Van Halen

Very good, but a bit hectic.

My favorite version of Van Halen. David Lee Roth vocally swaggers and Eddie VH speeds his guitar. Right on the edge of heavy metal, but because David's voice stays in the blusy range, instead of the high pitched screaming, they stay in the rock range. Full of energy and not a hint of boring. 4/5

First four tracks really set the stage. Can’t give this less than 4 stars.

Some really good songs in the first half carried the whole album. The goofy vocals and aggressive guitar tone puts a cap on how good this band can be

Classic

Muzyka wszystkich ojców świata. Porządny rok, że skarpetek nie wybije, ale można się dobrze bawić, plus kilka naprawdę fajnych hitów jest na tej płycie. Nie każdy album musi zmieniać świat.

I knew that Van Halen were great but I only knew a few songs. This album was pretty nice, and given that this came out in 1978, people must've gone crazy listening to it, and even at live concerts. Great instrumentals, singing is good and overall very boppy music.

What a classic album. Their first, legendary. Eruption is a true form guitar solo turned song. 4.5⭐️

Ik had deze voormiddag een vergadering van 4 uur dus dit album kwam op een perfect moment. Even afzonderen en deze klepper op volume 100 in mijn oren laten knallen. Is het goed voor mijn oren? Neen. Is het goed voor mijn productiviteit? Neen. Is het een schijte goed album? Fuck ja. 4.4

1978. Could’ve sworn this came out later. I guess this really is stream of consciousness. Sometimes consciousness isn’t all that interesting. As a rule, I hate glam rock, but I’ve found Van halen doesn’t fit that mould in the same way that Motley Crue or god forbid, Poison do. Running with the devil. Excuse me, “Runnin’ with the devil.” Not a bad track. The guitar tone and vocals are excellent, the chorus grates in me a little bit. Feels a tad like a glorified intro but still heavy and pretty high octane starter. Eruption was mythical to me as a kid. I think that was the whole idea, but my god is it ever good. The tone just rules, and yes the secret is out. It’s tapping, but it’s played with such fervour. I love it. HOLY JESUS. It’s so nice to hear heavy guitar. A great Kinks song with the modern technology of that guitar tone. I say modern guitar tone. This is the equivalent of an artist today covering a song from 2010. Yeesh. Another ripping intro. Less exciting as a song. Back to the high energy stuff. This thing keeps trucking along. Oh no, no vocal scatting. Please. I guess it’s probably ironic. I’ll allow it, but don’t let me catch you doing it again. The riff in “Jamie’s Cryin’” is excellent. The lyrics are odd/mid, but that chorus is simply too good for me to be all that snarky. Although, what’s with the lack of “G’s?” I’m not talking about noted gangsta figures either. I’m talking about the song titles. Anyway. Good song. This is almost metal in places. Heavy tone, psychotic vocals. Just so good. Oh god. The riff is insane but this is poison lyrical content. Double meaning meant. “Hey baby, I’m sorry I sexually assaulted you in a car, whatta ya say we get together later?” Oh the 70’s. Still. Riff is great. Little dreamer. Why not beautiful dreamer as sung by Chris Peterson auditioning for zoo animals on wheels. Now that allowed America to dream once more. Decent song but nothing to write home about. Classic. Loved as a kid and is still fun now. Ignoring the innuendo as a child and tolerating it now, this probably helped me get into metal. It sounds odd, but this tone and energy is just so close to metal. Listen to that audible bass too. Damn fine. On fire is a great closer. More gruff vocal delivery with some amazing wails. This song is fantastic too. It sounds like King Diamond and Slayer. Like. How did I miss this shit? I expected to be brought back down to earth on my expectations here, but this album is so god damn good. Driving, aggressive and with one of the best guitar tones/performances I’ve heard possibly ever. Not perfect, but a monster of an album that will get some return play. 4 HIGHLIGHTS: Eruption, You Really Got Me, Jamie’s Cryin’, Atomic Punk, Ice Cream Man, On Fire

Very classic anthem rock!

Great!

First Van album. Decent!

Van Halen will never not be in the conversation of best guitarist. What that man did with a guitar is unbelievable

For a first album, this leaves me super impressed I get it, its over the top, but theres still a lot to love. Incredible guitar tone, I loved how forward the drums are in every song and David Lee Roths screams are iconic 80s rock (although this is 79 IIRC) Favorites: Jamies crying, Ice cream man, Feel your love

You Really Got Me with this album. This is On Fire!

Pasional y frenético de principio a fin

|m|

Absolute flithy shredding by EVH. DLR vocals didn't bother me as much as I remember. Running with the devil is awesome but Eruption is the star of the show.

I forgot how fun this album is. It's a good reminder that I like Van Halen

dad rock essentials

Ace

Indispensable classic ( for young white male rock fans)

Pretty hyped songs!

One of the more consequential albums of its time. Changed rock guitar forever. Brilliant musicians, some great songs, especially in the first half.

solid

85% Best: Runnin' with the Devil; You Really Got Me; Jamie's Cryin'; Feel Your Love Tonight Must-Hear? Sure

Seguro se merecen un 5, la guitarra, las voces y la batería junto al bajo, se conjugan en este gran grupo

I can say that I'm not a Van Halen fan but a few of the songs on this album have completely permeated American society over the decades whether being played in commercials or in stadiums. I've never formally listened to the album before, but I've heard every song on the album at some point. Which is weird for me but I'm sure not surprising to a lot of Van Halen fans.

Nostalgic

4.75

jó egy ilyennek ideje volt már nagyon!

\m/ Hollywood Hard Rock \m/

Good

Favorite Track: You Really Got Me

Leyendo la historia de como se grabó el disco, es interesante como ya la banda tenía en mente todo lo que iba a hacer y fue un proceso de grabación muy rapido y practicamente en crudo porque quedó tal cual grabaron. Es un album que personalmente me gusto por su sonoridad rockera de los finales de los 70s, marcando una epoca de hard rock sin precedentes. El timbre de la guitarra principal bastante aguda y bastante aguda la mezcla por los platillos de la bateria.

Really good.

Fun, energetic and full of hits. I enjoyed this one a lot!

I thought itwas really good and Nice rock. Some songs i knew already. It was a good album

It's a pretty fun album Will I listen to again: 50%

Clearly a legendary record for a reason, so many radio-ready catchy bangers, and Eddie's guitar work is awesome. But for me, none of those tracks knock my dick in the dirt, and if I never heard any of them again, it would be fine. Except for Ain't Talkin' About Love, that song fucks.

3.5

Remarkably short album but it slaps. Almost every song is an iconic Van Halen song that has seen radio play for years. The only song I wasn't familiar with was "On Fire" which is incredibly good.

The first side is great, but by the end of the second side the steam has just about run out. It's hard to mark this album down, particularly because it's about as close to a live album as you can get based on the limited production. I'm going with a 4.

A banger, such a solid, fun album

The perfect antidote to a stressful day at work. Play it loud and proud! Great guitar. Great noise. I enjoyed this. I mean, I'm not a huge Van Halen fan, but this was definitely the right album at the right time, for me. Lift music - but not in that way, in an uplifting way! Made me wish I could play the guitar🎸🤘😎

This sounds great up loud. Everything about it is BIG. I love the heavy, crunchy guitar sound, and some of the lead guitar is very technically impressive. I can imagine Van Halen would’ve been amazing to watch live. A reliable personal barometer by which I gauge my enjoyment of music is how it makes me feel physically. When I’m enjoying a piece of music I get this electric shivering sensation down my arms and legs, and I got it with this album. I watched Wayne’s World 2 this week, and this is exactly the sort of thing they would like. Party on, Garth!

