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Critic Reviews
100
Although it set the template for how rock & roll sounded for the next decade or more, it isn't seen as an epochal generational shift, like Led Zeppelin, The Ramones, The Rolling Stones, or Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols, which was released just the year before. But make no mistake, Van Halen is as monumental, as seismic as those records.
13y
100
Van Halen very well endures as one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll debuts of all time—a puzzling truth now, given how maligned the initial critical reception was.
2y
100
Van Halen were veterans of the Pasadena, California, bar circuit, but on their 1978 debut their sound was already large enough to fill football stadiums.
11y
The fact that one of the best songs on this album is one of the best guitar solos I have ever heard in my life speaks volumes.
“Van Halen 1” is easily one of the best rock albums of its time. The first 4 tracks are back to back CLASSICS for a damn reason. Davids vocals sound absolutely stellar on here, he’s pretty much the damn king of party rock vocals. Eddies solos are godly too, he da GOAT for a reason. I will say tho, I feel like the second leg of this thing ever so ... read more
Two things out of the way first, Eddie was a fantastic guitar player and this is the album with their most memorable songs. But I have never heard an example of "great musicianship, mid album" more than this album. In all honestly I was impressed by the guitar work on many of these songs, including the famous Eruption, but the songs themselves are nothing special or to write home about. These are all pretty standard hard rock songs of it's time the only difference is the guitar work, ... read more
Everything after track 4 puts me to sleep
The self-titled Van Halen album is considered a Rock classic, and it's for good reason. There are some undoubtedly iconic moments and tracks on this album, my issue is that they all appear at the very beginning. It's an extremely front-loaded record, with the first 4 tracks being the most memorable ones, particularily Runnin' with the Devil and Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love (fantastic opening riff), Eruption is there as well, ... read more
Favorites: Runnin' with the Devil, You Really Got Me, Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, Jamie's Cryin',
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Track List
| 1 | Runnin' with the Devil 3:34 | 92 |
| 2 | Eruption 1:42 | 93 |
| 3 | You Really Got Me 2:36 | 90 |
| 4 | Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 3:47 | 94 |
| 5 | I'm the One 3:44 | 86 |
| 6 | Jamie's Cryin' 3:29 | 85 |
| 7 | Atomic Punk 2:59 | 84 |
| 8 | Feel Your Love Tonight 3:40 | 83 |
| 9 | Little Dreamer 3:21 | 86 |
| 10 | Ice Cream Man 3:18 | 78 |
| 11 | On Fire 3:00 | 83 |
Total Length: 35 minutes
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5mo
The people who heard Euruption for the first time in the 70s probably thought they were getting a lobotomy. Especially after listening to Beatles, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd
