Rate The Albums: Van Halen I

[KenyonVincent]

Have we done this before? Review the albums, song by song [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Runnin' With The Devil
What can I say, a cool song. The horn intro sounds so creepy, which goes perfectly with the title. Mike's simple one-note bass intro is a cool groove and then Eddie's guitar work floors you! Dave's lyrics are almost autobiographical, intriguing any listener. Mike's harmonies are at their peak. Great song.

Eruption
Whoa! What an impact on guitar players everywhere! People spent hours just trying to copy it and figure out Ed's sound. Nice way to enter the rock world.

You Really Got Me
A good version of a song. As Ed said, "A hot tune we turned into a jetplane." So true. The world's first experience of a Van Halen song. Cool indeed.

Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
The intro is a groove in itself. Sure am glad Ed worked up the nerve to show the rest of the band this song. Why we was ashamed of it I don't know. The "hey hey hey!" at the end makes it rock even more. Shows Dave's love life in a song.

I'm The One
A million notes in the intro alone! Cool song and my favorite from the album. The fast drums, bass and guitar with Dave's howls make this song classic. The guitar solo is among Ed's best. The "bob badda, shooby doo wah" is right out the 1920s or Las Vegas lounges. Dave's future ahead of him [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] The bands kicks ass again after the breakdown is done, showing just how fast Alex can play those drums!

Jamie's Cryin'
A story of a young girl broken-hearted. Good song for the pop crowd. One of the few songs from the album in which Ed overdubbed with his guitar. Sounded cool that way, I think. Good song.

Atomic Punk
The intro is killer! Another autobiographical song from Dave. The lyrics are a perfect match with the music. I love how Mike's bass pops out of tune [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img] Makes a cool statement. The guitar solo is also among Ed's best.

Feel Your Love Tonight
Just like Jamie's Cryin, a good song for the pop crowd. Good summer, "in the back seat with your lover" song. Perfect for the drive-in movie if the movie is boring. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Little Dreamer
A slower song. Kind of a ballad, which was rare for Dave. Killer guitar solo is full of emotion, giving the song even more punch. Vocals are superb.

Ice Cream Man
The beginning I think is gay, but when the band kicks in...oh my! Another GREAT solo from Eddie! The song has a killer beat and is just another Van Halen-ized cover song. The album can't live without it.

On Fire
And finally, an awesome way to end the album. The song kicks ass from the word go! Not lyrically Dave's best, but it still makes a statement about what the Van Halen shows were all about: being on fire and kicking major ass! Dave's crow-like screams and Alex's hard-hitting drum power is a cool way to play this song!


There you have it folks, a review of Van Halen's "making-this-world-a-better-place" debut album! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[ May 10, 2001 at 03:28 PM: Message edited by: KenyonVincent ]

[Glenn]

Runnin With the Devil-A really cool song, very simple guitar throughout the whole thing. This song thumps, and Mikey leads the way.

Eruption-Whenever I hear this song I always have to stop and remind myself that this guy was in his early twenties when he recorded this. [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] I guess if you're that young and walking into the guitar arena, you better come prepared. Eddie certainly did!

You Really Got Me-This song makes it very difficult to listen to the Kinks original. This has never been one of my favorite VH songs, but the solo kicks ass.

Ain't Talkin' ' Bout Love-Awesome tone on the intro of the song. Another song that is so simple, which is a large part of its brilliance. Live, they have really overplayed this song, but the studio version is always great.

I'm The One-It's all in the title of this song. Arrogant, aggressive and in your face. This recording has always sounded to me like it's just one step away from falling apart, but they keep it together through sheer will power.

Jamie's Cryin'-Probably the weakest song on the album. Even though it's not one of their best, it still gets under your skin and makes you want to move around when it comes on.

Atomic Punk-A monster, one of the greatest, most powerful songs that Van Halen ever did. Another song that's just pure attitude.

Feel Your Love Tonight-A party song, definitely a song that makes you feel young again. Very pop, showing that there were a lot of different elements to the Van Halen story.

Little Dreamer-One of the coolest things about this song is just how much of an under dog it is. It virtually never gets any mention from anyone. A good example of how Van Halen could blow you away without guitar or vocal aerobics.

Ice Cream Man-Start to finish, awesome song. Starts off by letting Dave show his talent, then goes insane when the band comes in. My favorite EVH guitar solo is in this song.

On Fire-Maybe the best song on the album, and another one that gets far too little attention. Another amazing solo from Eddie, and Dave's coolest scream ever to be put to tape.

