Van Halen

This debut is blistering. Every single track is jammin. Classic 1001 album worthy: Yes - 44/78

Excellent!

Unstoppable seamless flow of pure hard rock

Classic, no filler. What a debut!

This is define a “moved the needle” record (literally/ figuratively). Eddie and Roth get most of the attention (deservedly) but Alex and Michael are crushing the drums and bass, and the harmonies fill the whole sound out. This record changed rock and roll forever.

Did Van Halen perfect guitar rock started in the 60s and 70s, and infuse it with amazing pop hooks and catchy song structures? Perhaps that's a bit too over the top, but it could be a fun discussion. What a fun album.

Een soort vroege tech demo van wat je allemaal kunt met een gitaar. En dan wel op zo'n manier waarbij het nog wél leuk is om naar te luisteren. De hele esthetiek met leren broeken en blote harige mannenborsten is aan mij niet helemaal besteed en ook in de muziek schemert af en toe wel een klein stukje glam-kitch door (die typische glam-schreeuw waar ik wel eens een klein werkstuk over heb geschreven), maar dit is toch wel enorm lekker. Heel dik gitaarwerk, maar ook de basgitaar en drummer leggen een goeie wedstrijd op de mat en de zang is prima. Slechts 35 minuten en de eerste vier tracks zijn stuk voor stuk Top 2000 waardig, dus dan ga je al gauw richting de vijf sterren. En het is een debuutalbum hè. Bizar. Dus ik heb ergens wel wat kleine kanttekeningen, maar die staan de perfecte score niet in de weg. Ik ben hier niet eens mee opgegroeid, maar toch is dit ook voor mij automatisch een soort van klassieker. Dijk van een plaat. Makkelijke 5. Ik ga de eerste vier tracks meteen nog een keer aanzetten.

A timeless document of what happens when Jewish-American showmanship meets Dutch-American guitar wizardry. There is nothing like this debut. The Sunset Strip, baby!

Turns out Van Halen and Motley Crue are not interchangeable

Day336 - van halen had some all time great albums maybe none better than this one

The absolute best parts of rock and roll excess bottled up into one killer debut record. You know every song on the album, and every song is worth knowing.

Bang, out of the gate comes Van Halen with this cocksure and confident album that changed the sound of hard rock/heavy metal forever. Pyrotechnic, rockin', and above all fun, this album does not take itself too seriously, which is a major blessing compared to most heavy rock bands, who are generally po-faced in the extreme. Eddie's guitar style completely rewrote the book of heavy guitar playing, using the technological innovations of guitar and amplification to reinvent what technique could be. When I was teenager in the 80s, I was heavily into Jimi Hendrix, but a friend made the case that Eddie Van Halen's playing was more influential. And I reluctantly have to agree. When this album came out, it seems like every guitar player had to decide whether to adapt to the new techniques or sound old fashioned. Often imitated but rarely equaled, the Van Halen guitar sound really dominated hard rock/heavy metal for over a decade until grunge started knocking the edges off mainstream playing over a decade later. Some of the songs are relatively weak, especially in the back half of the album, but a record with Runnin' with the Devil, Eruption, and Ain't Talking About Love and their cover of You Really Got Me as the first four tracks is always going to seem weaker in the home straight. David Lee Roth is not the world's best singer, but his confidence, chutzpah and sense of fun leads the band in its party-hard strut. It was such a breath of fresh air for a heavy band to not take themselves too seriously. You just know you're going to have a great time with this album. A dead-set classic.

A nice treat--this is one of my favorite Van Halen albums, and even though I know they're not to everyone's taste I always feel like this album is worth a listen (and not just for the greatest solo track of all time, although "Eruption" *is* a masterpiece). It's tough to pick out favorites from this mighty album, so I'll just note that my least favorite tracks are probably "Atomic punk" (it always makes me think of a couple of Police tracks on their earlier albums where they try to show their punk-like roots, and fail) and "Little dreamer", although "Ice cream man" probably should be there, but it seems like such a quintessential David Lee Roth (cover) song it's hard not to smile (and think of brown M&Ms). And I have to say their cover of the Kinks' "You really got me" is inspired genius. I think what I love about this album, and the band, at least in the David Lee Roth era, is that they did one thing, they didn't pretend to be more complex than they were, and they did it with style and confidence, and they were entertainers par excellence.

Ice Cream Man is one of the best songs ever.

Había escuchado todas las canciones del álbum, pero no sabía que todas esas buenísima canciones eran del mismo álbum. El que más me a gustado hasta ahora.

A capital work in the evolution of rock. A milestone in hard rock history. A pleasure to listen every fkn time

AMAZING ALBUM. ALREADY LOVE IT

J'adore cette album de Van Halen, vraiment un classique. C'est l'album que j'ai le plus écouté d'eux a part 1984, plus pop. Mérite quand même pas plus bas qu'un 4.9, donc 5 ;)

Probably one of the best rock albums ever created, I don't think i need to say much else.

For whatever specific genre of hard rock or metal this is, it’s a 5

Classic 80s glam rock. Still awesome

Just legendary. This album will make me go back and adjust other albums downward as they do not rise to the same level as this 5-star record.

Great classic rock!

Classic record

Stunning. Brilliant. Obviously.

Come on.

Let’s dispense with the guilty pleasure framing immediately. There’s nothing guilty about loving this record — the musicianship is extraordinary, the energy is real, and the songs deliver. My wife’s fanatical abhorrence and the accumulated middle school PTSD are noted and set aside. This is a four-star album and it earns it honestly. The opening run is the story. “Runnin’ with the Devil” into “Eruption” into “You Really Got Me” is one of the great three-track openings in rock history, and the first six tracks sustain that energy with a hit rate that most bands never achieve across an entire career. Five out of six bangers on a debut is almost unreasonable. “Eruption” deserves its own sentence. One hundred and two seconds of two-handed tapping that landed in 1978 like a bomb going off in the guitar world. Players have described hearing it for the first time as a before-and-after moment. Dropped between two actual songs rather than saved for the end, it’s a genuinely bold sequencing choice that pays off completely. The back half falls off enough to cost the record a five — the front-loading that makes the opening so explosive also leaves the second half without the same ammunition. It’s the same honest limitation that kept 1984 at four, just arriving from a different direction. A band playing like they have everything to prove, because they did. No apology required.

The A side of Van Halen's first self-titled record is some of the best, most bombastic power-poprock around. "Runnin' With the Devil" "Eruption" "You Really Got Me" "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" This is all fantastic and the direct reasons Van Halen were as highly regarded from the jump (no pun intended) as they were. There are cases to be made for the rest of the album, but the songwriting quality definitely sulks from "Jamie's Cryin'" onward. David Lee Roth is a firebrand, and Eddie Van Halen's guitar mastery is evident. The band is tight and full of energy. Good time jams for real. The strength of the first half makes the second half more listenable.

Van Halen being my dad's favorite band, I naturally grew up listening to 1984 a lot. In the present day, I'm really not a huge Hard Rock enjoyer, though I dabble from time to time. Van Halen is one of the biggest exceptions and probably my favorite strictly Hard Rock band, and this album is their best by far. I'm sure many people are already aware of how ahead of his time EVH was, with Eruption being a massively influential solo that would inspire countless guitarists. The guitar-work on this album is so technical but without sacrificing fun or enjoyability. Pretty much the whole album is just so much fun, they never take themselves too seriously, but just seriously enough to put out a bunch of really solid tracks. The A-side is hit after hit, with the B-side slowing down a little bit but being a great time. Not only is this album incredibly nostalgic for me, I think it holds up almost 50 years later. It's not some super poetic story or a "punch you in the face" hardcore grindfest, it's just good, classic, catchy Hard Rock that inspired many artists going into the 80s.

Fantastic rock album with a lot of “personality” as another reviewer said. Will be bumping this in my 98 Wrangler with the top down this summer.

Truly innovative. Imagine being a rock guitarist in 1978 and hearing this album for the first time. I imagine it was a bit confusing how he made the guitar sound the way he did. EVH is a top 5 all time guitarist in my opinion, primarily because he did things with the instrument no one had ever recorded before and influenced the next 15 years of rock guitarists. Outside of Hendrix, very few have been so influential. While I’m not the biggest fan of the band overall, this debut is their best in my opinion. I’m The One, Atomic Punk and On Fire are the deep track standouts. For me, a solid 4 ⭐️ as an album

When this album was released in 1978, I was a teenager growing up in a country music scene. We didn’t have access to rock radio. What we knew, we learned from someone else’s discovery. It was not cutting edge stuff. Bee Gees were dominating with Saturday Night Fever. Disco was getting started and my most influential music partner, my older sister, was fully enthrall with disco. That meant I was listening to it too. Out of nowhere (to me), my sister purchases this disc. She had heard it from some teens she and her girlfriends were hanging out with in a nearby town. My first reaction was shock. I couldn’t believe she liked it. But as we kept playing it, I couldn’t help but fall in love with its raw sound. Eddie, of course, is the guitar god, but that wasn’t the only thing that made the band. Michael Anthony’s high pitched backing vocals, David’s swagger and the snare sound coming from Alex’s drum kit was unlike anything I had heard to this point. Today, I still appreciate what Eddie brought to the table, but David’s shtick grew old over time. Not in a way that I don’t want to listen to the band, but certainly in a way that I want grab this album and play it. My rating is a nostalgic one. This album was very impactful to me when it was released. It also inspired the rock bands that comprised the later 80s hair band movement. Which is interesting because I never considered VH to be as glam as what followed.

Great glam metal with a strong current of blues running through the music. The album is stacked with hits, particularly the first half. Fantastic shredding on the guitar solos too.

I enjoyed it way more than expected. My only reference to Van Halen was the jumping frogs from Sing but other than that, it had a couple of very enjoyable songs. Though it had a few songs that sounded very similar, they are pretty good. My favorite song is Little Dreamer

Now that's more like my kind of record. Powerful music, catchy songs, a unique, instantly recognizable sound, amazing talent on guitar (Eddie) and drums (Alex van Halen) make for a great record. Van Halen's debut has been with me since its release, and while the songs are a bit uneven, I like to return to it to this day.

Must admit, this got an eye-roll when it showed up yesterday. Silly me - it's really good, fresh, sharp and accomplished. Van Halen's quite the guitarist, eh? On the 3/4 edge - tipped over by reports from various people who saw them when a high school band in Pasadena, apparently they were fantastic.

Some great stuff on here even it's showing its age. The B side doesn't quite have the energy of the first 5 or 6 songs but it's easy to see how it could be so big at the time.

I appreciate how much this album rips, despite the fact that I think the song writing is mid.

Definitely Rock. Some hits I hadn’t heard in a while. The album deserves recognition but it doesn’t really do anything groundbreaking in my mind.

Listenable, despite including an absolute murder of The Kinks on the album.

6/10

Meh. I mean technically proficient. And I actually used to really like Van Halen, at least passively. But now I just find it's a step above def Leppard. Just basic rock music.

I haven't had listened to this VH's side of music. Interesting. Sounds less mainstream and I liked for that reason. Added to my library

Somewhere between love / hate with this one. There are super annoying elements like endless guitar solos, lots of heavy metal and hard rock tropes. But few of the bangers are still enjoyable.

As 80s rock albums go, this one is pretty damn good

This album is just kinda dumb. The over-the-top singing is kinda dumb, the unnecessarily show-offy guitar playing is kinda dumb, the lyrics are kinda dumb and most of all the Kinks cover is kinda dumb. But oh boy if this isn't some fun dumb music.

A noun that Todd Trainer attached to Melt-Banana works for Van Halen: fireworks. With little exception (maybe just Ain’t Talkin’ About Love), songs are an afterthought, mostly stitched-together prêt-à-porter hard rock riffs overlaid with multi-tracked “wheeeee-I’m-on-a-rollercoaster” vocals. It’s all about guitar spectacle, and that’s fun. I’m glad it exists, I like Bill and Ted and, unlike Melt-Banana, I probably won’t listen to this again.

Nr. 149/1001 Runnin' with the Devil 4/5 Eruption 2/5 You Really Got Me 4/5 Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 4/5 I'm the One 3/5 Jamie's Cryin' 4/5 Atomic Punk 2/5 Feel Your Love Tonight 4/5 Little Dreamer 4/5 Ice Cream Man 4/5 On Fire 3/5 Average: 3,45 Hard hitting no punches held debut album.

Lacks character, but the tunes are strong and never feel too caught in the late 70 hair metal image which I despise.

Notable tracks Ain’t Talkin’ About Love, You Really Got Me, Runnin’ With The Devil

i mean its alright i guess not driving me crazy or anything 3.2/5

2/14/24. Happy Van Halen Valentine's Day! You can't deny Eddie's talent and insane guitar playing, but this style of music doesn't do it for me. There's always 2 or 3 tracks I can keep coming back to however. Maybe it's because this is an album that seemed to kick off the 80s hair metal blitz.

This album perfectly shows that technical abilities for itself do nothing for me.

Virtuoso, fast, heavy, but lacking depth. This is great when you are a teen and want to take the world by storm. Now near my 50th this sounds boring as sh*t

It’s massively self indulgent hair metal. The type that birthed a million shitty spandex clad 80s American rockers. It’s probably quite impressive guitar playing but they’re like an author who needs a good editor. It’s telling that the best song on there is a kinks cover.

Never really liked van halen, he's great at playing guitar but his songs don't really do much for me

Van Halen is just a really cool band. Hard rock sound, killer vocalist that often steals the show and some guy just absolutely tearing up his fret board for like 2 solos on every song. It’s real rock and roll that gets you pumped up and max out your bench press to. Hell yeah! Rock on man! It’s peak hair metal. THIS is the type of stuff that should be played at halftime of the Super Bowl. Bump being rational, give ‘em what they ask for!

Technical flourishes aside, this is not what I expected. A boring rock album.

Not terrible for a debut honestly. I’m just not really a fan of the singer’s voice. Some of the songs also have a gross vibe to them idk. Excellent guitar playing though, I know this popularized the tapping style we hear a lot today.

boring and repetitive

Dreadful

I really really don't care for Van Halen. From the very first "yeah yeah, Ahh Wha" I am annoyed and slightly angry. Yes, they are talented at their instruments, but what are these garbage songs. No amount of guitar noodling can save this for me. Impressive does not equal pleasant or musically interesting. I don't hear or feel emotion. I paused and listened to the Kinks "You Really Got Me" for comparison, and I prefer the Kinks to a really surprising degree. I think the difference is that I believe the Kinks. There are smatterings of cool sounds here and there, but I can't get away from a 1 star rating, some of my least favorite music.

Can only listen to 1 or 2 Van Halen songs and then I’m done.

This and ACDC are the kinds of bands that give rock and roll a bad name. Absolutely pointless juvenile crap. Took a great Kinks song and maimed it.

iha ok ei mun juttu

10/10

i came like four times while listening to this

So many classics, and the B-sides hold up well, too.

It was only last week I got VHII where I said VHI is my fav in the review, and it is, but it's not my only fav. Anyway, this a great one, well deserved place in the list.

Really fun! Great hits and the deep cuts were bangers too!

The songs were good and If you like rock then I reccomend

I like it so much! Ahhh I like him yayayayayayay!

I really liked this album, I pretty much grew up with this type of music and I really recommend, GUITAR WAS AMAZING

One of the best albums I've heard so far this experience. Loved the high voltage rock and roll.

Best Album ever.

Love it. Inwas surprised this album is from 1978, this was a familiar record in many ways (Eruption, Running with the devil, Ain’t talking bout love), but listening to the full album really put it in more context and I kind of get why it was a forerunner of what 80s hard rock and glam, metal, heavy sound would be like.

🔥🎸🇩🇪

A simply sensational debut. This is fun, fast, rock. (I thought for a bit that I liked Van Hagar over Van Halen--I was wrong). Top tracks: "Jamie's Cryin'," "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love," "Runnin' with the Devil,""Eruption," "You Really Got Me"

This album is great. Consider that this is their debut and they have already formed this excellent a sound. Dave as the charismatic front man, Eddie shredding, Michael banging away on the base, the two of them together providing quality background vocals, and Alex driving songs from the back on the drums. Selling 10m+ records from your debut speaks for itself. Personally, my favorite on this record is Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love, which is just an awesome track. Might be my favorite Van Halen track ever, certainly my favorite with DLR at the front. The opening riff on this is amazing, one of the best lead ins of all time. But there is plenty more to love on this record. Their version of You Really Got Me is excellent, potentially even better than the original. Janie’s Crying, Ice Cream Man, Running With The Devil, Dance The Night Away, Fell Your Love Tonight, and Little Dreamer are all great tracks. Even the few others I haven’t listed are all quality songs. Oh, and Eruption? 1:30 of Eddie popularizing two hand tapping? Incredible. Just amazing what they did with this debut record. 5 stars.

