Van Halen

Not really much to say. It's van halen

Van Halen is better than Kiss. That I have to get out of the way. Great debut album. Running with the Devil, Eruption, and You Really Got Me as an opener is great. Successful for a reason and nearly perfect for the genre.

Dumb fun music. Van Halen plays so much boomer music disguised as music that Gen-X would love to consume. It's like that trend of you tube music artists doing covers of songs in a different genre style. Like Feel Your Love Tonight sounds like someone doing a hair metal take on the Beach Boys. Runnin With the Devil is too fun to ignore tho. Belongs on this list, I don't hate it, but I can't give it more than a 3.

Looking back at my previous assessments, I think Van Halen is to ACDC as Hendrix is to Led Zeppelin. Where Zeppelin and ACDC sound solid and put together (although on very different levels of quality), Van Halen and Hendrix are straining and vital. In the case of VH, we might even say ramshackle and expulsive. Where Hendrix somehow marshalled everyone to his vision, EVH doesn't have anywhere near this control. The difference, probably, between the composer and virtuoso who writes for himself. The connection between Eddie's virtuosic throttling and Diamond Dave posturing is a tenuous one. Even his connection with his brother at the back feels like the strangled cord between space capsule and hyperventilating, hallucinating space man. Where ACDC and Zeppelin look back to ancient civilisations, their Romans and Vikings, Hendrix and Van Halen look to the future. Whatever an Atomic Punk is. No wonder Marty McFly uses Eruption as a death ray in Back to the Future. It is the most alien thing on the record. And the most curious and alien thing about it is its placement on the record. Track 2. Not track 1, opening the record and introducing the titular Van Halen as the main attraction. But neither does it come in the third quarter of the record, where such an individual display would come in a live show - and I have no doubt that Van Halen was recorded, with its oddly spacious mix, to represent an arena show long before the band was playing arenas. To be honest, I have no explanation for why Eruption is the second track on the record. I can admit that it's not pleasant to listen to. It's not really a coherent musical statement or study. It's not as good as Running with the Devil, which I enjoy immensely. But it is, I guess, the key to the album. If you get Eruption for what it is, you will understand what Eddie is doing over the rest of the record. I don't understand a lot of the time, but I enjoy the challenge a lot more than with many of their contemporaries. 3 Van Halen suck. That is why, like Wyld Stallyns, they need Eddie Van Halen. The constant interest of Eddie’s noodling away unpredictably in the left speaker is virtually everything positive that tracks like Atomic Punk and Little Dreamer have going for them. The extent to which the other musical material and the three other unremarkable musicians are simply a sturdy frame and mount for a portrait of Eddie is perfectly transparent on the first single off this album. Their cover of ‘You Really Got Me’ is an insipid account of The Kinks classic which somehow manages to feel much less like rock music than the original - bafflingly light and almost prissy compared with a recording from 1964. Just as well that curious little fly is buzzing in our left ear the whole time. All the same, it would nearly be a shame to hear Eddie Van Halen in a good band. Jimmy Page is often cited as part of EVH’s presumed pedigree. Well it’s a superficial comparison. Truthfully those two players were worlds apart. Page had a depth of expression that Eddie Van Halen doesn’t even pretend to approach. There is much more of the circus act about Eddie (there is also plenty of the clown about David Lee Roth). I enjoy the circus by the way - no great criticism here. Especially when the whole show is a very civilised 35 minutes. 2/5

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.

Deeply irritating

Classic rock, Eddie’s guitar wizardry is phenomenal. Not sure what the deal was Ice Cream Man, but great tunes up and down this album.

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

I feel like every Van Halen song I've heard follows a similar pattern: I start out thinking "oh this is gonna be cool" but then we get to the meat of the song and I'm just like, meh. Nothing really wowed me here and I had to stop myself from skipping some of them once I was about halfway through because I would rather just move on with my life to something more fun/interesting. Ice Cream Man wasn't bad, but by that point in the album I was already too burned out to care.

Entertaining enough but definitely seems like it was meant for live performances, but recording.

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

Si bien no es el tipo de rock que escucho habitualmente, es un placer escuchar musica bien tocada! El sonido de la guitarra y los solos son marca registrada e inspiraron a toda una generación.