[AbeVanHalen]

Runnin' With the Devil: One of those songs where the guitar and vocal seem to have nothing to do with each other, yet it works! IMO, Eddie's best tone on the cd was on this song.

Eruption: Anyone who can turn a Kreutzer etude into something high energy gets my vote! And even though the tapping is as easy as it gets, it sounds so friggin' cool, it's classic. I can only imagine how guitarists felt when they heard this in 1978!

You Really Got Me: I don't care for the cover songs much, but they turned a rather bland tune into something really jumpin'.

Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love: The intro riff is worth the price of admission. Actually, I don't care too much for the song though.

I'm the One: Hyperactivity with a sense of humor.

Jamie's Cryin': Sarcasm incarnate.

Atomic Punk: For a 'party band', this was a rather heavy topic for lyrics. Not one of my favorites.

Feel Your Love Tonight: Even if it's based on a generic 70's rock riff, the song is like way groovy, man!

Little Dreamer: Haunting, with one of Ed's best solos ever.

Ice Cream Man: The quintessential track for demonstrating dynamics, and that solo, Jesus God, that son of a bitch is smokin'.

On Fire: Dave's high notes in this song are downright scarifying! Otherwise, I could skip this track and not miss anything.

[Atomic Punk DLR]

Runnin' With The Devil
Nice opener... not my favorite tho.

Eruption
Simply a killer. Anyone remember the hilarious scene of "Back To The Future" where Marty uses his walkman with Eruption to scare his dad in 1955?! Nothing else to add [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img].

You Really Got Me
Had already been a nice tune in the Kinks' original version, but Eddie and the boys make it a bit more high-energetic.

Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
I luuuuurve that song. Very autobiographical lyrics [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]. Another kick-ass tune [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img].

I'm The One
Well... strange title considering the frequent use of "Show Your Love". Nevertheless another great tune.

Jamie's Cryin'
A radio-compatible song. Guess that's why they made it a single release. Like it.

Atomic Punk
Probably my favorite of that album. Killer guitar, Dave screaming his ass off. I personally like the lyrics too.

Feel Your Love Tonight
Another good song, also intended for the radio folks I think.

Little Dreamer
Magnificent and touchy ballad... unusual for Roth-era Van Halen. Nice lyrics, good vocals.

Ice Cream Man
Hilarious cover, one of my favorites [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]. Pure Roth'n'Roll when the band kicks in. I love Dave's vocals.

On Fire
Whoa... what a way to end a superb album. This song is sooooooo hi-energy. Another kick-ass song.

Overall, nothing else but a great album. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Stuff No More]

I'd like to say I first heard this album in about 1995 after having heard all the Sammy stuff and only 1984 from the Dave era. Should give you a perspective.

Runnin' With The Devil
My first thought on the song was, "What commercial have I heard this on before?" There's nothing particularly complex in this song, and the simplicity makes it work excellent as a song that both introduces the band and sets the tone for what the next few albums will sound like. Though it doesn't make my personal collection of greatest hits, it is a solid song worthy of the praise is gets.

Eruption
Eruption, as an example of what Eddie can do with the guitar, stands unparalleled above everything. As an instrumental I go out of my way to listen to, it fails miserably. This is the kind of song I put on once to blow my mind, but skip on past later to "get on with the good stuff."

You Really Got Me
Would it be wrong to say that more people know their version than the original version of this song? While it is a cover song, it has so become associated with the boys that it may as well be an original. Far from their best work, but an essential classic in any casual collection of VH songs.

Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Dave thought this song was crap. I think he missed the boat on this one. Easily the song that jumps out and grabs me the most on the album, and before CGTSNM it was my favorite DLR era song. If you asked me to sum up what Van Roth was in a single song, I'd point you hear.

I'm The One
Dave's improvisation is a bonus, but otherwise his lyrics on this one are fairly weak. The song serves it's purpose - filler - admirably. Easy to sing along to and not a song you actively pass by, but when pulling together the greatest of the great, this song is equally easily passed by.

Jamie's Cryin'
Another token song that shows just how Van Roth sounded. Everything I said about YRGM being a staple of Van Halen applies to this as well - the conciousness of society as a whole is so pervaded with this song that it will always be thought of when talking about the Roth years. On my first listen through the album, it was one of the five songs I actually liked (the rest took a few more listens).