An album that defined the development of rock music for a decade to come

One of the all time greats!

One of the goats

Love it

I really like this album i will listen to it more classic rock love it 8.8/10

Holy shit, what an album.

Read the allmusic review…”it has no fathers”. Mind blowing guitar sound

Damn near perfect rock album

Groovy hard rock with insane guitar playing. Absolute classic album which cannot be recommended enough. Revolutionary guitar solos and powerful vocals. From barbershop quartet harmonies to tapping guitar solos, Van Halen’s debut is one of the best hard rock albums of all time. 5/5 easily and if you don’t like the album listen to it again cause you are delusional!!!!

Killer. Great songs.

A classic for rock fans

1984 or Self Titled?? That is the question. The answer depends largely on the person, and may even change depending on the day. Both are great, I personally gave 1984 a 4 earlier on in this project, and now I get to review Self Titled. This is the second, and final Van Halen album I'll get to listen to for this project, and while I disagree with the author's inclusions to the book fairly consistently (literally yesterday), they did right by including both Self Titled and 1984, no doubt. While this album art may not be as iconic as the smoking cherub, it’s still a killer debut cover, prominently featuring the band members in an interesting and cool way. Opening with the 4 best songs on the album is pretty funny though, and it seems like a fairly deliberate decision, as all 4 of them are EASILY the best on the album, besides song 6, "Jamie's Cryin'", which is also a classic. I think the main difference between Self Titled and 1984 is that this is more purely Metal focused, while 1984 is more Pop Rocky. While I still absolutely love 1984, I mentioned in my review that none of the songs really blew me away. They all really make you want to dance for sure, and they're all great, but more in the way that you expect to hear them at like a sports game or something. I wouldn't always seek out something like "Jump" or "Panama" unless I was watching the NFL on Fox or something like that. You know what I'm saying?? I think that makes sense. Meanwhile, playing something like "Eruption" and just rocking the hell out is something I could do all the time, and always enjoy it. Each and every one of the first 4 songs on the album do actually blow me away for different, but similar ways. They feature an amazing singer, who consistently makes me laugh with the constant "OOOHHH YEEEAAAHHHH's", and an unbelievably heavy guitar/bass/drum combo that still hold up today. They're all going into the frequent rotation, but my favorite of the bunch ultimately came down to "You Really Got Me" vs "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love". The former, I would argue, is even better than the original version of the song, and the riff is so meaty that it was hard not picking it as my number one. Ultimately, I went with "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love". Reason being is that it too has a meaty riff, but I also consistently found myself singing it today, even when it wasn't currently playing. That sold it for me. I love mostly every song on this album, but after the first 4 and 6, it's very VERY fillery. I don't know if that should make me rate it as a 4 or not, but I can definitively tell you that personally, yeah, I like it more than 1984, which I rated as a 4, so I do believe a 5 may be warranted here. I'm always sad when I get done with all the albums by artists I like. With almost 800 days left to go, that's another Heavy Metal all-star done and dusted. Don't know how many albums I'll enjoy as much as this one, but I'm very glad it was included. Today was a good day, and this was a fantastic album. Even with the filler, the guitar riffs are worth listening to, as well as Eddie just wailing on every song.

Van Halen debuts with an album that's basically the musical equivalent of running into your ex at a party.. you know it's gonna be awkward, but dammit if you're not gonna enjoy every second of it. This shit slaps. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions - Runnin' with the Devil - Eruption - You Really Got Me - Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love - Jamie's Cryin' - Feel Your Love Tonight - Ice Cream Man

oh man party, party. Running with the devil, yeah let me get my Puma's on and let's fucking go. Eruption is male ejaculation in music form. You Really Got Me, yeah yeah no you got me. Enough of that but seriously man they were so fucking good and this is 11 tracks of pure fucking energy 35 tight minutes. If you're down on this album then I don't know if we can be friends. We should also be honest that we were not really going to be friends anyway.

I'm not a huge Van Halen fan, but this is a great fucking album.

One of the best rock albums of all time, it's unique and all the more powerful in that it didn't lead to any seismic shifts in music (maybe because no one can do what Eddie can, the man is on Mt. Rushmore of guitarists).

This was fantastic. Eddie Van Halen truly is a fucking incredible guitarist!

good asl

A debut album that sounds like: a garage on fire, a party at midnight, and a band that knows they’re about to take over the world. My favorite VH album!

Shit hot cock rock with enough metallic licks to build an aircraft carrier. Surprised me, but I love it.

Hell yeah I just love this Album!

This came out the year I was born. About 10 years after that, I started taking an interest in music, and I’m not ashamed to say that it was not great music that I was interested in at the time; we all have to start some where. But because this was such a mainstay on rock radio, I heard most of it at a pretty young age. This was one of the records that wrenched my attention away from the Paula Abdul’s and Bobby Brown’s of the day. Something about Eddie’s talent—which I didn’t totally understand or appreciate at the time—and David’s charisma, as well as Michael Anthony’s rock solid bass lines and Alex’s legitimately underappreciated drumming made me feel real things about music (I also owe a debt to Poison and Guns N Roses on that front). This record is a little nostalgic and special for me. Not every Van Halen record has affected me like this one, but this one is a little special for me. I don’t know how I could give this record less than a 5-star just based on the gratitude that I have for Van Halen helping introduce me to music that didn’t suck. I’ll never get there, but I still wish I could play like Eddie Van Halen. 9.2/10

Total classic. Incontrounable!

I typically hate Van Halen. But its hard to deny all the rock classics packed into one album.

After listening to the album twice it certainly woke me up this Friday morning! ‘Running with the devil’ setting the scene for a frantic opening followed by an ‘eruption’ of a solo which any rock star past or present would be proud of. Following this ‘you really got me’ I’m not sure of this is a Van Halen original as I’ve heard other versions before but it packed a punch 🥊 The rest of the album then flicked through some great tracks mixed in with some good but when ‘ice cream man’ hit I knew I had my favourite track right there! So catchy! The second half of the album reminded me of the Iron Maiden sound but I really enjoyed it and might even now go and listen for a third time. Fave track- ice cream man. Worst track- a push picking one but ‘I’m the one’ takes the fall. 9/10

This album was seismic. Almost 50 years later it would be easy to underestimate just how much Van Halen’s debut changed rock music. Nobody played like this. Montrose’s first album had arguably paved the way but VH took the ball and didn’t just run with it - they strapped it to a rocket engine and blasted it into space. Eddie gets the attention, and his guitar is game changing, the tapping, the fast runs, yes, but listen to his rhythm work, it’s like an orchestra. Alex is an incredible drummer and DLR is a one off, a showman, with a limited but distinctive voice, he fits perfectly, a huge part of the initial impact. But the unsung hero is Michael Anthony, whose fat basslines round out the sound xxxx and whose melodic background singing fills any vocal deficiency from the front man. The production is excellent. The songs are uniformly good - "Runnin' With the Devil", "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love". "I'm the One", covers of John Brin's "Ice Cream Man" showing they could put a spin on the blues, and of course the stunning guitar barrage that is "Eruption" leading into a great version of the Kinks' "You Really got Me". Van Halen were cocksure and bombastic; it is unsurprising that, an admittedly shaky, Black Sabbath struggled to compete when they took them on tour. I love this album, and I think the following VHII is even better. Incredibly influential and still holds up. That VH inadvertently led to 1980s hair metal is not their fault.

Funny to think this came out in the middle of the disco fad! Great stuff!

An album that lives on the fine line between stupid and clever but manages to come out a winner. The bombast is sufficiently tempered by a tongue in cheek vibe and a pop sensibility to make the music fun. Jamie's Cryin' is a great song. Still working on my Weird Al version called Jamie Wyeth - lyrical submissions welcome.

The day Eddie died, we were driving around listening to the dinosaur station playing VH nonstop, and I was really struck by how idiotic the songs (especially the later ones) are. They even make the covers dumber. What would have happened if Eddie had been in an actually good band? Chuck Klosterman addressed this paradox in Fargo Rock City: "Mr. Van Halen really couldn't develop his classical virtuosity when his frontman was trying to hump the mic stand and scream like Tarzan. But in tangible terms, it made Eddie better. Instead of being an artist trying to make art, he became an artist trying to make noise--and the end result was stunning." Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love is the greatest, and clearly U2 thought so too.

