Review Summary: Van Halen's first album is definitely their best album.
In the late 1970s, rock music didn't have the creative energy that it had previously. Most 70s rock giants (ex. Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath etc.) were struggling to continue their massive success, and bands such as Journey, Styx, and Boston were currently dominating the pop charts. It was all very similar and nothing new and exciting was released during the majority of this time, that is, until 1978. If I had to say that there was one album that completely revamped hard rock/heavy metal to bring it to the forefront in the 1980s, it would probably be this - Van Halen's self-titled debut.
Van Halen formed in 1972 in Pasadena, CA and got signed by Warner Bros. in 1977. The members at that time were David Lee Roth on vocals, Eddie Van Halen on guitar, Alex Van Halen on drums, and Michael Anthony on bass. This first album was a complete masterpiece, and I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys any type of rock music. Here's a track by track list of all the songs on the album:
1. Runnin' With the Devil - With an eerie intro that leads into one of the catchiest (and one of my favorite) guitar riffs, it opens with a bang and continues with the same level of perfection, into the verses and chorus. There are two very similar guitar solos in the song, which are good, but aren't anything special compared to what is on the rest of the album. This is also one of Van Halen's most recognizable songs. Nevertheless, it's an amazing song. 5/5
2. Eruption - Another very famous VH song, this is an instrumental that is approximately 1:40 long. It is a guitar solo done by Eddie Van Halen that showcases his mastery of two-hand-tapping. This solo has been attempted by millions over the years, and very few are able to successfully play it. But the most important thing is, not only is this solo technically proficient, it is also pleasing to the ear. 5/5
3. You Really Got Me - A cover of The Kinks' version as well as yet another one of VH's most well-known, it's the shortest song on the album (besides "Eruption"). Although, it packs a serious punch in its short length. Opening with a heavy guitar riff and continuing the same intensity throughout the song, it also has a great guitar solo that, while it is short, it is one of the best on the album. 5/5
4. Ain't Talkin' Bout Love - Hard rock perfection. With a unique riff and an amazing chorus with loads of backing vocals, this song is like "Runnin' With the Devil", but better. Like RWTD, the solo could be longer and better, but it's still really good. Clocking in at 3:49, this is the longest song on the entire album, which tells you a bit about Van Halen style of songs, they are generally not long. Anyway, another perfect song. 5/5
5. I'm the One - I don't know why, but this is my favorite song on the album. It's definitely the fastest song on the album, and contains a lot of shredding. While this song isn't very well known, it is far from filler, with a killer guitar solo and one of the best choruses on the album (at least IMO). 5/5
6. Jamie's Cryin' - At around this point, the album begins to lose the level of perfection that the first 5 songs provided. Not that the rest is bad in any way, but it begins to take a slight downturn after "I'm the One". This song shows a more sensitive side of the band, which is good to see in at least one song on the album, and also is one of the catchier songs, too. The only problem I have with it is that the solo is pretty lackluster, but it doesn't detract too much from the song. 4/5
7. Atomic Punk - Similar to "I'm the One", this is a very fast song, with another interesting guitar intro. The guitar solo in this song makes up from the one in "Jamie's Cryin'", being furious and fitting the song perfectly. The only drawback of this song is the lyrics, which causes me to only really listen to this song to hear the guitar. 4.5/5
8. Feel Your Love Tonight - Definitely the weakest song on the album, but that's not saying it's bad though. It isn't very heavy like most of the previous songs, but it has a nice "feel-good" vibe to it, and it leads well into the rest of the album. The chorus is probably the strongest part of the song, which has lots of backing vocals, even more than most songs on the album. 3.5/5
9. Little Dreamer - If there had to be a "power ballad" on this album, it would be this song. The tempo is slowed and it flows well with "Feel Your Love Tonight". While the guitar work isn't extraordinary, it is very well done throughout the whole song, and it has a more soulful guitar solo compared to the rest of the solos on the album. I guess you could say this is the Van Halen's first "power ballad", and a good one at that. 4/5
10. Ice Cream Man - Another cover, this song starts off acoustic. It eventually builds up into electric guitar and gets pretty heavy by the middle of the song. Then, out of nowhere, one of the best guitar solos on the album just hits you in the face. Starting off fiercely, it slowly makes its way into guitar-bliss. This is also one of the catchier songs on the album. 4.5/5
11. On Fire - A solid way to end an amazing album, it's a fairly short song, clocking in at just under 3 minutes. Despite this, it is one of the strongest songs on the album and is very aggressive, similar to "I'm the One" and "Atomic Punk", and it is definitely worth listening to the whole album to reach this song. 4.5/5
Well, there you have it. This is an amazing album that is just shy of perfection. It has no "filler" on it, while some songs are definitely not as good as others. Anyhow, definitely pick up a copy of this album if you like rock music and you won't regret it.