Oh yea! This album is classic and legendary.

I forgot how enjoyable this album was, what a treat!

Have on vinyl. Revolutionary sound, great singles, but some weak tracks. Very influential, but it doesn't warrant 5 stars

....

They sure as hell put on a show. More like a 3.5, but I’ll round to 4.

I’m the one is a jam

Fantastic sound, though it could probably be a little better with some more focus on sounding good rather than technical ability. Still great though. 4/5

It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. More soulful than I expected, some definite hits on there. Would listen to again.

3.5

Great classic rock album

I've heard most of these songs before, and this was better than expected. I've never been a huge Van Halen fan but after listening to this album, I'd definitely call it a 4 out of 5.

Scale of 1-5 is too hard

🤘

Excellent excellent album. Some classics here. Only reason I didn't give it a 5 is because it's been so played out at this point

The hair band era wasn’t as bad as they said. This was an album that could be easily released in the 2000’s and would be a hit. I enjoyed it

yea, i mean this is obviously awesome. not a hit parade by any means, nor is it important enough in my opinion to warrant 5 stars. a strong example of its genre, but certainly not gods gift to music

Another debut album, another contender for best first song off a debut album for Runnin' with the Devil. I like guitar solos, but Eruption has never been one of my favorites. I like them in the context of a song, not as the song. You Really Got Me is a great cover. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love is another Van Halen staple. I don't know if a band started a first album with more consecutive staples than Van Halen does here. This is a fun album. Jamie's Cryin' AKA the song that would become the sample from Tone Loc's Wild Thing. Six straight songs that probably make any Van Halen's greatest hits album....that's quite a start. First came KISS, then came Van Halen. Brothers maybe more than anything, but definitely related. That's a quick album. Good stuff.

I’ve been a fan of Van Halen for a while but I need to say that this album takes a while to get going. Hot take, but I think Running With the devil is a weak opener, and Eruption is a disjointed mess of EVH showing what he can do with the guitar. I can take or leave the cover of You Really Got Me, but the album really starts with Ain’t Talkin Bout Love, and never slows down from there

This album is fun and a bit goofy. You can see how it influenced hair metal. Technically it's great and I love the guitar tone. I just feel it lacks a bit so isn't 5 star worthy.

ERUPTIONNN!

A humdinger of an album! Bravo!

I enjoyed it much more than i expected to

It's basically start to finish bangers

Perhaps the true beginning of hair metal. Perhaps not. Has a kind of gloss to it that never seemed as true as the energy of punk rock. But it has its moments and no denying that Eddie Van Halen can play.

Pretty fire tbh. Listening going down I-4 which was a good choice.

Some of the best guitar shredding I've ever heard. Their later songs may be cheesy and dated (specifically Jump) but this album still sounds amazing even now. Didn't think I was going to like it, but ended up loving it. Only issue is the album definitely peaked with its first half

Yassssssssss and yasssssssssss and yasssssssssss that is all

Hmmm... I remember Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love sounding cooler than I just heard. Anyway, overall it's fun and energetic. I'd put it on again.

Talk about getting hard and taking a ride, this album just like 1984 rips and keeps on rippin

