Reviews (page 5 of 14)
I mean… classic rock perfection. On this go around it clicked for me how poppy these songs are. I also love how this album sounds and where the harmonies sit in the mix. 4.55
I mean just pure fun. Awesome classic rock and roll. I can’t listen to this without thinking about that amazing video of Eddie Van Halen playing eruption live. So so awesome.
Rockin' 3.5
they're having a great time on this. really get the sense they're doing their favorite thing in the world which helps sell the enjoyment i get out of this more than other classic-ish rock records.
Holy tuff
Enjoyed more than expected. Bet they were amazing live.
The guitar playing is justifiably praised to high heaven but their ability to make some wildly catchy pop songs is the core part of the appeal to me. A song like Eruption can feel like an intricate escalator to nowhere but the more pop type songs combine the best of Boston with the technical proficiency.
adorable:)
Eddie's face melters and Diamond Dave's showmanship make for quite a satisfying stew of heavy rock. Favorite track: Runnin' With the Devil
why cant van halen copycats sound half as good as van halen? the world may never know. 4.5
I love how Fridays usually bring some of the best albums. This certainly does not disappoint.
Tenia a Van Halen muy subestimado, que gran album
This album was played throughout my childhood. Evokes lots of feelings. I really enjoy listening to it. Another one of these albums where I have no real way of critically looking at it 'cause it's like deeply-embedded in my lived experience. I would say that compared to most if not all other VH records, this one does stands up the best. It's full of killer tracks with minimal filler. Big energy the whole time.
This is absolutely exceptional out of the gate, and then the back half of the album really falls off for me - with the exception of Ice Cream Man which has always been a favorite.
++: Eruption, You Really Got Me, I'm the One, Jamie's Cryin', Feel Your Love Tonight, Little Dreamer, Ice Cream Man +: Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love +-: Runnin' with the Devil, Atomic Punk, On Fire 8,2/10
For Eddie’s guitar playing only and the first 4 songs this should be 5 stars how ever the rest of the album not so much…
Incredibly stacked front-end album, an insane debut album Fave track: Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
It's like if Red Bull was an album. It straight up creates energy!
Finally some good fuckin music
not relly my genre,but has a lot of cool riffs
First four tracks are a phenomenal start, especially for a debut album. Overall very good and groundbreaking. Only thing holding it back for me is that the vocals wear on me by the end of the album.
A band I’ve always known, but I’d never listened to an album straight through. Glad I did! Van Halen I feels like the platonic form of a classic hard rock album. I totally understand why Eddie’s guitar playing became so legendary, and why bands like these had cult followings… albums like Van Halen’s are huge sensory experiences, and hearing them in concert must’ve been wild. Not the kind of music intended for earbuds.
Great album!
rockin
Groupe connu, album connu et apprécié. Superbes riffs et solos de guitare, morceaux entrainants, que demander de plus ? Je ne l'avais pas écouté depuis longtemps, et je l'apprécie toujours malgré quelques morceaux un peu plus faibles vers la fin (qui lui évitent la note maximale). =>4/5
I actually enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would, and I think it has something to do with the fact that Roth's vocals are less grating and more chesty than I imagined they would be, and the guitar grooves are positively dirty. I don't feel like myself when I listen to this, but I do enjoy the sort of glam-rock/punk person I become.
Big guitar go loud
It was an ok album some songs I liked
This is a really good album, especially when considering it was VH's debut. Somehow they perfected their sound right out of the gate. It feels like an iconic 80s rock/metal album while being released in 1978. It both followed the blueprint of rock that had come before while also setting the standard for a lot of what would follow. Distinctive vocalist, dominating guitar work, and steady rhythm sections rocking out on 3 to 4 minute songs that were really all about the hooks. The only track that really varies from that is a cover, Ice Cream Man, which starts off with a softer acoustic blues intro. As a whole, the album shows up, rocks your world, and is over in 35 and a half minutes. For all it does well, though, it still has issues. There are some really good songs on here, but others are forgettable. Most of the second half pales in comparison to the first side. The last track, On Fire, didn't really feel like an album closer to me. Also, the formula it followed made it a little dull despite it's liveliness. A few more tone change-ups, like on Ice Cream Man, would've kept me more engaged. I'm sure a lot of the issues can be chalked up to inexperience or lack of material when making the album as a relatively young band. They still made a really fun, enjoyable listen. And it's impossible to deny the impact Van Halen had on the music world. This album doesn't quite reach "great" status for me, but I do think it was very good. Overall: 3.8/5
What’s not to love??
