As Van Halen's highest rated album (Peaked at 2nd, 77 Weeks on chart) with David Lee Roth in the band, It has alot of commercial songs. For example Panama and Jump, are some of VH's most famous songs. The album was released New years day 1984 (hence 1984). It was also a inovative album , being the first Van Halen album to feature keyboard, and some of Ed's best work ever. Me, being a huge Halen with Roth fan, put this album tied as my favorite, only rivaled by Van Halen I.
1. 1984
The First track, a Keyboard intro with all sorts of strange noises going on. I can imagine (this being the 80's of course) that they where probably aiming at something very featuristic with this track.
3/5
2. Jump
Well, i know the first thing on everyone's mind when they hear this is the keyboard, so I'll start off with that. Eddie pitched the idea of using keyboards to his bandmates several times, eventually they folded when this album was recorded. The idea of the song's lyrics where created by DLR, who was once watching t.v. and saw an attempted suicide jumper on, Roth replyed with "Might as well jump". The ending riff was the insperation for the later Van Hagar song "Top Of The World". Some may concider it a classic.
4/5
3. Panama
Written by Eddie Whilst touring with AC/DC. According to Ed the song very Angus inspired. The Legendary EVH tone (Brown sound) can really be heard in this song. A very beautiful combination of hard drums, blaring guitar, screaming vocals, and mediocre basslines make this track very heavy and very awesome. At first listen it would appear that this song is about a car named "Panama" but apon further analasis the song is acctually about a stripper diamond dave met in a strip club. The car reving in the break is a hairdryer.
5/5
4. Top Jimmy
A strange song, about a cool guy who get's laid alot named Jimmy (David Lee Roth refrence?). Harmonic intro with with a sort of coutry/bluegrass feel.
Seems like a filler track to me...
2/5
5. Drop Dead Legs
A very good underground Van Halen song, which is odd, because Van Halen songs blow up like a balloon if they're even decent. Very addictive, fun to sing along with, and very catchy guitar riff. Only downside is the ending, not very strong, it just sort of breaks off. Very Van Hagar era guitar work.
5/5
6. Hot For Teacher
The intro (Quad Bass) was created to sound like a motor, and it kicks much ass doing so. Aside from acctual drum solos this is some of Alex's best work IMO. Eddie also drives an awesome solo in this song, everytime i hear it I always see him walking down that long ass table with the infamous Franken-Strat (guitar ED made out a strat body, gibson pickup, and Kramer neck. Known for it's HUGE tone).
5/5
7. I'll Wait
BEAUTIFUL SONG. Keyboard the entire song and no audable guitar what so ever. I'm not a big fan of the whole keyboard theme going on the album, but this is a great song, and deffinitly sells it. All the insturments sound really neat with all sorts of effects and mods. I believe it's about Roth's love with a super model.
5/5
8. Girl Gone Bad
Cool riffs and it sounds great for a while but it's sort of annoying after a while. Alex goes nuts in this song, fills and new beats everywhere, but some how manages to keep everything sounding great. Cool insturmental break/ending.
3/5
9. House Of Pain
Very Nu-Metaly, Not really my sorta stuff. The vocals sound pretty cool, but it doesn't match the guitar very well. Very cool insturmental break, but the begining brings this song down.
3/5
Overall it is a great album. More great songs pound for pound then most albums out there. A MUST for all Van Halen fans, regardless of what era you prefer *caugh* Roth *caugh* there's somthing for everyone on this album, it is probably one of the most diverse Van Halen albums, and all songss are under 5 minutes. But don't take my word for it go out and listen for yourself.
just like Panama, I think this is a good album
