Reviews (page 10 of 15)
This was fine but didn’t do much for me, even including a Kinks cover version didn’t really provide enough sparks. I also wondered if Ice Cream Man was a Tom Waits cover but in fact it was a cover of John Brim, so I was half right. I recognised Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love instantly for its use by Apollo 440 so at least I learned something. So nothing bad about this really, just don’t think it inspired me to return.
This is actually so fun! Way more enjoyable than I expected. I think as an album, David Lee Roth's voice gets a bit annoying by the end. But the songs work well within a shuffled Spotify environment.
una cátedra de guitarra. el solo en "eruption" es irreal, y dentro del álbum la mejor introducción para "you really got me" la cual es un rolon y una vez más gran solo. alm como suena la guitarra en "I'm the one", bien podria no tener letra. en general cada canción del álbum es un ejemplo más de lo cabron que estaba Eddie en la guitarra.
A lot of these songs are songs I've heard a billion times and don't really like. I don't know if I actually don't like them, or if I've just heard them so many times while not really having any emotional attachment to them. I think it's funny that I, a person with 0 musical exploration, opened this site and was dealt an album full of stuff I've already heard as my first one. I don't think I've ever heard Little Dreamer (fine), Atomic Punk (fine), Ice Cream Man (kind of funny i guess), or On Fire (good). I don't want anyone to think "oh uhhhh yeah uhhhh he's saying these guys can't play or he doesn't like their sound or whatever." They're obviously amazingly skilled and can play the shit out of their instruments and sing really good and all that. I've just heard it so many times and it's not really for me I guess. Van Halen did give us Why Can't This Be Love which is an all-timer but it's not on this album it's nearly 10 years after this album so their sound will definitely evolve. Thinking of it, with this being their debut album yet having THIS many hits on it, it's kind of fucking crazy. I give it a 3 for "I like it, it's a fine album, but if I saw a copy at a store, I wouldn't be like "holy shit I've gotta buy it.""
I mean, it's got some classic tunes. Supernatural road trip vibes. -NS
Eddie van Halen was the first to ever do it, and still the best? Probably. Iconic guitar sound, can't stand the singer. Some great songs, some not so great.
I feel like this was very hard to rate. I fluctuated between 2 and 4 as I was listening to it! Maybe it's an album I need to be in the mood for. Sometimes it feels like it's just a hollow demo of how technically proficient the music is without any of the effort in the actualy songwriting, and other times I am jamming along. I guess 3? One I would like to re-assess in the future.
It's nice, has a good mix of different sounds but it reminds me quite a bit of some QUEEN guitar solos. Out of the album "Jamie's Cryin'" was my favorite as it has the most interesting sound of the bunch and the lyrics were said in such a funny way. I am not a metal / rock music fan but this album was nice got some good head bobbing out of me.
Three solid stars. Three stars in spite of David Lee Roth, who ruins every song he attempts to sing. You can hear the arrogant timbre in his voice and it instantly lowers the credibility of every Van Halen album until 5150.
Average AOR. Not my kind of thing
It's Van Halen, classic congs but not necessarily my taste in music generally.
I wasn't expecting much, but this was a positive surprise. Ten decent songs (and whatever "Eruption" is) in 35 minutes is apparently just the right amount of Van Halen. Runnin' with the Devil and Ain't Talkin' Bout Love are the obvious highlights.
Their debut album is very skilled musically and vocally. I enjoyed the album as a whole but nothing stood out to me individually.
All the guitar virtuosity and vocal fireworks in the world don’t make up for the near total lack of charm and massively over-developed sense of superiority from this bunch of electrified doo-wop barbershop bastards. It’s not bad, but it is just so overbearing USAian and I was very glad when it was over, and I won’t be going back to it (and I’m a dyed in the wool metal-head)
A pretty solid rock album. Better than most, not as good as some.
Listenable.
A really great classic rock album, I see why it is so beloved and launched Van Halen to huge status. Top Songs: Runnin’ with the Devil, Aint Talkin’ ‘Bout Love, Jamie’s Cryin
Solid rock n' roll from a simpler time.
esta bueno, no soy fan de este tipo de rock pero me sirvio para darle una oportunidad a van halen.
A much-loved album amongst rock fans, but to be honest, not really my thing. I first heard Van Halen around the time of their 1984 LP, and the ubiquitous “Jump” single. I disliked everything about it, from the one-fingered synth riff to the over enthused video posturing (big hair, tight spandex and much jumping around). The 1978 debut is much more agreeable. For a start it’s a great guitar album – flashy and loud, but always impressive, and even the singer is less annoying here, occasionally even bordering on likeable. There’s not a track that really stands out as a classic, but I found myself happy to be in its company for 35 minutes. Much better than I expected. 7/10
It’s amazing how this became background music to me. It used to be THE EDGE! Now I ended up talking over most of it (blasphemy!). Did love the swing song which was a huge surprise! And, yes, this music is still great, if not stop-what-you’re-doing-to-listen great.
- kind of fun - not really in the mood for this right now - they like playing the guitar in a fun way
Alltså.... Jag gillar inte Van Halen, har aldrig gjort. Tror att en del av det var David Lee Roths röst ihop med skrikiga gitarrer. Visst Eddie Van Halen kan spela gitarr. Fantastiskt till och med, men för mig är det inte tillräckligt. Gillar dock Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love. Vissa låtar är catchy men i min värld är detta inte hårdrock, men vad vet jag...
Me parece un gran álbum debut con un sonido ya decidido, muy divertido de escuchar y con eruption, un solo histórico, complejo, que todo guitarrista quiere aprender. Por otro lado aprender a escucharlo con auriculares al principio puede ser molesto por su hardpan extremo.