I'm livin’ at a pace that kills
ace combat + van halen
I’m not a big Van Halen guy but this is a super fun collection of massive, catchy, shredding hard rock.
As someone who missed the release of this album by 12 years it’s relevance has only until now been its pop Culture staying power. However the guitar sound had to have been pretty powerful at the time. A respectable debut album in spite of its very “of the time” lyrics.
bao
Van Halen - Van Halen A tour de force of Eddie's unparalleled skills, thrills and tricks. Totall rewrote the book on hard rock and ushered in an era of big hair and spandex! Impossible not to like, but some dodgy lyrics and DLR's not quite great vocal style just takes the shine off for me. Best Track - Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love Worst Track - Feel Your Love Tonight 8/10
I really enjoyed this album. It was Van Halen's debut album and it really sounds like the beginning of the 80s hair metal bands. There are a few covers that are really fun additions to the album. Lots of great guitar and drums.
Great rock album! I heard most for these songs on Classic Rock stations over the years. David Lee Roth was a fun frontman while Eddie Van Halen was the serious and talented guitarist.
So many songs that I absolutely have heard before but didn't realize were van halen Also interesting that my image of them is like WOW HARD ROCK REBELS REBELS but the sounds feels... pop-adjacent to my 2026 ears. Certainly not rebellious or underground or countercultural at all. Were van halen counterculture? Or mainstream? google says *very* mainstream
good metal
Appreciate this more than I actually like it.
#342/1001. I was playing this on my phone speakers first of May, driving from forest to home on my eFat bike, crossing the Artic Circle to the South, visiting the empty Santa Claus village with Yuletid carols blasting on the speakers, but none of these could take away the fact that this is a fun album (also that I know it by heart). It paved away to hair metal (which is sort of a curse, but perhaps also one reason I spent a year in LA in the early 90s which was both a blessing and a curse), and of course it gave air guitarist all around the world the best tune ever. I have typically given metal / hard rock albums a low score, but just can't do this in this case. And why should I?
Két menetben hallgattam meg. Az első három szám akkor szólt a fülemben, mikor a Vincééknél tanultunk. Már túl voltunk a csodálatos, pont tökéletesen habos olasz kávénkon, ő kiheveredett a mezei virágokkal tűzdelt fűbe, hogy podcastet hallgasson a második ipari forradalomról (szerintem bealudt, de ő állítja, hogy csak elbóbiskolt rajta). Akkor nevettem is, annyira hirtelen érkeztek hozzám a brutál gitár szólók. A You really got me feldolgozásnál felcsillant a szemem, de azt éreztem, hogy hiányzik belőle valami plusz. Aztán ahogy tovább haladtam, rájöttem, hogy ez a baj. A első hangot már maximumon kezdik, így 36 perc szélsőség az egész. Az Ice cream man-nél már azt sejtem, hogy ezt ők is észlelték, ezért egy kis countryt is belcsepegtettek, de az volt az érézésem, hogy ez csak egy Presley epigoni pillanata lett a bandának. Azzal meg ugye elkéstek, mert 1978-ban már Presley ideje is lejárt. A dob szólók nagyon tetszettek, és persze a Eruption gitár etűd nagyon izgi volt.
It’s a three star record, but Eruption alone gets it an additional star.
cuando escucho eruption me pasan COSAS
This is indeed the birth of cool
An album that revolutionised rock music and guitar playing, paving the way for glammed up shredders to lay waste to the 80s. I don’t need to say that Eddie is one of the best guitar players who ever lived—it’s a well-established scientific law at this point.
It was good this Ain't talkin bout love is the highlight, and it's an absolute peach. The downside was the cover of You Really Got Me, but overall it's a goodun
I'm the one es bueniisimaaaaa Ice cream man, nada que ver a todo el album, pero buenanga que buen grito en on fire. No soy fan de este rock, pero suena bueniiiisimo, el nivel de complejidad no es de cualquier oreja de peto
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.
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.
Entertaining enough but definitely seems like it was meant for live performances, but recording.
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
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.
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.
Good, probably groundbreaking at the time, can't help but compare it to 1984
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)
Only a 4 cause i thought it eould be a 2 or 3 more of a 3.5 than a 4
rock on!
I had no idea this album came out in 1978. So many bangers. Not a fan of instrumental/guitar solo tracks.
Very very fun. Upon further research these are THE guitar riff people like damn. Shit hit hard ash it truly was headbangingmusic
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.