Atomic Punk
More filler from the band. Not a song that is indellibly etched in the mind of millions, but I suppose as an anthem of tough kids everywhere, the song serves well to try and convey the "bad ass" image Dave has always sought to surround himself with.

Feel Your Love Tonight
A song with '70s pop hooks. It serves as one of the easiest to approach songs on the album, which is not a bad thing. This and Dance the Night Away fit well enough that you could make a medly work here.

Little Dreamer
A departure from the rest of the songs on the album, this stands as both easily overlooked and easily appreciated for it's uniqueness. One of my personal favorites from this album.

Ice Cream Man
For a song that is essentially filly, it succeeds in establishing the pattern of VH doing covers that don't exactly fit their style on their first albums. From people I know, I've heard a great variance of opinions, all the way from, "You can't have a VH collection without this!" to, "This is by far their worst song ever."

On Fire
Bleh. Somebody hand me VH2, because I'd rather get a start on that album than listen to this waste of time.

[Brett]

Runnin' With The Devil
A pretty damn powerful opening for a song, especially in 1978. The ominous car horns, Mike's thumping bass, and when Ed's guitar kicks in with Dave's scream, woah lookout! The background vocals are stellar, and I agree that Ed's best tone on the album may have been this tune. Just huge.

Eruption
What's to say that hasn't already been said? Changed rock guitar playing forever in just under 2 minutes time.

You Really Got Me
VH supercharged a good tune and made it their own. Don't get me wrong I like the Kinks a lot, but Van Halen took this song to the next level. Again Eddie's chunky rhythm playing and great solo make this tune.

Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
That flanged guitar tone at the beginning is impossible to duplicate. VH proved you don't have to have 50 chord changes to write a great song. One of the best songs on the album, a ton of power behind this one.

I'm The One
Like Glenn said, you're just waiting for the band to blow it, but they never do. Eddie doing his best impersonation of his "falling down the stairs, and landing on your feet" analogy. Some of his best improvisational playing.

Jamie's Cryin'
A toe tapper, nothing more. One of my least favorite VH songs, period.

Atomic Punk
Only Ed could think to come up with that intro. Rubbing his palm against the strings like that, way cool. I like Dave's lyrics, it's interesting that this is one of the few VH songs with no backing vocals at all. Great phased-out solo by Ed.

Feel Your Love Tonight
VH took a very ordinary blues based riff, and took it to another level. Any other guitarist playing that main riff would be seen as cliche, but Eddie's harmonics, vibrato, and bends make this song great. One of my favorite VH songs of all-time. Just a rockin' tune from start to finish.

Little Dreamer
I don't know, I can take or leave this song. Some days I like it, some days it bores me. The solo is very cool, but frankly there are plenty of tunes off of the 25-song WB demo I would have liked to hear more on this ablum. Still, shows VH's diversity in being able to do a semi-ballad.

Ice Cream Man
Let's Dave be Dave. Classic tune for the "Diamond" One. Eddie's solo is mind-blowing.

On Fire
Flat out, one of the most underrated VH songs ever. The power of the vocals and guitar are amazing, and Eddie's off-the-wall solo fits just perfectly. That chunky rhythm section before the solo is too cool.

[KenyonVincent]

Eruption
Simply a killer. Anyone remember the hilarious scene of "Back To The Future" where Marty uses his walkman with Eruption to scare his dad in 1955?! Nothing else to add [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img].
[/QB][/QUOTE]

You're thinking of something that was just simply called Untitled. It wasn't part of any VH song and since the movie was from '85 or '86, it might've been an outtaked from the studio when Sammy came in the band. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Glenn]

The EVH music in Back to the Future was actually an out take from Eddie's work on The Wild Life soundtrack.

[KenyonVincent]

At least I was partially right. It does resemble Eruption in a way. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[laner]

i don't have the attention span to list them one by one, but vh1 is my favorite album, for the reasons that everyone has mentioned about the songs. they are all so awesome, and easily the best debut album recorded by any band. (led zep comes close perhaps) [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Goo]

quote:

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Originally posted by laner:
easily the best debut album recorded by any band. (led zep comes close perhaps) [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

---

I would agree with that. Imagine how good it would have been if half the songs wern't 'filler', as SNM pointed out [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Atomic Punk DLR]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>You're thinking of something that was just simply called Untitled. It wasn't part of any VH song and since the movie was from '85 or '86, it might've been an outtaked from the studio when Sammy came in the band.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>The EVH music in Back to the Future was actually an out take from Eddie's work on The Wild Life soundtrack.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Excuse me guys, I really thought Marty played Eruption to his dad, but then again I haven't seen that film in ages [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[Down In Flames]

Runnin' With The Devil
The intro scared the shit out of me when I first heard it. I thought the little greeen men were here... Mike's bass line can't be forgotten, no matter how much you try. As simplistic as it may seem, the song rocks. Great opener.