The world needs more Track 2s to be just guitar solo

Holiss. Bueno q puedo decir, otro álbum de rock de estos… la pucha madre. Estoy cansado de escuchar este tipo de música la posta, quiero descansar mi cabeza. La primera vez tuve q escuchar este álbum en dos partes, porq en el momento no me daba el coco para tanto y lo tuve q pausar y reanudar a las horas, asi q ns si tuve la experiencia correcta en la primera escucha, pero ta. Bueno aquí va la review: Empezamos con “Runnin wiht Da Devil”, buen comienzo cojones con toda la pawer. La intro se siente como entrar por un portal a una especie de infierno cool o ns, despues voy a hablar mas de la atmosfera q me trasmite el álbum. Despues entra ese bajo q en mi primera escucha me recordó a una onda Primus y dsp con el hi hat también y flashe q iba a sonar algo asi re loco, pero ta dsp empezó el tema posta y me acorde q estoy escuchando un álbum de van halen. Escuchandolo de vuelta saque de donde me sonaba ese bajo y suena igual al tema “bmbmbm” de black midi, q loco. Ahhhh me encanta eso primero q hace la guitarra antes de entrar y también hace más jueguitos así a lo largo del álbum, es de lo q mas me gustaa. Ns como se llama esa técnica ni se como describir el sonido, pero ta me encanta. Acabo de escribir un montón solo sobre los primero 20 segundos del tema wtf. Bueno despues sobre el tema como tal, me gusta bastante si. Me pasa parecido como con acdc. Ah y ya, mismo con el titulo, se empieza a sentir esa mistica medio diabolica (pero no mala, si no como q rebelde) q tiene, q despues se va a desarrollar mas y mas. Este, al igual q los dos álbumes anteriores, es rock de guitarra, perooo, a diferencia de los otros dos, por lo menos deja espacio para q el resto de instrumentos destaquen bastante. Tipo en los de zz top y acdc era descarado como la guitarra se robaba casi todo el protagonismo y dejaba a los demás marginados y condenados a tocar para rellenar. Aca se nota q la guitarra lucha por ser el centro de atención, pero los demás instrumentos no se quedan atrás. Bueno y el ejemplo mas grande de la guitarra queriendo lucirse esta en el segundo track, “Erection”. Ah si, es ese solo, si muy bueno Eddie tocas muy bien felicidades. Esa fue mi reacción al tema. La verdad q no me parece q venga mucho a cuento, me parece muy exagerado, it insist upon itself ahr. Ni siquiera como interludio, onda si me parece icónico y todo, pero hubiese quedado mejor si le buscaban la forma de ponerlo en un tema o aunq sea construir un tema a base del solo si es q tan bueno es. Qsy me parece la típica boludez q se aprende un adolescente yanki q vive en los suburbios en los 80s o 90s para impresionar a las minas, me parece eso, todo performance… capaz q tiene su merito porq las tecincas q se uso para tocarlo y todo fue una gran influencia en su época, pero el simple hecho de q tengan q hacer un track solo para un solo ns no me parece. No puedo creer q solo voy dos temas y ya escribi tanto lpm. Bueno volvemos a la normalidad con “You Really Got Me”, es un cover de un tema muy conocido, no puede fallar, y aparte me parece q la esencia del tema original conecta bastante con la de van halen, son como q muy parecidas, pero en distintas épocas. Suena muy bien y me encanta la parte en la q queda la batería y suenan como gemidos, idk i laik it, me recuerda mucho a led zeppelin, bueno bastante de este álbum me suena a influenciado por led zeppelin en momentos, normal. Bueno “Not Talkin Bout Luv” es uno de los temas conocidos y ta esta bueno, pero no es de mis favss. Just good job. “Im the One”, me gusta la intro, pero enseguida me empieza a atomizar, este tema es de esos q tiene una guitarra exageradísima y q cansa. Igual me gustan mucho los versos antes del coro cuando baja y eso. Ah y la sección esa de “babada shubi du wa” en la primera escucha me parecio medio cualquiera y me dio un poco d cringe, pero escuchándolo de vuelta y teniendo mas entendido e interiorizado el tono del álbum, me gusta mas y me parece divertido. “Jimmy Crying” ahr no se sabía ni ahí el nombre de los temas. Mmm está bien, no tengo mucho q destacar porq aca se repiten un poco. Me gusta el coro y el ultimo verso. Hacen temas muy divertidos no te voy a mentir. “Atomic Punk” oohhh yeaahhhh. Me encanta como suena esa guitarra de la intro, y junto al ride me hypea mucho. Bueno es un tema q no me parece muy loco dsp, ni instrumentalmente ni vocalmente, pero me gusta la letra bastanteee. Es como q con esta letra se sigue desarrollando esta vibe rara como de oscuridad, tinieblas y maldad, pero de forma cool. Los siguientes dos temas no los destaco mucho, aca el álbum se empieza a repetir y no trae nada interesante mepa. Despues “Ice Cream Man” es otro cover, es un giro inesperado esa primera mitad de blues acustico. Muchos podrán opinar q es algo q no tiene nada q ver con el resto del álbum y q caga el tono, pero a mi me gusta bastante. Es como ese momento del “babada shubi du wa”, parece algo q no tendría q quedar para nada, pero dentro de este mundo disparatado q crean los van halen, tiene algo de sentido dentro del sinsentido. Termina con “On Fire” y me parece un buen final. Siento q es la conclusión adecuada para este reinado del terror. Se empieza cantando sobre “correr con el diablo” y llevar una vida mucho mas acelerada y despreocupada q el resto, sin pensar en las consecuencias. Este se siente como el resultado de una vida asi, se grita “im on fire” de forma desesperada, y parece q es la transformación de un pendejo irresponsable a un viejo demacrado y q ya no tiene respeto por la vida en general, como la transformación de un simple mortal a un demonio, porque gran parte de la letra se siente como una especie de entidad oscura y atrevida hablandonos directamente, hasta como en tono de advertencia o amenaza. Ns q estoy escribiendo ya a este punto. Pero en resumen, este álbum, para mí, crea una especie de universo q no se termina de tomar en serio, pero por eso mismo funciona. Se siente como una típica peli de sc-fi o terror de los 80 q es rarísima y tiene efectos especiales q son horribles, pero q igual se le agarra cariño. Tiene un tono de humor medio absurdo y se siente paródico sin dejar de sonar bien. No es mi estilo de música para nada y hay momentos (sobre todo de la guitarra) q me parecen medio inbancables. Pero este álbum tiene más personalidad, consistencia y originalidad q todo lo q salió hasta ahora. Personalmente, no es algo q escucharía mas veces, capaz q si algún tema aislado en algún momento especifico. Pero si me parece q tiene su merito y que objetivamente esta muy bien. Siento q se merece su lugar en esta lista.