This went way harder than I expected.
Fun and energetic album - short and sweet, left me feeling buzzed.
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.
Solid intro album for a band. Lots of great songs, and of course, Eddie shreds. DLR gets on my nerves after a bit tho
Guitar lyricism masterclass!
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
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.
8/10 me gustó mucho 👏👏
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!
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
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.
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
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?
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!
An unexpected like, it carried me along on enthusiasm and technique!
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*
Solid album. Heard most songs before. 3.5-4
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.
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.
It's a four for me, but if this style of rock is your jam it's got to be an easy five stars.
Heerlijk dit stijltje. Running with the devil en Aint' talkin' bout love zijn bangers.
Toen ik hier aan begon op mn brakke zondag had ik niet verwacht dat het me zo goed zou doen hahaha wat een banger.
You Really Got Me (11 songs, 35 mins)
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.
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*
Mid 4 I find van Halen weirdly irresistible
4 - This plays like a greatest hits album. Almost every song I know and enjoy by them is included.
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.
4 out of 5. Short and sweet.
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."
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.
Really makes me want to grow a mullet Best Song: Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love Rating: 7.5/10 Stars: 4/5
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.
If I transport myself to a time when this record wasn’t out definitely a landmark in rock
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
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 felt so cool listening to this
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
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!
Killer guitar riffs, great hits and unexpected tunes.
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!
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.
Classic. The guitar playing still hasn’t really been topped almost 50 years later.
"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
Thats a lot of guitar!
Exactly what I expected. In a good way.
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.
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.
What a good time!
7/10
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....
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.
I can only imagine what this must have sounded like when it first came out and people heard EVH for the first time. Must have blown minds. This is a great first record and they only get better.
Pretty great. Not going to do an in depth review for this one but the eruption guitar solo was insane. Crazy to think that this is their first project as it is so good and sophisticated
Of all those late 70s/80s hard rock bands, give me Van Halen any day, especially over the likes of AC/DC. This thing rocks. The shredding talent of Eddie Van Halen is undisputed. They were a lot more power poppy than some of their contemporaries too, lots of good harmonies and vocal performances from Roth. Front end is better than the second, but all in all this is a great one
Pretty good! Did not expect that. Absolutely enjoyable 80s power metal.
Excellent album with some killer riffs and songs.
Runnin' With the Devil
This album is like drunken, unprotected sex with a lady that has a bit of a reputation for being a slut.
Starts strong with running with the devil. Showcases all of their strong points. Eruption in its day eas maybe something new, but just a track of a dude randomly wailing on a guitar with no melody seems out of place now, especially track 2. Some other great tunes after this though and Eddie is absolutely killing it on guitar throughout. Lyrically, its a bit pervy at times with how the speak of women.
Favourite Songs: Ain't Talking 'Bout Love Jamie's Cryin'
A solid start to this journey! I enjoyed this album a lot, I’ll likely listen to it as workout music. Saved in my library! ✅ I’ll give it a 7.8/10 for my first listen.
Running with the devil
Really fun!
I wasn’t into this idea, I won’t lie. I don’t know who I thought Van Halen were, but they aren’t. Totally changed my mind. Running With The Devil and Enterprise not my sounds at all, but You Really Got Me is a sick cover and by the time you get to the tight harmonies, I’m all in. Take it as the theatre that it is and it is brilliant. The guitar leaves me a bit flat to be honest but the vocals are the thing that got me
heck of a debut album. dad rocky
Eddie, good! David, corny!
The OG hair band- inspiring so many flashy hard-rock bands to follow in their footprints. Great guitar solo. I grew up listening to You Really Got Me. Van Halen Rocks!
Better than expected. I'm no big fan of the noodly guitar tapping that he is famous for. However there is some good stuff on here and i even find eruption bearable.
To je ta muska k bi jo zarad kitare mogla vec poslusat
What was the guitar arpeggio in "Eruption" 😲? Never really heard the guitar being used as a piano like that. All in all, this is some tuff, melodic dad rock that probably kickstarted 80s glam metal.
Nothing like a good old classic to start the day. Great album!
Really talented people who I first got introduced to by my dad. Few things that really stand out is the guitar and the great vocals.
Didn't think I would like it but the vocals and the guitars were both great!
Why the fuck is Running with the Devil sequenced before Eruption?
I prefer the more melodic tone of Van Hagar, but still good fun
Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Feine Platte.
This is a very classic album, some heavy hitter all timers on here. Top heavy though. The A-side of this album is completely loaded with amazing songs. The B-side grows a little bit stale in comparison, though it's still very good and definitely none of the songs are bad. It is a super fun record with tons of memorable guitar riffs and vocal melodies. Absolutely one of the better albums on the list. 4.2/5
I have listened to 1984 632 times but somehow never listened to this album. In my defense I was only 4 when it came out. Very technically clean, lots of energy and a lot of fun. I can see how you would get tired of it if you listened like 718 times but Eddie and David were quite a combo. Two handed is the only way to tap. 4.3 stars, my only ding is that the second half of the album was a bit of a comedown.
Once again, I wish we could give half stars, but I'll round up in this case. This album starts so strong, but kind of peters out, at least song-wise, by the end. Still, what an exciting and dynamic debut.
AMAZING
Fantastic album that defines the beginning of a generation of new music
not a big metal fan but this has some great songs on it.
Ekstremt kult album, kommer til å høre mer på denne.
Shocked this is their first album. They really kicked it off with a bang Favorite Songs: Running With the Devil, Eruption
I’ll tell my friends I rated it 5. Very good album, incredible first effort, amazing songs.
this album screams rock and roll to me. from the groovy basslines, electric guitar solos, and heavy vocals. i love listening to something that fully immerses me into the time and place. i want to be in a smoky dive bar in a tiny band tee and skirt with teased hair flirting with a boy who looks like he can drive stick and play the drums.
Found a lot of new songs I like
Big fan - classic rock, mad riffs, covered You Really Got Me which I didn’t know. Much more fun and funky than anticipated.
I feel like I’d have to be driving down a freeway in a 78 mustang to really get the maximum enjoyment of this album. Certified classic
Other that the “ice cream man” this album is solid
Not quite my style, some great songs.
Damn Dimebag owes a lot to Eddie.
Fortunate enough to have seen this band in concert and well familiar with their hits, but admittedly had been awhile since I had listened. Boy what a masterpiece this album is!
good
goes hard with lots of van halen classics.
Great album, my first time listening to it. Didnt expect to like it as much as i did.
This is what I wanted from gun n roses solid 4!
well, I dont like metal, rock etc BUT. THIS ALBUM IS INSANE!!!! i love the most part of the songs, in geral - 8/10!!
Alright so the negative, initial thought is this album is outrageously front loaded. I'm talking this is in my mind currently fist fighting Goodbye Yellow Brick Road for its place as the most front loaded album I know of. But are those first 4 songs excellent? Fucking certainly. The other point is that the other front loaded albums aren't written by Van Halen, and thus outside of comparing the initial 4 or 5 songs, are not quite as good as this. I don't really have to say more on it. David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen are still famous to this day and this album is almost 50 years old and especially Eddie is still held in insanely high regard, partly for his showings on this album and how he changed the game almost instantly with Eruption. I said before Revolver would be the highest 4 I rate but this was surprisingly close competition. Best songs: Ain't Talkin' bout Love / Runnin' With the Devil Worst songs: N/A Rank compared to everything else so far: 17/52 (below Revolver, above Nevermind the Bollocks)
Proper rock baby
Feel You love tonight gran canción
A true banger of hard rock
Runnin' with the devil - 5 Eruption - 4 You really got me - 4 Ain't talkin' 'bout love - 3 I'm the one - 3 Jamie's cryin' - 5 Atomic punk - 3 Feel your love tonight - 2 Little dreamer - 4 Ice cream man - 3 On fire - 3
Favorite track: Feel Your Love Tonight
I am a bit biased as a guitarist here. I find some Van Halen stuff amazing even though my brain sort of knows that it can lack musical sophistication. The lyrics are not particularly amazing but it cannot take away from the beauty of those guitar tapping solos.
Van Halen is not only great because of the tight music and insane guitar works - it’s also interesting, creative and varying in its style. Very cool!