### **Van Halen - *Van Halen* (1978): An In-Depth Review** #### **Introduction** Van Halen's self-titled debut album, released on February 10, 1978, marked a seismic shift in the rock landscape. Featuring the virtuosic guitar work of Eddie Van Halen, the charismatic vocals of David Lee Roth, the solid bass lines of Michael Anthony, and the powerful drumming of Alex Van Halen, the album redefined hard rock and set the stage for the band's enduring legacy. This review delves into the lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence of *Van Halen*, highlighting the album's strengths and weaknesses. #### **Lyrics** The lyrics on *Van Halen* are a mix of youthful exuberance, bravado, and rock 'n' roll rebellion. David Lee Roth, known for his flamboyant persona and sharp wit, delivers lyrics that are both playful and provocative. The album's lyrical themes often revolve around love, lust, and the rockstar lifestyle, reflecting the band's hedonistic ethos. **Songs like "Runnin' with the Devil"** explore themes of freedom and rebellion, with Roth's lyrics capturing the essence of the band's carefree attitude. The line "I live my life like there's no tomorrow" embodies the spirit of the album, emphasizing a live-for-the-moment philosophy. **On "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love,"** the lyrics take a darker turn, with Roth singing about the emptiness of a superficial relationship. Lines like "You know you're semi-good looking" and "I been to the edge, and there I stood and looked down" showcase Roth's ability to mix humor with a sense of danger. However, the lyrics are not without their shortcomings. Some tracks, like **"Feel Your Love Tonight,"** feature more generic and simplistic lyrics, which, while effective in capturing the spirit of the times, may not stand up to more sophisticated lyrical scrutiny. Roth's lyrics, while charismatic and fitting for the band's image, can occasionally feel lightweight, prioritizing style over substance. #### **Music** The musical aspect of *Van Halen* is where the album truly shines. Eddie Van Halen's guitar work is nothing short of revolutionary, introducing techniques that would become staples in rock music. His use of two-handed tapping, harmonics, and whammy bar dives created a new sonic vocabulary for guitarists. The album's music blends hard rock, blues, and pop sensibilities, resulting in a sound that is both aggressive and accessible. **"Eruption,"** the album's second track, is a showcase of Eddie's technical prowess. The instrumental piece, lasting just under two minutes, redefined what was possible on the electric guitar. Its cascading taps, rapid-fire hammer-ons, and lightning-fast runs made it an instant classic and a rite of passage for aspiring guitarists. **"Runnin' with the Devil"** opens the album with a heavy, descending bassline that sets the tone for the record. Eddie's guitar riff, simple yet powerful, complements Roth's vocal delivery perfectly. The song's structure is straightforward but effective, with a memorable chorus and a driving rhythm section. **"Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love"** features a staccato guitar riff that became one of Eddie's most iconic contributions to rock music. The song's aggressive tone is matched by Roth's vocal delivery, making it one of the standout tracks on the album. The use of a flanger effect on the guitar adds a layer of texture, showcasing Eddie's innovative approach to tone and sound. The album also includes a cover of The Kinks' **"You Really Got Me,"** which Van Halen transforms into a hard rock anthem. Eddie's reinterpretation of the song's iconic riff, combined with Alex's thunderous drumming and Roth's swaggering vocals, gives the track a new lease on life. The cover respects the original while injecting it with a fresh energy that only Van Halen could provide. However, not every track on the album is a masterpiece. **"Ice Cream Man,"** a cover of a blues tune by John Brim, feels somewhat out of place amidst the more hard-hitting rock tracks. While the song allows Roth to showcase his bluesy vocal chops and humor, it disrupts the album's flow. Similarly, **"Little Dreamer"** and **"Atomic Punk"** are solid tracks but don't quite reach the heights of the album's standout moments, feeling somewhat filler-like in comparison. #### **Production** Produced by Ted Templeman, *Van Halen* boasts a crisp, clean production that captures the energy and rawness of the band's sound. Templeman, who had previously worked with artists like The Doobie Brothers, brought a polished yet organic approach to the album's production. The balance between the instruments is meticulously crafted, allowing each band member's contributions to shine. Eddie's guitar tone, dubbed the "Brown Sound," is one of the most significant achievements of the album's production. The tone is warm, rich, and overdriven, with a clarity that allows the intricacies of Eddie's playing to be heard in full detail. The use of minimal effects, primarily a phase shifter and reverb, keeps the focus on Eddie's technique rather than studio trickery. Alex Van Halen's drumming is also given a prominent place in the mix, with his snare and bass drums sounding particularly punchy. The production captures the power of Alex's playing, which is characterized by his heavy use of cymbals and toms. Michael Anthony's bass, while often following the guitar, is mixed to provide a solid foundation, and his backing vocals add a layer of harmony that complements Roth's lead vocals. Roth's vocals are mixed with just the right amount of reverb, giving them a larger-than-life quality without drowning them in effects. Templeman wisely avoids overproducing Roth's voice, allowing his natural charisma and personality to come through. One of the few criticisms of the album's production is its relative lack of low-end compared to modern rock albums. While this was partly a product of the era's recording technology, some listeners might find the bass frequencies a bit lacking, especially when compared to the thunderous lows of later hard rock and metal recordings. #### **Themes** Thematically, *Van Halen* is a celebration of rock 'n' roll excess and youthful rebellion. The album captures the hedonistic spirit of the late 1970s, a time when rock music was both a form of escapism and a means of self-expression. The themes of freedom, lust, and living on the edge are prevalent throughout the album, making it anthemic for a generation seeking to break free from societal norms. **"Runnin' with the Devil"** embodies the theme of reckless abandon, with its lyrics suggesting a life lived without fear of consequences. The song can be interpreted as a reflection of the band's own experiences, embracing the rockstar lifestyle with all its dangers and thrills. **"Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love,"** on the other hand, delves into the darker side of relationships, with its lyrics suggesting a cynical view of love as a fleeting, superficial experience. This theme of disillusionment contrasts with the more celebratory tone of other tracks, adding depth to the album's overall narrative. **"Feel Your Love Tonight"** and **"Jamie's Cryin'"** explore themes of love and desire, but with a tongue-in-cheek approach that keeps the mood light and playful. Roth's delivery, combined with the band's energetic performance, ensures that these songs are more about fun than introspection. The inclusion of covers like **"You Really Got Me"** and **"Ice Cream Man"** speaks to the band's influences and their desire to pay homage to the music that inspired them. These tracks, while not thematically complex, fit within the album's overall theme of rock 'n' roll as both a genre and a lifestyle. While the album's themes are not particularly deep or philosophical, they are perfectly suited to the band's image and the musical landscape of the time. *Van Halen* is not an album that seeks to challenge listeners intellectually; instead, it offers an escape into a world of loud guitars, fast cars, and endless parties. #### **Influence** The influence of *Van Halen* cannot be overstated. The album redefined the possibilities of rock guitar and inspired countless musicians to pick up the instrument. Eddie Van Halen's innovative techniques, particularly his use of tapping, became a blueprint for guitarists in the 1980s and beyond. The album's success helped pave the way for the rise of glam metal and hair bands, with its blend of hard rock and pop sensibilities becoming a template for many bands that followed. The impact of *Van Halen* extended beyond just the guitar world. The album's production techniques, particularly the emphasis on clarity and separation of instruments, influenced the way rock records were produced in the years that followed. Ted Templeman's approach to capturing the energy of a live band in the studio became a model for other producers working in the genre. The band's image, with David Lee Roth's flamboyant stage presence and Eddie's guitar wizardry, also played a significant role in shaping the visual aspect of rock music in the 1980s. Van Halen's success demonstrated the importance of not just musical talent, but also showmanship and personality in achieving rock stardom. However, the album's influence was not entirely positive. The success of *Van Halen* and the subsequent rise of glam metal led to an oversaturation of the genre in the 1980s, with many bands imitating the style without the same level of talent or innovation. This eventually led to a backlash against the genre, culminating in the rise of grunge and alternative rock in the early 1990s. #### **Pros and Cons** **Pros:** 1. **Re volutionary Guitar Work:** Eddie Van Halen's innovative techniques redefined rock guitar and influenced generations of musicians. 2. **Energetic Performance:** The album captures the raw energy and charisma of the band, making it a thrilling listen from start to finish. 3. **Crisp Production:** Ted Templeman's production is clean and well-balanced, allowing each band member's contributions to shine. 4. **Memorable Tracks:** Songs like "Runnin' with the Devil," "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love," and "Eruption" are timeless classics that have become staples of rock radio. 5. **Cohesive Sound:** The album successfully blends hard rock, blues, and pop elements, creating a sound that is both aggressive and accessible. **Cons:** 1. **Lyrical Simplicity:** Some of the lyrics are simplistic and lack depth, prioritizing style over substance. 2. **Inconsistent Tracks:** While the album features many standout moments, tracks like "Ice Cream Man" and "Little Dreamer" feel less essential and disrupt the album's flow. 3. **Limited Low-End:** The production, while crisp, lacks the low-end punch that would become more common in later rock albums. 4. **Overemphasis on Guitar:** While Eddie Van Halen's guitar work is undeniably impressive, it sometimes overshadows the contributions of the other band members. #### **Conclusion** *Van Halen* is a landmark album that changed the course of rock music. Its blend of virtuosic guitar work, energetic performances, and charismatic vocals made it an instant classic, and its influence continues to be felt in the rock genre today. While the album is not without its flaws, particularly in its lyrical content and occasional inconsistency, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. *Van Halen* remains a testament to the power of rock 'n' roll and the enduring appeal of one of the greatest bands in rock history.

An amazing debut album that firmly planted Van Halen on the Rock map. 5 out of the first 6 tracks are rock classics (including one heavy cover of The Kinks "You Really Got Me". It is the B side of this album that descends from greatness into merely being good. An easy 4 for quality, innovating, and standing the test of time. It's not their best album as that would be a toss up between 1984, 5150, OU812, or FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAGE. Not only did this album sell well, but I remember a bunch of those sales coming from guitarists who bought the album just listen to "Eruption" over and over in an effort to figure out Eddie Van Halen's fretboard tapping style.

An excellent debut from a rad band that everyone knows. In my opinion it starts out way better than it ends (Runnin With The Devil -> Eruption -> You Really Got Me is one hell of a start), but it’s still a fun album all the way through. Eruption is arguably the most important guitar instrumental ever in terms of what it did for the election guitar, and the You Really Got Me cover is somehow better than the Kinks original. So much swagger, great tunes, and insane guitar playing in one record.

Definitely their best album.

It's hard for me to not think of this as the cheesy rock playing on the jukebox during my mom's bowling league in the 80s, but it's a solid, fun album.

Vastly more enjoyable than expected! :)

I mean obviously Van Halen hits and this album has so many BANGERS. Have to give it a 4 even though I would never just like throw it on ya know

Great rock and roll album. Really enjoyed it.

Of course, for purists, this probably isn't rock, it isn't heavy enough, it's too commercial. Well, tough, music should be joyous and there aren't many better examples of where the truck labelled "rock" (quote marks intentional) crashed through the door marked "pop" with some absolute bangers. Yes, hair metal drove their clown car through shortly afterwards, but this is a fine fine album.

it’s Van Halen

What a fucking debut. Sometimes they're stars from the get go. Everybody's locked in, but David Lee Roth and Eddie were something else. No snoozers, just hits and other songs.