Noice

8/10 (4/5 stars) Favorite song: "Little Dreamer" Least favorite song: "Ice Cream Man" a. Runnin' with the Devil - 8/10; I love the guitar solo and just the guitar in general. Very good song. b. Eruption - 8/10; I LOVE this. I love how its just a guitar the whole time and no lyrics. I like how it kept the same style but it didn't all sound the same. c. You Really Got Me - 9/10; Classic song. The chorus is very catchy and the guitar is iconic (and very good). There's not anything I don't really like about this song. d. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love - 7/10; I don't think this song really hits the same as the previous songs. It's good but it's not as good as the others. I like the end a lot (like the last minute or so). e. I'm the One - 7.5/10; I really like this song. I like the chorus and I like the supporting lyrics. I like the end of this song as well. f. Jamie's Cryin' - 8.5/10; I like the second half a lot when it kinda calms down a little and then gets right back to it. I like this song a lot. The guitar is good. g. Atomic Punk - 8/10; I like the guitar in this song as well. I also like the drums a lot. The vocals are really good in this song too. Good song. h. Feel Your Love Tonight - 9/10; Already, the instruments sound amazing in the beginning. I also like the vocals. I like the layering happening in this song too. The chorus is catchy. I really like the end in this song too. i. Little Dreamer - 9.5/10; I love the supporting vocals in this song a lot. This song is very good and I like how it sounds a lot. j. Ice Cream Man - 7/10; This song has a very different feel to it. I like the second half a lot more than the first half. k. On Fire - 7/10; I like the guitar rhythms in this song. The vocals are also very good. Good song.

You really got me temon

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.

Definitely a unique and special record and moment in time. Growing up in the 80s as a budding guitarist, you really had Eddie shoved down your throat – he was portrayed as the be-all end-all peak of everything. Every guitar magazine. My band in HS insisted we cover some, it was a trio so I was def pressured into it. I rebelled the other way, getting into REM, the Grateful Dead, Dire Straits. But through the lens of history I can appreciate Eddie. And I did learn to play the mid section of Eruption lol. This album and 1984 are about as far as I go with them but both are exceptional. Shout out to Michael Anthony, a woefully underrated part of the chemistry, groove, and backing vocals of VH. It's great. It's not the GREATEST MUSIC EVER MADE. But it's great.

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."

A lot of guitar technique, sure, but here’s the thing - technique alone means nothing. People need songs. Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love is the only track that really stands out. Ok, and to some extent Little Dreamer. Everything else is more “look what I can do with my guitar” than real songs.

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

Good, probably groundbreaking at the time, can't help but compare it to 1984

some nice riffs once in while, nothing mind blowing other than that

This kind of sucks. Ain't Talking Bout Love is sick becuase the Minutemen covered it and demolished it! Obviously his band starts writing better songs but yeah, this is kind of a snooze. Jamie's Cryin bops.

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.

Bien

Runnin' with the Devil — slow and dull start. The motif got boring quick and the vocals/lyrics were annoying for me. Cool guitar solo towards the end but it was way too short to give any lasting energy to the track. Eruption — should've been the opener. Showcases the best part of the band—the guitarist—and packs a lot of energy and excitement in a short song. You Really Got Me — the gravelly vocals annoyed me. Harmonies were okay but not enough to save the vocal performance. Guitar was cool but the song got too repetitive for me. Also, the lyrics have no soul: neither comedic or sentimental. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love — lyrics are more focused and the vocals are more bearable. The harmonies are a lot better here and the guitar kicks ass throughout. I'm the One — lyrics are still focused. Killer opening guitar riff. Surprisingly good scatman breakout towards the end. Jaimie's Cryin' — not a fan of the whiny chorus. Rest of the vocals are good. The slow section in the middle is also nice. Lyrics are focused and do try to tell a story. Not as good as the previous two songs, but not bad. Atomic Punk — nice change from the relationship focused lyrics of the previous songs. That riff is amazing, catchiest of the album so far. The vocals feel more powerful in this song throughout as well. Feel Your Love Tonight — not a fan of the harmonies in the chorus here. Returns to the old themes of the album and the lyrics feel hollow. Nothing particularly stands out about this song. Being after Atomic Punk only makes it seem disappointing in comparison. Little Dreamer — this is the best chorus so far; the slower approach to the chorus is nice and the harmonic droning notes are beautiful. The lyrics are better than most of the lyrics on this album, but they definitely wouldn't stand out on most albums. Ice Cream Man — annoying to start. Food innuendoes are a pandemic. Can live without this one. On Fire — good song, good energy. Nothing too special. Favourite song: Atomic Punk Worst song: Runnin' with the Devil Overall: not my type of album. Guitar was incredible throughout, but it won't be enough to make this something I listen to repeatedly. Not a bad album, just not one that left an impression on me.