tiene todos los años este album q, lo mismo q digo siempre no me gusta este genero de musica pero es lo q hay ñañaña track 1: no tengo mucho q decir la vdd, runnin with the devill, el video tiene tan mala calidad aksdjlk, m dio risa cmo se coordinaban el de la guitarra y bajo track 2: esta cancion debia ser el intro del album btw, solo de guitarra sirve concepto.com, increible, durisimo bro debia ser el intro explote de rabia, guaaaaaaaaaasiowuiwo (sonido de guitarra ok) track 3: el video tiene tan mala calidad q siento q estoy escuchando desde un pedazo de torta, U REAALLY GOT MEEE, he was serving hair and waist go diva, si me gusto pero ns q comentar uwu track 4: hola ???, cmo vas a iniciar una cancion asi, increible, un aplauso cmo siempre al guitarrista asi es, no amigos esta gente derrochaba magia siempre wtf q buena cancion, cambio por completo mi punto de vista del rock. best one btw. track 5: The saddest part of life is when the person who gave you the best memories becomes a memory, me gusta el coro, q hacia el guitarrista amigo 40 años han pasado y estoy asi :O, show SHOW, q ?? era ?? ese ?? bridge ?? ok no le tenia nada de fe y aqui estoy hypeada con este album wtf track 6: otro video de mala calidad, ok sigan sirviendo blurry underground concept, ARREGLEN ESOS VIDEOS AAAAA, ou ou ouuuuu, no escuche una mrd q video tan malo llore, bno si escuche pero no es cmo q tenga la super opinion, btw no me gusta tanto q repitan el coro. track 7: el ?? inicio ?? qn descubrio el cosito q se sube y se baja en produccion akjka, ATOMIC PUNKKK OU YEAHH, los track 7 nunca decepcionan, de vdd quiero entrar a la mente del guitarrista y sabe q pasaba por su mente hola ???, uaaaaaaaaaaaa. track 8: la vdd no tengo mucho q decir, los anteriores tracks la rompieron, este no es malo, es mas cmo para bajarle revoluciones al album, no es q me encante mas alla de la guitarra.... track 9: espero no volver a hablar de los intros de las canciones PERO este es espectacular, pienso q ya dije todo. track 10: aca si me pierden por completo no, q extraña cancion sobre helado... track 11: ya me canse de hablar del guitarrista hagan algo, bno si me gusta cmo termina el album, pudo ser un peor ending (track 10) FIREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, todos sirven cabello diva ok esta jodido q los videos tengan tan mala calidad (de q se quejaba) el guitarrista solo derrochaba magia asi es q seria de esta banda sin el guitarrista ok, decian q se enfermaba y q no podia estar en el concierto y nadie iba, yo lo se ok mañana me caso con una guitarra aviso a todo el mundo soy una quejetas el album esta increible, creo q ya puedo escuchar rock gracias :3 de los mejores debuts de la historia gracias
I lost weight the first time I heard Eruption. This has some of the best guitar work ever recorded, also the rest of the band is pretty good. Mostly boomer cock rock fluff, but this album was certified platinum in my playlists when I was 19 so I'm a little sentimental for it.
Overall Rating - 3.91/5 (7.82/10). As a first album, this is insane. These guys absolutely shred. Even where it's not as good, it's still high quality hard rock.
Such a fun rock record. Yes - they are pretty corny. Especially David Lee Roth - but- that's part of the charm. And while Eddie's guitar is what makes this band so special, they'd be nothing without hooky, catchy songs. They repeat themselves quite a bit by the time we get halfwaya through the B side. And The Brown Sound gets a bit tiring. But then they mix it up again with "Little Dreamer" and "Ice Cream Man" - so - it all works out in the end. Overall and excellent debut and an excellent guitar rock album that completely changed that genre for good. FOUR STARS
Second Van Halen album I've had, second one I liked a lot more than I thought I would. Very good start to finish.
Expected this to be significantly more cheesy - this is great. That intro riff to Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love is awesome. The album is technically great, and fun to listen to. Really good throughout, without taking itself too seriously - what's that shoo-wop bit in I'm The One all about. Does what it says on the tin, and then some. And at 35 minutes, it doesn't overstay its welcome either.
Well I’m sold
Nice cheesy 80s Hard Rock. Also what is probably the first 'true' Glam Metal album proper, probably. I went in thinking I would hate this but I ended up liking it more than I thought. This is the type of stuff Hells Angels used to listen to so its a pure testosterone fest.
not my vibe but i understand the popularity
Pretty good. Like rolling with the devil and you really good me.
Lekker Eddieeeeee
Surprisingly many titles I recognize. Good rock, not exactly my style
OMG I’m three songs in and this is what my January needed 🎸 ❤️
Not exactly my cup of tea, but the album itself is good. Perfect for some headbanging.
Great rock. Eddie is so casually excellent it’s easy to just listen to him the whole album and forget the songs are rocking too
Disco increíble, en algunos temas junta varios estilos. La guitarra es una pasada en Erupcion. Increible.
