day compilation CDs from the early 2000s
Heard more than half of these songs through movies and such! Never knew who sang them, it's really bringing back some memories
Really enjoyed this, I didn't realise Jump and Panama were by Van Halen and I think I'll be checking more of their stuff out now
Mega!
Probably going to be a controversial album in the reviews, but I'll go right ahead and say this is my second favorite Van Halen album ever, including the Hagar stuff. It starts off with the electronic sync instrumental of 1984, which I KNOW pissed a lot of hardcore VH fans off immediately. What?!?! Van Halen is going New Wave?!?! What!?!?!! But then it hits you like a steam train.. Jump, Panama, Top Jimmy and finishing off the first side with the amazing Drop Dead Legs. I mean, those 4 songs all in a row are straight bangers. The guitar work is amazing, the vocals are great, everything is just perfect. Side 2 starts with Hot For Teacher and what a doozie out of the gate. I remember playing this in 4th grade with my friend because we literally DID have the hots for our 4th grade teacher who was maybe 23, 24 at the time and gorgeous, and I was just realizing that girls are pretty cute when they don't have cooties. I'll Wait was a track I skipped, but now I listen to it more as I found out that Michael McDoanld helped the boys write this tune, and it makes it a more interesting song. Definitely not a typical Van Halen song, but still really good. Girl Gone Bad and House of Pain are straight up strip club songs as Van Halen was going right after the Motley Crue fans. Simple as that. Is it good for their image? No, they broke up after this album... well they didn't break up, but David Lee Roth left to do his own thing, and actually had a couple of solid solo albums with the help of Steve Vai. The rest of the boys hooked with Sammy Hagar and you know how that came out. Good, but just not the same. 1984 was a bittersweet goodbye to the old Van Halen, but I still think overall, it's one of their most complete and well done records. 5/5
Fun, quick listen
This rocks.
Surprisingly good
I respect EVH as a guitarist and Diamond Dave as a great rock n roll front man. But man I've never understood the fascination and lauding of this steaming pile of shit of a band. Michael Anthony can fuck right off as a bass player and a human. Alex is the product of a weird sibling nepotism. Cool! you can make your bass drum sound like a motorcycle for a minute before your brother comes in and rips that shine away from you once more. Fuck I hate this band...Jump is ok
85
It's the drums and guitar shredding that did it for me. Although it is not as good as their first album, it was still pretty enjoyable!
Had to check repeatedly that this album was in fact different to the abomination I had early on in the Project. It is, but it's also absolutely identical. The man is talented. The man has no soul. It gains a very marginal uptick for the fact that Jump is a little bit hard to resist. You can do it, but it's a bit hard.
Lotta hits
Literally 1984.
80’s crotch rock. Never was a Van Halen fan but it’s worth listening to for the guitar work.
This just reeked of palm trees, fast cars, cocaine, Budweiser, and blondes with fake tits. And I’ll Wait reminded me of a montage in a movie where they get lots done in a short amount of screen time that is crucial to the plot. Liked the music more than Roth’s voice
Excellent 1980s classic heavy metal album.
I can’t not think about sports when I hear this album.
so unexpected! I loved it
Best album I’ve never listened to thus far
Decent album. Had to listen to it 3 times for it to be good.
Some things I don’t like about this album, but the guitar is amazing.
This album absolutely ROCKS. So much effort, talent and coherence in one album. Those were the times. 3/5
Saw them in concert many years later and although no jumps from Dave their entertainment value was still there.
Actually loved this? This was pure cheesy 80s rock at its best - some absolutely bangers in there (did not realise Jump was Van Halen), great vocals, fun melodies. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this because it didn’t seem up my alley at all. Would absolutely listen to this again.
Nice
Особенно не впечатлило.
PANAMA!!!! That song makes me want to do a sick jump off a ramp in my car.
Apparently I like Van Halen.
I think I might add this to a regular rotation. I knew the popular ones of course but the rest of the album was just as fun.
Great
A fun, adrenaline filled, over-the-top album of swinging drums, massive guitar solos, and DLRs vocals. An album that demonstrates EVH’s incredible guitar skills while also showing his interest in synths and new wave. Greatest album of all time? No. Tons of fun if you wanna rock? Hell yes. 4/5
Tem a clássica Jump!
middle aged american republican driving a pickup truck. solid 2 cuz it is enjoyable
A juggernaut of an album. That unrelenting groove you hear? That's the sweet sound of the wheels falling off the best era of the band. They would reach pop success after, but this is their pinnacle for me.