Surprisingly good and consistent. Great open and close to the album, no bad songs, fairly original sound of hard rock, never been the a fan of theirs and there is a lot of LedZep worship, but they’re welcome to it. Ain’t Talking About Love is the best one after the opener. Not something I’d pass to my children, but really good
already had a couple of songs
not my cup of tea
Power rock album
A solid first effort, I can see why they stuck around. That said not something I would choose in a rock playlist.
David Lee Roth era Van Halen were the true showmen of hard rock. Nothing too original here, but this works pretty darn well on the background preparing for the weekend on the last working day of the week.
Early on in this project I listened to 1984 by Van Halen. This was an album I didn't really like, and a band I've never really liked. The album was one that "everyone" in high school loved when it came out. It was playing at the parties and in cars. I never liked it, and mostly was annoyed when it would be played. I then went to college and my roommates loved classic rock radio, so many songs from this album were staples of the format. Thankfully I discovered the alternative scene and started pulling away from bands like this, but I'd still have to listen every now and then. I groaned when it popped up today. Much like I did when 1984 came up. What I can say positively is listening today wasn't as bad as it could have been. Some of the songs were less annoying than they used to be. And Eruption is a genuinely good song that needs to be longer. I even found myself singing along to Jamie's Cryin'. Of note, Hot For Teacher from 1984 is basically a rewrite of I'm the One, but were aren't really talking about a creative bunch here other than Eddie's guitar playing. I'm generously giving this a 2.5 and I'll decide in the morning whether it goes up or down.
3.5 Eddie van halen is really talented but at points it seemed he put showing off over the actual music :/ really enjoyed some of these songs though
Some great riffs, the intro to "ain't talkin' bout love" being my favourite. Low 3
Van Halen is an entertaining listen. Extraordinarily virtuosic guitar playing. Catchy songs with very simple arrangements.
This is immensely fun, good time music which you should “feel” rather than think about too much. It’s a rush of joyful silliness with extreme amounts of flair. I laughed a lot at the audaciousness. The bass playing is terrible though. I’ve heard of a walking bass line, but never one with a limp! I can’t imagine how boring it would be to perform these parts in a band that makes such a thing out of extra flair and plays for attention.
The hits are ones everyone has heard many of times. The other songs were just there. Average album. Good sounds but average all around. 7.1/10
Where to begin? They are very talented, but it feels really disjointed. I think I was a tad too late to the hair metal scene and I wished I liked this more. 7.25/10 Top song On Fire
My first time knowingly listening to a VH album. Sounds like someone wanted to be Black Sabbath and ended up inventing Hair Metal I bet every 16 year old boy loved them. The RHCP of their day. FUN but that Kinks cover and the Ice Cream song can do one.
Ok
Eddie with a new style
gud..kinda boring..didn’t wanna finish listening🤕
just not my thing ig
This album is radio city but it’s not bad just way overplayed
I'd never listened to a Van Halen album deliberately (i don't think anyone can say they've never listened to Van Halen) This was very fun! Eddie is unsurprisingly a beast
Some true guitar hero bangers on here, but I enjoyed it less and less as the album went on. Like, I get it…you can play guitar realllllly well congrats.
Pretty solid album! Great guitar riffs. I'm just not super into this genre of rock.
alright. hair rock.
Fun Rock album.
Not really my thing but it’s undeniable they are great at what they do. I had no idea that 90% of this album was hits. Good for you guys!
Not bad. They’re very talented, but not making music I typically listen to. It’s one of those “If you love this, great! This music has value. Just not for me” bands.
Hooting and hollering with some cool guitar
6/10 better than the other rock ones so far!
🎸
Some great tracks in here, but even after giving it an honest listening, I truly can't get into metal. It doesn't excite me, doesn't click with me. I know it is technically impressive, and even talked to some friends about this album since I only have superficial knowledge on the genre - it's amazing tha Van Halen was able to revolutionize the way people play and listen the guitar, but I guess I'm one of those who his work couldn't reach or move.
finished the entire album and im still thinking about eruption........
This would be good to play to my dad to convince him I’m Darth Vader from the planet Vulcan. Anyway, pretty fun. The shooby-doo wah refrain made me laugh. Never fully grabbed me though.
A couple good songs.
Big hair rock.
kind of a weird one to rate because I think this is an extremely good version of what it is, but what it is I don't rate that highly the singles are great except when they aren't (Ice Cream Man sucks) and the album being a weird mix of guitar wanking and doo-wop influences and blues and pop metal and everything else genuinely is interesting but in my heart this is a three also sorry but I prefer Sammy Hagar over Diamond Dave any day
It’s alright.
Intéressant les backing vocals, je ne connaissais pas ça de Van Halen. Monstre à la guitare ofc.
I know of this band (guitarist) but never listened to more than one song in a row. So off to Wikipedia. David Lee Roth rewarded roadies $25 for every woman who came to him wearing a pass with the relevant roadie's initials on it? Charming. Runnin' With the Devil: my id has free rein, fair warning!! Eruption: tweedle weedle going nowhere. You Really Got Me: not nice. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love: ounds like they just want to dominate women. I'm the One: I can listen to this okay, it has some oomph, and gives a nod to doo-wop, this is my fave track so far. Jamie's Cryin': a date rape song. Feel Your Love Tonight: another rape song. Little Dreamer: decent riff and harmony vox. Zero interps volunteered as yet on Genius - I won't be the first. Ice Cream Man: not as good as Roth seems to think. On Fire: "Turn your radios on / I'll appear right there .... Lay your bodies down / I'm in your beds". Anyway, it's clearly Mix of Good and (very) Bad - 5/10. (Is that too generous for these schmucks? I do recognise that the guitar tone and tech were way influential, I'd just rather listen to music by grown-ups who have got over any testosterone high.)