Goede degelijke rock met goede gitaarpartijen
I was surprised by how many songs I knew off the album. Not something I’m listening to every day but definitely understand how it influenced a lot of other rock bands
Incredible debut album, all guns blazing, fast paced, hard rock music. Heavy riffs, experimental sounds, hard drums, a ripping bass & powerful vocals on par with a prime Axl Rose. I also believe the album flows perfectly, has its lows & highs in the right order to give an engaging listen. Eruption is an incredible showcase of how good of a guitarist Eddie Van Halen actually was. He uses the double-tapping method which became popularised through Van Halen’s work. I don’t personally think it is contender for best guitar solo ever, as I don’t believe it’s that enjoyable to listen to and is more just a show case of his capabilities. I in fact enjoy alternative guitar solos on this album more. It is impressive nether the less. The cover of “You Really Got Me” just doesn’t hit the spot for me, the voice and changing of original lyrics felt not right and actually slightly irritating for me. This has definitely intrigued me to listen to have a deep dive into Van Halen and see what else they have to offer in their later work as this is absolutely great. Each band member has highly technical capabilities and they each try to showcase that in their art, something all artists should aspire to do. Favourite tracks are: ‘Runnin’ with the Devil’, ‘Atomic Punk’, ‘Ice Cream Man’, & ‘On Fire’.
It's the third great album in a row, unbelievable. I'm not a fan of metal, but there are exceptions. And this is one of them. I love it. I had some of these songs in my playlist a long time ago. You Really Got Me is a great cover of The Kinks. I don't know if it'll be bumped up to 5 out of 5 in the future, but for now it's solid... 4/5 —————————————— Liked: — You Really Got Me — Ain't Talking' 'Bout Love — Atomic Punk
wasn't expecting to like this this much. bring back howling and growling and whining and whimpering in rock songs (ref. you really got me). ice cream man turned me on
slayyyy (too short)
It's all in the guitar. Rock On. Good album.
So much better then 1984. Ain't Talkin Bout Love in particular is an excellent song.
Heck Yeah!!
Awesome. Hadn't listened in ages, and it hasn't lost a thing.
Overated eddi van halen
Shouldn’t the band name just be Eddie Van Halen
I enjoyed this album. There are a few songs on here I already knew, and I ended up adding them to my liked playlist after listening to them again. I can see myself blasting this album in the garage next summer.
like
8/10
8 / 10
So many hits for a debut album. Great introduction to world - especially Eruption/Runnin’ With The Devil. The combo of those two songs introduced EVH’s skills to the world.
как для своего жанра очень хорошо, но не за мэтчилось с сегоднешним моим настроением, для меня этот жанр слишком поверхносный по лирике, но гитарные партии ахуенные
It's hard for listeners today to realize just how much this album sounded like nothing that had been heard on the radio before. This album planted the seeds of hair metal in a field full of disco and punk, and also caused tens of thousands of budding guitar players to spontaneously combust. Eddie Van Halen's technique, precision, and sheer speed blew minds across the country, and defined how rock was going to sound for much of the next decade. This was a band that had honed their craft in countless bar gigs, and by God, they were TIGHT - the timing, the harmonies, everything polished to a mirror finish. None of the songs are anything special by themselves (though I have a soft spot for the lesser-known "I'm the One"), but the performances were everything, and they set rock music on fire.
Vildt fedt? Nogle af de vildeste riffs, og tuningen på guitaren er ret unik, meget positivt overrasket!!
Guitars: shredded. Highlights: Runnin' With The Devil, Eruption.
Very fun listen. Recognize the first song as well.
Never listened to one of their studio albums but pleased to report that pretty much all of this could sit comfortably on their Best Of
This album definitely heralds a new branch of metal/hard rock. It’s brash and dumb and cool. I’m not a maximum guitar solo guy so this has a ceiling for me. I’ve been building an ice rink in my yard for 6-7 years, and made friends with a goalie in the neighborhood who does music writing for the Chicago Tribune. He has an extensive record collection and an audiophile setup with 300lb speakers, and $10,000 a piece components. He had us over for pizza, beer and loud music - he plays his music live venue loud. Running with the Devil was the first song he played and it was bitchin’.
Van Roth over Van Hagar. Classic hair metal band with one of the most iconic guitar players to have ever played the instrument. The bass player on this album is also great.
Solid, some classics on here, no duds.
14 year old James would be very happy. This album is pretty damn good, and gets one of the most iconic guitar solos to boot. I'll say 4/5.
