Reviews (page 9 of 15)
This was really good. I get why people like Van Halen and why they have such a legacy. Awesome album
Pretty good! This feels like quality hair metal (if that's the right genre) 7 out of 10
Eddy is a pretty good guitar player. I like that most of these songs have a really fast tempo, really amps you up Not bad overall.
Had this immediately after Led Zeppelin I. Not sure which is a better debut, both are amazing.
PEAK
The pterodactyl is strong in this one. 6/10
I'm giving this 2 stars because of the significance. David Lee Roth is completely insufferable though. The barbershop quartet part was pretty lame as well.
Massively influential, charismatic, and explosive. It's not music that personally moves me, but it's fun and I understand why people like it.
Debut album with solid opener Runnin' with the Devil. Next up is Eruption, a classic. Third track is You Really Got Me, also a classic but only decent. Forth track is Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, an awesome song. The first half of this album is hit after hit. I'm the One is unremarkable. Jamie's Cryin' is another great classic. Van Halen liked to use a lot of 's in song names. Atomic Punk unremarkable; almost sounds like an Iron Maiden song. Feel Your Love Tonight and Little Dreamer are lame. Ice Cream Man is acoustic and doesn't mesh with the album at all. On Fire sucks. 4 stars for how good the classics are although the second half of the album is begging me to drop it to 3.
Fun, but overall not my style
This album surprised me. I like the catchy guitar riffs and layered harmonies in the background. Also the fact that there’s an actual tune and melody (as opposed to just loud noise lol). Also appreciate that the songs aren’t too long or repetitive.
Meh
Alright
Great album although dated now.
Classic hard rock. Everyone is great in their role - EVH's riffs are catchy and flashy and the rhythm section is as tight as can be. David Lee Roth seems like such a sleezeball but he's really entertaining. The band can be cheesy at times like on Ice Cream Man but it's in a fun, laid back and tongue-in-cheek way The album remains (mostly) consistent from front to back, switching between more laid-back tunes like Runnin' with the Devil (which is a perfect opener) and Little Dreamer, and more energetic ones like I'm the One and Atomic Punk Eruption is probably my least favourite track. I'll listen to it when I've got the whole album on, but it's never been something I've wanted to listen to in isolation. It's just too wanky and over the top; it kind of just passes me by without me really taking it in. There's a fine line for me with technicality, as I do love many prog bands, but here it's too much. I much prefer when solos like that are built into and enhance a full song Not my favourite Van Halen album (that's probably Van Halen II or 1984), but it's a classic for a reason Highlights: Runnin' with the Devil, I'm the One, Atomic Punk
1. devil - 2.5 2. eruption - 1.5 3. me - 1.5 4. love - 2 5. one - 1.5 6. crying - 2 7. atomic - 1.5 8. tonight - 2 9. dreamer - 1.5 10. ice cream - 1.5 11. fire - 1
not a huge Van Halen fan, first time listening to the album end to end and found my self listening to it twice, lets go!. alot of radio play tunes so knew most of em but didnt realize some many of those hits were on a single album. I could do without the Atomic Punk and those epic but over done screeches from David "Screech" Roth.
I don't know, this just wasn't very captivating to me 5/10
Its a fine album, not one that I love, but understand its position as influential in the following decade. 7/10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrFxKY6aFrQ
this is what they used to prescribe for low T in the 70s
Van Halen by Van Halen it’s a proper banger. I absolutely fuck with the guitar on this album; Eddie’s licks are out of this world, and every riff hits like a bolt of lightning. The mix is phenomenal, with every instrument having its own space while still blending together into one epic soundscape. First off, the guitar work on this album is next level. Eddie Van Halen’s solos and riffs are nothing short of legendary, and I can’t get enough of the raw energy and innovation he brings to each track. It’s a masterclass in rock guitar, and honestly, it’s one of the main reasons I’m so chuffed with this record. The production is spot on too. The mix is crisp and dynamic, ensuring that the guitar, drums, bass, and even the occasional keyboard work together in perfect harmony. Every layer is clear as day, and you can really appreciate the intricacies of the arrangements. Now, about the vocals, they’re top notch. Sure, they might not be the most groundbreaking aspect of the album, but they work brilliantly for what it is. David Lee Roth’s delivery is charismatic and full of swagger, perfectly complementing the explosive instrumentation. His performance adds that extra bit of flair, even if it isn’t the album’s standout feature. If I’ve got a bone to pick, it’d be that some of the tracks can feel a bit overproduced in places, which slightly dilutes the raw, live feel I love about rock. But honestly, that’s a minor gripe compared to all the high points. Overall, Van Halen is a proper rock masterpiece. The insane guitar work, flawless mix, and gritty vocals combine to create an album that fires me up every time I hit play. It’s a solid 4.8/5 stars from me, a true classic that I’ll be blasting for years to come.
Yeah it still rips. The sound every guitarist wanted to copy and still wants to in 2025.
I really like the guitar, the instrumentation is pretty cool and I see how it has impacted so many musicians after. I would try to copy this if i was in the 70s. It would have been game changing to me. I don't really like the vocals, they just kinda feel like they're for me. Not bad just kinda fine
Good to the point where I resent it being the casting mould for a million others that weren't.
7/10 The first half of this album permanently altered (or disfigured, depends on who you ask) the face of Rock music. Second half is alright. *plays the sickest air guitar solo you’ve ever seen in your life*
A very decent album. Surprised it was in the 70's as I always assumed all the many songs I knew from this album were in the 80's. A good, solid album.
They nailed it so well right out of the gate. Crisp hard rock plus harmony. And Eddy took guitar to a new level.
I dont like this album. Its not the type of music i like. I wouldnt listen to this. I wouldnt recommend this to people.
I got into like rock music because of my brother so I like listening to the instrumental. I think its a good album I really like it. The lyrics are good aswell but I don't pay much attention to them because of the instrumentals. I would recommend this album to a rock lover, its a really cool album.
I rate Running with the devil a 4 star because its like rock and I like rock and the drums and the beat are good ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate Eruption a 5 star because the gutrie is going fast and its like metalica and I like metalica ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate Aint talking about love a 5 star because its like rock and I like rock and the drums and the beat are good star because its like rock and I like rock and the drums and the beat are good ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I rate You really got me a 5 star because its like rock and I like rock and the drums and the beat are good star because its like rock and I like rock and the drums and the beat are good ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Song:running with the devil I don ´ t like that he is singing about the devil but it has a good beat Song: eruption The guitar was very loud but i kind of like it Song: ain´t talking about love i like this song better way better Song: you really got me i really like this song It's my favorite in this album
I like this album because I enjoy the upbeat melody. The lyrics are not my favorite, but the figurative language is clever.