Never really been into Van Halen and I don’t know why because it seems right up my street. I can see why Eruption is considered one of the greatest guitar solos of all time, though I personally prefer solos with more melody than speed/technical difficulty. Ice Cream Man and Little Dreamer were my favourites, but enjoyed every song on the album.

Good stuff, especially Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love and Eruption.

Really Good album.

Why is Van Halen's half of the albums not available in my country apparently on Spotify. This one is half available, but if I search the songs individually they are on other ones, maybe live versions and stuff, sadly I'm gonna have to do that, I mean it's the same song. Tbh this is the first time I've heard of them, I love metal and rock and this better not be full of some basic ass sounds of them. I don't really have high expectations, but I think it's gonna be a good experience, just maybe not for me. The songs that are not available were played in 1977 Pasadena live, I hope there's not much difference. First song, eerie start, and I love it. Oooh this is the most listened song, so it's relatively the best on the album, but that doesn't mean anything to me tbh. His voice is different, but also a basic rock voice. Chorus isn't that catchy, tho verses have good delivery. Screaming is sometimes heard. Chorus is getting better as a second listen. The instrumental break is insanely good. The before-verse-starts guitar is also amazing. Great start for an album I suppose. Second song, this has no lyrics. OOOOO THAT ELECTRIC GUITAR IS GUITARING. One in a lifetime solo I guesss. I'm transcending how is he doing that so well. Loved this one tho I need more of it. Third song, it starts with the chorus and does that before the verse, loved that touch. The verse was catchy, but chorus is superior. What were these alien sounds after the second chorus, because they're addicting. I'm getting familiar with his voice and it's less basic now. The outro is too good. 4th song, nostalgic vibe already. Verse is more like a build-up to the chorus, which is as good as bad, the chorus itself has a good delivery. The break is kind of not impressive. THE BRIDGE IS THE BEST PART, ESPECIALLY THE LYRICS THEY CATCHY AF. Outro is soooo good too, the Hey hey hey-s basically sum up the whole good vibe in the song. It went on for a while and quickly stopped. 5th song, he's talking because it's a live. After one minute it's finally starting. He wants the people to dance basically, if they also want it to. The recording is kinda bad because it's not loud enough if you know what I mean. The song itself must have been better on the album, 'cause this way it sounds bad and uninteresting. The electric guitar is carrying. I so wanna skip this, and sadly there's no other version of this as I remember. There's rainy sounds now. They're babadoobing now, dunno why. Outro was quite good I must say. 6th song, finally this one's available. Chorus is fun to sing along to. Verse has goood lyrical delivery. His voice is becoming more and more satisfying. The break is kinda basic. Forgot to say sometimes the lyrics are sang together, for example the chorus here, it sounds different, more united voice. Outro is the same as the break, but it's fading away now. 7th song, this and every other song is not available so time to feel like I'm in Pasadena. Without the lyrics it's hard to say what he is singing about, and without that it just sounds like a regular rock/metal song. I'm hearing Korn rn, with those sounds, yk the sounds he makes was now made, but with some instrument, cool af. I'm still not feeling this song tho. The outro is so good, it's a build-up for something, nevermind the song ended, but it did sound good. 8th song, he's talking to the audience now. Idk what to write, the song is chaotic in a bad way. The chorus is not as good as it should be. At some parts the song is really good, but not as a overall vibe. Doing a-capella now, guitar slowly increased its volume then stopped and after audience screaming he talked and stopped the song. 9th song, this one sounds good already with the lyrics. It didn't go on as good as it should've. Chorus is forgettable and not a sing along. He sang the song tittle without the instruments and he sounded kinda bad honestly. Overall I didn't enjoy this one either. 10th song, forgot to write, but this would have been better if it was heard on an album because the delivery of the ice cream man is catchy. This one was less metal at the start also, then it got hard. That guitar did the job weeeell. Chorus is the best part and it made me add the song. 11th song, he must have energy on the scene, I do wanna see him too, but I'm lazy. The song is not that good, it's missing something. I don't hear a good chorus. There are good woman's vocals tho. It was energetic and fun to listen to it, but I really think the album version would be just simply superior. Depending on these last songs, the album should get a rating of 3 stars, but it's my first time hearing them and I really liked them too. Their style isn't obscure, but they had something, more albums from them would make me sure in this idea. So basically 4 stars is the perfect choice, the first 5 songs were too good to ignore, and just because live versions were bad doesn't mean they are actually unlistenable. Thus it wasn't as basic as I expected it to be, it wasn't really metal for me either, more rock than metal I suppose. All and all I'll have them in my daily rotation most likely.

Favourite Song: Little Dreamer

legebdaarinen, influentiaalinen ja nykypäivänäkin suosittu albumi... lisätäänmpähän kolmen pekkaan neljäs adjektiivi: yliarvostettu. ehkä aikanaan uudenlainen ja raikas otos, joka nykyään kuulostaa lähes tavanomaiselta ja tylsältä. ainoa asia, joka tekee albumista yli monen muiden on tosiaan eddie van halenin kitarantyöskentely, joka on kieltåmättä todella vakuuttavaa. muuten biisit ovat täyttä poppimönjää joka kuuluu vain radio rokin automaattisesti soiville playlistoille koska ei ole varaa maksaa ihmisille kuratoida niitä im the one

Head banger

This album changed everything. Nobody played guitar like Eddie Van Halen at the time, and all the kids worked like fiends to learn his licks.

Great album, I loved the first half of it especially. Eddie's guitar is definitely the star of the show.

Rock, 1978 -> 4

For a debut album? Yes.

gold standard of pop rock // warmest guitar tone of all time...i fucking love Brown Sound and the melodies and swing across Van Halen's debut are incredible, only caveat is it falls off a bit in the last third but forever One of the Good Ones of Dad Rock 8/10

Great rock album with lots of iconic songs and guitar riffs.

I don’t listen to a lot of 70s and 80s hair metal, but if I do chances, are it’s Van Halen. This album is excellent. And I’m always mystified at how we could get from Chuck Berry to Eddie Van Halen in less than 20 years. Superb. I will always listen.

Good album, would even be better without the song about sweet talking a women into having sex with him.

Van Halen continues to be my favorite of the late-70s/early 80s rock bands, and this album is no exception.

Best version of Van Halen

Listened 7/12/24. Already knew most of this record, but still slaps nearly half a century later.

weak second half

Nostalgisk guitar hero musik

Great album! Rolled my eyes when I saw it bc I thought it was going to be heavier for some reason. But just good vibes really enjoyed it!

I think I’m going 4 (like a 3.5) on this because while it didn’t totally blow me away, the vibes were right for today and I thought the first two songs were excellent, which makes me think this has some staying power and I’ll be revisiting it!! Some real impressive guitar on here, to no one’s surprise!

Pure hard rock

"Eruption" - holy shit

VH has never been my taste exactly, but it's hard to argue with the talent and impact they've had. There's excellent technical musicianship throughout, but the songs don't have much emotion or depth. Just great party music. That, and the signature squeal-yell in the vocals gets old.

If the song "Ice Cream Man" didn't exist this album may have lost a star

Classic stuff. Didn’t realize how much of it I had already heard until listening. EVH was a legend and I’m glad to be able to explore more of his work!

Hoy en día no suena tan espectacular, pero estoy seguro que escuchar eso en 1978 debe haber volado la cabeza de mucha gente y quizás encontrado múltiples resistencias en el mundo de los melómanos. Una joya imperdible.

Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Artwork: 💯🤘😎 Mix (2015 Remaster): 🎧😘🤌 Musik: 💪🔌👨‍🎤 Wertung: 🎸🎸🎸🎸(🎸)/5

Enjoyable classic, but didn't stand out enough to enter the main rotation

Strong first half to the album, but drops off in the second half

Loved it, super fun and badass guitars!! A classic album with lots of great songs!!

A very enjoyable album 4 ⭐️

If I get anything out of this whole experience, it’ll be discovering that Van Halen are actually a great band. Very much enjoyed both albums I’ve had of theirs so far.

Classic Rock. This is the cream. I dont listen rock and roll too often but I can tell that this is the good stuff.

Some bands are just eternally cursed for being known better for one particular member than for the band as a whole. Van Halen can unfortunately probably be thrown in that category. That’s another reason why this list is valuable. Of all the classic hard rock groups I hear about, Van Halen may be one of the ones I hear about the least. Like I said, I hear about Eddie more than the band itself. Which I think is definitely justifiable. Because not only was he really the face of the band, he sort of became the face of modern 20th century guitar playing for a brief time. And you can’t take that away from him. The dude was amazing, no matter who you say was better or worse. But it’s also important to acknowledge the value the rest of the members brought to the band. It’s always nice to see where bands got started. This band in particular came out swinging for sure. Runnin' With the Devil is such an awesome way to open your album. I was also surprised by the release year. 1978 seems very late in the decade to start, considering how much hard rock had already released by then. But it also means that with how huge this album was, the band basically defined the sound of the early 80s. Everybody wanted to be Van Halen. Of course, this is definitely a little dated and shows its age. But it’s dated in a good way. Like dated in the same way that Def Leppard or Rocks by Aerosmith are. Admittedly, David Lee Roth’s lyricism is pretty surface level and lame. And his singing is nothing special, but he definitely provides energy to the music. All in all, this is a band that maybe isn’t judged for the sum of its parts as much as it should be. Eddie was of course badass, but the rest of the band is cool too, and this debut is solid overall. Rating: 7/10

Pretty awesome rock album

I had totally forgotten about the scatting on I'm the One. But yeah, these songs are seminal and still culturally relevant today. It's just sad that they've been relegated to radio rock.

Unfairly gets four stars because there’s so much of this out there to stumble upon that I don’t need to hear the album for the few weak deep cuts. It’s amazing work.

It sounded like the band had a lot of fun making this music, I'd give it five stars if it was more up my alley, but for this type of rock from that period it's the peak.

Runnin' With The Devil Eruption You Really Got Me Jamie's Cryin' Ice Cream Man

2nd straight day of listening to a self titled album. this was much more enjoyable. tight 35 minutes, no bad songs. great debut

Solid RAWK album. It's fun to listen from today and think back to how outrageously new Eddie's guitar work sounded. And I forget how jazzy Dave was right from the first album. Several classic songs on here, although I might like "On Fire" the best,

\m/ \m/

Great album - start to finish. I can't imagine what it must have been like to hear Van Halen for the first time and have that opening guitar riff be the introduction. It's still great.

A classic first album from Van Halen Top tracks: Runnin’ with the Devil, Eruption, You Really Got Me

Van Halen is dope AF. These guitars absolutely scream and it’s such a delight to listen to. This album as a whole has a bunch of hits, and it’s a short run time that leaves you satisfied.

They’re the best bits of AC/DC + Aerosmith. The ultimate Dudes Rock arena album. Surprisingly good, energetic from front to back. Surprisingly thorough

There's just a bit too much guitar wank here to take it all the way to the top for me, but there is no doubt that it's very cool.

I’ve never listened to a Van Halen album by choice prior to this challenge, so I only know what I’ve heard on the radio. I was surprised with this one, because I didn’t realize how many of these songs I knew — probably about two thirds of the album. It’s definitely filled with hits. That said, I wish Van Halen’s lyrics were even a fraction as good as their music. I’m not interested in a vapid rock star bloviating about being a womanizer (and a sex pest, as on “Feel Your Love Tonight”). It’s boring. A few notes: “Eruption” — iconic guitar solo “You Really Got Me” — Why does he sound like Steven Tyler? This cover doesn’t add a whole lot beyond some showy guitar fills and solos. His yelps in the background are annoying. I'll take the original. I’d rather listen to Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Rush, but it’s not terrible. Highlight: “Atomic Punk” I guess I’ll give this a 4/5 since I gave the other one a 4 (kind of regretting that now), and I like this album better.

Huge in its day, and still holds up very well indeed. The blueprint for the next decade of rock.

Still a great album.

I wanted this album to be a 5 sooooo bad especially after the first three songs which are just brilliant. Unfortunately I don't feel like the album is able to progress with the same quality. Other standouts are Jamie's crying which gives me you're so vain vibes ... don't hate me for that but also Feel Your Love Tonight. Such a fun listen overall!

3.5

Classic cute very nice

Loved this album then and love it now!!

HAHAHAHA S ALBUMCOVER GAHT JA DUMMMMMMMM runnin with the devil kenni?? finds es guets lied aber jz nöd meh, find d soli no en coole gegesatz zum restliche ener langsame rhythmus WAS ER CHAN GITI NÖD GWÜSST you really got me no funny cover ain't talkin' 'bout love het so vill apostroph s isch nüt revolutionärs aber finds en huere guete song, vor allem de ruhiger part ide mitti UHH I'M THE ONE riese rhythmus liebd pace hahahah was und denn no de acappella (wie schribtmer de scheiss) jamie's crying erinnered mich schochli ah älters van halen atomic punk riese banger, erinnered mich ah irgendes anders lied find sini stimm het scho gnueg hall hahahaha schwanke zwüsche 3 und 4, finds easy solid und natürlich nochli nostalgie aber es isch jz nöd s speziellste album oder so ahh ice cream man hallou fuck it 4

Not a huge Van Halen fan although I get the appeal. Really did enjoy this though

I've always liked Van Halen, but not loved outside of some singles here and there. This album is a lot of fun, but doesn't change my mind on the like, not love part. Still worth listening to by rock fans.

Stadium rock, which I don't particularly love, but some of the best of it. Lots of shredding as expected but pleasantly surprised with some of the bluesier stuff. Particularly enjoyed I'm the One, and Little Dreamer, and Ice Cream Man (after it picks up at least).

96/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

This is a LOT of Van Halen. It felt a little fatiguing... until I realized that each song is a hit. Talk about hitting the ground running. I can't believe this album dropped in '78. It sounds fresh, even in 2024.

Enjoyed this so much more than I expected! A bit cheesy but in the best way.

Some good old sexy hard rock, this album doesn’t hold back the punches in a great 35 mins, clearly kicked off the whole hair metal scene, though I’m not sure that’s a good thing…

This might have the best opening combo punch of any album, "Running With The Devil" followed by "Eruption" followed by a cover of "You Really Got Me" on a debut album to, what a way to make a mark.

"When I first came here, I thought every day was gonna be a Van Halen video... hot chicks wearing bikinis riding around on roller skates drinking cocktails by the pool. Damn you, Van Halen." - Ashton Kutcher in Spread. I havent seen that movie nor do I want to, but anytime I hear Van Halen I think of that quote from the trailer. This album is fun! VH has some sick riffs and really usher in 80's rock with this album before it gets too synthy. Cant help but enjoy it. For some reason Feel Your Love Tonight stood out to me most and thats fine!