Really liked VH as a teen/young adult, and Eddie Van Halen is super talented as a guitarist. But even the classics like Jump feel dated to me now. Panama is still a great vibe, but Hot for teacher is a bit cringe despite the fabulous guitar work. I'll Wait feels dated as well, but Top Jimmy is good. There's a huge difference between the good and bad parts of this album. Power guitar shines through the whole album.
well its very bad, didnt enjoy a second of it, but not as bad as the other albums ive given one star. however people on this website like it too much, so i just have to do this
80er als Album. Laut und nervig. Kaum Abwechslung. Wenigstens schnell vorbei absolut nix für mich. Jump und panama sind wenigstens für ein dummes grinsen gut, aber als ersten 2 Lieder das Highlight. 1/5
Blodharry, men har så klart ein viss appell.
Nothing compares to Van Halen's original run with David Lee Roth. DLR was so unhinged and Eddie's virtuosity was so focused. There are so many bangers on this record: "Jump", "Hot For Teacher", and "Panama" have rightly become rock radio staples. Rest in peace, Eddie. We miss you.
80s metal is usually not my favorite. Jump reminds me so much of my parents and it makes me kind of happy. I feel like this one is self aware satire. Panama is fun but the little monologue in it was so funny. That paired with the angel baby smoking cigs on the album cover tells me it has to be a bit of satire. Overall, I actually enjoyed this one quite a bit. I probably won't listen to it on my own time but it was really fun.
This is silly music. It’s also pop music. I don’t know why this is considered metal? It’s definitely fun and I get why people loved it when it came out. It’s kind of what you want from the other side of pop. It’s rough and rebellious. It’s sexy(ish?) and it’s just light and easy. You don’t have to think about it. The music is really simple, but there is no denying how good Eddie Van Halen is on the the guitar. That’s what sets this whole thing apart from being forgotten.
Not as good as I was expecting, but still a classic.
Great album for the genre and times.
Hell yeah
Encapsulates that sound synonymous with the 80s. Lots to like here. Some great tracks for road trips.
Awesome rock classic
Brings you directly back to the 80s with the synthesizer and the album cover, classic.
Van Halen is a name I know solely because of Eddy Van Halen's reputation as a great guitarist. I can't say I have ever heard any of his songs on purpose. The guitar and drums were prominent throughout my whole listen, I especially loved it at the beginning of Top Jimmy. Jump, Panama, Hot for Teacher and House of Pain were the songs that stuck with me the most. Everything else was not memorable. I did enjoy how unserious this album felt with the lyrics, bursting with angst and sexual frustration, it was very reminiscent of the Beastie Boys album we listened to.
But Then My Homework Was Never Quite Like This 1001 Albums Generator 45 (06/04/2025) Move over Nirvana baby, your cooler older brother is in town and he smokes cigarettes buddy. Chasing your lame little dollar when you could be a little cherub smokin that shit man. Lame ass. Our favorite cig smoking cherub dawns the cover of 1984, the sixth album by hard rock legends Van Halen, and the last album before founding vocalist David Lee Roth departed due to artistic conflicts with guitarist Eddie Van Halen. After an album that was reviewed negatively by contemporary critics, 1984 feels like a return to form for the band. With that said, this album saw Van Halen playing more prominently with synth sounds than on previous albums, to mixed results. There are three all time great tunes here. Jump was an interesting choice for the first single, as it doesn't necessarily sound like the rest of the album, but it's great. Playing damn near like a synthpop song at times, Jump showcases EVH shredding on his synthesizer just as much as on the guitar. That intro riff is just iconic and this is Van Halen's most popular song. Panama is their second most popular and my least favorite of the big three here, but it's still awesome. After being criticized by a reporter as being a band that only writes songs about partying, hot women, and fast cars, David Lee Roth responded that they hadn't written any songs about fast cars, and thus Panama was born. The chorus is an all-timer and the guitar part in the bridge always struck me as strangely emotional even though David Lee Roth's lyrics don't match that feeling at all. Hot For Teacher is the final of the three amazing songs on 1984 and it opens with a powerful drum solo from the overshadowed Alex Van Halen before falling into a fast, swung groove and one of Eddie's most famous guitar solos. David Lee Roth is horny again in this one, with his eyes being drawn to an attractive teacher this time. Van Halen as a band was designed to appeal to rebellious teenage boys and this song is the perfect example of that. A combination of a "school is lame" mentality with a sexual frustration is about as teenage boy as you can get. Drop Dead Legs is a slower paced rocker that has a really cool, groovy outro part and a great start/stop riff with generous hammer-ons. My main issue with this song is that the guitar solo isn't as melodic as Eddie tends to be. Top Jimmy has some interesting guitar parts that border on art rock at times, but it doesn't have as much energy as some other songs here. I also don't love the slow, crooning I'll Wait. This was a really weird choice as a single. I don't find it catchy or memorable and it has a sound that is unlike anything else on the album. I think that the non-hits on this album suffer from a lack of distinctness in general, although the sound of the album is good enough to make that not as negative as it could be. 1984 was a great way to end the David Lee Roth era of Van Halen. It features some of the strongest songwriting the band ever did and while the final product doesn't stand up to the debut in terms of overall quality, it does have more sophisticated composition and instrumentation that make it an interesting listen. It also doesn't overstay its welcome at all, coming in at a cool 33 minutes. 3.5/5, which I just have to round down to a 3 unfortunately. It's close to a 4 though. Favs: Jump Panama Hot For Teacher Least Fav: I'll Wait
Not a fan, especially of the David Lee Roth era. I can appreciate Eddie’s talent, but that’s about it. I always disliked their drum sound. Way too sexist and way too juvenile. Disliked them back then and still do.