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

Legendary hair rock album. Eddie’s riffage echoes through the rock canon and is heroic status is plain to see. The songs can be lacking in writing but not for personality and of course the rhythm section cannot be understated. Anthemic, heavy, and bouncy; “Runnin’ with the devil” is a fantastic opener and delivers in showing exactly who Van Halen are. Followed by Eruption, a phenomenal display of virtuosity without the peacocking tedium of like-musicians (I’m looking at YOU Satriani). Eruption is a phenomenal display of virtuosity without the peacocking tedium of like musicians (I’m looking at YOU Satriani). This song changed the face of guitar forever. An excellent cover of The Kinks’ “You really got me going” which holds its own salt, Van Halen’s bravado really shines on this rendition. The quintessential Van Halen track needs no introduction - “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” begins with possibly the most epic riff to grace the airwaves of the time (and possibly all-time) and continues with no letting up. “Jaimie’s Crying” is an understated mid-tempo rock romp with a moody undertone. The chorus is an infectious punky ear worm and the passion is heard in the wailing guitars. This song is a clear highlight of the album. The last leg of the album is not as good as the first leg, that being said it’s not bad in the sightest. The album is extremely solid Hair Rock and its legacy shows. It’s clear Atomic Punk is influenced by the NWBHM sound with some added classic punk’isms but doesn’t prove to be anything special except for a solid VH track. Feel your love tonight is another excellent poppy rocker with sweet backing vocals adding to its hookyness. Little dreamer is a decent hard rock ballad with a good atmosphere but lacks any stand out elements. Van Halen brings it back with the bluesy Ice Cream Man, dialing it down for the first minute, then transitioning to a 50’s rock and roll 70’s hard rock fusion that works to its own merit. A commendable effort although nothing brilliant. The album finishes strong with an epic swan song with “On Fire”, a fiery metal proto-thrash sound which sounds like a Metallica if they emerged from the 70’s. Overall this album reflects the prime of Van Halen and hard rock in this period, the Led Zeppelin of their time if you will. But unlike the Led Zeppelin of their time they remain a product of their time. It is one of the best debut albums in the Hair Rock space, and a cut above much of the genre. Rating: 3.75/5

No me gusto mucho

A full on 80 stadium rock classic. Full of face melting guitar riffs and Dave Lee Roth's trade mark suggestive and giving it all he's got vocals. At one point, I did imagine that Marty McFly in a radiation suit was melting my brain with his walkman during the track 'Eruption'. I also got a feeling of 'Hot for Teacher' from 'I'm The One'. So you can see where that hit evolved from. Absolute stone cold classic cover of 'You Really Got Me' that reminds me of my days playing 'Guitar Hero' instead of actually learning how to play the guitar. So many wasted hours. Overall, I can see why Van Halen became absolute rock gods and a generation of young men wanted to be in the band. (4.000)

Not my flavor

Legendaarista! Lapsuusvuosien sountrackia! 5/5

Sans plus 2.5+/5

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.

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

Only a 4 cause i thought it eould be a 2 or 3 more of a 3.5 than a 4

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.

What I have learned from this is there are so many unique ways to make bad music.

Rock out

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

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.

rock on!

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 had no idea this album came out in 1978. So many bangers. Not a fan of instrumental/guitar solo tracks.

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.

Very very fun. Upon further research these are THE guitar riff people like damn. Shit hit hard ash it truly was headbangingmusic

Not really my music style but i kinda liked the instrumentals

Eddie van Halen and some other guys make music. some great rock songs, influencal guitar riffs. Band is not overrated (regarding rock bands) but some songs of the album are quite lame. It's not a "perfect" album in my book.

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.

This went way harder than I expected.

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

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.

extended fart noise

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.

EDDIE VAN FUCKING HALEN

jamies crying gefällt mir gut, rest is irgendwie so 0815 rock wie man ihn sich vorstellt.. weiß nicht, nicht schlecht aber auch irgendwie nicht wirklich spannend??!

Average AOR. Not my kind of thing

It's Van Halen, classic congs but not necessarily my taste in music generally.

Rock statement de la época

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

Fun and energetic album - short and sweet, left me feeling buzzed.

Surprisingly dull. More virtuosity than tunes, leaving the whole thing feeling oddly hollow and empty. Much less than the sum of it's parts.

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.

I love metal and rock, but have never gotten into glam/hair metal. This was a solid album, and an incredible debut as well. Love it.

Their debut album is very skilled musically and vocally. I enjoyed the album as a whole but nothing stood out to me individually.

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

Solid intro album for a band. Lots of great songs, and of course, Eddie shreds. DLR gets on my nerves after a bit tho

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)

Can’t listen at work. Too “intense”

Guitar lyricism masterclass!

A pretty solid rock album. Better than most, not as good as some.

I was surprised by Ice Cream Man, but thought it was a nice addition, meant there was some variation and it kept the album interesting. Really enjoyed it and would probably listen again, some great guitar playing and some fun songs. Fav song: You Really Got Me - I think that's a familiarity thing though. If I kept listening I might pick a different favourite. Least fav: Atomic Punk

Pretty good album and I like the cover as well. Ice cream man was a weird deviation but not terrible, just didn’t expect it at all. Like the cover as well. Specific rating - 4.2 Fav song - Jamie’s cryin Least fav - atomic punk

Great rock album- perfect balance of energy and refined musicality. The guitar is very impressive but I could have done with a couple less "look how good he is" riffs. Favourite song: Jamie's Cryin' Least: Atomic Punk

Listenable.