The guitar is the Ariane thread of this album. The last songs don't give a proper end to the first one, but overall is still a Banger.

Arguably the most influential rock album of its time. This one inspired the next 2 decades of guitar-heavy rock, and catapulted the band to Rock Gods status.

This is one of the best albums of all time. For me, when there’s any attempt at ranking the greatest guitarists of all time, there’s no argument that Hendrix is number one and EVH is number two. Van Halen is the only player to ever be in the same discussion as Hendrix. What they both had in common is a very unique mix - crazy technical ability, innovation that pushes rock music and rock guitar forward, that expands the realm of possibilities with the instrument while deeply rooted in understanding the origins of rock music, and that’s tied with writing incredible kick ass music that people like. Nobody ever did it to the degrees that they did. This album is great and contains some of the band’s best music. The first side is played with insane over the top energy. The second side takes it down a notch with a beautiful proto hair metal style (also kinda reminds me of Iron Maiden though I couldn’t find a link there) of nice catchy songs. An incredible musical statement in about half an hour.

Needless to say, the guitar work is immediately striking, with every note feeling precise and intentional. Eruption feels almost Bach-like in its structure, while Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love carries a weight and texture reminiscent of classical string instruments. The use of harmonics is especially distinctive and addictive. Overall, the album is energetic, engaging, and driven by truly exceptional guitar playing.

Really fun album, had never listened to full van Halen before - overall between iconic songs and just fun riffs was great

Next level guitar, arrogant sleazy vocal delivery. David Lee Roth is on very good terms with himself throughout the album. Eddie Van Halen is incredible. Just a really good rock album

This album is really great. There are fantastic songs in here, so enjoyable. Some are a bit less, but surely there is so much quality in this record. Also, the guitar... well, it's Van Halen, but, it sounds magnificent. So, for sure, it's one amazing album.

An incredibly fun album that knows the limits of how long the fun can continue.

Better than it has a right to be - should sound same-y, but every moment is enjoyable. Fun.

what is it about this band? is it nostalgia? I love it so much.

"It’s 1978. The best guitar playing you’ve ever really heard is Jimmy Paige. You hear about this album and this awesome guitar playing. As you drop the needle (as was standard for the time), Eddie blasts off."

De esos que se ponen mejor con cada canción. La guitarra es impresionante en cada canción. De alta energía, es impresionante

Bien

07 April 2026. 11pm My mom like them 9,5/10

Legendaarista! Lapsuusvuosien sountrackia! 5/5

This album is like running with the devil. Four exceptional good musicians performing their debut album to the metal world.

Rock out

Killer rock and roll with a singer who only sorta kinda hides his love of show tunes.

A classic. One of the greatest debuts of all time.

EDDIE VAN FUCKING HALEN

Pretty sure I’ve listened to this full album once. I know I’m going to like it, I like Van Halen a a lot. Starting off right with runnin with the devil. Banger. What an introduction to this band if you were listening in 78. Guitars and vocals are both so good. Really cool guitar intro on eruption. What a guitar player. Wish it faded into the next song, that would’ve been really cool. You really got me is another classic. Not as good as devil but it’s still a classic. And then another banger with ain’t Talk in bout love. Guitar in this one is the best part, what a riff. Any lyrics over that and it’s a banger. And the solo rocks too. And again really good guitar riff on I’m the one. I like the lyrics on this one. Catchy. Jake’s cryin is more of the same, great song. Really catchy chorus. Really good bass line on atomic punk. Incredible guitar solo. Feel your love tonight is really good songwriting. I like the harmonies a lot. Cool guitar intro again on little dreamer. Good songwriting. I feel like this song should be more popular. Ice cream man is pretty goofy. It’s not a bad song but the lyrics are very 70s. Good guitar. On fire is a great closer. There’s not a ton of variety on the album but I don’t think that’s a bad thing because this band does rock better than just about every band in history. The fat that this was their first album too still is crazy to me considering all of the all time classics it had. With a little more song to song cohesion and maybe a fade or two this would’ve been a true 5/5. Truly think there was no skips with that being said. 4.8/5

pure rock and roll!!! Great album. I loved it.

Honestly, I started this thinking its a bit of a joke - but its actually a great rock album, I loved it.

It's 10/10 and every millennial's father played them this album at one point in their lives. The introduction into the album with "Runnin' With the Devil" is so iconic only to be followed up by one of the most deservedly over-rated songs in rock & roll history: "Eruption". Van Halen is legendary, and rightfully so. Their music is extremely simple, very palatable, and tastefully high quality despite the actual members of the band being the opposite. They are generally considered THE definition of 80s hair metal. What a hell of an album, I can't decide if this album or 1984 is my favorite Van Halen album, but all their music rocks. 10/10 - Hell Yeah

Van Halen's debut album is one of the greatest rock albums of all time, and is still melting faces nearly 50 years later. One of the few albums on this website where I am lucky enough to enjoy my Dad's original copy on vinyl.

this album is crazy. HEY HEY HEY HEY

Good album no songs were really bad. Not metal but definitely hard rock. Favortie: running with the devil Least: Jamie's crying

Not every song on this album is perfect, but there are some absolute classics. The playing is high quality, especially the lead guitar. This is a very solid album.

Rips so hard

This album was seismic. Almost 50 years later it would be easy to underestimate just how much Van Halen’s debut changed rock music. Nobody played like this. Montrose’s first album had arguably paved the way but VH took the ball and didn’t just run with it - they strapped it to a rocket engine and blasted it into space. Eddie gets the attention, and his guitar is game changing, the tapping, the fast runs, yes, but listen to his rhythm work, it’s like an orchestra. Alex is an incredible drummer and DLR is a one off, a showman, with a limited but distinctive voice, he fits perfectly, a huge part of the initial impact. But the unsung hero is Michael Anthony, whose fat basslines round out the sound xxxx and whose melodic background singing fills any vocal deficiency from the front man. The production is excellent. The songs are uniformly good - "Runnin' With the Devil", "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love". "I'm the One", covers of John Brin's "Ice Cream Man" showing they could put a spin on the blues, and of course the stunning guitar barrage that is "Eruption" leading into a great version of the Kinks' "You Really got Me". Van Halen were cocksure and bombastic; it is unsurprising that, an admittedly shaky, Black Sabbath struggled to compete when they took them on tour. I love this album, and I think the following VHII is even better. Incredibly influential and still holds up. That VH inadvertently led to 1980s hair metal is not their fault.

Having reviewed and dismissed Van Halen's 1984 album, I wasn't looking forward to listening to this. However, 4 songs in and I was moshing all around the living room as well as a bloke in his mid-50s with a bad knee can! Runnin' With The Devil kicks us off with a killer riff before the shredding Eruption shows us why the band is named after the lead guitarist! There's a slight drop in the middle of the album, but there's still intrigue with songs like swing-rock I'm The One, before the cheekiness of Ice Cream Man and the anthemic chorus of On Fire closes us out. It's all a really rather good debut, gets better the more you listen to it, and it's put me in a far better mood than 1984 did, so it's 5 stars from me.

10/10. Fav Tracks - All of them THIS IS WHAT I STARTED THIS JOURNEY HOPING FOR. Probably some of the best classic/hard rock of ALL TIME.

THE BEST

When Eddie Van Halen died I listened to the bands entire discography and was surprised to learn how many great tracks they had. I can't imagine hearing this when it came out. Eddie Van Halen is easily one of the all time greats.

Solid rock album with lots of catchy riffs and no wasted time.

Awesome! Eddie's guitar is incredible. Roths vocals are great. Quality rock. Nearly all tracks are great! Ice cream man is cheesy, but it still kind of works.

Absolute banger

This album rocks. Really really love it! I know a few Van Halen songs but haven't listened to a full album but I get It. I get the hype, I feel the energy. I love that a lot of these were live takes - it shows that they had played together a ton before recording this. You can close your eyes and imagine you're at a live show. But the sound quality is great! The guitar is clear, and the vocals don't get lost in it all. What a great album. 5/5 Song added to playlist: Feel Your Love Tonight. Hard to choose just one for the playlist, but I really think this is the catchiest besides Runnin' With the Devil, which was a close second.

Riktigt najs rock.

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just a tight, incredible rock album

So many hits!

Nnb

Van Halen’s debut with the classic line up is the perfect mix of hard rock and melody , influencing much that would come after it and having an immense impact on guitar culture. A formative listen stacked with hits.