4.5. Great album

I liked this album by Van Halen a lot better than the one I reviewed previously (1984), which came later. Listens: 2 Fave Track: I’m The One Rating: 4

A really good album, especially for a band's first album!

Classic obviously, beautiful Instantly added it to my Alt II playlist, aka Dad Rock

This album gets a 4 almost single-handedly because of Eddie Van Halen's incredible guitar work, especially on Eruption but also just throughout the album. There are also several banger tracks like "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", though there are also a bunch of "filler" tracks.

A ballsy, swaggering mix of arena rock anthems with an almost Vegas show tune silliness that - with insane guitar playing - made for a surprisingly fun album. While I'm not sure I'd regularly go back to listen to this again, can appreciate having fun while also being insanely talented.

This record is undeniably rockin'

Very epic album. Enjoyed the kinks cover

This is the most 80s rock album ever and I love it. Evhs guitar playing is peak and the album is just really really fun

Revolutionary. RIP, Eddie.

hair metal in general was a disappointing movement, focusing more on the visual experience and aesthetic than the actual music is the album good? yea, but it's like finding a gold nugget in a pile of shit it still reeks favourites: running with the devil, i'm the one, atomic punk least favourite: jamie's cryin, ice cream man maybe 7-8/10

The first four tracks alone are just simply legendary, but the rest of the tracklist is not too shabby either. Even if it does come off as dad rock, this is a consistently fun and engaging hard rock listen with the ever electric guitar playing of Eddie Van Halen. Admittedly the back half of the tracklist is a bit weaker, in large part due to the rather cheesy lyrics found on songs like "Feel Your Love Tonight" and especially "Ice Cream Man", but even those moments don't severely detract from the great musicianship displayed here.

Completely rad album! David Lee Roth is obnoxious as hell, but he's young and dumb so it still comes off endearing. No one could play guitar like Eddie. Absolute legend. Wish I could give 4.5 stars because that's where I think it lands.

Short but sweet, perfect intro and synopsis of Van Halen's quintessential sound and numerous hits in their debut album that remain VH standards to this day. 7/10

It's OK but gets old quick. Weirdly the song I enjoyed the most was ice cream man.

this is my parents type of rock. i respect it. solid album. felt like i was in my moms car on the way to school listening to this.

Guitar goes crazy

Strong opening song in Runnin’ With The Devil. Excellent instrumentals with a nice chorus. Followed by an absolutely mint solo. You Really Got Me is just an amazing track. Ain’t Talking Bout Love is also really strong. I'm the One is a bit weaker in the vocals. Sounds slightly messy. Slightly slower song in Jamie's Cryin'. Still quite good. Atomic Punk still has amazing instrumentals. Feel Your Love Tonight has the same problem as some of these songs on the second half. Somewhat weaker vocally. Little Dreamer is slower again and features a very good guitar riff. Good track. Real pallet cleanser with Ice Cream Man. Unexpectedly fun song! On Fire is on fire! 4/5

This album is iconic for a reason. It’s not my personal favorite Van Halen album, but it’s still really good and is probably one of the best debut albums from any band from that era. My favorite songs are “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” and “Atomic Punk.” Plus “Eruption” is pretty much perfection.

What can I say, it's Van Halen. Although it's a lot more accessible than I thought it would be, fundamentally it's a half hour of technical guitar solos. I think in this case, function follows form, and some of the songs themselves are a bit... emotionless? The Kinks cover in particular seemed weak compared to the original. Fun to listen to on the whole though, and Ain't Talking 'Bout Love is a masterpiece.

Man kan ju inte annat än älska det här.

Cracking first half and the second half ain’t no slouch.

Very fun

Great album.

I know an embarrassingly little about Van Halen other than Jump (and even that I was shocked to learn that song was by them later on in life). I didn’t know “eruption” until I was an adult and all because of the Minions movie or maybe despicable me 3. Idk. One of those. I’m sure plenty has been said about eruption but Jesus Christ, the harmonics and chord structure is literally if Bach or Chopin was a rocker. God tier writing. This album is everything I want out of a classic rock album. Great guitar riffs and memorable choruses. (Another hand up, I didn’t know “you really got me” was VH…..🤦🏻 love that song tho

So we start this album with one of Van Halen’s biggest hits in Runnin’ with the Devil, go into Eruption, one of the top five most well-known/best guitar solos ever, and then probably the best cover of You Really Got Me Now. No wonder Van Halen blew up and became huge in the 80s. It’s short, but it’s a fun ride and it’s clear that this album helped to propel glam rock fully into hair metal and into what many would argue is the genre most associated with 1980s American culture. A strong four.

An excellent debut album, with a harder edged rock sound than many of the hair metal bands that came after them. The innovation and virtuosity of Eddie Van Halen is fabulous to listen to, back up by the strong vocal presence of Dave Lee Roth. Some great riffing numbers particularly Running with the Devil and Ain't talking bout Love, but they also had an ear for a melody and could complement the hard rock with a lighter pop sound too

This is some fun great high energy rock that screams the 70s and 80s.

Wow, Van Halen's first album had Eruption. TIL.

Cutting edge techniques and methods for the time made this a fun experience. The music floating in reverb wore a bit thin. Incredible vocals

Running With The Devil, Ain't Talking About Love, Jamie's Cryin: all 5 star classic songs. Overall: just short of 5 stars. score: 8/10

Lots of excellent stuff on this record, great riffs, favourite track Ain't talking 'bout love.

# Playlist track - Running with the Devil # Notes - Running with the Devil is a great opener, but follow that with Eruption instead of "You Really Got Me" is a bit of flow breaker. I enjoy Eddie's solos as much as the next person, but -1 star. - Otherwise, pretty great album. Full of energy and fun.

I like the album quite a lot. I was very pleased to hear "You Really Got Me" again. Man, it's been a long time.

I said I like big, dumb, fun rock music, and this is certainly that. Loses me slightly near the end but it's also crazy that it opens with an extremely famous guitar solo??

kinda fuckin rocks?

Fun! I'm the One was a highlight i hadn't heard

I am surprised at my impression of this album. It is a terrific rock'n'roll album. Classic songs are "Jamie's Cryin'" and "Running With the Devil". "Ice Cream Man" is a pretty good blues number. Of course the EVH legend could be based entirely on his performance of "Eruption".

This was the only Van Halen album I really liked. I thought and still do, that David Lee Roth was a putz. I liked Eddie but David was just too much. There was some great guitar work here.

While I’m not a fan of 99% of the bands/music that came because of this album’s influence (hair metal), Van Halen and this album are undeniable. Just an awesome rock album. Eddie Van Halen is one of the greatest to ever do it. A creative and virtuosic player. The songs are there too, it’s fun to listen to and it rocks, what’s not to love.

Yes

אחלה אלבום פחות הטעם שלי אבל נהניתי

More enjoyable than I expected.

Early Van Halen! Great listening Again to his great guitar work and solid vocals from David give it a solid 4/5 for sure.. Eruption! Yikes!!

My teenage years was dominated by Van Halen, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, etc. the guitar work was amazing, David Lee Roths vocals are a win!!

Title Album - Not much more to say, its a classic and one of my all time faves

80’s rock at it’s finest

Great VH album

Tasty bubblegum

Very 80s sound. Rocks hard. Enjoyed it.

Not a big Van Halen fan but this is solid

Van Halen is great

Fantastic. Impressive number of singles on a debut album and holds up really well. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing and knew nearly every song. Even went back to "Eruption" for a couple more listens, legendary playing. I didn't love "Ice Cream Man" but very solid.