My first rock concert was these guys in support of this album (with a few "sneak peek" songs from VHII thrown in since they were nearing the end of the tour), so please note my bias up front. Even given that personal history, I tend to forget this one when I think of great debut albums, but it's certainly right up there. Van Halen came onto the scene fully formed. They will have other great albums, but it's hard for me to argue that anything they will later do is actually BETTER than this album as a whole. This morning, I'm trying to decide whether it might not be a sad thing that they never progressed beyond this. This is a group that came out of the box doing exactly what they would always do, even when Sammy Hagar took over the vocals from David Lee Roth. For the next 10-15 years, no one was going to do what they do better than they do it. Pretty much all of that future history is right there to hear with a spin of this album.

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

Nothing way too gripping but very listenable, I can see why these albums sold so easily. Highlights: "Eruption", "Little Dreamer", "Ice Cream Man"

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...

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

8/10 me gustó mucho 👏👏

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.

Fun, late 70s rock. Stellar debut album. Van Halen not Van Hagar!

Ice cream man is a song I've never heard before. Huge fan.

Legendary guitar work. Solid bass. OK vocsls.

I was pleasantly surprised by this album! ‘Eruption’ was good, I loved their cover of ‘You Really Got Me’ by the Kinks was fantastic! ‘Ain’t talking’ bout Love’ and ‘The Ice Cream Man’ were both good as well! definitely a solid album!

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

Bit mid, right?

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

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.

already had a couple of songs

Spooky

its alright

I already knew this album well, I had it on vinyl as a teenager (I am now 51). Really loved it at the time, it is one of those ones that I overplayed, and slightly soured myself to it. Still love Eruption and Runnin' With the Devil

not my cup of tea

Power rock album

Rips so hard

I was expecting a camp guitar smasher - which this is - but also it’s a lot more. I really enjoyed the mixed covers really made their own, and the overall vibes.

Ton of classics.

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.

Never took much notice of VH and this was the first album of theirs which I have listened to in full. And what a delight it was. Always associated them with MOR FM radio rock but this album was released before that was a thing. It therefore ticks all the boxes on how I liked my rock music in those days when I was well into Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin et al Great discovery then today so I thank the 1001 Gods for this that. 4/5 22/4/36

Main thoughts: This was such a good album. It's the first rock album I've fully listened to and it completely broke the stereotype of what I thought rock music was. It was beautiful, heartbreaking, and funny in the span of thirty five minutes. I felt like I went on this amazing journey with the band across a wide range of subjects. I think because my brother listens to a lot of really heavy metal, I was expecting something closer to that, but it really wasn't. The heavy drums and guitar are mainly just giving the lyrics more volume and power than non rock songs would have, and it was so cool. Favorite songs: Runnin' with the Devil Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love I'm the One Jamie's Cryin' Atomic punk Feel Your Love Tonight Ice Cream Man On Fire Song review Runnin with the devil this was a pretty good, but the catchiest part of this song is by far the chorus, and I feel like I'm getting bored with the other parts. Overall, its a fun song and makes me excited for the rest of the song Eruption: The entire song is a guitar solo, which I've never heard before, but its done really well where it's not annoying or feels like its taking forever You Really Got Me: It's a nice song, but it's pretty repetitive with the "Girl you really got me now" being the main lyrics but it was still pretty enjoyable. However, the first three songs feel pretty uninteresting, so if the rest of the album stays like this, I don't think I'll like it too much Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love So far my favorite song on the album, the direct switch from the message of the last song about loving someone to feeling betrayed by them is really interesting. On top of that, the contrast between the emotional lyrics and the loud, energetic delivery is really interesting and makes me like this song so much more. finally, the sadder, soft interlude is so well done and puts this song over the top for me I'm the One Similar to you really got me with the repetitive lyrics, but for some reason, it resonated with me more and I liked it a lot. Secondly, the scat in the middle was so unexpected but honestly just shows their musical range to decide to do that and do it well, but to also not be afraid of doing just because they're supposed to be a tough, hardcore band Jamie's Cryin' Tops Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love as my favorite by a mile, the switch from the singer telling stories about himself to telling someone else's story is really cool, and gives an outside perspective while letting us really feel what Jamie is feeling. Atomic Punk: A drastic change from the previous songs on the albums, switching from love and romance to what I think most people think when they think of rock. It is pretty much saying that he's the ruler of the streets and that everyone fears him. It also talks about "the atomic punk, obviously, but what the atomic punk actually is, is never explained, which I really love. Feel your love tonight: The switch from love to hardcore back to love is so interesting to me because I never really considered that rock songs could be about love, so hearing so many love songs in a rock album is so amazing. I feel like I'm saying this about every other song, but this is so far my favorite because it's just about him falling head over heels in love with a girl, and its so sweet and so genuine, but mixed with rock makes this song so fun to listen to Little Dreamer: I'm not really sure what this song is about, obviously a little dreamer, who was underestimated and made fun of, but while some lyrics imply that they actually did amazing things, other lyrics imply that they failed and never did anything. The song was still good, but because I'm not really sure what story they wanted to tell, its not one of my favorites Ice Cream Man: This song is defiantly one of my favorites from the album, I love how it starts acoustic but then switches to rock without changing any of the lyrics, just changing the delivery and adding a rock beat to the background. I'm almost certain it was some sort of sexual innuendo, but for some reason, saying for sure it is feels a little bit wrong, so I'll just say it probably is. In the acoustic part of the song, it felt like a really weird but cool change of pace, but it surprised me when halfway though the song, they completely changed styles and went straight back to rock. On Fire: This song is also almost definitely a sexual innuendo, but it's also just saying, "yeah I know that album was really good I'm doing great". This song was a nice and satisfying way to wrap up the album and just feels like they're having fun and not trying to make a big statement with it

A solid first effort, I can see why they stuck around. That said not something I would choose in a rock playlist.