Hey they made that song you hear at basketball games…
hjalp med at danne bro mellem hard rock og pop og var meget på mtv. Fik synthesizers med i jump. god guitarspil.
Thoughts before listening: I believe this is the album what Van Halen went full on synthy pop rock. "Jump" and "Panama" are the hits on this one, and both fall in the fun but WAY overplayed category. On earlier Van Halen albums the album cuts were my favorite so I'm interested to see if that will hold true here as well. Review: "Jump" and "Panama" are just so iconic and ubiquitous within our culture it's hard to evaluate them in the context of their album. Of the 2, I prefer "Panama" as "Jump's" synths push it into cheesy territory. This album also includes a 3rd hit in "Hot for Teacher", and that's my pick for favorite song. VH is at their best playing high speed romps full of Eddie's guitar heroics, and this song has that in spades. For the deep cuts, "Top Jimmy" and "Drop Dead Legs" are the best of the bunch and are going on the playlist. Overall this is a fun listen that isn't hurt by the synths...which only really rear their ugly head on a couple songs. 4-stars
I have mixed feelings with this album because I love the instruments but I can't stand the lyrics or voice! I also hate Jump because my old gym teacher used to play it at the end of every single class. I didn't know Van Halen was behind it.
Some truly fantastic, iconic tracks. Other worldly guitar playing, great production. Let down by some much weaker filler tracks
Hot for Teacher has one of the best fucking drum solos I have ever heard.
One of the best to ever do it. Classic classic album. When you bear the keyboard intros to Jump and I'll wait you know you're in for a good time.
Again, I grew up with so many of these songs in the background as they were constant radio play: Drop Dead Legs; Panama; Jump (which may have been one of the first videos I remember); and who wasn’t Hot for Teacher, aka, Mrs Krittenbrink. Two observations remain. First, in the annals of drummers I don’t know of Alex VH is given enough credit. After re-listening to Hot for Teacher with a critics ear his drumming is exception and that beat is intricate. Second, I really enjoyed the deep cuts of Jimmy and House of Pain, both of which show a strong focus on their individual musical talents. Overall, this album is a classic for its influence, musicality and just kicking ass!
Random thoughts: * This is definitely transitional VH. Moving from traditional classic rock to more 80s rock. * Jump and Panama are all-timers. * Panama might be one of the most underrated songs as it is so good on so many levels. * Jump has one of the best sounding drums and and drum intros! *Hot For Teacher and that double bas sounds like a revving engine! Master class on the drums. * I will always remember the Hot For Teacher video. Huge impact on an impressionable young man in the 80s. "I don't feel tardy". * Solid album with some all-time tracks!
Both stars are for 'Jump'. If anyone's in doubt that the rest of this album is embarrassingly juvenile parp there's a track speculating about what the new teacher will look like to set your expectation correctly.
Pretty mid nothing crazy 2/5
I always loved Jump but never got into Van Halen. This album didn’t help me This is the first album I found a slog to listen to. “I’ll wait” and “Jump” are good. The rest are forgettable except “Top Jimmy” which is just bad. This is the epitome of Dad Rock. Something that they will tell their kids is amazing but really, only white men in their late 50s or 60s like. I’m not sure if I should give it a 1 star or a 2 star for “Jump” alone
Great synth and guitar riffs marred by shallow lyrics. This is as 80s rock as it gets.