I like the songs because i like the guitar and the drums I also like how they sound I recommend this album because its really good
Have you ever wanted to listen to rock music? Then this song is perfect for you. In my opinion, I don't like this album because I don't like rock music. Another reason why I don't like this album is because I don't like the voice of the singer and how the instruments sound. I would not recommend this to someone else because I don't like it and I feel like someone else would also not like it. I would give this a solid 3 stars out of 5.
1 I don't like it the lyrics and I just don't like it 1 I don't like this one either 1 I don't like it
The cover looks strange. I liked "Running with the devil" because it was fun. It was energized and pumped, I liked that. "Eruption" was good. The beginning was really cool with the guitar. I thought "Ain't Talkin bout love" was okay. I loved the guitar but I wasn't really into the lyrics. "You really got me" was great, I thought the music was awesome and so was the singing. Out of all the songs, I liked this one best. I would for sure recommend this album.
the first song is good I didn't really listen to it though. the second song is also good its hard to explain. the third song is still good I like the way the drums sound and the guitar sounds. the fourth song is good I've heard it before and I like it.
Why are they posing like that on the cover? "Running with the Devil" is not my favorite. I don't really like the rock aspect of the music, it's just not the kind of music I like. I felt the same about "Ain't Talking Bout Love" There is nothing wrong with the music it's just not the style of music I like to listen too. I don't enjoy all the guitar parts and loud drums there is to rock and roll. "You really got me" was my favorite but I still didn't like it. Overall I would rate this album 2 start because I just don't enjoy this style of music. However I would reccomend this to anybody who really likes rock and roll music.
super fun and awesome guitar work. good shit
Surprising that I didn't listen to this record previously. Great hard rock compositions, incredible guitar licks and general feel of the record. Great sound.
i think i liked other van halen we’ve listened to more?
Honestly liked this much more than anticipated. Some good songs
Not a terrible record. I stopped caring about VanHalen not long after this one
The music is so self-assured that sometimes it's hard to believe this is their debut album. A classic and with good reason. Favorites: Runnin' with the Devil, Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, I'm the One (for the scatting), Ice Cream Man Would I listen to it again: Yes
I love David Lee Roth era Van Halen so much better than Sammy Hagar era, despite the Hagar era pushing them to new heights. To me, David Lee Roth just sounds like Van Halen. This album just does it for me. Great guitars, DLR's screams. I just eat it up. I like 1984 more than this album, but I can't deny how good this first release was.
Wasn't into it all.
Some great tracks but a bit boring compared to his other albums
Ya know, honestly I didn’t have a problem with this! It’s one of those albums where most of the tracks are hits. The production and (obviously) the guitar playing is fantastic. It’s a tight 35 minutes! It’s fun! I was surprised at how much Beach Boys I was hearing in some of those tight harmonies!!! This is a really great classic rock album, and I think you should listen to it!
Hardrock, exzellentes Gitarrenspiel
Surprisingly low energy and slow paced at times and way too much pop sensibility and major-key-blues-riffiness. David Lee Roth has got his own thing going on there, gotta give him that.
Favourite tracks - Eruption, Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love, Ice Cream Man
This Van Halen debut album exudes a raw energy and excitement, full of wild wailing guitar riffs, loud and chaotic drumming, and David Lee Roth's vocals, where nothing is beholden to any pre-existing formula or sound - all in the best possible ways. The album carries a punk spirit, and Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing established the benchmark (and model) for hard rock music into the 80s and beyond. Notable tracks include "Running With the Devil," "You Really Got Me," and the guitar work showcased in "Atomic Punk." Their rendition of John Brim's "Ice Cream Man" is particularly interesting as they shift from a more conventional acoustic blues riff into their distinctive Van Halen sound midway through the track. As the 1980s progressed, Van Halen began to lose some of that raw intensity, becoming more predictable and almost a caricature of their original sound, especially following their transition to Van Hagar. This remains an exceptional debut album.
8/10 Trovo quest'album rappresentativo di un specifico tipo di "hard rock", che ho sempre evitato per un motivo o un altro, ma che in realtà nasconde chicche interessante Un album che anche se non hai mai ascoltato, per sbaglio, hai almeno sentito 3 canzoni "Eruption" solo iconico, la chitarra di Eddie è magica
Great album with a A-side that's a lot better than the B-side. Classic hard rock
Banger after banger, so full of energy, and so short, I wanted more! Stand-out: Runnin' with the Devil, Jamie's Cryin'
I'm such a sucker for this album. I know it's silly and ridiculous, but it just makes me smile no matter what. Van Halen might be one of my guiltiest pleasures
I mean....this is one of my favorite albums of all time and it is literally perfect. Coming in just over 35 minutes, there are no filler tracks here. The fact that this is a DEBUT album still blows my mind. What an introduction to Mr. Eddie Van Halen. From the fun guitar effects in "Atomic Punk" , to the barbershop quartet in "I'm the One" (which was soooo shocking the first time I heard it), to the crazy solos all throughout (shoutout "Eruption") , all the way to the perfect vocal harmonies by Michael Anthony in "Feel Your Love Tonight," this album has it all. Everyone in this band is soooo insanely talented and they are so locked in and tight the entire time. Hell, even David Lee Roth, while not greatest singer, has some great moments and even a sweet guitar part in "Ice Cream Man." His vocal style fits the band perfectly. While Sammy Hagar is the most talented singer the band will have, Diamond Dave just fits the vibe they are going for. This album has Hannah's favorite Van Halen song "I'm the One" and one of my top songs in "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love." The "Hey" chants at the end of it get me so excited every time. You can tell these guys were having SOOO much fun in the studio. I'd love to be a fly on the wall while this perfect album was being recorded. Liked Songs: Uhhh the entire album
liked songs: pretty much all of them This album is excellent. Short, sweet, and a near perfect debut album. There's some really neat subversion of expectation with chord changes early in the album. I think the only negative here is the vocals, because I'm really just not a fan of David Lee Roth. But, he does fit the music well enough to the point that the vocals don't actually take anything away from the cohesiveness of everything else. 4.5
This debut is blistering. Every single track is jammin. Classic 1001 album worthy: Yes - 44/78
Excellent!
Pretty interesting some of the riffs and very recognisable songs
Unstoppable seamless flow of pure hard rock
Two brothers who didn't play around. Not the first or most influential glam, arena rock, etc band of the time, but Eddie's guitar skills are unmatched, much like Hendrix a decade before. While the albums after this one can be a mixed bag as a whole, this one doesn't let up for a second and is the kind of debut you want to hear. Running With the Devil is a solid start, but always felt like Eruption/You Really Got Me would have made a bigger statement for the band's debut, and the riffs across every track show he was a step above his contemporaries in play, while still writing songs with a blend of catchy hooks and technical prowess.
I was surprised how much of this is just hard rock blues. It's great!