Meh. A few bangers, but not great.
reminds me of childhood. knew most of the songs because we listened to this at home a lot.
it was nice, although not used to it
cool electric guitar
Kul začetek. Sam komad ( "Runnin' with the Devil") je... Fine? Js sm napačn človek, da bi bla impressed with a guitar solo ("Eruption"), zmer so mi bla druga glasbila v bandih ljubša. Ok, to sm se spraševala, če bo a cover, ko sem vidla naslov ("You Really Got Me") - and it is! Fajn cover. Začetek komada "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" mi je ful všečen, se mi pa tud zdi, da me na nekej spomne, but I can't quite put my finger on it (na en komad iz Paranoid od Black Sabbath? - šla preverit, spomne me na začetek od "Fairies Wear Boots". Sicer na netu očitno noben drug tega ne sliš, tko da it might be just me.). "Ice Cream Man" ful izstopa, vsaj na začetku, k je res bluesovski vajb, sam po pa cover nardijo bolj svoj, k se pridruž cel band. Meh, will never listen to this again, ni blo pa horrible.
one of the only VH albums i dig
Solid guitar work. Can’t unhear David Lee Roth’s vocal for Runnin’ with the Devil.
Alright hair metal. Didn't know they had a cover of you really got me
Didn't do much for me, but appreciate the individual talent and the impact this had on 80s rock.
High energy, and some recognizable hits. Favourite track: You Really Got Me
I liked a lot of elements of this album but I can't say I loved every bit of it.
Some crazy guitar stuff going on here but I felt like it was a bit much at times. But at the same time I felt it was lacking something. Still, a good listen and there were some great tracks on this album.
I used to really like Van Halen but I feel like they don't quite hit the same anymore. This album sadly fell a bit flat and whilst I do love some of the songs I just don't think I can warrant giving it a 4.
Some of the best guitar bits in an album so far. Nice cohesive feel overall but a bit unmemorable
Едді звичайно легенда, з гітари іскри летять, але я особливо ніколи не був прихільником творчості гурту. Якісь самі пісні не видатні, просто непогані. Ще й 2 кавери на 11 пісень
middle school flashback!
The guitarwork is incredible, but outside of that, I don't think it really stands out that much among its hard-rock peers.
To be honest i didn’t enjoy it as much as i thought i would since its rock but there were a few songs i like but i don’t think this is a repeat
I get why this album is so regarded...I made it halfway through and tapped out. Great musicianship, very samey. Their Kinks cover absolutely sucks and I will die on this hill
3,5/5 Bem produzido e empolgante. A melhor música, porém, é um cover.
Not my cup of tea, but there's no denying that a certain guitarist slapped here
Not for me but can see how they are for others. 3/5.
Van Halen burst onto the scene this pop-influenced Heavy Metal-Lite. Success was inevitable, when the disaffected youth of America saw it as rebellion, rather than a very calculated grab at their money. Efficient, but not for me.
Mi-o plăcut chiar îi fain îi dau un 6/10
don't care
The album is at it's best when the songs are played fast, and at it's worst when they slow down a bit. I don't really care for David Lee Roth's vocals, but the Van Halens and Mike Anthony can play some good stuff when they want to. Really enjoy "I'm The One" with it's cheesy but endearing swing rhythm. One of those albums that, while historically significant, kind of pales in comparison to some of the many bands it would inspire afterward going into the 1980s. 7.5/10.
classic sports bar ambiance
Winter 3 but a Summer 5 Favorite Tracks: Runnin with the Devil, I'm The One, Feel Your Love Tonight, I'm on Fire
Not the best fan of van halen but i recognize their greatness especially on the guitar!
Never really listened to Van Halen before. Nice dad rock that carries some good guitar.
Van Halen is another band where if I could give the lead guitar a 5 I would but just can't get behind the 80s jams that accompany these fucking amazing guitar licks. Had I been 10-15 years older than I am I would have been all over this. I know for a fact seeing Eddie Van Halen play live would have given me multiple guitar orgasms. However me, an 80s baby, does not find as much joy in this.
Short and Sweet!
Favorite track was ice cream man
My life wasn’t changed
As a lot of reviews have mentioned, the band is full of great musicians. But that doesn’t make you a great songwriter 🤷🏻♂️ It’s a high energy album but that kind of self masturbatory guitar playing gets tired after a while!
Eddie Van Halen's guitar technique is amazing. The songs are okay but didn't grab my attention. The Darkness clearly drew inspiration from this album, and for that we should be grateful!
decent. Not really my thing though
intressant album där det dras lite mellan deras åttiotal, den engelska hårdrocken och bluesrock. väldigt intressant att bredda synen på bandet. och det klassiska riffet på Ain't talkin bout love... Barbershop-känslan på en av låtarna kändes väldigt apart dock
Me gustó, pero no 100% evocó algo lindo en mi más como un meh
Way better than 1984.
It's Van Halen! It's hard to judge these guys as the music and sound feels so normal these days. There music was fine, but there was nothing that really set me alight.
Feels like a drop off in quality after listening to Deep Purple recently. Some crunchy riffs, flashy solos, but it's just so commercial feeling. I feel like I need to clean myself after listening to this.
Hey i bet all the dads love it
Not a huge Van Halen guy, but their first few albums are pretty decent. Ain't Talking About Love is probably the highlight of this album for me.
Start mouth
I didn't know what this was. Heavy metal? Hair metal? Confusing.