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.

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.

This sounds so 80s and made in great year 1978. Total forerunners ! Regardless of that achievement this album doesn't resonate much with me.

Never one of my favourites, it's too flamboyant and seems like every musician and their technician are trying to be the best new hot shit on this record. It's too much. The songs are okay, few of them better that the rest, shit like eruption do not belong on a record but a live stage. Most of the songs could use trimming and remove the fringes and extra flounces. Sometimes more is indeed more and way too much.

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

There isn't much to say about this album that hasn't before. Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing is on a whole other level, and even on some of the weaker songs his playing alone elevates the material to a whole other level. And yes, David Lee Roth is without a doubt one of the greatest frontmen of all time, but I feel like not enough attention gets put on the harmony vocals between Eddie and Alex. Where's the justice in that?

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.

wohooo yeee! au whoo love eruption. these guys were very horny...

Eh me sorprendió, pensé que iba a ser más pesado el estilo pero buena onda.

Honestly pretty great. Not only are the songs absolute bangers but the whole album works really well as a complete package with a good sense for the tracklist order. I'd definitely listen to it again.

Very close to a 5 but I got a bit bored in the middle, excellent opening and closing tracks!

Some great riffs, the intro to "ain't talkin' bout love" being my favourite. Low 3

An unexpected like, it carried me along on enthusiasm and technique!

I put Van Halen alongside Motley Crue in the hairspray metal camp. Undeniably good guitar playing - but it’s too polished for my tastes. 2/5

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.

I hated all of this

THE BEST

These guys are good at guitar! I don't think it's as good as later albums, but it felt pretty cohesive for a debut. 4*

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.

Solid album. Heard most songs before. 3.5-4

Ok

Eddie with a new style

gud..kinda boring..didn’t wanna finish listening🤕

Top 3: 1. "You Really Got Me" 2. "On Fire" 3. "Runnin' with the Devil"

I don’t really like David Lee Roth (or Van Halen), but he’s obviously the better frontman for the band. This album is undeniable.

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.

just not my thing ig

This album is radio city but it’s not bad just way overplayed

This is probably pretty cool if you know anything about playing a guitar which I don’t so the brilliance (if any) was kind of lost on me. Just a lot of screeching from both guitars and people.

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

As my first exposure to Van Halen, i got myself wondering "Damn, human are capable of playing this good with a guitar?". While i wasnt to strong on the lyrics side of things, vocals, drums, base and, Most importanly, Guitar, were the strongest parts of the album. Favorites include: Eruption, Aint Talking 'bout Love, Ice Cream Man, Atomic Punk Aint talkign about love is one of the exceptions, in my opinion, that has solid lyricism that i find neat. The strinking notes with the guitar, the percusions on the middle part of the song and the end are Amazing! This is overall a 9/10 album! If you want to hear a very, and i mean, Very sick guitar playing skills, as an introduction to the genre, Van Halen's got you covered

RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL!!!!! I LOVE VAN HALEN. DUDE? ERUPTION? Oh there's an eruption right now. IN MY PANTS. AND STRAIGHT INTO YOU REALLY GOT ME. Next ones a little weaker. ANYWAYS. THIS ALBUM SOUNDS AMAZING! I think this album has pretty good songs. But also has some songs I wouldn't listen to on a every day basis.

Meh at best.

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.

It's a four for me, but if this style of rock is your jam it's got to be an easy five stars.

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.

Heerlijk dit stijltje. Running with the devil en Aint' talkin' bout love zijn bangers.

Dit was bij vlagen echt een hate-listen voor mij. Die stomme gitaarsolo('s), die stomme Kinks cover, dat stomme shoebedoowap stukje, die stomme teksten, die stomme blues cover. Ik ben niet het doelpubliek van dit genre. Having said all of that, af en toe rockt het wel

Toen ik hier aan begon op mn brakke zondag had ik niet verwacht dat het me zo goed zou doen hahaha wat een banger.

Absolute banger

not my thing. liked the first part of the ice cream song

You Really Got Me (11 songs, 35 mins)

Pretty solid album! Great guitar riffs. I'm just not super into this genre of rock.

alright. hair rock.

A great powerful album bordering hard rock, glam rock, heavy metal and the good old blues. It's iconic now and Eddie Van Halen is a masterful guitar player. Usually not so much my kind of rock music, but I appreciate it very much.

Now this is a debut album

Classics all through the album

Surprised at how many songs I knew. One of the greatest guitar players ever makes a portion of every song go unbelievably hard.

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.

At this time, this likely sounded like a fresh take on hard rock. In retrospect, it's hard not to hear it as a precursor to hair metal and all of its excesses. The musicianship is certainly impressive, and when it's paired with good songwriting and interesting ideas like the doo-wop interlude on the "Hot For Teacher" dry run "I'm the One," it's a lot of fun. But "Eruption" is a guitar solo yearning for a song to go with it, and other songs also lack good choruses or riffs to bring things home. "Running with the Devil" and "Janie's Crying" predict the slow, sing-along choruses of 80s metal. "Ain't Talkin Bout Love" is the one song where all of the pieces really come together for me. There are some good moments here, but I'm left wishing it had a little more edge.