4.5
I liked this a bit more than I expected to, but there's a lot I didn't love. A lot of the soloing and general over-the-top instrumentals feel pretty excessive in a way that really doesn't work for me, the vocals are a bit annoying at times but not awful, and there's only a few very memorable songs. Still, an undeniable energy to this, can see why this sound became so huge. I don't generally love the macho-ness of it, and it's a bit too sleazy, but not at too extreme of a level. Sounds like Kiss for adults. The only points where this really fails are the slower, bluesier songs like Ice Cream Man.
I remember this album blowing my socks off when I was about 12 learning the guitar for the first time. Listening to eruption blew my mind and still does to this day
Wasn't as bad as I expected...
In my callow youth I dismissed EVH as a bunch of flash with no heart. I think I was wrong. And David Lee Roth is a hell of a frontman and lyricist. Love the falsetto ad libs. My love is rotten to the core!
Some great guitar, although the string tapping thing does get a bit boring. Sing in is really cheesy, but I can get past it on some songs. Favourite song: Jamie’s crying’. Overall around 6/10
Guitar hero vibes Rating:6
a bit back i saw a tweet calling Black Sabbath impressive given the fact that its frontman is and always has been barely sapient. personally, i find it incredibly funny to consider Ozzy Osbourne a type of kobold who would be happiest sorting moss in a cave if he and a guy missing part of his finger hadn't invented heavy metal. in this sense, i consider Eddie Van Halen to be the opposite: someone too smart and talented for their own good inventing the 1980's with insane, Mozart-like talent despite not being able to read music. he didn't invent tapping, but he did it well enough to name it "tapping" in the first place, and i think that's basically enough to drive someone who's just a cut under him crazy. the rest of the band is making good time catching up to Eddie, but they're still not gonna win the race. he's basically a lap ahead of them at all times, cylinders blazing. of course, that doesn't mean that Van Halen is entirely my cup of tea. they did pretty much invent what glam metal was gonna sound like until its death, and i feel like that sort of colors the whole thing an unfortunate shade of stupid. still, i can't blame Van Halen for that -- i blame the wannabes for running the sound into the ground. you can pick out any of the Def Leppards or Guns N Roses and find the DNA, but none of them are smart enough to put the world's then-most technical and insane solo right before a cover of the prototypical "song so easy to come up with you could write it by accident if you've never played a guitar before" track.
First album of the 1001 that is rock, that was fun. In my opinion, the album decreased in goodness with every proceeding song… I wasn’t expecting a kinks cover (kinks did it better)…
Even though it’s not my type of music, I still enjoyed it.
Very clear that the guitar work and drumming are second to none. I hadn't listened to this all the way through before. Mostly just "Runnin' with the Devil", "Eruption", and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", which are great. New tracks to add to my rotation are "I'm the One" and "Jamie's Cryin'" Solid album from start to finish, and a great taste of what was to come from them.
Classic, no filler. What a debut!
alguien debería acabar con tanto sufrimiento (solo escuché 2)
Not a huge Van Halen fan but this album is a classic.
3.4/5
I might not recall all the details, but here goes. I was about 10 years old when Van Halen's Diver Down was released in 1982. I heard their cover of Pretty Woman and thought it was pretty cool. For reasons lost to time, I didn't buy Diver Down but rather this album. Therefore I don't recall how Van Halen I came into my possession, but what I do remember—crystal clear—is the absolute joy it brought me. As the needle dropped and the record spun at 33 1/3 RPM in my little suburban New Jersey bedroom, a whole new world of sound exploded upon my ears. Up until that moment, my musical landscape had been shaped by my parents' oldies and Sesame Street. But this? This was something else entirely. This was testosterone-fueled rock, raw and electrifying. It coursed through my body, transforming me. Hair sprouted where none had been before. I felt stronger. A fire was ignited in my loins, and suddenly, female lust became my new obsession. I was no longer a child.
This is define a “moved the needle” record (literally/ figuratively). Eddie and Roth get most of the attention (deservedly) but Alex and Michael are crushing the drums and bass, and the harmonies fill the whole sound out. This record changed rock and roll forever.
The first half of this album is amazing. The second half is fine to good, but no where near as good as the first half. Some true classics on this record.
Did Van Halen perfect guitar rock started in the 60s and 70s, and infuse it with amazing pop hooks and catchy song structures? Perhaps that's a bit too over the top, but it could be a fun discussion. What a fun album.
Most of the songs are so good. Guitar goes crazy, but atomic punk and on fire are kind of bad
RUNNIN WITH THE DEVIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
What a palate cleanser after 5 straight days of 0 vocals. A classic.
Before listening: I'm only familiar with Van Halen's hits, there are bands from this era that I actively listen to way more, so I'm curious about what their debut is like. After: For a debut rock album, this is pretty solid, usually it takes a few to find a decent set of tracks. The band are clearly very talented, but I don't think they'll ever be one of my favourites, which is ok. Overall a good time.
Great album, but not my type of music. I wouldn't like to listen to it a second time
A fantastic debut from a band that seemed fully cooked at inception. Eddie is already doing wild shit. Dave is already hamming it up. Anthony and Alex. There is a reason that bands wanted to sound like these guys for the next ten years, even though no one did.
A classic, so many good songs and riffs are on here. It's a shame that such talented musicians didn't pursue a more complex and interesting style of music. But that was their choice and they made a mark all the same, perhaps reaching greater mainstream popularity as is. The riffs and the tone are out of this world. Eddie really transformed what people thought was possible to do on a guitar. The drums are also pretty tight on this. The lyrics and themes are lacking a bit, they are close to the classic 80s vibe.
Fico imaginando o impacto dessa guitarra quando ela apareceu pela primeira vez. Uma banda que impressiona logo no primeiro álbum não é qualquer banda!
Excellent album
Perfectly encapsulates what this band is and why Eddie will go down as the greatest rock guitarist of all time. The balls to have a 1:42 guitar solo as track 2 of your debut album….
the well established radio songs on this album were of course great and lots of fun to listen to, can only imagine how innovative the instrumental work was at the time. Most of the other songs are pretty rough lyrically but I had to kind of laugh at the performative swagger. Rating: 2.5
Van Halen is the 80's answer to the question Hendix asked in the 70's. Great rocker for my Monday drive time
I didn’t mind this, especially in the beginning. Not my thing but I can understand why it’s on here.
This is a natural development in the music that Elvis was pioneering. I had a realization about halfway through this album like Mr. Krabs playing golf: "Wait a minute, I hate Van Halen" 2
The double-tracked backup singers on this album is so cute. It's not rock n roll though, imo. Listening to Eruption, I was reminded of when Michael J Fox rips off a shred in Back to the Future and says "oh i guess you won't be ready for that for another 20 years". Well I'm still not ready for it 40 years later, unimpressed. 3.5/5 rounded down to 3. Somehow 35 min was too long. I did like On Fire, which funny enough is the lowest listened to song on the album on spotify
Incredibly talented guitar work, just have little time for Roth. Didn’t grow up with this sound either, and 47 years later it’s doing nothing to pull me in. Sorry.