A million curses to this album for the influence it had on the Glam Metal sound that plagued the 80s. However, Eddie Van Halen truly plays that thing like no other, and David Lee Roth brings a really enjoyable bravado to his vocal performance. It all comes together to a pretty fun record all round A couple stand out moments are of course Eruption, genuinely a piece of guitar playing art. Also the Doo-Wop breakdown in I'm The One was an insane choice and I lowkey loved it. Ice cream man is unlistenable. Fave track(s): 2 - Eruption / 9 - Little Dreamer Best Three Track Run: 3, 4, 5
Not really my jam. But it’s undeniably good. Or at least competent. (Side 1 is a fair bit better than Side 2.)
I've never really listened to Van Halen, apart from the well known songs, so this was a first to listen to a whole album. Overall, it's OK. Decent music and vocals. I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics though. Having said that, and this is probably sacrilege to Van Halen fans, I didn't feel that it was strikingly better than many albums of their contemporaries.
Never listened to this album before. I was surprised how many of the songs I had heard before. Kinda corny and I hate the guitar tone but it does rip at points
I felt quite conflicted with this one. I love heavy metal, though this leans already to hard rock. I don’t know why I found it a little boring despite Eddies sublime guitar playing and Roth’s amazing voice, put to good use on their cover of You Really Got Me.
Loved the love songs in the first half of the album. Don’t know if I’m right, but i think that Atomic Punk is the guy that slept with Jamie. Otherwise, I don’t see the reason of this song in this position.
So short, I listened twice and completed my 48 year reappraisal. Great cover of You Really Got Me, and Runnin' With The Devil leads you in nicely. Apologies to Jess M from VIth Form for me not being more receptive at the time. It's not that far from punk rock after all.
Made me smile on my way to work. Solid 3
You Really Got Me blows the gaff here; it's rock for folks that prefer pop. Feels like a platform for Eddie's guitar chops. Which are impressive if not my cup of tea. 3* for all the hours of scale practice Eddie did in his bedroom.
Not that I hate it, but I also don't love it
shokingly fun listen, and even though it came out in 78, it embodies early 80's
Four star album for EBH, two stars for DLR's weird bird singing. I probably should give it the 4 it deserves but I just can't.
It was alright. I feel like I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have. Fun and heavy I guess.
7/10
(Should be 3.5) Honestly a very good album. Van Halen simply isn’t my style of artist which is why he isn’t getting graded higher, otherwise he would. Was a little surprised by how many I knew. Favorite track: You Really Got Me
3 maybe leaning 2.5
Good- listened to over half the songs Favourite: Ain’t Talkin ’ ‘Bout Love
I've already listened a couple of songs from this album. I like the cover of Kinks and of course artificial harmonics that Eddie loved to do like the virtuoso guy. Not mine nowadays and then i was into that music however why not? Eventually, the best album in their discography.
Donne envie de danser un peu, meilleure écoute pour le moment
3.5 stars. Great album. So much fun to listening to. Definitely adding this one to my listening rotation.
The Van Halen brothers get all my stars for this album--Eddie is obviously a great guitarist, and Alex keeps a solid backbeat to sustain him. But I grew up watching and listening to David Lee Roth. He was obnoxious then and still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. His singing style fits the lyrics, but is he crucial to the band's sound? Nah. :) He was a dramatic frontman and crucial to their popular success, I get it. I just don't like his singing style.
Runnin' with the Devil brings the taste of light beer to my mouth....Eruption, a joint between my fingers....every track that comes afterward sounds like the music that I would make after drinking 12 light beers and smoking a few joints. In terms of guitar, my interest was piqued. The tone felt novel in some ways, especially with eruption. But then again, it wasn't "earth-shattering" as some would describe this album... 2.5, rounded up for "Ice Cream Man" and the variety that a little bit of blues adds to the album.
Its okay.. I'm a huge fan of softer rock most of the time, but I will say I listened to half of this album while taking a quick shower before bed. Honestly, I only liked one or two songs from the album, believe it or not, 'Jamie's Cryin and You Really Got Me. I think my biggest turn-off with this album is the vocalist. Don't get me wrong, he's not horrible. But it's that annoying nasally whine that I hate in male singers. Also, I need to remember that this was made in the 1970s, when music was actually evolving from the traditional rock 'n' roll you would hear in the 1960s or anytime before that. Okay, so I would give this Van Halen by Van Halen (heh hehhh) a decent 3/5. I'm not a huge knower of all music, but drums/guitar were pretty stable and unique. The blends of the instruments were obviously nicely placed and did keep :p
The first concert I ever went to was Van Halen (supporting their 1984 album) and I feel like despite it being for that album, they played the entirety of this one. Despite David Lee Roth's vocal wanking over the top of almost every song (except for, ironically, "Eruption"), the real voice of this album is Eddie Van Halen's guitar, and the second-most noteworthy thing being Eddie and Michael Anthony's harmonies. There are a ton of hits here, but none that I ever really loved. David Lee Roth is a visual performer, and his vocals in isolation are kind of terrible. The rhythm section lacks punch as well, never more apparent than on "Atomic Punk" and "On Fire" which want to sound more powerful than they are. The muffled sound of the drums annoys me in general. But for all my complaints, it's not a bad album or a chore to listen to, and I do prefer fun and zany DLR Van Halen to the serious versions that came later. They just didn't have enough of the elements that I enjoy out of hard rock, and the song's melodies weren't catchy enough to appeal to me from a pop perspective. But Eddie sure could play the hell out of a guitar, and 13-year old me really enjoyed them in concert.