Hair metal perfection.
Dumb guitar fun. Blessedly brief.
4.5
My fav Halen album
I hate jump. Everything else is very good.
Overall mediocre
Heard jump and Panama and hot for teacher a bunch growing up in the 80s and 90s, hard to hear them with fresh ears. Album is ok but just not connecting with me, not enough depth for my taste. If I was a high schooler in the 80s I am sure this would hit different for me
Short, sweet, to the point, solid rock n roll, Jump is good, enjoyed it but unlikely to revist. The lowest 4 star album possible.
dobry wybór
I get that this album typifies a certain type of contentious pop-rock, and that living through the height of its popularity might have been really annoying, but I've always like Van Halen. Vocals aren't to my taste, but the solos are short and sweet and the rhythm guitar is always on point. Hot For Teacher is a shitty fucking song though.
Oh. The only redeeming feature of this album is its brevity. Though I suppose the cover is vaguely amusing.
I typically give an automatic 5 to albums that I own, but my music taste has evolved. While once a Van Halen fan I prefer Van Hagar over this frenetic mess of an album. I won’t discount the impacts of the classics here (Jump, Hot For Teacher, Panama), but Diamond Dave’s charisma carries the tune better than he can. Side note: they did Gary Cherone DIRTY!
Van Halen's 1984 is a slick, swaggering time capsule of Reagan-era excess, where synths strut alongside shredding guitars and every element is polished to a neon sheen. Eddie trades some of his guitar god thunder for glistening keyboards on the monster hit “Jump,” while “Panama” keeps the top-down rock party going with unapologetic bravado—though stacking the two front and center feels more like label strategy than album flow. “Drop Dead Legs” dips into a sleazy, slow-grind groove that owes more to Aerosmith than Sunset Strip, and “Hot for Teacher” explodes with manic drum rolls and David Lee Roth’s cartoon libido. Then there's “I'll Wait,” a moody synth-laden detour that hints at an art-rock ambition Van Halen rarely explored again. It’s not subtle, but then again, neither was 1984.
Besser als das andere Van halen. Jump ist actually gut
IT's a bad album but it feels like the best album of all time
Quite a banger of an album. Cool intro on Hot For Teacher. I love the synths as well as the guitars.
All these classic DLR era Van Halen albums are like 30 minutes long. More 30 minute albums please.
I really loved this album for the most part but I had the same problem that I had with their debut album in that there is just that one track that I do not like one bit. Take I’ll Wait off this album and it’s a definite five stars. Top Track - House Of Pain
This might be the best mainstream rock album of the 80's. I don't know if it's shorter than I remember, or that it's just so good that everything flies by. It has the big opening, goes bombastic with Panama, and, if you think that's wild, Alex gives you a killer motorcycle-revved drum fill with the beginning of the B-side on Hot for Teacher. You're locked in until the end of HOUSE OF PAAAAIIINNN and, when the time comes to pick up the needle again, you get that feeling like you're back at the beginning of the roller coaster, jostled back to safety.
One of the defining albums of my childhood. Jump has not aged well for me, I’d like to blame the synth but I’ll Wait still rocks, so who knows. Not my favorite VH album, but Hot For Teacher alone means this one’s a banger.
This was it. The first album I ever bought on vinyl. This is what took Van Halen from superstars of rock arenas and running with the devil to available to the MTV masses. It gave the casual rock fans a taste of what you knew with their albums before this. The driving of Alex’s drums, Dave’s vocals and Michael’s bass to surround the genius of Eddie Van Halen’s guitar.
This is Van Halen at their most polished, just before David Lee Roth hit the road. The songs are on point, rocking just as hard as the first time I head this record. It’s quick and fun, an iconic album cover if there ever was one, and showcases the best of their talents while also dipping their toes into synthesizer craze that was going on in the 80s, but they don’t stay in that new wave pool for very long. Just a quick dip. This is probably my favorite album featuring the original band members. Just incredible.
This is just a banger of an album. Short, fun and every song is justa good time. Can't NOT give this full marks.
aight
This felt surprisingly mediocre to me. I knew the big hits off it (Jump, Panama, Hot for Teacher), but everything else was very unremarkable. I can’t imagine this being an album I’d listen to again.
This is the 118th album I’m rating. I've always been a bit of a Van Halen hater but I've never listened to an album before so maybe they'll prove me wrong. Adding to my Playlist - Nothing. Not Adding to my Playlist - 1984, Jump, Panama, Top Jimmy, Drop Dead Legs, Hot for Teacher, I'll Wait, Girl Gone Bad, and House of Pain. All in all I liked 0/9 songs. Somehow worse than Elvis Costello.