Eddie is awesome and some of the songs are classic. Some of the songs are just hair though. 3.34
There are rock gods and then there is Eddie Van Halen, who stands atop the pantheon. Diamond Dave>Sammy Hagar
The only Van Halen album you need to hear. Roth and Halen are at peak rock performance.
Not bad, just nothing exciting
Some truly remarkable guitar, but overall not my cup of tea
Great debut. Not a weak spot on the album.
The first half of this album is pretty much perfect rock n roll, though I think Eruption is overrated. The second half is still solid but not on the level of the first half. Favorites: Ain't Talkin' Bout Love, You Really Got Me, Jaime's Cryin', Little Dreamer Least Favorite: I'm the One
This is an album I know well. Love it. This is quintessential Van Halen, before the addition of synthesizers. Just straight ahead guitar rock with EVH at his best. Running with the Devil, into Eruption, and then into You Really Got Me. Doesn't get better than that. Definitely 5/5.
Een soort vroege tech demo van wat je allemaal kunt met een gitaar. En dan wel op zo'n manier waarbij het nog wél leuk is om naar te luisteren. De hele esthetiek met leren broeken en blote harige mannenborsten is aan mij niet helemaal besteed en ook in de muziek schemert af en toe wel een klein stukje glam-kitch door (die typische glam-schreeuw waar ik wel eens een klein werkstuk over heb geschreven), maar dit is toch wel enorm lekker. Heel dik gitaarwerk, maar ook de basgitaar en drummer leggen een goeie wedstrijd op de mat en de zang is prima. Slechts 35 minuten en de eerste vier tracks zijn stuk voor stuk Top 2000 waardig, dus dan ga je al gauw richting de vijf sterren. En het is een debuutalbum hè. Bizar. Dus ik heb ergens wel wat kleine kanttekeningen, maar die staan de perfecte score niet in de weg. Ik ben hier niet eens mee opgegroeid, maar toch is dit ook voor mij automatisch een soort van klassieker. Dijk van een plaat. Makkelijke 5. Ik ga de eerste vier tracks meteen nog een keer aanzetten.
Great first album by a legendary band. Not my favorite as far as rock goes but definitely a great one.
The worst song on this album is Ice Cream Man.
Wow, this was a DEBUT album!?! Van Halen could have been one-and-done with this album and they still would have cemented themselves as one of the greatest rock acts, with one of the most talented guitarists. But we're fortunate enough that they weren't. It's a no-skip album, where Eddie holds nothing back, track after track. What's most surprising to me, is that "I'm the One" is hardly talked about, but it has since become one of my favorites on the album. When they recorded themselves doing a little do-wop skat, followed by an electrifying guitar solo, they had to have looked at each other and went "Yeah, we're about to be the baddest thing in Rock."
I could see doing coke to this.
I know I'm SUPPOSED to like this album. But still
rock com muita guitarra, riffs cortantes e muita distorção principalmente nas primeiras músicas
This certainly is an album.
not so good
One of the first albums I fell in love with as a kid, every song is flawless
here is my first one. liked it more than I expected. fav songs: you really got me ain’t talkin ‘bout love Jamie’s cryin’ little dreamer 🔥🔥🔥
I can see how this album is the basis of hair metal.
Classic. Still rocks
One of the greatest debut albums ever
Legendary band
OMG. That's what I can say about this album as a whole. If only youtube reaction videos were around back in 1978!! Seriously. I would pay a lot of money to watch some of the best musicians at the time react to listening to this album the first time. It would be absolutely epic. What people need to realize is that when this album came out in 1978 NOBODY and I mean NOBODY sounded like this. To this day I have NEVER heard a guitar tone as perfect as the tone that Eddie (sorry...Edward) managed to get on this album. He was completely against pedals and effects (other than an occasional phaser or something to get a particular added funky sound for a song - like atomic punk intro), he did it entirely by hacking his guitars and amps to get them to sound this good by just plugging in with nothing. His overdrive/distortion/feedback sounds were completely natural. I absolutely love the flow of this album. Starting with Runnin with the Devil gets everyone curious like wtf is this...then to absolutely melt your face to hear something like eruption that literally NOBODY had even come close to as far as sound/technique and then to a cover you really got me with insane fill-ins/solos was like holy shit, what is this. Then you look at at the "bop baddup shooby doo wahs" in I'm the One and the funny Ice Cream Man you realize these guys did not give a flying fuck about doing what anyone else was doing and did what they wanted. They were completely in uncharted territory. They put together one of the rawest and in your face albums I have ever heard in my life. Highlights: Eruption (obviously), I'm the One solos (insane), Ice Cream Man solos (insane) and I love the rawness and the crunch of Show Your Love. End to End I listen to this album with a smile on my face. No skipping needed. Every song has its place. It is one of the best initial releases ever from a rock band. Ever. Period. It absolutely threw out every single concept you had of a guitar and the thought that everyone had pretty much done what you can do on a guitar. This was 1978. Jesus. NOBODY did this shit. Nobody sounded like this. Eddie was an absolute gift and changed guitar forever as we know it. Within 10 years everyone was tapping and doing shit like this and trying to replicate it, but NOBODY managed to pull it off like him. From a rock guitar perspective I don't think anything changed reality more than EVH. Loved listening to this start to finish on the way to work. What an absolute masterpiece.