Fun Rock album.

A while back I heard Dave Lee Roth do an entertaining interview on a podcast. My big takeaway from that interview was Diamond Dave would be a horrible roommate but a fun neighbor (down the block or hall, not directly next door). I know I’ve said that before but it’s worth repeating. Trust me. *stares into sun*

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.

Riktigt najs rock.

just a tight, incredible rock album

haven't we had this one before..?? atomic punk low point

Glad to have finally got this out of the way. Bela and Mum were claiming to enjoy it. I honestly can't understand how.

Mid 4 I find van Halen weirdly irresistible

Worst one yet

4 - This plays like a greatest hits album. Almost every song I know and enjoy by them is included.

Yeah whatever. Got nothing out of this that I couldn’t get out of the transition music in the horrid Henry animated series

I really do not like rock music in general, especially stuff like this. I have my moments where it’s fun and I’ll listen but will I come back to music like this on a regular basis? No. However, this album fuckin rocks and I WILL listen to this again.

Hooting and hollering with some cool guitar

4 out of 5. Short and sweet.

6/10 better than the other rock ones so far!

🎸

So many hits!

So many hits!

I generally shy away from "classic" rock artists and bands that my dad would love, "dad rock" and all. I respect their influence but don't necessarily enjoy a singular sound. Van Halen is legitimately impressive, by contrast. All the other commenters are rightfully pointing out the musicianship behind "Eruption." Favorite songs: "I'm the One" and "Atomic Punk."

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.

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.

A couple good songs.

Big hair rock.

Important to know about historically. Over-the-top rock that is leaning towards metal. My parents’ music. For me, though - good but nothing terribly special. I’d listen to it on the radio.

Gitar jiro

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.

I was really surprised by how much I liked this! Great range and contrast. A lot of fun to listen to this album.

David Lee Roth is a weird alien, but this album is very good. EVH is EVH. Also, I feel like DLR is channeling Burton Cummings a bit in Little Dreamer. I want to give a point deduction for spawning a decade of bullshit hair metal, but I won't.

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!!

Really makes me want to grow a mullet Best Song: Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love Rating: 7.5/10 Stars: 4/5

Pure energy, I love it!!!

The drunken boomer frat dude of rock albums.

te rocky

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.

An incredibly charming album that expects not much from the listener except for them to like rock, catchy lyrics, and be in the mood for a good time. Optionally a banging set of speakers, too. The only downside to this is that it really doesn't challenge the listener, though I am speaking from the viewpoint of a first-time listener nearly 50 years after it first released. My favorite track definitely had to be "Little Dreamer", and in fact I like the 2nd half of the album far more than the 1st, but that may be because the 1st half is stuff I've heard a lot on the radio already. 4/5. It's a great album, infinitely re-playable. I just prefer stuff that's a little bit more unique.

It's a great album showcasing a lot of the best things that Van Halen had to offer. I do think David Lee Roth's cheesy showmanship is more of a pro than a con, but he's not my favorite. Van Halen's always been a singles sorta band for me and this one has a lot of their best singles so I really can't complain.

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.

If I transport myself to a time when this record wasn’t out definitely a landmark in rock

Intéressant les backing vocals, je ne connaissais pas ça de Van Halen. Monstre à la guitare ofc.

This would have been a 5 if I could have had abit more of a listen, but this is purely based off the first listen and the songs I know. Catchy, fun, unreal guitar work, unreal voice

Superb debut probably one of the best debut albums of all time Don’t really need to express how much I think Van Halen changed the shape of rock music , such an iconic group Just some pure badass playing on this album a few of these I skipped as I’ve heard many times before Ain’t talking bout love is a classic that exemplifies everything about the van halen sound, the ultra futuristic riffing and pioneering guitar playing of Eddie , his solo playing on this is so right for the song , so nicely written, Running with the devil the bass of Michael Anthony pounding that muted E string and the signature backing vocals great classic , the flamboyant and eccentric diamond David Lee Roths signature charismatic vocals and the odd shout and scream lend to this track so well Of course there’s the iconic eruption that put Eddie Van halen on the map and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest virtuoso of the instrument Second half of this album id not listened to as much But had a few nice riffs and parts that really appealed the riff on Jamie’s crying I digged On fire was just pure heavy metal loved the screams from Dave Lee Roth the guitar work is fast and so well placed with the solos just class The bass underneath makes you realise how good Michael Anthony was just a pure powerhouse bass player Alex van halen , as a drummer myself can honestly say he’s such a rock solid player love the ludwig kit he played on with the double bass and he played a great shuffle like a signature of his on later track hot for teacher especially but on this album I’m the one Have to be good to this one and give it a solid 4 if it wasn’t for a few of those tongue in cheek tracks on the album mainly Ice cream man let’s be honest would be winding it up to a 5 But credit when it’s due for its time it’s a face melting debut

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

I enjoyed this album only 2 song I don’t think I will return to I’m looking at you atomic punk, and on fire, I can see why this band is very popular. Some of their best hits and hits that I knew before listening to the album we’re on here like running with the devil. what a great way to open up the album by the way, and Jamie’s crying along with ain’t talking about love very classic dad rock that is played religiously on classic rock stations to this day. It’s a good listen, excited to dive in a more Van Halen, but as an opening album, you can see why they got successful

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.)