I downloaded a best of Van Halen compilation in my teens, so it was really nice to get reacquainted with some of these. Eruption was a 5 star song back in my iPod smart playlist days. It was also a blast to hear Jamie's Crying and You Really Got Me again, as someone who finds Van Halen generally mid-tier, those few songs really hold their own weight. As far as the sound goes, ignoring how ahead of their time they were because this feels like a cemented '80s vibe and this is a late '70s debut, it's just ok metal with a really good guitarist. That's a mood, and it's generally what you hope for in a good rock band. I can live without this but I'm glad it exists. 3.2/5
Started off strong and I thought this album is cooking. Doesn’t hurt that my band in high school used to cover their version of you really got me. But then I just started getting bored with the guitar tricks. I know Eddie is awesome but I heard enough.
I had my first guitar class yesterday and so I find this fitting. The guitar playing is impressive. Van Halen is better than me at guitar. It’s still big cock dad rock but it speaks to me today and I appreciate it way more. High 3.
I enjoyed the guitar parts, but the lyrics easily dragged my rating now to a 3/5 for this album. Nothing special as far lyrics go for most songs, this is a definitely a product of its time lyrically. I have to say, I loved the surprise 'shoob-a-doob' section in one song, that was awesome. Nice cover of "You Really Got Me" and my favorite track was the opener, "Runnin' with the Devil".
cant go wrong with a classic
hm
Perhaps not my cup of tea, cannot argue that Van Halen isn't a talented fellow. If one of his albums is to be kept, it ought to be this one! 8/10 [KEEP]
A good album (—if you’re in the mood for the genre.)
I didnt expect to hear a cover of the kinks on this album. Filled with lots of fun songs. Enjoyable hard rock album. Not the most impressive, but it doesnt need to be. 3/5
Personally I dont like shredding, but its unbelievable that he could make those sounds from a guitar at that time. Definitely has crazy talent and great artistry in this album. But I just don't like classic metal/rock.
Rock usor :) Highlights: you really got me (mai fain decat originalul decat the kinks pt mine); I’m the one
i'm not above this! blew my mind was i was 14, formative experience
Not my typical vibe, but cool!
I appreciated the instrumental. Really liked "You Really Got Me", "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love". "Atomic Punk" was fun, so was "Feel Your Love"- Very good album, very cohesive, not really my vibe.
It's alright but nothing really to get your teeth into. Guitar is good but I need more than that when listening to music
It's ok
ok
Lots of great songs on here. I liked it more than I expected to. But there's also the seeds of horrible hair metal here, with cheesy lyrics, annoying background vocals, and some serious sexism.
I think this is better than 1984. Feels less transitional.
Phenomenal guitar work throughout, Eruption all-timer. Could take or leave everything else, though.
Interesting album to start with. Looked at the tracks and didn’t think this was going to be very good but I actually enjoyed it.
Pretty wanky
An album with a few good songs. 3/5. Feels like it was written by a mid 20 yo. 80s sound. The kind of music I hear at a party or event and enjoy but not get super into.
eruption is a fire song, but the rest of the album is just not my thing at all - too loud and not my vibe - like 2.5/5, but I'll round up to three because it's not poorly done
Y'know ... I do like the SOUND of Van Halen, but listening to this made me realize that David Lee Roth is a real turn off. His misogynist-dickhead vibe is just 🤮. I think I prefer Van Hagar, but not by much. Van Halen is definitely a sum-is-less-than-their-parts band for me.
This might be only the 3rd or 4th time I've listened to this album in its entirety and each time I'm impressed by the number of songs I know. Were they hits, I have no idea, but VH clearly knew how to get airtime back when I was listening to the radio a lot. That said, I can't really claim to enjoy their music. It feels a lot like ZZ Top, Def Leppard, and all the other hard rock bands from the late 70s and 80s. There's some catchy tunes and impressive guitar work, but the style itself turns me off.
I feel like the talent they clearly hold as musicians never really came together to form highly consistent songs. Like there is great drumming, good vocals and amazing guitar playing. Yet whilst those parts are great the songs are not great enough.
Powerful classic rock goodness with all the teenage nostalgia blended in
Leuk om op te dansen en lekker energiek maar alle liedjes klinken wel een beetje hetzelfde
Was afraid going in to it, but much better than expected. Eruption and Jamie's Cryin' were highlights. 3.6*, rounded down. Decent though!
ok they're pretty good especially imagining this as being a new sound and not what a thousand people since have mimicked
an album that i recognize is very technically impressive, but not one i see myself listening to and enjoying very much. i’ve never been a huge Van Halen fan, but i did like Jamie’s Cryin’ and thought Ice Cream Man was fun and weird. the You Really Got Me cover is pretty good too. realistically like a 2.5 star album for me, but i’ll round up.
The guitar is obviously great because it’s Van Halen, but I don’t really care about the rest
Only 3 x songs that I liked
The hits are undeniably great, and Ice Cream Man is pretty fun, but overall this is just ok.
Little bit samey but holds up as a solid rock album
Pretty rockin' stuff. I enjoyed You Really Got Me and Eruption the most. An extremely solid debut album. It must have been mind-blowing to listen to this for the first time in 1978.
Top notch LA hair metal.
pierwsze albumowe spotkanie z van halen. miało potencjał, żeby się podobać, ale jednak zbyt monotonnie. Special mention - feel your love tonight. Pewnie wpadnie na jakichś podróżach samochodowych.
Favorite Songs: You Really Got Me, Feel Your Love Tonight Least Favorite Song: I'm the One My guy is absolutely SHREDDING that guitar.
3/5
respect to the original dad rock i guess Would I listen again: no Deserves to be on this list: yes 3.4
I started out thinking 'oh no, brace for schlock rock overload' but within about ten mins I was fairly well into it 😅🤘
Guitar screeches. Wee wee wee wheeeeewwww
Classic, but I don’t see myself reaching to listen to this too regularly other than a couple of the songs. Still iconic though.