Sorry for the delay in this review. I had to recover from the absolute MELTING of my face from the guitars on this album. Unfortunately I didn’t have insurance for this type of incident. This was an amazing album that makes me wish I could’ve experienced when it first came out. I can see my scrawny self right now standing in line waiting to go see them in concert. But honestly this album was amazing and their sound is exactly what I think of when I think of that 70’s rock sound. It’s like they put lightning bugs in a bottle, shook it up and all the light from those bugs decided to just turn into the electricity you feel from this beautiful production. Heard Before: You Really Get Me Favorite: Feel Your Love Tonight Least Favorite: Ice Cream man (although I respect the attempt) Sleeper: Eruption (The guitar spoke all it needed to) or Little Dreamer
Hell yeah brother. This album has too much rock for one hand 🤘🏻🤘🏻 Guitar has awesome tone, voice is classic classic rock, great riffs. Haven’t listened to a full album from VH before but this kicked some ass… except for ice cream man wtf was that? Heard Before: Runnin with the Devil, You Really Got Me and Jamie’s Crying Favorite: Little Dreams Least Favorite: Ice cream man 💩 Sleeper: atomic punk
Great album. Tons of rocking fun. Loved it
Starts out with one of the best opening tracks for an album of all time, Running With The Devil and finishes with On Fire, which sums this album up perfectly. On Fire!!! In between we have an amazing guitar solo that Eddie used to do to warm up, Eruption. A cover of the classic Kings song You Really Got Me, and then classic Van Halen hits. One of the best debut albums of all time, and a standard. Van Halen followed up this album with solid work, and maybe 1984 was the only one that came close to how good this album is. 5/5
On paper, this should be absolutely perfect for me. Virtuoso guitar playing? Check. ’80s rock swagger? Check. Arena-sized confidence and riffs for days? Absolutely. And to be clear, I do like it. I just don’t quite love it. Eddie Van Halen’s guitar work is, of course, phenomenal. The technical brilliance is obvious, but it never feels sterile. There’s flair, imagination, and a sense that he’s genuinely enjoying himself. The rhythm section of Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen is equally impressive—tight, punchy, and full of drive. The whole album moves with real momentum. Where it falters slightly for me is David Lee Roth. I don’t dislike him. He has undeniable charisma and a cheeky, mischievous charm in his delivery. But I often find myself thinking he’s more fun than he is good. When I enjoy his solo work, it’s usually because the songs themselves are strong, rather than because I’m blown away by his vocal performance. That same dynamic is at play here. It’s a great debut, packed with energy and musicianship, but it never quite tips over into something I personally adore. Standout Song: Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love Score: 3/5
Heard this before. I certainly appreciate some Southern California rock representation. And this is the album that introduced the world to Eddie Van Halen, whose guitar virtuosity appears throughout the album. But a lot of these songs don't really hold up and overall this is just a average effort by a rock band. One thing I did come away appreciating more was their background vocals which really are sneaky good. I think you have to put at least one Van Halen album on this list, but I'll have to think about whether this was the one.
Impossible to understand historical impact of Eddie’s playing, one of the great debut albums of all time
Amazing. Would listen to every week. Cultural important. One of the most remembered guitar riffs.
I see why people like it, but its not my particular taste. I like You Really Got Me and Ain't Talkin' Bout Love. Ice Cream Man made me uncomortable.
Lekker rock album. Niks buitengewoons, maar wel gewoon goed
One really cannot underestimate the impact this record had on ressurecting the hard rock genre at the end of the 1970s. The absolute swagger, self-confidence and sheer commerciality of Running with the Devil is often overlooked as, what follows with 'Eruption', is quite simply a new definition of the standards on how to play the electric guitar. Covering Kinks songs will become a feature of Van Halen with DLR on vocals but this record is just a tour de force of something very new and original. It jsut makes hard rock fun and colourful.
It was fine, some songs are a little interesting but mostly not into it.
Familiar with the album and nice to listen to it after so long. It still holds up!
Van Halen doesn’t do much for me. Eddie Van Halen is undeniably one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time, but the songs are just kinda dull. It wasn’t a bad listening experience and I do like some of the songs, but Van Halen fans practically cream their pants talking about how awesome and cool they are, and they’re just ok.
3.5
Classic hard rock album with great guitar. Not much more to be said.
Fine, radio music
Favorite Tracks: "You Really Got Me", "Jamie's Cryin'", "Ain't Talkin' About Love", "I'm The One", "Little Dreamer", "Ice Cream Man"
Credit where credit is due, EvH is one of the most talented guitarists of all time. Favourite Tracks: You Really Got Me Least Fav Track: Feel Your Love Tonight
Not my thing but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would... which wasn't allot
This band fucking rocks, one of the greats for a reason, legendary.
Lökigt!! Alla låtar handlar om bruudar och har van Halen körandes ett självgott och för mig ointressant gitarrsolo.
Good stuff. Not what I’d usually choose to listen to, but certainly not my least favorite classic rock album I’ve heard.
3.3 stars rounded down. The singles are technically great but the album also sounds dirt baggy and somewhat date rapey. Very 80s in a bad way.
A timeless document of what happens when Jewish-American showmanship meets Dutch-American guitar wizardry. There is nothing like this debut. The Sunset Strip, baby!
My sister dragged me to see them in 1986 or so, Sammy Hagar on lead vocals, and it was one of the best show I’ve ever seen. Great musicianship and energy, really gave thenfans their money’s worth. Having said all that I’ve never been a big fan of their records. This is fun for a debut with Eddie’s guitar work and a great cover of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” earning this a solid 3.
I assume everyone has heard five of the first six songs? I like “ain’t talkin bout love.” And then the other songs were fine. Oh, wait, “little dreamer” I like more than the rest of side two. Two songs to the playlist.
Eddie Van Halens guitar sound and style was so unique to this era and really made Van Halen pioneer their newly created genre, ‘glam metal’ It’s a pretty awesome debut album. I enjoy Van Halen it in bits and pieces, but a whole album is a bit much for me.
I'm just not a fan of this style of rock - I get it has its place, but that place is not on my playlists.
probably about as good as anything in this genre is going to be for me. im not crazy about this era of rock but i really liked this album a lot because the riffs are catching and not too annoying and all the instruments sound great together; it feels like every member is playing at their absolute best and it doesnt seem like any of them are playing at a level below any of the others.
I have not listened to Van Halen on purpose. This was very solid. Runnin with the Devil is a great opener and the guitar on the album is what I would have expected from Eddie Van Halen. Really a great album and I was surprised that it was their debut
Pretty solid hard rock/glam metal album. Not the most interesting or different, but enjoyed this overall. Highlight being 'Little Dreamer'. Few minus points for including cover tracks.
Eruption made me bust
This album is fucking awesome. What more could you ask? Changed the whole game when it came out. Eddie is nuts on guitar, Alex compliments it perfectly, Michael has great little bass parts beneath Eddie's monsterous guitar parts, and David just oozes charisma every step of the way. This is rock n roll! 🤘
I'm not a big fan of arena rock or guitar shredding but this album rocked and I enjoyed it. It wasn't until this listen that I made the connection between "Jamie's Crying" and Tone Loc's "Wild Thing".
High energy, intricate, a lot going on. Definitely identify a lot of 80s rock taking their lead from this
Strong, classic album To me, somewhat unremarkable, I'm not a listener of hard rock and often can't meaningfully distinguish tracks
Turns out Van Halen and Motley Crue are not interchangeable
Their best record. Everything else is downhill.
35 mins of straight fire
Van Halen's self titled debut is one of the defining albums of modern metal. Led by David Lee Roth's swagger, and Eddie Van Halen's stunning technique, Van Halen brought edgy, guitar driven metal to popular music. The album includes some of the band's early hits, like "You Really Got Me" and "Running with the Devil," which showcase Roth's vocals, impressive harmonies, and a strong band. The most significant element, without question, is Eddie's remarkable talent, which raised the bar for metal guitarists.