This album deserves its Diamond certification and all the accolades it can get. It still kicks ass and is a party-starter nearly 50 years later. EVH is the GOAT and the songs themselves are pretty great too.

Album #50: Van Halen Genre (W): Hard rock, heavy metal Singles: You Really Got Me, Runnin’ with the Devil, Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love, Jamie’s Cryin’, On Fire I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: The first four tracks is one of the best batches of classic rock history. Everything from Eddie’s guitar skills to David’s passionate vocals. I love it all! Side Two is good as well with Jamie’s Cryin’, but Side One is extra special. Favorite songs: All of it!!

Pure energy, I love it!!!

The drunken boomer frat dude of rock albums.

Excelente disco. De los mejores que hay. La guitarra de Eddie es increible de escuchar como en su solo de Eruption, la idea bien rockera que mantiene todo el album es increible y los coros de todas las canciones le dan un plus muy bueno.

405/1089 - Incredible playing. Every member contributes to the sound and the backing vocals are especially good.

The album that has eruption on it, that's all I gotta say.

mama this was goood, omg amazing sounds, filled with bangers, periodt van halen, periodt.

A quintessential rock debut that is not only Van Halen's best, but one of the best of the era. No skips on this one!

So much to say but just remember that The Beatles and Zeppelin were gone and the top artists of the day were The Bee Gees. And then the sound of those wacky car horns- that thump-thump- duh duh da dah duh - whooooooo And then there’s Eddie. giving it another listen I caught something new- the amount of overt classic rock- I mean 50s and 60s stuff- that is all Over this album. Not just Dave and his doo-wah stuff. The swing, the walking bass lines, the harmonized echo vocals are all Motown. As many times as I’ve heard this album I never really caught that. And that’s why music is so great, you can always find something new. One of the best debut rock albums- if not the best- of all time. And as great as the well known songs are some of my favorites are Little Dreamer, Ice Cream Man, I’m the one. Anyway, probably not everyone’s cup of tea but if you’re a rocker you’ve at least gotta respect the hell out of it. And that’s NOT even talking about Eddie and his effect on his instrument. 10/10

Ui juma. Van Halenin debyyttilevy rokkaa vieläkin täysiä. 35:n minuutin mittainen levykäinen on täynnä energiaa ja asennetta, mutta huumoria ei ole unohdettu. Van Halen ei tehnyt maailman älykkäintä musiikkia, mutta varsinkin tämän esikoislätyn soundit ovat edelleen purevat.

(35:34, 11 tracks, debut, 1978) hard rock This album is a 5 and if you don’t think so. . . you know you're only semi-good lookin'. (I stole that from another poster, because I thought it was so awesome.) Widely regarded as one of the greatest debut albums in rock music. I recently ran through all of VH’s work chronologically and determined this was my favorite VH album. In general I like the DLR albums more than Van Hagar but there’s something to be said about Hagar’s albums too. In 2020, the album was ranked number 292 in Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Van Halen recorded demos of 10 songs in November 1976 during sessions at Village Recorders in West L.A. and New York’s Electric Lady studios, produced and financed by Gene Simmons of Kiss. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen was not convinced of the quality of the material because they could not make the recordings with their own equipment. The recording of this debut album began August 29, 1977, and cost approximately $54,000 to produce. "We didn't have a ton of material," recalled bassist Michael Anthony, "so we basically just took our live show and all the songs we knew and went for it. The whole album only took a couple of weeks. "Van Halen didn’t have much in common with The Clash or the Sex Pistols, but the Californians’ brand of ‘Atomic Punk’ had the same urgency as the London punks." The subsequent tour began March 3, 1978 at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago with the band opening for Journey and Ronnie Montrose. Album cover photos were taken at the Whisky a Go Go, a Los Angeles club at which Van Halen often performed during late 1976-1977. The guitar pictured on the cover is Eddie Van Halen's signature Frankenstrat (before he added the red paint), a highly customized Stratocaster-style guitar built out of replacement parts. Soon after its February 1978 release, Van Halen became regarded by fans and critics as one of rock music’s greatest debut albums; however, its initial critical reception was mostly negative. In 1978, Rolling Stone critic Charles M. Young predicted, "In three years, Van Halen is going to be fat and self-indulgent and disgusting ... follow[ing] Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin right into the toilet. In the meantime, they are likely to be a big deal." However others saw genius, "IT'S DIFFICULT to overstate the effect VH's debut had upon its release. With the music world split between punk, disco and prog rock, Van Halen combined a dazzling live show with a party-hearty motto and, in Eddie Van Halen, a guitarist who redefined what was possible on six strings. His sound on this album—christened 'The Brown Sound'—remains the holy grail of guitar tones." "Runnin' with the devil" an old warning, the opening track has high-intensity, high-risk lifestyle of a young touring rock band. A lack of social ties, living in the present, and having "no roots, no apologies". The "Simple Life" fallacy was the lifestyle of constant travel and thrill-seeking—initially thought to be "simple"—is actually demanding and lonely, as noted in lines like "I found the simple life ain't so simple" and "Got nobody waitin' at home". Despite historical misinterpretations, the band has clarified that the lyrics are not satanic. The title was inspired by the Ohio Players' 1974 song, "Runnin' From the Devil". The car horns are literally their own cars (slowed down), at the time Eddie was driving a Volvo, Alex and Opel “You Really Got Me” is a Kinks cover with Eddie tapping at the bigging as a continuation of Eruption. Van Halen loves themselves some covers. Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love" started as a punk rock parody that Eddie Van Halen was initially embarrassed to show the band. Really not a hard song to understand. DLR wrote the lyrics from the perspective of a jaded rock star who is explicitly rejecting emotional attachment in favor of transient, physical encounters "rotten to the core". Lines like "I been to the edge / And there I stood and looked down" suggest a history of disillusionment and loss, implying he has seen where "love" leads and chose to stay detached. Musically, Eddie Van Halen intended the song to poke fun at the emerging punk scene of the late '70s. Eddie felt the song was "lame" and "stupid" because it relied on a very simple two-chord structure (A minor and G), which he felt mirrored the technical simplicity of punk. Contains famously a “Electric Sitar Solo” overlay “I’m the One” – not my favorite on the album. It’s basically about the band saying they are the ones we love. DLR breaks into barbershop in the only “not gay” way a major rock band can. DLR is the gayest straight guy in rock and roll. "Jamie's Cryin'" is a rare moment of empathy from Van Halen, focusing on a woman's perspective regarding the emotional toll of casual hookups. Unlike the band's usual party-rock themes, this track explores the heartbreak and regret that follow a failed attempt at a meaningful connection. She realizes he only wants a one-night stand. Jamie should have "knew better" and turned him down because she wanted something that "should mean a little more" than a fleeting encounter. The pre-chorus mentions her wanting to send him a letter just to feel better, while simultaneously knowing that reaching out will likely lead nowhere. The guitar riff was famously sampled by Tone Loc for his 1988 hit "Wild Thing". “Atomic Punk" an odd song for VH, a rare sci-fi-themed. A dystopian, post-apocalyptic survivor who dominates a lawless society. The lyrics, written by David Lee Roth, paint a picture of a "victim of the science age" who has risen to become a ruler of the "underground" and "netherworlds". The protagonist is a "child of the storm" who has survived a nuclear or scientific catastrophe. "Nobody rules these streets at night but me" establish the Atomic Punk as a fearsome, alpha figure in a ruined world where his name is "hung" on every wall. Much like "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", the song was partly a response to the growing punk rock scene of the late '70s. Some think the lyrics were a "final word" to the L.A. punk scene, with Roth positioning Van Halen as the true rulers of the streets. One of Van Halen's heaviest and fastest, often cited as a precursor to thrash metal. The song is famous for its unique intro, which sounds like a grinding machine or a "helicopter with chainsaws for rotor blades". Eddie achieved this by rubbing his palm (or sometimes a coin) across the guitar strings while using an MXR Phase 90 pedal to create a rhythmic, scratchy pulse. This is one of the few tracks on their debut with no background vocals or harmonies, keeping the focus entirely on the raw, solo energy. "Feel Your Love Tonight" simply is the quintessential Van Halen party anthem. While many of the songs on their debut album have hidden layers or satire, it’s about the urgency of Youth. David Lee Roth sings about the physical tension of being in a car or a parked spot, pressuring for a connection "right now" because "we ain't got all night." "I'm gettin' tired of waitin' / I'm tired of playin' the game" highlight a restless, high-energy pursuit of romance. Musically, the song is often described as "Heavy Metal Power Pop." It blends Eddie's aggressive guitar riffs with the band’s signature three-part vocal harmonies, which were heavily influenced by the beach-party sound of The Beach Boys. "Little Dreamer" is widely considered one of the most soulful and empathetic tracks on Van Halen's debut album. It tells the story of a local star who never made it big, reflecting on the bittersweet reality of fading dreams. The song is a tribute (or perhaps a cautionary tale) about a person who was once the "talk of the town." Remember this was their debut, they were talented and famous in their own small circle, but as time passed, they remained stuck in the past while the world moved on. Unlike the bravado of most VH songs, there is a genuine sense of melancholy and respect here. Roth isn't mocking the dreamer; he's acknowledging the struggle of anyone trying to make it in the music industry. Musically, Eddie Van Halen uses a slower, minor-key riff and a more melodic, blues-influenced solo to match the reflective mood of the lyrics. It’s a departure from the "shredding" found elsewhere on the record. "Ice Cream Man" is the ultimate showcase of David Lee Roth’s "vaudeville" persona, serving as a humorous, high-energy double entendre for a man offering a variety of sexual "flavors" to his neighborhood customers. It’s schtick but I love it. I loved the video. It’s another cover but Dave makes it his own “Dave’s got something for you.” The "ice cream man" is a thin metaphor for a lover who can satisfy any taste or preference. Lyrics like "All my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy" and "I'm usually passin' by just about eleven o'clock" frame a late-night romantic encounter as a simple delivery service. The song is a cover of a 1953 track by Chicago bluesman John Brim. By starting the song with just an acoustic guitar and a "showman" vocal delivery, Roth pays homage to the jump blues and lounge singers he grew up admiring. The track is famous for its structure; it begins as a quiet, solo acoustic blues performance before "exploding" into a full-band hard rock anthem halfway through. Eddie Van Halen’s solo in this track is often cited by fans as one of his most technically impressive on the debut album, featuring rapid-fire "shredding" that contrasts sharply with the song's acoustic intro. On Fire" is the aggressive, high-speed closing, widely interpreted as a sonic statement of dominance, representing the band’s raw energy and their "take no prisoners" approach to live performance. The lyrics, particularly the line "As I ride your sonic wave," position the band as a force of nature that has successfully "conquered" the airwaves and the listener's head. Similar to "Atomic Punk," the song features David Lee Roth adopting a larger-than-life, aggressive persona, screaming "I'm on fire" as a declaration of the band’s unstoppable momentum. Despite being the album closer, the band used "On Fire" as their regular concert opener during their first world tour because of its immediate, high-intensity impact. Eddie Van Halen revealed that his guitar solo in the song was completely spontaneous; he later admitted he didn't even know what key he was playing in during the recording. Eddie recorded the song using his famous Ibanez Destroyer, nicknamed "The Shark" due to the jagged chunks he sawed out of its body, which contributed to the track's distinctive, sharp harmonics. To achieve the "alive" feeling of the track, the band overdubbed multiple layers of Roth’s signature screams and Michael Anthony’s soaring harmonies on the fadeout, intended to sound like a "chorus from the fiery pit". AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described Van Halen as "monumental" and "seismic", while noting that it is typically not viewed as an "epochal generation shift" in the same way as the debut albums of Led Zeppelin, the Ramones, The Rolling Stones, and the Sex Pistols. Rolling Stone, listed it among The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, at number 410. The 2020 list placed it at 292. In 2023, Matt Mitchell of Paste Magazine wrote: "It can be easy to underscore the importance of Van Halen’s eponymous debut record, given that they were never the most primitive or marquee name working in rock ‘n’ roll. But, Van Halen is, to say the least, a perfect album packed to the brim with some of the most exciting and energetic rock tunes post-Beatles break-up. [...] Without Van Halen, glam and hair metal wouldn’t exist the way it does today—there would be no Appetite For Destruction or foil to mainstream pop. There’s an unquantifiable, daring magic here, and it’s what has made Van Halen a household name for nearly 50 years." Favorite Song - Feel Your Love Tonight Track listing – favorites marked with * 1. *"Runnin' with the Devil" 3:36 2. "Eruption" 1:42 3. *"You Really Got Me" (The Kinks cover) 2:38 4. *"Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" 3:50 5. "I'm the One" 3:47 6. **"Jamie's Cryin'" 3:31 7. "Atomic Punk" 3:02 8. **"Feel Your Love Tonight" 3:43 9. "Little Dreamer" 3:23 10. *"Ice Cream Man" (John Brim cover) 3:20 11. "On Fire" 3:01 Van Halen is: David Lee Roth – lead vocals, acoustic guitar on "Ice Cream Man" (credited as "David Roth") Eddie Van Halen – guitar, backing vocals, electric sitar on "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" Michael Anthony – bass, backing vocals Alex Van Halen – drums Production: Ted Templeman – producer Logan Jervis – engineer