I felt so cool listening to this

Meh. A few bangers, but not great.

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

reminds me of childhood. knew most of the songs because we listened to this at home a lot.

I always feel like I don’t much enjoy Van Halen but then I listen to it and I’m bopping along. I guess it’s turn your brain off music. You Really Got Me is the standout here, followed by Ice Cream Man

Интересно, но не мой стиль. Единственная самая популярная песня в спотифай Sultans of Swing. Она неплохая. В целом альбом так себе

Feel free to give me grief, but my personal preference is that I like the Sammy version of Van Halen better than the David Lee Roth version. I'm just not a huge fan of Dave's voice, although I do appreciate him for being a great front man. Having said that, this album is one of the best Van Halen albums in my opinion. And to think it's their debut album makes it even more impressive. Lots of absolute classic songs and iconic guitar work. Definitely belongs in any top album list!

Achei horrivelmente chato e sem lógica. Solo de guitarra sem rumo e me parece sem identidade alguma.

Killer guitar riffs, great hits and unexpected tunes.

I cannot listen to any Van Halen song in its entirety - I tried

Enjoyed this more than I expected! I thought it would be heavier music but it was just light enough for me to enjoy. Definitely not the type of music I would usually listen to but I can absolutely recognise the talent here and understand why I've heard of Van Halen so much before. Good stuff!

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.

banque no soy super mega fan del rock pero me fascino este albun 4

I always thought I didn't like Van Halen. I mean. I hate 80s hair metal, and they're basically lumped into that genre. But this album was very convincing that Van Halen does not suck. Instead of sounding like the cheesy "Hot for Teacher" this album was more punchy rock. Eddie Van Halen absolutely shreds on every track, but most impressive is his solo on "Eruption". Yeah it's guitar wankery, but it's good. I do feel like the first half of the album is way stronger than the second. Heck, most of the songs on the A side were radio hits. But they also are each unique and don't have that generic hair metal sound, which by the way, isn't absent from this album, it just feels like this is more of a precursor of what was to come. So, no, I don't dislike Van Halen at least on this album (and somehow yet another 4+ star album from the late 70s for me), but maybe I do blame them for inspiring one of my most loathed music genres.

Real rock

Classic. The guitar playing still hasn’t really been topped almost 50 years later.

So many classic bangers, great album

one of the only VH albums i dig

Solid guitar work. Can’t unhear David Lee Roth’s vocal for Runnin’ with the Devil.

It’s fine, ok, bland to be honest… but I don’t feel anything.

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.

"Runnin' with the Devil" is an all-timer. 'Eruption" is absolutely insane. "You Really Got Me" highkey preferable to the original. I know a lot more songs from this album than I thought! Love the riff on 'Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love' - would've been a defining personality trait if I'd heard it when I was 15 years old. 'Jamie's Cryin'' -- is this a cover? No it's not. Overall enjoyed, a solid 3.75 but will round up to 4

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.

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

Я дуже не люблю ван халєн, але тут пісня номер 2 мені сподобалась, тому поставлю 2.

middle school flashback!

Thats a lot of guitar!

A lot of technical skill that doesn't detract from the fact that this record is rather milquetoast.

Exactly what I expected. In a good way.

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

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.

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.

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.

Not my cup of tea, but there's no denying that a certain guitarist slapped here

Van Halen just had IT, man.

Not for me but can see how they are for others. 3/5.

I'm not a hair metal fan by any measure, but I can still appreciate the level of guitar work that's going on here. For a debut album, this rocks. A few big hits and nothing offensive. I'll give it a low 4/5.

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.

this was such a fun album to listen to! my favorite song was You Really Got Me.

It was god and I enjoyed the instrumental part especially. Not necessarily my style but I liked it overall.

Not really my thing. Pretty tacky.

Inte så jättebra men najs gitarr såklart

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

What a good time!

Spectacular debut, full of crunch, fizz and fun.

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.

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.

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

Mi-o plăcut chiar îi fain îi dau un 6/10

7/10

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

8/10 I normally don't listen to hard rock at all but this was a fun time. Favorite song is Jaime's Cryin'

With so many bangers on this album, it's no less than a 4. However, there are a few tracks that are skip-worthy. But all in all, it's a strong body of work. DLR and EVH bring it. My personal favorite moment on the album is that transition from Eruption into You Really Got Me....chills. This is quite the debut album, by anyone's standards. Top tracks: Runnin' With the Devil, Eruption/You Really Got Me, Ain't Talkin' Bout Love, Jamie's Cryin, Ice Cream Man (such a good song)

The start of it all....

Winter 3 but a Summer 5 Favorite Tracks: Runnin with the Devil, I'm The One, Feel Your Love Tonight, I'm on Fire

8/10 so many good songs

Yet another band I don’t really know other than a handful of songs. This is classic heavyrock that is easy to like.

this is just straigh up awesome shit right here. the songs rock, the guitar riffs are insane and its just pure rock. runnin' with the devil is probably my favorite song off this album, incredible album starter!

Me gustó mucho la voz del vocalista, los solos de guitarra están muy buenos.

Not the best fan of van halen but i recognize their greatness especially on the guitar!

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