Better than expected but still too much meedly mee for me
6.5/10 Another one in the zone of metal I like. Fun, well played, excellent guitar Mostly good songwriting & vocals Didn’t like all of it, and probably outstayed its welcome even at 35 minutes Best: ain’t talkin bout love
Amazing debut Album!!!!!!!
It works as a showcase for EVH's obvious guitar virtuosity, but late 70s to mid 80s cheese rock is just not something I enjoy listening to.
This is not my style of music but can’t deny this is some dumb fun 70s rock. This is the band I wish Led Zeppelin sounded like Very surprised I liked it , this may be a guilty pleasure but it’s damn catchy and Eddie can play and Mr Lee Roth has a voice I don’t hate 4/5
Terribly uninteresting, not a fan of the vocals, and Ice Cream Man creeps me out. Still pretty epic at times. Leaning toward a ~4.5/10, rounded up to 3 stars.
There was a moment when this album started where I thought it might be different to what I expected. It was not. Surprising guitar interlude with 'Eruption', I actually quite enjoyed it. The rock instrumentation was pretty good for 'You Really Got me', it gave it a depth of sound, but the singing didn't do much for me. Enjoyable because I like the original. The rest is much for muchness. I think the guitarist is strong, the rest is all inoffensive but doesn't excite me.
Running with the devil: Gillar inte soundet. Lite töntigt. Tror inte Van Halen är för mig. Duktig gitarrist dock. Eruption: Mer lökig gitarr. Väck mig när det blir intressant. You really got me: Kan bara tänka på guitar hero. Den bästa låten än så länge. Ain't talking about love: Han älskar verkligen det där gitarrljudet. Nä, det här är verkligen inte för mig. Otroligt lökiga texter också. Allt är bara en enda stor runkfest för gitarrister. Intentsägande idag. Kanske var revolutionerande när det kom? Jamie's crying: Helt ok Andra halvan av albumet är bättre mindre lökig gitarr. Snarkigt att alla texter handlar om sex och bruuudar.
Very good, but a bit hectic.
Not really much to say about this van halen album that I didn't say about the last one, it's over the top 80s hair metal (ahead of the curve being released in the 70s) with better guitar than the others in the genre. I think EVH invented tapping and would hide his guitar when playing eruption? Read that some here once. I don't think any particular songs stood out but it was generally okay.
More entertaining overall than 1984 - not a fan of the cover of You Really Got Me, but Eruption and Jamie's Cryin' were excellent. A really fun record, nice and snappy. Not enough riffs for me though, outside of Eruption, I think they lean into that more later on. Good stuff, nice and average.
Thought this was considerably better than their last offering we had. Less cheesy. Not sure I'm a van halen convert yet but better then I was expecting
Toller Rock.
Kind of on the fence between 4 & 5. I'm going to round up just because I guess.
I don't really enjoy it, but somehow it's still good. The talent and energy are excellent but just doesn't come together into something I enjoy.
Interessant!
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
Awesome album! Insane guitar solos! All maybe too cohesive - felt like one huge track, but a damn good one :D
Loses a point for being a smidge too pervy. 3/5
Classic
Fun
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.
An iconic classic.
I’ve been waiting for this one! Iconic from start to finish, and definitely helped remind me why Van Halen is such a huge deal. Classic songs all around and just insanely talented all throughout.
There may be debut albums that are as captivating as this one but there's never been a better or perhaps unique one - more like a declaration of revolution than a debut. This is the greatest party around and everyone on earth and beyond are invited. If you're in a good mood, this drug amplifies it. If you're in a bad mood, it's hard to not say goddammit while a smile emerges and you're soon nodding your head and air-guitaring finger-taps. Also the minor point of introducing the greatest guitar player in history. Some have said that this was the beginning of the so-called "hair metal" era but these guys were completely on their own - a unicorn of a band. They were an (the?) outlier and an entity unto themselves in the hard rock realm. It's not their fault what spawned after them as the similarities were only in guitar flash - not in songwriting, camp, sense of humour, and overall musicianship. Absolute rock perfection in every way and one of the greatest albums - period. It's 10/10s all the way down. 5 massive stars.
Absolute banger of an album. Insane guitar from EVH, DLR has incredible vocals. Incredible album that set up a 5+ year run for epic releases for VH. Changed the way guitarists thought about playing the guitar.
Fav: Jamie’s Cryin Least Fav: You Really Got Me It was alright I guess
I will never tire of hearing Eruption. Nor will I tire of the random interjections from David Lee Roth in Running With the Devil. I still wish that soundboard I found in 2010 existed that was just clips of him from that song. Hell of a debut album for a band.
I enjoyed this one less than I expected (based on the name recognition). Might be partly because the technical proficiency with the guitar mostly goes over my head. Favorite track was "You Really Got Me" but that's just a cover so it only awards partial credit. "Eruption" is fun. "Runnin' with the Devil" is alright.
норм, но специально бы слушать не стал. подойдет для посиделок в баре.
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.
Ingen van av Fan Halen. Whoops, fan av Van Halen skulle det ju vara.
its cool but I dont see myself going back to this album
nice
What a classic album. Their first, legendary. Eruption is a true form guitar solo turned song. 4.5⭐️
When it comes to my childhood and some of my earliest memories, especially with music, this is probably one of the first albums I remember playing in the background. My parents were young and would have people over, drinking and having a good time. This is probably why I consider early Van Halen the ultimate party rock band. Their music is literally entrenched in a party sound. One element that will always hit me with memories is the train horn that the album begins with. Ever since I can remember, that is one sound I’ll always have a clear memory of. So now, time for my album review - this album is a classic, and it rocks!!!
Pretty unimpeachable debut and guitar sound.
utter cock rock.
Man, EVH was a monster guitar player...
A lot of these songs are basically the same song, but slightly different lyrics? Still decent, at least for the melody.
Has something going for it and I see its place but it is just trying a little too hard to rock. Wouldn't complain to hear it again but won't seek out
Day336 - van halen had some all time great albums maybe none better than this one
I have no use for this early glam metal bullshit. I respect the influence, truly - I only say "bullshit" to describe how I feel listening to it. 2/5
There's not many better when it comes to hard rock - I love how tight this record is, 35 minutes of all killer no filler. Great band.
Great classic rock album, electrifying guitar riffs and strong drums mixed with intoxicating vocals. Many a fav in this album- the last three especially a good crescendo ending
This is quite enjoyable, although I have nothing with Van Halen.
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!
Not really a huge Van Halen fan, always held huge respect for Eddie's talent though. This whole album is pretty rad & full of hits.
Up and down for me. Some of it felt like very overproduced stadium rock, others felt like timeless music
Great!
No, just no. I can’t say more. Other reviewers have summed up the complete waste of talent on this endless noise.
Complete nonsense
Not really my kind of music but this was surprisingly bearable.