Real rock

So many classic bangers, great album

I am familiar enough with this album to sing along to most of it. It's a fun record that heralds the 80s sound. Fun guitars and remakes. It's a party anthem.

This is a pretty solid album with some great songs. I would probably want to give it a 4.5, but I'm going to round up since I really enjoyed it.

Van Halen just had IT, man.

Just a front-to-back fun album. The guitar is of course phenomenal and the solos are the highlights of most tracks. The opening run of Runnin' with the Devil, Eruption, You Really Got Me and Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love is fantastic.

Love at first listen. The dysfunction that follows this LP is EPIC. lol

Loaded with hits and extraordinary musicianship, just pure joy to listen to. The smile on Eddie's face as he popularized tapping and shredded on the electric guitar says it all for me. And Diamond Dave is one of the most dynamic front men in rock history, a showman with all the bravado and swagger, and a voice that complements the tunes perfectly.

Epic quintessential genre defining album. One of the greatest debuts the history of rock.

How do you put out your first album and shred this hard!??!

Eruption gives me chills everytime. One of many iconic guitar solo’s

As soon as I heard the opening of Runnin with the Devil, I realized it's been way too long since I heard this album. I only had their greatest hits album and this one back in the day, and this one is almost better track for track. The only thing I never understood was why they didn't start the album with Eruption--it's kind of like an announcement that Eddie was here, in the rock world, to stay. Ain't Talking Bout Love is tied with Hot for Teacher as my favourite VH song. The first 6 songs are total bangers. It slows down a little after Jamie's Crying, not in intensity necessarily, but perhaps in how good the songs are, but by that time the effect is already with you. Not a perfect 5/5 but fairly close.

One of the great debut albums of all time. LA Rock at its finest. Eddie's skill is apparent from the get go.

This album brings me back to age 13, hanging out with my friend Darren at the Ocean City boardwalk. Darren had a big 80's style boom box and carried it on his shoulder, blasting this and other Van Halen albums. These guys absolutely rocked. David Lee Roth was an incredibly fun front man, Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen made a fantastic rhythm section, and Eddie...holy shit. This is a great collection of songs highlighted by "Running With the Devil," "You Really Got Me," and "Jamie's Crying." But even the lesser songs, like "Ice Cream Man," are a lot of fun. And the album still sounds great. This one holds up.

I had heard a fair few of the songs. I've never been a fan of the Kinks cover. They wrote some great songs, so why do one so iconic? Still, a decent album. 5 stars.

I loved that Kinks cover

cool 8/10

Har ikke noe valg💥

Liked this more than I thought I would

loved this one

I was surprised by how short it was but that meant it packed it in. An easy relisten. The guitars alone make this great

Come on. It’s a classic. It’s from another universe and invented an entire style of music that did not already exist.

This whole album was really fun

Something of a masterpiece really.

Nothing really will ever top this record. One of the best ever.

Easy five stars, didn't even need to listen, but of course I still did. This album is in my personal top 5 albums of all time. Pretty much all songs are killer in my opinion. The best debut album for any band of all time (excluding supergroups). All members are terrific in their craft and showcase that on this record. I can keep going, but it is an easy rating. 5/5

I forgot I love rock and Van Halen is one of the best

First CD I ever owned. I will always have fond memories of blasting this on my shitty 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 stereo. No bad songs on this record.