Classic jock rock stuff. Some hits, some stuff I hadn’t heard that surprised me
Good guitar, good album. 8/10
Fav songs: Feel Your Love Tonight, Ice Cream Man
Ripper, can’t go wrong
More 80s hair fun.
True classic
We like this
Good. Good.
Some iconic bangers and overall a great album but there were a few stinkers
One hell of a debut. Some serious bangers, but a few of the songs do not reach memorable status.
Some power tunes to cheer you up and hit the gym! Or the aerobics class!
Played a lot, Eddie Runnin with the devil You really got me Jamie's cryin
I liked it, dont listen to a bunch of rock by myself so this was cool to get to
An all-time classic debut that holds up to this day
I’ve listened to this one before and it’s awesome. Feels like a big party. I’m big on whammy bars so this is great. The cover of You Really Got Me was really interesting. They complexified (is that a word?) it and made it very much their own, and I think it’s a testament to how hard rock drew from a lot of the same influences as punk, despite the fact that it’s a lot more glam and a lot more complex and high-concept. The cover of Ice Cream man is equally as interesting. It provides a dynamic shift at the perfect time, right where I find myself growing a bit tired of the consistent high energy levels. The vocals are impressive and I love blues rock. Eruption is my favorite track. And yes, I do play guitar, and I am quite annoying. The suspense of the opener, Runnin With the Devil, is really well done. It starts on this low, almost creepy note then devolves into a total party. I love the little bursts of guitar noodling throughout. It gives a sense of spontaneity to the whole thing. The production definitely sounds a lot like Led Zeppelin II. I’m the One (like the Descendants!) definitely has a Black Sabbath influence at times, and more whammy bar, and that fun bridge part! Feels like live music and I love live music. The vocals are also incredibly impressive. I can’t take myself seriously when I hum so being able to make those vocalizations and make them sound raw requires a lot of confidence, as well as talent. The sort of raw, party-like energy of it reminds me a lot of Appetite For Destruction, except I find GNR obnoxious so this is way better (tho they are objectively good I guess…sigh…). GNR sounds like frat boys but Van Halen comes off as more punk. Ofc, the closer On Fire is also perfect. It seems like an almost call to arms…not, like, politically, but just because they wanna have fun. It perfectly sums up the rest of the album. To recap: Favorite songs: Eruption, Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love, Atomic Punk, On Fire Least favorite songs: Feel Your Love Tonight (still a banger though) Rating: 4/5 Similar albums: Led Zeppelin II, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Appetite For Destruction
I knew the first four songs plus Jamie's Crying. The guitar speaks for itself and the drumming is solid as well.
An electric debut album that captures all the quality of the group from the vocal to the drum work to the outstanding guitar playing.
Hell yeah brother
Favourite Songs: Ain't Talking 'Bout Love Jamie's Crying
Really enjoyed this one. Incredible guitarist, some ridiculously impressive solos and the Kinks cover is brilliant. Very impressive for their first album. Look forward to (hopefully) hearing more by Van Halen.
Classic 70’s rock
Buen disco de rock el primero de Van Halen. Sin ser muy heavy ni ser muy metal, se las arreglaron para ser lo suficientemente rompedores de manera que mostraron el camino a muchas bandas posteriores que se beneficiaron del sonido honesto y poco pretencioso del grupo. Sin ser fan ni de la banda ni del estilo, la verdad es que su escucha se hace interesante y descubres algunos temas muy rescatables, como el que abre el disco, que ya fue exitoso en su día pero nunca me había parado a saborearlo como toca.
Really sick album. An incredible debut album for the band.
Most excellent. One of the best hard rock albums ever by a band not called Led Zeppelin.