First Van album. Decent!
This is a fun album to have playing in the background when you are playing cards and drinking beers with your buddies. The hits are great, the others songs are fine. Eddie Van Halen was an amazing guitarist.
Can someone please draw me a picture of the band on tour about to be picked up from their hotel. I want to see Eddy Van Halen hailin' the Van Halen van (with apologies to Stephen Fry). About 18 minutes into the first album
A little crazy and disjointed, sure, but cool nonetheless. There's very little to dislike about this sound, unless you think it's overdone. But really, can anything be reasonably compared to music with the Edster's epic, galaxy-rendering guitar chops? I didn't think so. 5/5 Key tracks: Runnin' with the Devil, Eruption, You Really Got Me, I'm the One
Van Halen will never not be in the conversation of best guitarist. What that man did with a guitar is unbelievable
Gold standard
This album rocks. Had no idea “you really got me” was by VH. Listened twice through and thoroughly enjoyed it all both times.
Van Halen are serious musicians but not serious songwriters. Eruption is parity at this point but for 1978 was undeniably RAD. Saturday Night Fever was 1977.... Runnin' with the Devil and Jamie's Cryin' are "B" songs and I think the comparison with average Aerosmith songs is a fair one. Ultimately VH is best experienced as a single song turned ALL THE WAY up or a best hits album...they don't have a single end-to-end good album. Note: The drummer in me knows that Alex Van Halen is criminally underrated and is a Top 20 rock drummer (Hot for teacher not on this album but is one of the more inventive and musical drum parts for a rock song).
When we had 1984 I started contemplating my thoughts on Van Halen, which was maybe I’ve never liked Van Halen. After this all I know is i don’t like listening to them. Also wondering if EVH actually is a good guitar player. He can do a lot but to my ears it sounds awful. I think “I’m the One” was where that clicked. They have a decent harmony in the chorus and after each line he plays insane fills that add nothing to the song. Give me some slow yet tasteful JJ Cale (or a hundred other guitarists) over this garble. Jamie’s Cryin is the best version of this band. Adding a star for that song.
I feel like I have the cilantro tasting like soap gene except for w Van Halen’s music, because these songs sound like complete shit across the board to me. The vocals. The guitar. The songs themselves, other than Jamie’s crying. It all sounds so cheesy and simultaneously overproduced and underbaked. Still, VH’s near legendary status makes me think there is some context I’m missing - something that doesn’t translate across eras. Like maybe vh’s tone and playing was so innovative and new at the time that nothing else mattered? Because other than that it doesn’t seem like there’s anything else here. Even eruption just sounds like button mashing to me. I don’t know. Maybe this is just the kind of music that isn’t meant to be listened to w a critical ear. Still, even trying to be open minded - I hate this. I went to a neighborhood party recently and this other Dad was going on and on about how innovative and fresh these death metal bands he’s into are (while shitting on steely Dan! The nerve) - so I tried to have an open mind and went home and listened. It was the worst shit id ever heard! Not only unlistenable but also cliche, pandering, derivative dreck. I felt like he’d tricked me into dog food or something. I honestly think liking the shit he recommended means you are subhuman and it shouldn’t be a crime to physically assault you - or at least it should be a reduced crime, like animal cruelty. Next time I see this dude I’m gonna (be polite and say it was interesting) slap him in the face and I don’t think there should be any consequences. Anyway, I don’t quite feel the same way listening to VH, but it’s a similarly alienating experience. Whew, back to back 1s for me. I swear I’m actually a pretty happy person.
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
I think I overshot my rating on 1984 by a bit, but still think I prefer the songs on that album to this one. Remake of the Kinks is offensive. And if I need my fix of Devil themed music you know I’m going Maiden.
Banger after banger. Great album.
You Really Got Me with this album. This is On Fire!
“Play as loud as you can” + “Let Eddie do his thing” = a winning album. Loved this one.
Pasional y frenético de principio a fin
Me gusto hartobastantefull. Pensé que iba a ser mucho más metal o algo así, pero definitivamente no se debe juzgar al álbum por la portada nomás. Es una combinación entre the police y dire straits. Mis favoritas: "You really got me", "Feel your love tonight" (que metí en mi playlist del amor después del amor) y "Ice cream man".
Divertido, aunque un poco monótono. Nada del otro mundo.
I'm not a hard rock listener but a lot of tracks were great. Second half kind of boring but I feel like people take listening to this too seriously. I liked it and I might change my rating after a few re-listens.
|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
Just not in the mood to be honest. Run of the mill power Rock and the only thing I can think of as a compliemt is that this was made in 1978 and not 1983
dad rock essentials
One of my all time favorite bands. The first time I heard "Eruption" my brain melted into a puddle and I was hooked. One of the greatest guitarists of all time....a great band and an awesome album.
Not my fave
Ace
Indispensable classic ( for young white male rock fans)
Hell of a good rocker, this one! I remember well when these guys hit the scene. I think I was still in middle school, and just beginning the move from soft rock to the harder stuff. Was never a monster fan, but didn’t turn it down either. This album just kills it! Top 5 guitarists of all time. God Bless and Keep Eddie Van Halen! You are missed.
AMAZING!
Favorite track: eruption other picks: running with the devil, you really got me, ain't talking about love
It's kind of crazy how many songs are on this 35 minute album. Erruption absolutely rips, but unfortunately I care a lot less about the songs where they're singing. They're probably also better live/thru speakers that aren't a laptop. If Mr Lee Roth was a woman I honestly might like this album more also but I guess that's a me problem.
It’s alright. Pretty good for hard rock.
Nuevamente toca escuchar por primera vez el disco de un artista/banda que sólo ubico por su nombre y alguna que otra contribución con otro músico. Sonidos ochentosos, hardrockeros, con voces que me recuerdan a las de Iron Maiden, casualmente en la misma época en que el punk y todas sus vertientes nacían. No es un sonido que particularmente me vuelva loco: me es demasiado luminoso y hasta un poco naif. No tengo mucho más para agregar. Hasta la semana que viene.
Killer playing and heralded in a new era of guitar. Love the fact this is almost a live album - not in the sense of recorded in front of a live audience but as a band at once in the studio. Was going to say four but then realised it ticks every single box of what makes a 5 star. Sometimes it's not just for personal faves (which it also is) - it's for a fully realised vision.
Pretty hyped songs!
Perfect album. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, I'm the One and You Really Got Me are the masterpieces! All other songs are perfect too.
The absolute best parts of rock and roll excess bottled up into one killer debut record. You know every song on the album, and every song is worth knowing.
Not a debut, a declaration: an album so atomic that its fallout fundamentally rewrote rock’s laws of physics.
