Van Halen - Van Halen
Warner Bros. Records
Heavy Rock
11 songs (35'34)
Release year: 1978
Van Halen, Warner Bros. Records
Reviewed by Paul

This is Van Halen's first album. Eddie Van Halen had to wait till Van Halen II to be crowned as guitarist of the year. He was THE guy who almost invented the picking' on the guitar. The band got famous with their clip with the two songs together Eruption/You Really Got Me. Eruption was the result of a hard training,

Jimmy Hendrix influence and many vitamins taken maybe in an illegal way... In fact it influenced a lot all the next generation of US guitarist and the title of the song says it all. You Really Got Me is a cover from the Kinks, which by the way lot of people say that it is THE first hard rock riff ever...

The rhythmic section is assumed by Alex Van Halen (Eddie's brother) and Michael Anthony on the bass which both together a very good team and still are. What to say about David Roth (Van Halen, David Lee Roth), yes he is the clown and the playboy of the band. His voice would maybe better fit within a blues band but anyway that is also contributed to the success of the band.

So you will find a bunch of very good songs dynamic and fresh on this cd. There are great rock'n'roll energy and wildness in these songs. The arrangements are good, especially for the backing' vocals (thanx for Michael's great voice). The solos are amazing for the time when you think that it is only the seventies by the time...

Killing Songs :
Runnin' With The Devil, Eruption, You Really Got Me, Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, I'm The One, Jamie's Cryin', Atomic Punk, Feel Your Love Tonight, On Fire
Paul quoted CLASSIC
Aleksie quoted Buy or Die
Other albums by Van Halen that we have reviewed:
Van Halen - A Different Kind Of Truth reviewed by Aleksie and quoted 95 / 100
Van Halen - Best Of Volume I reviewed by Aleksie and quoted no quote
Van Halen - Van Halen III reviewed by Aleksie and quoted 40 / 100
Van Halen - Balance reviewed by Aleksie and quoted 72 / 100
Van Halen - Live: Right Here, Right Now reviewed by Aleksie and quoted no quote
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