4.09/5 Stars Top Songs: Ice Cream Man, Runnin' with the Devil and I'm the One
It's good
The notion of the guitar as a musical instrument was forever changed when this record came out in 1978. Rock music already had produced some unbelievably gifted guitarists: Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi, Joe Perry, Eric Clapton etc.: but Eddie Van Halen was something else entirely. Imagine hearing 'Eruption' for the first time in '78 and possessing a strong urge to snap your guitar in two because there's no way you'd be able to outdo EVH. That's the seismic nature of Van Halen's debut record. 11 songs. 35 minutes, and more than plenty energetic, party-ready anthems to keep you exhilarated from start to finish. Those first four songs: 'Runnin' With the Devil', 'Eruption', 'You Really Got Me' [a Kinks cover], 'Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love', 'I'm the One' and 'Jamie's Cryin'' constitute one of the greatest Side A's of all time, and while the second half is not quite as memorable, there's still plenty of charismatic rockers to keep the good times rolling. While Eddie Van Halen is, of course, the true star of this record, with his guitar virtuosity changing the appreciation of the instrument overnight, you can't go without recognising David Lee Roth's impressive chops as a front man. He wasn't the most technically gifted vocalist of Van Halen [Sammy Hagar had a much better voice imo], but Roth's charisma, energy and larger-than-life character add plenty of excitement to Eddie Van Halen's wizardry, and there's also the unsung heroes of the band in bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen [Eddie's older brother], who manage to hold the blistering speed of the band together with finesse and fervour. This is where it all began for one of rock's most revolutionary and influential bands, and is the very reason so many guitarists went after speedy, tap-heavy guitar riffs in the 1980s: few matched Eddie's level though! Best songs: That legendary first half [Runnin' With the Devil through Jamie's Cryin']
The bad songs on this album are the ones that don't feature shredding wankery. This is why we listen to Van Halen, folks.
I went in with preconceived notions of what this album was about. And I wouldn't say those notions have changed. But the valence I associate with those notions (bad) may have changed (to good). At the very least, I'm willing to round up the 3.5 stars I think this deserves to a 4 star album.
Eddie was one of a kind. There’s no telling how many guitarists picked up the instrument because of this album alone. His tone and those tapping solos still sound unreal. The showmanship between him and David Lee Roth basically set a standard for all the 80s hair metal bands to follow. Favorite song: On Fire
Classic songs, really enjoyed the ride.
Good classic rock.
The album that inspired many guitar players to become unhinged. Also, the background vocals on this album are wildly overlooked.
"I can't remember if this album has any hits." - partner, as the opening notes of Running With the Devil came on. It was in fact stacked with hits.
The only bummer is "Hot for Teacher" isn't on here. Fun!!!!!
This feels cool. I only know a couple of songs, but it feels familiar and it’s easy to listen to. Ahhh, you really got me is a cover- I know the kinks version. I’m starting to wonder if I should listen to these on chronological order..:and also how much this is messing up my suggestion algorithm.
High energy glam
Classic
Ive heard a lot of the songs before. some were very unexpected, but cool
I really liked it! Running with the devil sets the scene so well, then eruption has a really nice sound throughout. Going through the album, it does get a bit samey, but there’s some other sounds on here that I enjoy. Ice cream man is a verified banger, and Jamie’s crying and feel your love other highlights. However, the skips retract from a 5 star status.
This rocks.
Another nostalgic album for me
Van Halen
Their best album? Eddie sounds great.
Love it. Rock and roll at it's purest
Obvious. Unbelievable album. Love evh guitar tone. Cool songs. Brought rock back.
Such a classic sound, both clean and dirty. Quite a few deep cuts I've missed!
It's pretty dated, cheesy, and over-the-top, but still a lot of fun. Eruption alone makes this album worth listening to.
Hair metal \,,/
Loud, fun and energetic. I don't think, particularly, that this album is so revolutionary as most people say. Also, Van Halen II is better in terms of songwriting.
Banger. Crazy guitar riffs. A short but succinct overview of Van Halen imo.
Very strong first half. Eddie's guitar simply off the scale, so satisfying to listen to. I found the songs trailed off a bit in quality in the second half but still a good overall listening experience.
Super classic with attitude and a bunch of good songs
Just super duper cool and love the tone of everything. Definitely more of a 4.5 than a 4.
Way better than 1984.
Despite never thinking of Van Halen as a group worth exploring, I went in open minded and can honestly say I was blown away. This album is full of personality, swagger, and is hard hitting.
Surprised I liked it
Hell Yeah. The hits on the album are definitely the shining stars here, but you're likely not disappointed by the other songs on the album. I think the other songs actually end up establishing a pretty high floor so that hits to then really be great. I think it speaks volumes about what you think about your band if you're putting a guitar solo (in the most literal sense) as the SECOND track on your DEBUT album. What's really incredible is that it works out perfectly and is one of the best songs on the album. Favorite Song(s): Eruption, You Really Got Me, Jamie's Cryin', Ice Cream Man
Pure rock and roll, this band knows what they’re doing. From the drums and vocals to the bass and lead guitar, no time is wasted or moment spent waiting. High energy and powerful every step of the way. They were truly a wonder to listen to!
Favorite Track: Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
Good stuff! Much better than I thought. I learned something new today.