álbum increíble la verdad me sorprendió y lo mejor fueron las guitarras 100%. mis canciones a destacar son: runnin’ with the devil, eruption, atomic punk y on fire

I'm not a fan of glam metal. Hard Rock does the glam sound better, and heavy metal does the metal side better. However, Van Halen are kind of the best (or at least one of the originators) of glam metal, so they get a pass. The performances are obviously top-notch, and even though some of the numbers are tired, this is a great album. What pushes it over the top is the production, which is exceptional. 4.5/5.0: Excellent

incredibly talented group and some of the best recorded work of their careers, not sure what else can be said

mad at my dad bc I’m 90% sure he saw this performed live

Such a good debut album! 🤟🏼

WOW!!! Sounds very empty - only the three instruments plus the singer, nothing added.

Um dos melhores, muito bom

This is a really fantastic album, with an opening four tracks that rivals any album of all time. The guitar work is impeccable, but really everything about this album is great. This album has been in rotation for years and will continue to be for years to come.

This has to be one of the best debut albums of all time. Very few misses in the track listing. David Lee Roth's vocals and EVH's guitar prowess make this an all time great.

the GOAT. saved hard rock and heavy metal

Greatest debut album for a band of all time.

Every song is fantastic!!

This is a perfect debut album. Everything about it is amazing. Can’t say much more, Van Halen comes in lets you know what they are about and rocks The whole way through. Had to crank out the vinyl to give a spin.

YES!

The seminal unleashing of Eddie and Alex's band onto the world, changing the landscape of rock and roll for generations to come.

Love

I like dis

Holy hair metal. Absolute cult classics on this album. The second track being Eddie just absolutely shredding. Litterally a NO SKIP album. Perfect.

This website keeps putting my tf onnn I love all these albums. Eruption>>> Holy guitarrrr bro. You really got me is so goodd IM OBSESSED WITH AINT TALKIN BOUT LOVEEE AHHH I genuinely had to add evey single song to my playlist it was just that good wow On fire reminds me of Kai from Lego ninjago!

This definitely made me a strong impression on my long time ago when I first heard it. Haven't listened to them in ages, but I reckon it still 5 in my books.

Hell yes! I don't need no stinky Spotify, I'll just grab the vinyl I've had since 1978! It's a bit warped, but it still plays good, and sounds awesome. RIP Eddie, you did things with a guitar that blew us away. 5.0

I feel like the older I get the more I love this record. Van Halen came out with a debut like a bolt of lightning, relentlessly shredding to superstardom right off the bat. It doesn’t hurt that they’d spent years as an LA party band staple, but they can take any style and genre and make it metal as fuck, all while keeping things dance friendly for the non-rockers. There’s not a skip on this record and they’re not even at the peak of their powers. What a great fuckin’ album.

I was a freshman in high school when this came out. What's lost in all the (deserved) talk about how EVH changed the landscape for guitar players is how damn hard Alex and Michael swing. While Eddie is the tinsel and lights (DLR providing the ornaments) all over the tree the rhythm section is the trunk and branches holding it all together. All in all a pretty fun and nostalgic trip for me. Kinda hard to not give this five stars for its historical significance alone. So even though the non-singles tracks don't add much to the statement/album, that's what I got.

5 - one of the greatest debut albums

Yes, this is a record everyone needs to hear. You need to hear EVH play guitar. Innovator. Huge personalities in this band but the unsung hero for them in Michael Anthony. His bass playing is underrated and his back up vocals make the songs better. Fun rock and roll band. You can be the greatest guitar player ever but if you write crap songs no one will care. These are really good songs with one of the best ever playing.

I mostly disliked Van Halen when I was in my teens and 20s; thought their songs were stupid, and the hits were massively overplayed on the AOR stations I was listening to. At some point in the last 10 or 15 years something flipped, and now I really enjoy their brand of stupid, loud, *fun* rock. (I've had similar changes of view as to Def Leppard, Joan Jett, and Bon Jovi.) I think it helps that they always seem like they're in on the joke -- until the Hagar years that is, because Roth's persona really helps sell that bit. Anyway, this is really good Van Halen. I imagine it's on the list because of Eddie's guitar work, but another thing I've realized is that the band wouldn't be anything much without Michael Anthony's backing vocals. (Sorry, Van Halen drummer, whoever you are. I like your sound too but you're probably the least essential.) The end of Eruption / beginning of You Really Got me is an amazing kick in the ass that I've always loved, even when I didn't like the band.

5/5 - This is a 5 all the way for me. Wore out my cassette in my car in high school. I never thought too hard about the personalities in this band; I just thought they always made fun music -- until they didn't later on. A great debut album.

So many good songs

A rock classic and for good reason Favs were feel your love tonight and running with the devil I feel like each song is a little too repetitive for my tastes, but still thoroughly enjoyed it Added some songs to my playlist Certified divorced dad midlife crisis banger

My favorite by them!

Hell yeah! Another album that would have been rad to hear at the time it was released. Mind blowing.

Jammin

This is a very fun album. Tons of great sons and it goes very quickly - fun, hectic, noodling. Love it.

Easy 5 for me. I’ve loved this album for years and I’m always happy to listen to it. One of the great rock debuts and best guitarist/frontman duos in history.

I love Van Halen, and this is one of their absolute best.

It's hard to believe the quality of some of these debut albums. I know Van Halen quickly made a name for themselves in the late 70's, but didn't realize that they basically did it right out of the gate. When the group just casually drops one of the most iconic guitar solos of all time ("Eruption") amongst a sea of 70's hard rock staples, it's really not surprising to see why. I'm particularly fond of the opening three-track stretch. Eddie Van Halen was one of a kind with that guitar.

very good album, solo guitar is excelent

This is 5 stars on so many levels. Playlisted: I'm The One, Little Dreamer, On Fire

This is one of those records that can leave you panting by the end. The production is stellar. Ted Templeton really captured the essence of these songs and didn't try to restrain Ed. The backup vocals are amazing, the drumming is so so underrated and David Lee Roth is perfect here. No, he's not even the best singer that's been in this band, but he is the PERFECT singer for this band. Until Sammy (lol...). What I mean is he's perfect for Van Halen at this time. This is simply an undeniable record. I don't have the first clue how ANYONE could dislike this record.

Not one bad song

Used to have this on repeat back in the day. Fun album, great songs and of course EVH blistering guitar.

A nostalgic listen that really holds up. I can't even remember the last time I listened to this album in its entirety, but I'm really glad I did.

Why didn't I know Van Halen made such iconic songs? Like how does he make such cool guitar riffs with his incredible sounding guitar while also doing barbershop quartet style adlibs? There is a lot of awestruck questions I could ask about this band, all i know is that this is a rich and beautiful sounding album. 9/10

This album is the whole reason I picked up a guitar as a kid. I suppose I’ve panned this album for while, though, probably because my tastes changed in the 90’s. However, growing up listening to classic rock radio in the 80’s, there was no denying this album’s influence and how many bands followed it. For me, there were albums before 1978 and albums after 1978 with this album being the inflection point. Ted Templeman got some criticism but looking back, this album sounds great. Not a bad song on here. Although not in my handful of top albums of all time, hard to give it anything lower than 5 stars.

easiest five just gives hit after hit

BAAAAANG!

I listened to this record so many times that I remember the little scratches and pops on the vinyl as if they are part of the songs. When I hear the end of one song I can hear the next song start in my head before it starts. I can do that with all the VH albums up to 1984. Am I OK? Love them or hate them, it is undeniable the original Van Halen was one of the greatest rock groups...ever. Eddie's guitar obviously groundbreaking. David Lee Roth re-defined what a front man should be. Sometimes overlooked though are Alex's drums and Michael Anthony's bass and especially his backing vocals. Some blame them for "Hair Metal", but that would be like blaming Pearl Jam for bands like Creed. This is an incredible album and Van Halen is a legendary group.

I wasn't expecting this. Just an all-out onslaught of awesome from the first note. I don't know if Van Halen is supposed to fit in with 70s rockers, or if they're the forefathers of 80s butt rock, but this album is banger after banger after banger. You're on song 7 before you can come up for air. I find myself looking for reasons not to give this 5 stars because I'm trying to keep 5 stars relatively rare. But I don't like 70s rock for the most part, and I'd listen to this goddamned thing again for *fun*.

Changed music

Classic and enduring rock

The first of many great VH albums!

10/10

Epic debut that changed the trajectory of music and electric guitar.