Ice cream man is great maybe 3.9
It's so incredibly silly and is responsible for a lot of rock sins which would follow in the '80s, but that silliness is what gives it charm. I'm not a fan of David Lee Roth's vocals, but the instrumentation is all great. Not just Eddie, but everyone is on it. I think you have to be in the right mood for it, but it's a bit of silly fun.
Not really into hair metal, but this album has some moments that surprised me. Overall, best than expected.
Amazing
Van Halen is so talented and a bit before their time, but the style is not my cup of tea
Enjoyed it, EVH was an absolute giant
A weird amount of Shoo Be Doo Wah for a good guitar album
Well, yeah, it's clear why they're famous. Hair bands are really not my genre, but the works that launched it are no doubt excellent. Seems like a simpler time.
Classic album no complaints.
I must divulge that I believe Van Halen to be the most overrated band in rock history. But the boys really did come out firing with this debut album. “You Really Got Me”, “Runnin’ With the Devil” and “Jamie’s Cryin’” set the bar VERY high.
*1978. *Opens strong with Running with the Devil. *Jamie’s Crying is the only other song I know off this album, other than a cover of the Kink’s You Really Got Me. *Only 35 mins. Looooove that. RATING - 7/10
- Some wicked riffs off the bat, immediately Eddie Van Halen shows why he’s one of the greats. Middle of the album is kind of a miss for me but it picks back up in the back third. Ice Cream Man is such an interesting mix of styles and dare I say genres(?)/ eras, somewhat blending the rock styles from the earlier decades with the styles of the late 70s/ early 80s. Feel Your Love Tonight almost felt like if the Beach Boys made a harder song. Solid album but I don’t know how much I’ll be coming back to it. A 3.5 for me that I’m gonna round down.
Enjoyable rock album
Came up for our gym session and the first song is runnin' with the devil which felt appropriate as we struggled through a return to running.
Dont mind a bit of van halen
Well, that was the first Van Halen album.
3.5/5
A sound that seems really unique and different at the time, more modern and energized. The timbre of Eddie is something, clean and dirt at the same time, i like it. The composition for me don´t seems so great as i wished, despite Atomic Punk and Runnin with the devil. The dirtness is catchy btw.
Not a genre I generally listen to or an album I have heard before. This was surprisingly enjoyable, mainly because of the incredible guitar playing. The song I knew was "Ain't Talking Bout Love" which is so ahead of its time and still sounds incredible, and the instrumental showpiece of Eruption is jaw dropping. I could do without Lee Roth but in general his vocals serve a purpose and its Eddie Van Halen who is very much centre stage.
- van halen ei oo jumpia lukuunottomatta etukäteen hirveen tuttu - levyn alku on aivan dymanttia - pikkasen ehkä tippuu iskevyys loppua kohden mutta hyvä meno jatkuu kyllä, esim jamies cryin toimii - solid rock levy, kuuntelisin uudestaankin
Three absolute classics, and the rest are just fine.
I liked listening to this the whole way through instead of individual songs. The album starred really strong, but I don't feel like it finished that way.
It’s impossible to deny the influence of this record, but hearing it now, it feels more like a historical document than something I’d actually want to revisit often. Eddie Van Halen’s guitar work is undeniably impressive, and “Eruption” still sounds like someone discovering a new language, but the rest of the album leans a bit too heavy on macho swagger and glam-rock posturing for my taste. There’s energy in spades, sure, but it often feels more showy than soulful. Tracks like “Runnin’ with the Devil” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love” have their moments, and the production gives everything a raw, bar-room immediacy that works in small doses. But David Lee Roth’s vocals, all grins and wails, tip the whole thing into cartoon territory after a while. It’s fun in bursts, but it doesn’t hold up as a full album listen unless you’re really in the mood for that over-the-top 70s rock bravado. You can see why it blew people away at the time: the technical brilliance, the attitude, the sheer confidence. But it just doesn’t land the same way now. Van Halen is loud, flashy, and full of riffs, but it’s also a bit one-note. It’s the kind of album you respect more than you love.
I knew Runnin’ With the Devil and You Really Got Me, but I obviously like The Kinks better. I also felt like I had heard a couple of the other songs before. I liked it.
Generic Dad Rock
cock rock without toxic masculinity. cocaine fueled meedly meedly guitar shredding solos. satisfying. would listen again
No one ever expected great art from Van Halen, and nor should they. This is utterly brainless cock rock, led by goofball clown of a frontman and the wankiest guitar player in rock history. But David Lee Roth is a charming himbo, and Eddie Van Halen was undeniably talented. It all works when put together, and even if it gets tiresome, it's all over in 35 minutes.
Some very good songs and guitar work though some filler tracks
6/10
JUMP! c
Almost comic rock but the inventors of this type of 🔥 guitar
Priem
Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The more rock n roll leaning songs were actually quite alright. Generally enjoyable, very much of its time, although the long solos and over the top musical aesthetic are hardly my thing.
It was okay.
Exhibit A why this subgenre of music has faded. Does not hold up today against other classic rock songs and albums from the 70’s despite the guitar exploits and occasional vocal highlights.
Pretty good
Virtuoso, yes. Tight, yes. But it is telling that 'songwise' the best track by a lot is a cover (not talking about this ice cream song)
I really like VH…straddled the pop heavy metal line better than anyone. Roth is is a great front man and Eddie is a true virtuoso. Some great songs on this album.
As high as I’m gonna rank hair metal. A little annoying and want to punch David Lee Roth every time I hear him but Eddie’s guitar is so good and it is a good amount of fun..
cabilla
Nice
David Lee Roth brings plenty of swagger and charisma, but his performance feels a bit generic for such a landmark debut. The real magic comes from Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, whose dazzling work on 𝘌𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 and the sharp solos scattered across the record completely reshaped rock guitar playing. Yet beyond those moments of brilliance, the album sometimes relies more on attitude than depth.