Van Halen is the best of the Arena Rock. This album kicks ass and being their debut...def deserves the list. Eddie's guitar style is one of a kind. Lee matches perfectly with his swagger and pitch shifting. Bunch of hits here and some fun thrown in. More please

What an awesome debut album. Van Halen brings such a great sound. Eddie's skill and style is on full display. David Lee Roth's vocals and antics elevate everything. This must have blown people's minds when it dropped. What can be said that hasn't already been said? 4.26 stars

Of all the super guitar heavy 70s bands we’ve gotten I rate this among the best

This is literally what rock is. Pure rock. I like it, some banger songs. Not bad for a debut ngl

Very cool album with a nice cover of The Kinks. Running with the Devil and Atomic Punk are straight bangers. Do not care too much about the guitar riffs and solos. A bit too "American" for me. 7/10

The Atomic Punk is one of the worst Van Halen songs ever. The ruler of the nether world? Give me a break David Lee Roth. You're the ice cream man. The rest of the album rocks. Pretty awesome first album for them.

This is an impressive debut by the Van Halen crew. The hits keep coming and the guitar keeps shredding. First half is better than the second, but pretty epic album!

So very much guitar.

A classic

How can this not rock your socks??

Great instrumentation and vocals. Normally not my style but I really dug the album as a whole.

Great for yard work!

The second best rookie album intro chord ever. And the album just gets better from there. 4.5/5

One of the all time great guitarists, I can see how influential/important this album is to Rock music.

Imagino nego pirando qnd esse álbum saiu, mas esse cover de "you really got me" parece que foi mais pra mostrar a diferença de Van Halen pro "rock convencional" o que faz sentido, mas acaba tirando espaço pra mais van halen original

One hell of a debut album. 4.5 stars.

I will forever be in camp "Dave" when it comes to Van Halen.

Eddie’s a true talent for sure. One of the best ever.

Great album and a debut to boot. Loved it

Testosterone much? The lyrics for several songs might not have survived the millennium, but you can't debate the EVH power and the DLR charisma.

Who doesn’t like Van Halen? Great album.

Like

VH one of all time faves

Ya lo escuche. Esta bueno

Very cool and classic. 4/5 ⭐️

For some reason I thought this album was going to sound dated and cheesy but I really enjoyed it.

I regret rating Metallica 4 because this is better than that but it’s not 5. His screams are crazy

It’s not 5*, because after 6 straight bangers on the first half of the album, the second side only has Jamie’s Crying and Ice Cream Man to redeem it. Those two songs are incredible, but the rest on the b-side just doesn’t quite match the a-side. All of that being said, the album is still elite.

Van Halen dude!

I liked it. A few songs I knew but didn't know were by Van Halen.

some bangers could i write poetry to this? y

Nothing not to love. Plus it makes Bryce happy

Super cool

Its exactly what you expect, as deep as a puddle and some face melting guitar, gets a tad samey but it's quite enjoyable, 3.5 rounded up to 4

Honestly surprised how much I enjoyed this 4/5

Side 1 is a 5 with a lot of great guitar work and melodies. Side 2 is a 3 with a lot of forgettable songs.

Amazing guitar that is just a delicious treat for the ears. I love a musician who isn’t afraid to show off their skill on their instrument. Eddie is revered by many as the greatest guitarist of all time. He achieved this by not only having amazing guitar skills, but by fitting his complex guitar parts into traditional rock song structures and styles that appealed to wide, mainstream audiences. Although I love the guitar on this album, I don't quite love every track on this album. Some tracks are really awesome, but some songs like Feel Your Love Tonight feel just a little cheesy and poppy, and not what I love about rock music. Van Halen feels like a unique transition point between the awesome hard rock of the 70s and the glitzy overblown arena glam metal/rock of the 80s. I think Van Halen was in some ways a gateway to more cringey rock bands like Def Leppard and Bon Jovi that I don't care for. Quite torn between 4 and 5

Rock

Great energy to this album. You can hear why Van Halen has inspired so many artists to follow.

You really Got me - one of the greatest songs ever

A solid rocker and a great first studio album.

It's good, and the guitar solos especially are predictably great. I honestly expected to enjoy the album more, but I think my problem is that I didn't play it loud enough.

Ya pas de fausse publicité; c’est bel et bien du Van Halen par Van Halen pendant un inépuisable 35 minutes.

I really enjoy seeing another Van Halen record here since being dealt 1984 in the early stages of the list, and I’m happy to say on their debut they definitely didn’t disappoint. The first 4 songs are iconic enough for the band to really hook the listener in straight away, “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” being my favourite here. “Eruption” not necessarily fitting the same category here but a killer guitar solo for an interlude to connect the songs how could I say no. From the deeper cuts I’ve got to mention “I’m the One” which carries on the electric energy from the first handful of songs, “Atomic Punk” which is just as atmospheric as any of Van Halen’s top songs and “On Fire” which closes the album like it’s being burnt to flames, such a cool track. I didn’t have too much of an issue with the other tracks I just didn’t find them as interesting, also wasn’t a fan of the first half of “Ice Cream Man” it’s like Elvis had invaded the album for a minute or 2. Overall, very solid album, I don’t like it as much as 1984 but as a debut album this is pretty good and makes me appreciate the band even more, I hope to hear more from them.

Top: Ice Cream Man et vous ?

79/100 Based on this scale: 1 star - 0 to 19 2 stars - 20 to 39 3 stars - 40 to 59 4 stars - 60 to 79 5 stars - 80 to 100 If it weren't for uninspired tracks like Atomic Punk, this would have made 5 stars. It's an excellent album, but it's not entirely without filler.

Pure Sex and Rock n Roll. Heavy guitars and great vocals. I always turned my nose up to Van Halen, but this is a great album.

Good

I got exactly what I expected. All except that I didn't expect was how much I was going to enjoy it. Big haired, bare chested, RAWWWWWK that practically stinks of the late 80s. But it shifts around that formula in different ways and never stops being a fun listen.

EVH is a god! Not all songs appeal but can't deny it's awesome. Listened to the 2015 remaster in high-res.

Pretty good debut album. Great opening track! Although there are a coupe of classic hits on the album, I'm not digging all of the other tracks. Favourite tracks: 'Running with the Devil', 'Ain't Talkin' Bout Love'. 4/5

Classic. This is one of the best of Van Halen. The guitar playing is phenomenal, vocals are so smooth.

No idea how many hits I’d be diggin on this album. Everything screams hair and rock opera. Bass and electric dominate my attention.

didn't realize how many of these songs I already know. late 70s hair rock to the max. YOU REALLY GOT ME NOW.

This album starts off so incredibly strong. "Runnin' with the Devil" has got to be one of the greatest rock and roll songs ever. Weird choice to have the third track on your debut album be a cover-- and one that's not that interesting to boot. "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" gets things back on track for sure. This album is like, all shredding. Just so much shredding. God damn this record is fun. 11 songs. 35 minutes. Absolutely no fucking around. Amazing. Honestly it would get five stars except for that dumb cover.