This is one of my favorite rock albums of all time, and I'm thankful for 1984—the album and the biggest year in my musical upbringing—which introduced me to Van Halen. I wasn't old enough, or musically mature enough, to appreciate the first Van Halen album, which was given to me but stowed away in my dresser for years. I surely missed out on the genius of Eddie Van Halen and wild-man antics of David Lee Roth, but I'm glad to make up for lost time every time I listen, and this is one I'll listen to over and over.

So apparently 80s hair metal peaked in, erm, 1978. Nearly took a star off for the out-of-place Ice Cream Man, but that would be harsh.

The Good: Eruption, babay! The Bad: All wannabee guitarists who tried playing Eruption… The Ugly: Yet again another album named after the band/artist… Fuck me. 1978, should have been disco balls and roll-skates, not this wizardry. That, really, is what’s most amazing about this album. Listening to a young DLR, flashing his feathers, EVH mesmerizing us all with this insane sound, and MA and AVH just being tighter than virgin… what a blast this must have been to have seen live during those days. I was going to rate this album a 4*… but I can’t… it is a must hear, and hopefully enjoy, for all!

I could totally get behind this, pretty epic.

Iconic album, huge hits, and an undeniably massive impact on the history of rock and metal. Among the psychedelic rock of the '70-ties this album stands out as something completely different and as a harbinger of things to come Standouts Eruption You Really Got Me ... Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 5/5

rock! rock! rock!

all right, this is an iconic album that deserves to be here. and a great debut to boot! this is the distilled essence of van halen, and they knew exactly what sound and energy they were going for from the start, and all in about half an hour. i knew you really got me and ain't talkin' 'bout love going into this and had heard the other big tracks a few times. eruption is probably the wildest thing on here and i assume nothing else sounded remotely close to it in 1978. rad. favorites: runnin' with the devil, eruption, you really got me, ain't talkin' 'bout love (too many apostrophes man), jamie's cryin', atomic punk, ice cream man

Track 2: ok this is a front laden album. They played all their best cards. Track 8: Man how were they able to put so many bangers on one album? Track 11: crazy. No single filler Cannot be less than 5 stars. I especially like the brain dead lyrics:) Clever fun rock without intellectual aspirations.

First album I ever got on vinyl & an absolute classic.

I love this album. EVH was a true pioneer and changed the way the guitar is played today. Just a really great album.

I mean, come on. One of the most iconic albums of all time. It's the debut record and of the 11 tracks, there are 5 that anyone over the age of 35 will recognize in the first few seconds. I will forever be a David Lee Roth defender as far as Van Halen. He *is* rock-n-roll. Ain't Talkin Bout Love is one of the best riffs ever! Classic 80s and the songwriting is really top notch too. Honestly the B-side of this album is still really tight. I have never really listened to this album with great speakers or headphones before and I have to say the bass is really present in the mix and sounds fantastic. Michael Anthony is killing it front to back on this record, and since VH is really a 3-piece with vocals he has a lot of space to fill and does a great job of it.

Five stars for the utterly revolutionary gutter work and the overall good vibes. A band that was nothing if not ready to bring, attend or underscore the party. I am tempted to remove a star for unleashing a decade where technical proficiency overtook songwriting and expression. But then one listen to Eruption with fresh ears reminded me - there was only one EVH.

banger after banger

★★★★★★

Van Halen slamming banger after banger, this whole album.

Was going to give this a 4, for the obvious unreal guitar skills, fun vocals and lyrics. It’s cool to have a rock band with amazing guitarists and a vocalist who can TRULY sing. But then the “doo-woo shoo be do wop” part came on in I’m the One and I was like holy shit these guys would have been stars even in the 40s/50s. Unreal.

Classic. Marrying twiddly innovation with great tunes and a sense of fun. One of my faves.

Weer zo'n album dat je denkt... is het soms een best-of? Nee, het is het debuutalbum van de gebroeders Van Halen, die in 35 minuten en 34 seconden even laten horen hoe het moet. De een na de andere vingervlugge rockklassieker vlamt uit de speakers, met een levenslust waarmee je de meest krakkemikkige bejaarde nog laat opspringen. Wat wordt hier toch heerlijk muziek gemaakt.

Jouw album beginnen met "Runnin' with the Devil" en op dezelfde kant "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" opnemen. Dan kan het al niet meer mis. Nog even de cover "You Really Got Me" eraan toevoegen. Niet mijn persoonlijke favoriet, maar toch ook onmiskenbaar een grote hit. En dan past er ook nog wel even een gitaarsolo ertussen, die het album, de band en het genre in anderhalve minuut weet te definiëren. En misschien doe ik de solo daarmee nog te kort, want ook hele andere genres, zoals de synth-muziek van de jaren erna lijken deze gitaar vaak te willen nabootsen.

80s glamhardrock, voordat de 80s uberhaupt waren begonnen. En net als het latere album uit 1984 is het van begin tot eind genieten. Als ze nog zouden optreden, dan wil je eigenlijk naar een optreden, al is het alleen maar om de gitarist aan het werk te zien. Jammer dat ik ze nooit live heb gezien, want ondanks dat je het allemaal wel kent, had ik voor deze snoblijst nog nooit uit mezelf Van Halen opgezet. En dat is dus volledig onterecht. Dank u lieve snobs, voor het herontdekken van dit soort platen.

5 estrelas. Eruption é um divisor de águas da guitarra!

done

Love it! - 4.5/5

CLASSIC 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amazing debut. This must have blown minds when it came out. I like how succinct it is too. 35 minutes, all killer no filler.

Moro moro :D Omilta listoilta löytyy Van Halenin biisejä aika paljon. Mahtava meno biiseillä ja tykkään kovasti.

Pelkkää timanttia alusta loppuun, ei mitään pahaa sanottavaa.

Mega forever!!!!!

Rules

RIP Eddie. One of the most talented guitarists ever. The David Lee Roth fronted Van Halen will always be the true Van Halen in my book. One of those bands that when they come on you know exactly who they are. They rock out and make it fun. Definitely the bridge between '70's rock and the power ballad '80's. They sit in a unique nexus of hard rock, metal, and hair rock. This music fits so many situations: parties, sports, just driving around. Anything that involves fun.

If you don't like this album, you don't like fun. As for the rest, what's known need not be said.

Another fantastic start to my day. The best VH album. 5/5 no notes Best Song: Ain’t Talking Bout Love

A great record with some amazing guitar work, a great start for a very influential band. Some songs don't fully deliver but still extremely memorable.

Every song is a hit. Guitars are in your face and the drums and bass keep it moving.

I'm blown away. This RULES.

Van Halen knew how to fuckin' rock from the get-go. Solid 5 Stars.

We had no idea what was about to hit us then Van Halen entered our lives. Eddie is a revolution. DLR is a freak of nature. The songs are simply great. People will be listening to this even after humans colonize Alpha Centauri.

Geil. Zu Recht ein Klassiker

Fuckin killer album. Top to bottom.

Insane debut album.. created an iconic frontman and a new guitar hero right out of the gate. Van Halen is the best party rock band ever

Van Halen’s 1978 debut is a guitar revolution wrapped in pure rock and roll fun. Eddie’s groundbreaking technique on “Eruption” redefined what was possible on six strings, while David Lee Roth’s showman vocals and the band’s party hard energy made tracks like “Runnin’ with the Devil” instant classics. Technical innovation meets irresistible hooks.. a perfect storm that changed hard rock forever.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Really close to a perfect album start to finish, one of the greats in my opinion

Incredible 5/5

Hell yeah

Top 80s Rock Wusste bei manchen Riffs gar nicht dass die von Van Halen sind

There are a number of songs that, having plugged in an electric guitar at a guitar store, you just don't play. If you do, the employees will automatically brand you a douche. One of those songs is "Eruption," the second track on this, one of the greatest debut albums in hard rock history. Have I tried to learn how to play Eruption? Certainly. I'd be willing to bet most guitarists have. But -- only in the privacy of my own home.

This is absolutely phenomenal. I really enjoyed "Eruoption" the most. I also enjoyed "Runnin' with the Devil" and "You Really Got Me" and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" and "Jamie's Crying." Really wonderful album. I see why it is so highly acclaimed.

Nunca tinha parado para ouvir Van Halen, além das famosas, gostei bastante. Muito divertido.

Can't be objective here. Van Halen was there for me when I was growing up, and I feel like I turned out okay. Thanks, guys.

Legendary

Classic

Let’s go

Really enjoyed - not my usual listen, but appreciated the musicianship.

5/5

now here's something I'm familiar with