Eruption
Ebarrassingly fucking good. Enough said.

You Really Got Me
The first of the cover songs that showed that any song VH covered, they improved... by miles. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] The "Ooooh... Ahhh..." section of the song makes religious types all nervous. As my bitch Martha would say, "It's a good thing."

Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Attitude. The opening riff is so catchy. Everything about this song rocks. And who can argue with the "Hey, hey, hey" chorus? The ending gives me goosebumps sometimes.

I'm The One
The intro pisses me off, it's sounds so good. Ed's second solo still makes my jaw drop, the notes flow so quickly and fit so well. Dave's pushy lyrics and the back up vocals make this a winner.

Jamie's Cryin'
I liked the bridge, and the guitar work... But not much else. LOL. And, Tone Loc knew a good loop when he heard it. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Atomic Punk
Man, this song smokes. The intro, the lyrics, attitude, singing, solo... Great song, all the way around.

Feel Your Love Tonight
Great attitude, and singing. This is a definite "feel good" song. And, it's got fucking hand-claps! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] Can't beat that. Ed's solo is great, too. How surprising.

Little Dreamer
Bluesy, and Ed's guitar is underrated on this one. At about 2:53 of the song, Ed hits a note and it just goes through me like a sword. [img]smilies/redface.gif[/img] Dave's lyrics and singing stand out, IMO.

Ice Cream Man
The second great cover on the album. Dave on the acoustic guitar, leading the rest of the guys into the song is a great intro. I won't even mention Ed's solo. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

On Fire
This is probably my favorite song off the album. Ed's guitar sounds insane, and Dave's warped lyrics and vocals fit the vibe so well. Talk about attitude... Al and Mike are all over this one. And how about the "I'm On Fire" chorus? Doesn't it make you want to become an arsonist? [img]smilies/devil.gif[/img] Dave's scream after Ed's solo is creepy. The ending, where Dave mimics the sound of a police car siren with his voice as the song fades out... Wow. How anyone cannot dig this song is beyond me.

[billy007]

Well, what can I say? I heard "Dance The Night Away" before I heard Van Halen, and while I was waffling trying to decide which album to get (II had "Dance The Night Away", but Van Halen had Gene Simmons name on it, and well, I was a big KISS fan...) my friend got this album. I think a bunch of us were together the first time he played it and man, we didn't know what we were in for. Those "Running With The Devil" car horns that started off the whole thing were just otherworldly. The whole thing just sounded so clean - probably due to the lack of overdubbing, but I also think it was just well produced and mastered. Of course, we didn't know anything about that stuff, as I said, it just sounded clean! "Eruption" - we hadn't heard anything like that - none of were really into anything heavy yet - probably Boston was the heaviest stuff I had at the time, or back then, I probably thought KISS was heavy. You just knew your record was going to get it's first pop in that moment in the middle where it all goes quiet. And that ending, still love that. Another brief moment of silence and then "You Really Got Me". Never really liked the Kinks, and the way Van Halen did this song pretty much guarantees I never will - how can they compare? And it's their song! Bonus points for the party scene in "Over The Edge". Then "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" - I'm sure I always loved it, but it got a boost in '81 when I heard Dave change "mess" to "f**k". Yeah! "I'm The One" has always been a good song (loved that a capella breakdown) but suffered from years with an identity crisis. I think I know which song it is now! "Jamie's Crying" always liked, "Atomic Punk" can't say the same. "Feel Your Love Tonight" and "Little Dreamer" - nothing spectacular but still love 'em. Never felt there was anything "gay" about "Ice Cream Man" - love that song, love singing it, even when I forget to change "Dave" to "Bill". "On Fire" didn't like at first (probably because I thought he was saying "Shawn, your radio's on" and the whole thing made no sense) but they opened with it in 1981 and gained new appreciation for it then. As I mentioned in another post, this album, probably out of all the Van Halen albums I own, still takes me back to that time, the time that it was new and Van Halen was new in our world of KISS and Peter Frampton and Boston as we were finishing off weaning ourselves off disco.

[Glenn]

BUMP

The more the merrier [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]