It's fine. I'd probably enjoy more if not due to the association with all their fans.
Good guitar work however I've just never been a fan of the vocals from Van Halen or majority of their hair metal contemporaries. Probably the most annoying genre of seppo music.
Self-title 1984 track is a cool synth intro. Next Up is Jump, a great classic. Next up is Panama, another great classic. Top Jimmy and Drop Dead Legs were pretty good. Hot For Teacher is great, standout drums and guitar. Rest of the album is solid. Probably deserves a 4 but I'll go with 5 for how good the better songs are.
Everything that’s not Jump, Panama, or Hot for Teacher is cock rock bullshit.
Wow... this was a disappointment. I've been surrounded by the music Van Halen for decades now. I know the singles. I know the history. But I never checked out a record. Not for any particular reason, it was just a blindspot in my listening. Teenage me fucked up when digging into classic rock bands I guess. Sooo I was excited when this album came up. I know the singles. I love Eruption. I love Hot For Teacher. I love Jump. I tolerate Panama. I figured they'd have at least one good album in them. But holy shit, I was wrong. Outside of the 3 big songs and that cool synth intro, this album fucking sucks... and it really feels like it's Eddie Van Halen's fault. He is the best and worst part of this album. When the riffs and the synths hit, they are amazing... iconic even. But when they're bad, they're "inspire multiple generations of dickhead guitar wanker-y" bad. "Top Jimmy" is trash. Those harmonics, that ugly, overcomplicated riff. Why Eddie? Why? And why did so many shit guitarists rip this off? It's hideous. "i'll wait" is a boring, cheesy synth ballad that I had never heard before despite it being the second single to this album. I guess it was lost to time and i'm not mad about that. This is the only Van Halen ballad I've ever heard, and it really doesn't work. Maybe this one's Roth's fault... his charm doesn't work here. O, and it has a big cheesy guitar solo, that also sucks... so Eddie is not off the hook on this one. The other 3 tracks just have garburator solos and ugly guitar riffs that would soon become hard rock cliches. I just can't. I didn't know so much bad rock music was Eddie's fault. That rat bastard... RIP. It's only a 30 minute album, but it felt sooo long. Maybe you have to be a 15 year old boy hearing this before the fall of the Berlin wall to understand it? I guess I'll never know. Some positives.... 1984 - this is some nice, tasteful, epic 80s synth Jump - It's a fuckin' hard rock pop banger. Love it. Love the synth. Big fan. Hot For Teacher - The best Van Halen song of all time in my opinion. THE DRUMS... the drums alone are fucking iconic... they have this almost big band, rolling vibe. The guitar riff is incredible... that opening solo is just... chefs kiss. David Lee Roth is just being charismatic and horny as hell and it's great. A horny sex anthem written by a 30 year old for teenagers shouldn't work, but weirdly it does. Panama - i tolerate. It's better than the rest of the album and i get that it's a good song... but I don't like it. It's overrated. I remember vividly when I was a teenager, my uncle asked me if I liked Van Halen... and I said I don't get Panama... it's not good. And he said.... someday, when you're an adult, you'll go to a strip club and you'll see a beautiful lady dance to Panama and take off her clothes... only then will you understand that song. As far as i know, I haven't seen someone strip to Panama yet, so it's still lost on me. I really hope no one is stripping to the deep cuts on this album. I don't even think nudity could save those songs.
MORE SYNTH
The original hair metal band and possibly the only good one. Definitely corny at times, but damn is it catchy. Best song: Panama
Solid Van Halen record. It houses some of the most iconic songs of their career, with a couple of hidden gems. Not the best Van Halen record, but still a great time listening to it.
Okay - not really my style
It’s really just 2.5 good songs and the rest filled with “girls girls girls” rubbish and some decent guitar playing. 4/10
Some all-time tracks mixed with some forgettable tunes
It was pretty good. Better than the police album I listened to previous to this but still only gets a 3.
not for me, lowk boring 🥱
Zemlech fescht rechtig Hard Rock aber no geil omgsetzt. Vorallem Jump esch natürlech huere guet. Zom teil aber de fascht e chli zu hert.
Plays like a greatest hits album. Full throttle top to bottom. Excellent.
Njæ
Had lots of good songs, chill but not the greatest for study time. Still w tho.
best thing you can say about this is that it's very short
An all time classic