Basically revolutionised how the electric guitar can sound

Rocked totally in the day. Slaps completely today. Bass and drums just boom. Eddie does Eddie unapologetically (thank god he thought better of joining Kiss) — the first taste tasted best. and DLR (love or hate as one may) had undeniable frontman presences and 'tude. Plant with a sense of humor, it could be said. There are a coupla classics of the genre – including 3 of first 4 songs and just a killer opener – to set the template for what hard rock merged with catchy pop hooks and super muscular (even steroidal, near-macho) playing could produce. Still only a 4 because not so much of this should be encouraged and to hold VH to account for their future insults to musical (and world) culture and the obnoxiousness of their mostly cretinous fan base. In other words, it’s never been ones thing but does work well on its own terms and in certain controlled conditions (eg, in the gym).

Classic Van Halen, more fun than a Greatest Hits

Reminds me of my childhood. A bit too much flare on the electric guitar for my taste, but overall a fairly enjoyable album and I can imagine in the 70s that it was a very catchy new sound.

Serious fun. I do love a lot about this but it’s maybe just not got the killer tracks to push it to a 5.

Hard rock from the late 1970s; the opening track "Runnin' with the Devil" sets the mood perfectly. The guitar playing on "Eruption" is pure guitar hero stuff. Really liked their cover of "You Really Got Me" by the Kinks.

guitar and drums r pretty cool. other characters..? o.o

I know why those kids in middle school had van halen shirts now. But what's up with the ice cream man song?

Good classic rock

This record immediately became part of the "canon" when it was released. It holds up really well even now. The production is clean, the performances have good energy, the tunes both rock and swing, what's not to like? I can't give it a five as I wouldn't call it an all time classic, but it's got to be one of the strongest debut albums ever, top to bottom, even the "filler" is pretty dang good.

NAEZ gecinagyot ment, összes riff catchz af, kár a pedo szövegekért

Can’t call myself a guitarist and not pay some respect to this album

4/5 Really liked this album. Cool bits with some covers and fun stuff as well.

Van halen rules and ice cream man is a great song

Listened Before? No (somehow) Leading in hot with Runnin' with the Devil followed by Eruption. Kind of music that makes you want to light your clothes on fire and run around the backyard. Cover of You Really Got Me has become the definitive version lead by a crunchy riff and Van Halen's blistering soloing work filling any and every free space. Not to mention Lee Roth's sexed up shrieks, etc. through the breakdown. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love ends the hot streak of the first half singles. Solid song that is actually the best example so far (IMO) of the band's synnergy and depth. Just solid song writing with every member carrying their weight equally. I'm the One is an energetic and bouncing track. Van Halen fucking rips this one apart, and the barbershop quartet during the outro surprised me. Jamie's Cryin' is a great little squank rock song about a girl feeling pressured into sex and letting they guy go. Surprisingly catchy little jam. The sound starts to run together a little bit (as is always my complaint with Van Halen) following track 7. But the fretwork keeps it nimble enough. Found myself nodding along to Little Dreamer; one of the slower tracks with more space to let the instrumental truly explore. What a fucking debut. They wasted no time defining their sound, down to the production which always captures them as if they are performing in a stadium sized venue. David Lee Roth is such a formidable front man. Great voice and harmonization, with characteristic howling. And of course the Van Halen brothers (particularly Eddie) slay. This is by no means a perfect album, but it is very solid for an initial entry. Solid 4 / 5. Added to Library? Yes Songs Added to Playlists: - Runnin' with the Devil (Driving) - You Really Got Me (Sunny-vibes) - I'm the One (Driving)

Van Halen was the first band who's entire catalog I downloaded on Limewire, and likely gave my computer a thousand viruses. If someone were to ask me what 70s rock was I would show them this album. The distorted guitars and and screaming vocals were so unique to their time. Far from perfect but still a great album.

For their eventual reputation of over-complicating (and over-sleazing) things, Van Halen's first album is just great rock 'n roll songs (hell, they even cover the Kinks here!) Good call to put the elaborate guitar playing in a very tight framework of just 3 minute songs, making them not overstay their welcome, but perfectly packing a punch. (plus the fact 80s overproduction hasn't hit hard rock yet helps as well) Decent 4

Ice cream man best track, 4.5/5 album would re-listen 100%

The second best Van Halen album and one of the most listenable albums ever.

They definitely have a bit of a formula on this one, and about half the songs just seem like excuses for Eddie Van Halen to shred on the guitar. But in his defense, he does. I was impressed by how many of the songs are still pretty catchy even with the focus on the guitar. This style of rock is probably never going to be my favorite thing, but I did legitimately enjoy this one. It's fun and the guitar skills really do stand out. There's a few great songs on here too, so I get the hype. I do think the first half of the album was a lot stronger than the back half, and I feel like I'd tire of this pretty quickly, but this album is pretty tight at 35 minutes so it works well. Favorite song: Jamie's Cryin' Other: Runnin' with the Devil, Eruption, You Really Got Me, Feel Your Love Tonight 11/22/23

Good album

Brani Preferiti: - "Eruption" - "You Really Got Me" - "Ice Cream Man" Note: Un album che ha avuto in impatto storico non da poco nel genere rock e metal, la chitarra elettrica di Eddie è sempre al centro dell'attenzione. Un ottimo album di debutto, anche se non fa molto per me è anche un album molto più intrattenente di un'altro qualsiasi disco di quel periodo. Tutto ciò che è qui è l'essenza più pura dell'hard rock e dell'heavy metal di quei anni, come non si fa a non apprezzare Van Halen.

4 stars I liked this one pretty good. Not much more to say

Good, oldschool metal album

Good album. 👍

The album is absolutely electric front to back, an all time classic rock album in anyone’s book. The fact that this is a debut album is astounding and the amount of classics that I instantly recognized was astounding. Arguably one of the best lead tracks of an album of all time, when it comes to “Running With the Devil” and comes with a cohesiveness with Eddie Van Halen’s eruption following it. The song “Ice Cream Man”, though featured late in the album, definitely added a touch of pop to the heavy rock chorus, and overall served as a great conclusion to the album.

I mean, what could I possibly say? I'm not a huge Van Halen fan, but even I acquiesce that this is essentially a "Greatest Hits" album. It fucking shreds. It's suuuuper horny. Grab a fucking forty and just chill to a tape of this. Favorite tracks: "Running With the Devil", "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", "On Fire"

7.5/10

Some duck beats and catchy tunes

First half is all bangers, second half decent. Very soft 4

I'm not really sure where this lands with me. On the one hand, it's mostly ridiculous testosterone fueled crap. But on the other, it has some of the most interesting and revolutionary guitar playing of it's time. Ain't Talking About Love in particular has to be one of the best riffs I've ever heard. But many of the songs on the second half are quite forgettable. Not something I would listen to often, but I think it is marginally better than 1984, so I'll bump it up to a 7/10.

def not the type of music i listen to often but this was so catchy, i was dancing all around my kitchen

"I'm the one" has a surprising a capella section, that was amazing. Really good rock music. I know a lot of the songs but thought it would be harder rock than I prefer, which is not true. I wish the bass stood out more but that could just be the earphones I'm using instead of the overheads I wear typically. The vocal harmonies throughout are fantastic. Main singer is both good and mediocre, a little yelly, but good still. Some good blues bones as well. It's just shy of 5 stars for me, it would need better singing and maybe some less hard rock.

Enjoyed this way more than I expected. It was overly chaotic and just sounded like they had a really fun time recording it. Would maybe go back and listen again.

吉他riff特别好，哥们吆喝so boring

3.8. More my thing.

Pretty great! Liked 5 songs

One known song but the rest felt very rocky and on point, won't reach the heights of other rock albums but it a foot tapper for sure.

Classic Album, classic tracks. Legendary for the time.