Very good, not what I would listen to but good listen. Not my type
Pure magic. This is a candidate for albums I wish I could hear again for the first time. When Edward starts tapping in Eruption you realize he was better than everyone else. By a lot. This album is absolutely perfect. In my top 10 from this whole list. Pure magic. If you give this less than 5 stars you're only semi good looking.
This album turns everything up to 11. It's like a perfect middle ground between glam and heavy metal. It sounds really great. It's difficult to explain why, but this just sounds really fucking cool. Compare this to other similar bands around at the time and Van Halen just sound so much cooler. It's a much grittier sound, the guitar playing is fantastic, and the vocals are great. It sounds like everything is being played with such a swagger and why wouldn't it be, with material this good. Everyone is at the peak of their powers. If you're into this kind of music then I don't see any reason why this wouldn't be considered a classic. Very glad this was on the list and I got to listen to it for the first time.
All gas no breaks
One of the most successfull debut album in history.
Impressive but not my thing
One of the more consequential albums of its time. Changed rock guitar forever. Brilliant musicians, some great songs, especially in the first half.
solid
I expected some iconic guitar solos but I did not expect the harmonies on Feel Your Love Tonight! Maybe not the most cohesive but I like the songs and even the cover of The Kinks
The first four songs on this album are pretty well known, which I guess is something. Look, I get what Van Halen is doing and I think they do it pretty well. But I still don't like it. The over the top 80s hair metal simply doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. Was very confused by the first minute of Ice Cream Man too. 4.5/10 (2.25/5)
I'm saving the 4's in case Diver Down or Fair Warning show up on this list. Would do 3 1/2 if possible. But cant go 4 on this one
Not really my taste of music. I like the ice cream man song though and sort of liked Jamie's cryin but that may just be because it was familiar.
85% Best: Runnin' with the Devil; You Really Got Me; Jamie's Cryin'; Feel Your Love Tonight Must-Hear? Sure
One of best frontmen and lead guitarists of all time. A debut album like few others. 80s hair metal may never have been so big without this album.
It’s an alright album. A bit too short for a rock record. I liked Van Halen ‘s guitar work. But I’ve already listened to many albums like this. If I had listened to it earlier, I would’ve enjoyed it more. 3 stars for “Self Titled”.
A rock/blues classic
I'd probably like it more if I wasn't sick of 70s/80s rock at this point.
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.
there are some classics on here
One hit after another on this album - epic. Love the vibe, guitar solos, and awesome rock music.
Not exactly in my wheelhouse but a good time nonetheless.
4.9 I think the only knock is not having Eruption start off the album and introduce your band to the world with that. EVH is #2 guitarist of all time. I listened to a re-mastered version of the album and it sounded pretty much perfect. My car stereo goes to 38 and I listened to the whole thing at 38. On fire was a bit of a banger that I wasn't familiar with
I really liked this one. It's got a lot of songs I'm already familiar with, but they hold up. Eddie Van Halen is phenomenal, and shows it throughout the album, and it's got a driving energy that carries through the album, even into the ballads.
Eruption changes the way we play guitar. You really got me is one of the great cover versions. Dave, Eddie, Alex and Michael. Just as god intended. Is it immature? Yes. Sexist? Yes. Arrogant? Yes. Should it be condemned for all of this? Probably, yes. One of the greatest debut albums? Indubitably yes. . 25 stars.
Bang, out of the gate comes Van Halen with this cocksure and confident album that changed the sound of hard rock/heavy metal forever. Pyrotechnic, rockin', and above all fun, this album does not take itself too seriously, which is a major blessing compared to most heavy rock bands, who are generally po-faced in the extreme. Eddie's guitar style completely rewrote the book of heavy guitar playing, using the technological innovations of guitar and amplification to reinvent what technique could be. When I was teenager in the 80s, I was heavily into Jimi Hendrix, but a friend made the case that Eddie Van Halen's playing was more influential. And I reluctantly have to agree. When this album came out, it seems like every guitar player had to decide whether to adapt to the new techniques or sound old fashioned. Often imitated but rarely equaled, the Van Halen guitar sound really dominated hard rock/heavy metal for over a decade until grunge started knocking the edges off mainstream playing over a decade later. Some of the songs are relatively weak, especially in the back half of the album, but a record with Runnin' with the Devil, Eruption, and Ain't Talking About Love and their cover of You Really Got Me as the first four tracks is always going to seem weaker in the home straight. David Lee Roth is not the world's best singer, but his confidence, chutzpah and sense of fun leads the band in its party-hard strut. It was such a breath of fresh air for a heavy band to not take themselves too seriously. You just know you're going to have a great time with this album. A dead-set classic.
Too much cocaine 3.3
Nostalgic
Classic by Van Halen! Why you love Van Halen!
As classic as rock metal gets
Eddie 💜
Pfff. Okay: "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" is carried by a great riff, otherwise this all leaves me extremely cold. It's musicians' music. By the numbers. If you don't care for rock clichés or technical execution, which I don't, there is just nothing here. "Eruption" is nonsense, boogie woogie "Ice Cream Man" horrible. Trite rhythms throughout. I had considerably more fun with the similarly flavoured debut from Boston. And really, this album, even if it's an impressive first appereance, is surrounded by so many rock releases which offer either much more interesting, meaningful music or *that same* thing to a greater effect - this here is bleh.
4.75
jó egy ilyennek ideje volt már nagyon!
This is an album I've already listened to multiple times in my lifetime and actually just listened to it a month or so ago. But of course I listened to it again now because it is damn good. As a guitar player, I have a massive appreciation for music that shows the lead guitarist's skills. It also just so happens that I personally believe Eddie Van Halen is the greatest guitar player of all time. The stuff that man could do on guitar is nothing short of a miracle. The album just screams quintessential hard rock. The awesome lead guitar with Eddie's classic and unique sound partnered with David Lee Roth's legendary vocals....a masterpiece. Wish I could give it 6 stars.
Okay these guys shred. Catchy choruses, sick guitar solos, vocals that don't suck, and it didn't seem like they were trying to pass off the covers as their own song. Almost every song is a hit. Atomic punk is the only song I didn't like. This is classic rock at its best.
The opening riff from Ain’t Talking About Love amazing. The rest of the album is trash.
I only knew Van Halen from their 80s hair metal era, so this album was a pleasant surprise. There are interesting parallels between this and Iron Maiden’s first album, with both having a punk edge, but this album also includes blues and even some vocal scatting on one track. The highlight is probably the showboating guitar solo from Eddie Van Halen on Eruption that segues into a cheeky cover of The Kinks’ ‘You Really Got Me’. Good fun all round.
I was ready to hate it, but it's not that bad. Oh sure, Eddy was already a neck wanker in these early days, but it's still pretty raw on the edges and fun(nier) to listen to.
This was my first time listening to a Van Halen album - but I knew a lot of these songs already from the culture. High energy glam metal with some classic Van Halen shredding - no surprises here.