Dad rock. Great cover of You Really Got me. Some crazy guitars. A powerful debut. But a mid listening experience for me.
Veey cool. Enjoyed this a lot 4/5
Best VH front to back. (3.5)
Obviously the standout here is EVH. Eruption alone makes it worth the price of entry. Inconsistent album in terms of quality but the energy is, and when it's good it's great. Fav track: Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love
Not my style of heavy metal but some classics on this album
Album 27/1001 Eddie's insane guitar skills add depth and artistry to what could otherwise be considered just a collection of fun but superficial hard rock songs. Also, these guys were clearly ahead of their time, as the fact that this album was NOT produced in the 80s is genuinely shocking. Favourite song: Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 🗣💖🚫 Honourable mention: Eruption🌋 Runnin' with the Devil 🏃♂️😈
Im not a Van Halen fan but theres some good rock songs here. Will never like Eurption tbh.
Another that's not for me, but I can appreciate what the artist is doing. Sorry, mom!
Fun as hell hard rock with the best guitarist ever despited some dated stylistic choices.
I really don't like David Lee Roth's vocals, it's like I can smell him through my headphones. Sometimes I feel like I can tell what kind of person someone is by just hearing them talk, this is one of those times. I don't know anything about him and I feel like he's a sexpest already after 1 song. Eruption is like that scene in Back to the Future where marty hooks up his guitar to speakers in Doc's lab. I know BTTF came a 7 years afterwards but it's the same kind of energy. Did the cover of You Really Got Me really need the moaning?? and did I'm the One need the 'shoobie-doo-wah'?? I don't understand how anyone can rate this album 4.5, let alone 5, with songs like Ice Cream Man on the release either.
i can acknowledge that this is doing what it's setting out to do pretty well. it's just not really my kind of music! at least it's high-energy and short.
Fun
An okay album, I liked Eruption and You Really Gote the most.
Sounds kinda like you’d expect, classic rock with amazing solos
Fun, but it's dumb fun. Album never really relinquishes it's pace and is over before you know it. Lacking some substance, but it is still pretty good. 3/5 Might listen again
Lame
Didn’t like it as much as I thought I would
It's fine. One of the most generic albums I've listened to. All the songs are the same. But given the time it was released I guess it sounded more novel then.
Meh. Om one hand, there are a few great riffs, especially Aint Talking bout Love. You can't deny the influence EVH had on modern guitar, and you can see why Roth was so popular. On the other hand, most of the tracks just don't do anything for me. Do we really need another cover of the Kinks? Barely. BARELY scrapes a 3
Ihan kivaa rokkia, mutta ei kyllä resonoinut sen enempää. Kepittelystä tulee kyllä lisäpisteet, hulvatonta meininkia kitaroinnissa.
Kovaa kepitystä ja ylipäänsä rokkenroullia. Näytti suuntaa julkaisunsa jälkeen alkaneen vuosikymmenen rokeille. Levyltä nousee muutama biisi ylitse muiden ja osa jää vähän täytebiisitasolle. Tätä orkesteria ei ole tullut herkässä iässä kuunneltua enempää, joten ei tästä yllätysbonusfiiliksiä saa. Ansaitsee paikkansa ja statuksensa, joten posipetterin puolelle jää.
Siis onhan tämä nyt mukiin menevää rokkia, ei siinä. Mutta ei mun mieleni kyllä räjähtänyt, on jotenki vähän turta ku moni bändi tuolta ajalta kuulostaa aika samalta xD Solid kolmonen
Van Halen kind of reminds me of Red Hot Chili Peppers in that VH was a successful rock act with an amazingly talented guitarist and a bad vocalist. Without some context, this album doesn’t hit as hard. Eddie, as far as I know, revolutionized the electric guitar. He reengineered his instrument and opened an entirely new world of possibilities for generations to come. There’s a good reason that replicas of EVH’s “frankenstrat” are still widely available today. Eddie’s lead lines are iconic, electrifying, timeless. But I find myself cringing at the vocals and the chord progressions, in general. But I will always, always crank up ‘Eruption’ til the day I die.
Cool, influential, and simply a classic. I'm glad I heard it once, but I won't put it on again.
I love EVH as a guitarist but somehow don’t really love Van Halen as a band. Still a good listen though.
I feel like I should enjoy this one more than I do, and I'm not sure what it is that's turning me off it. I think it might be the overall sound of it, like the production or the guitar tone or something. Because the riffs and solos are good, and his vocals are fine. Maybe I'll grow into it, I don't know.
Kinda goofy in places but some great guitar pieces in it
Générique mais j'imagine que ca a eu beaucoup d'influence. La guitare est pas pire aussi.
Some nice tracks, would be a great soundtrack to an action movie. Can be a bit much at times.
Damn that's actually some classic af rock.
Each song has short bits that I like and could see myself enjoying but then everything else happens and I'm disappointed all over again. HOWEVER this album somehow infected my brain and I returned to it all day. 3.5
I was expecting exactly this. A cool fun metal/hard rock album with amazing guitar riffs and talented vocals. I’ve never really have ever been into this sort of music but it isn’t bad but just not my type of stuff. I don’t think I’ll ever return to this album let alone this genre after this challenge but I’m glad to hear it. Favourite songs were eruption and ice cream man both bringing insane guitar performances. Overall I enjoyed this short fun metal album so I’m feeling a 7.6/10 3.8/5
Till skillnad från Metallica har de lärt sig att man kan kombinera gitarrippande med faktiskt vibe musik i övrigt (sjukt)
Weirdly I'd never heard this album before, only heard about it. Whilst it wouldn't be an album I'd normally put on, I can see why it's considered a banger.
Really fun high energy album of solid and dependable rock with some unexpected musical surprises. Some serious guitar shredding that reminds me I need to practice. Great for kitchen dancing and a brilliant cooking album. Super enjoyed my first full Van Halen album experience.
Not bad. Better than the other Van Halen album on the list simply because it isn't so childish.
Ван Хален. Лучшая песня - You Really Got Me.
A solid hard rock album propped by the one two combo of Eruption and Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love and Eddie Van Halen's incredible guitar playing. 3 Stars.
Probably closer to 3.5
Sounds very formulaic but worth remembering Van Helen were one of the bands that created the formula. Enjoyable enough bit of Heavy Metal fluff
I liked how there was genre diversity in the latter half of the record. Overall, it's a good hard rock record with some hits, but nothing that stuck for me. Favourite Track(s): You Really Got Me, Little Dreamer Least Favourite Track(s): Atomic Punk, Feel Your Love Tonight
too old for that
I love the guitar and the instruments overall, but I don’t really like the songs themselves, mainly due to the lyrics. They just seem to simple and a little hokey at times. Without the great instrument performance, this would probably be a 2 star for me. Solo in Eruption is insane.
Not my style
Not My pice of cacke
Oh god thank you there is no "Jump" on this album.
"Running With the Devil" is worth the price of admission, and there are several other iconic standouts here. The volcanic combination of EVH and Diamond Dave is nothing to be scoffed at, and this album undeniably left a big, greasy mark on rock history. Do I like all of it? Or even most of it? Can't say that I really do, anymore. It's a good object lesson in the difference between cheese and corn: this thing is deeply cheesy, but too genuinely sexy to be corny, even if the sexiness reads a little bit nastier with each passing year.
For an album so influential that pretty much changed the way people approach guitar playing, it's very light a fun. The guitar is obviously the standout here, but the song stay consistently good, in their silly ultra-macho way. Key tracks: Runnin' With the Devil Eruption Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
3.5 I like this one a lot more than their other one. More kind of guitar energy. I like Atomic Punk. Still don't love the voice, but it was an interesting time period of really promoting straight men's sexuality and desirability.
Another "pretty much what I expected and I enjoyed it"
It's just so silly
There’s a reason why these guys hit it big - These are real songs, not just bravado and raw energy for its own sake. And oh my God can Eddie wield that axe.
I don't trust anyone who prefers this version of "You Really Got Me" over the original by the Kinks.. Favorite track: Runnin' with the Devil
The second half of this album isn't anywhere near as good as the first half. And the first half, while being good, isn't as consistent as I'd like it to be. "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" is a stand out track to me, and while the others are food, they aren't excellent. I also really enjoyed "Little Dreamer." I could probably make this a 2 star review, but for now it sits at 3. Not bad by any means, but it has enough to be unhappy about that as a complete project, it cant compete with others. But at no point is it outright bad, despite a few unfortunate moments.
Partial listen only. Songs were familiar.
My brother got me into this guys !
i guess i just can't believe i didn't know that this is what Van Halen sounded like. And that I'd like it.
Morsomt rockealbum skapt for fest.
A classic for anyone interested in 80s rock or guitar riffs that make you want to move
Loud
nice guitar solos, but the singing is not my kind of tea
I've always enjoyed Van Halen's wankering, but I've also always hated David Lee Roth's endless whining. It's still quite the album nonetheless.
again, this isn't exactly new to me
6/10 - approachable rock, not too hard but some good riffs, didnt realise "you really got me" is from Van Halen
скока можно мне подсовывать этих мужиков.... плиз стоп. это вроде не ужасно плохо, но мне как-то не очень.
It’s ok
5/10
I have no clue why I always mix up Van Halen with Led Zeppelin, but this was a fun album anyway. There are a lot of songs I knew that I didn’t realize were Van Halen. The electric guitar on this album felt so crispy and pure rock n’ roll. Favorite tracks: - Runnin’ with the Devil - You Really Got Me - Jamie’s Cryin’
01) Runnin' with the Devil - 7,0 02) Eruption - 6,0 03) You Really Got Me - 7,0 04) Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love - 7,5 05) I'm the One - 6,0 06) Jamie's Cryin' - 7,0 07) Atomic Punk - 6,0 08) Feel Your Love Tonight - 6,5 09) Little Dreamer - 7,0 10) Ice Cream Man - 6,0 11) On Fire - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,55 (66/100) Current ranking: 439/628 Meh... Dad rock. And I mean oooold dad, because I'm as old as this album and this is really not my cup of tea...
no
Van Halen's debut album gets straight to the point. Eddie's guitar work is sublime, and David Lee Roth's energetic vocals compliment it well. The first four tracks are all very strong, although one is a Kinks cover. The album shreds, and on the right day, I could give it 4 stars. But in my opinion, the majority of the songs don't hold up to the first few. Fun album though. Fav Track: "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love"
Hørte den her virkelig meget som teenager, og har et nostalgisk forhold til den selvom den bliver dummere og dummere for hver gang jeg hører den. Hørte ret meget musik af folk med åndssvage stemmer da jeg var teenager.
Really great guitar and the singer is good. But this band will never escape the adolescent aroma of "Hot for Teacher."
I’d give it three stars. Nothing special to say about this one. It was a solid album. My favourites were You Really Got Me, Jamie’s Cryin’ and Little Dreamer
Sure, this inclusion makes sense. I had exactly 0 Van Halen thoughts and feelings going in, and I have exactly 0 going out. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Highlight: 'You Really Got Me' (probably just because I know it)
Good, but too repetitive for me
Pop metal, great A-side.
3.5.
It was good, but not great. I dislike David lee Roth's voice and EVH is a wicked overplayer
Well, not bad
7/10