Van Halen's Most Underrated Album

**I Coulda Hada VH** · 07.14.20, 02:56 PM

Which Van Halen album do you think is their most underrated and why do you feel that way?

**jimmy812** · 07.14.20, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by I Coulda Hada VH

Which Van Halen album do you think is their most underrated and why do you feel that way?

The next one...

**I Coulda Hada VH** · 07.14.20, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by jimmy812

The next one...

Don't hold your breath ...

**L.S.D.** · 07.14.20, 03:41 PM

Balance

Came out my junior year of high school. I can’t remember a day we didn’t crank that one for like 6 months straight.

Seventh Seal, Dont Tell Me and Aftershock are all up there with my favorite VH songs. I appreciated the band was still evolving and creating a new sound for themselves.

**wombattt** · 07.14.20, 03:44 PM

Not at the time, but as time goes on I feel that Van Halen II & WACF both get overlooked, not as bad as Diver Down, but not more than a step above that one, and I couldn’t disagree with that assertion more.

Conversely, It is my opinion that 5150 is severely overrated, not in the importance of what the release meant to the band continuing, but in the sense of how good the music is....to be clear, I’m not talking about the emotional attachment to the music which I understand many have. I’m saying the songs themselves are not that great compared to the rest of their catalog.

**DRFC** · 07.14.20, 06:52 PM

ADKOT

Why? Because we expected the first 10 albums. Why wouldn't they release greatness?

But then after III they went silent for 14 years, came back with Dave and surprised everyone, for the first time since they broke thru.

**VH1986** · 07.14.20, 07:46 PM

I think the most underrated album is Balance. I love Ed's warm, rich tone on this record. Overall, the songs were more serious and I found deeper meaning in Sam's lyrics, especially on songs like The Seventh Seal, CSLY, Don't Tell Me, Not Enough, Aftershock, Take Me Back, Feelin', and Crossing Over. Amsterdam is one of Ed's coolest riffs ever. This album also boasts some of my favorite of Ed's solos: DTMWLCD, Amsterdam, Big Fat Money, Not Enough, and Feelin'. Sam delivered some of his best vocal performances, Al was a monster, and whoever played bass (I want to think it was Mikey) brought it. The sound of this album starts first with great writing, and it was enhanced by phenomenal production by Bruce Fairbairn. I would have dropped Strung Out, Doin' Time, and Baluchithirum, and added a finished Back Door Shuffle and Crossing Over. It's my second favorite album of the Sam era and one of my favorite in the catalog.

**jimmy812** · 07.14.20, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by VH1986

I think the most underrated album is Balance. I love Ed's warm, rich tone on this record. Overall, the songs were more serious and I found deeper meaning in Sam's lyrics, especially on songs like The Seventh Seal, CSLY, Don't Tell Me, Not Enough, Aftershock, Take Me Back, Feelin', and Crossing Over. Amsterdam is one of Ed's coolest riffs ever. This album also boasts some of my favorite of Ed's solos: DTMWLCD, Amsterdam, Big Fat Money, Not Enough, and Feelin'. Sam delivered some of his best vocal performances, Al was a monster, and whoever played bass (I want to think it was Mikey) brought it. The sound of this album starts first with great writing, and it was enhanced by phenomenal production by Bruce Fairbairn. I would have dropped Strung Out, Doin' Time, and Baluchithirum, and added a finished Back Door Shuffle and Crossing Over. It's my second favorite album of the Sam era and one of my favorite in the catalog.

Good post.

I think the easy answer to the most underrated VH album is ADKOT. But that's kind of unfair since VH wasn't really relevant when that album came out--I believe that was just a gift for us true fans.

I guess, I'd agree with Balance as the most underrated from the "relevant" catalog. It was the mid-90's when rock music wasn't really doing too well. It didn't have the BIG easy hits like Right Now, When It's Love or Dreams. Not sure why they didn't even attempt to release Take Me Back--I thought could've been a moderate hit.

Strung Out should have never been put on an album. But I like Doin' Time and Baluchitherium. It was about time Al got a short instrumental! I wish he had done a couple more over the years. And Baluchitherium is a cool instrumental, but I think it could've been fleshed out a little more and included some lyrics. It's the darkest album from the Sammy years, which is no wonder since the band wasn't in a great place.

**CaboChris** · 07.14.20, 11:36 PM

Man, the only thing I like about Balance is CSLY.

That album has NO staying power for me and I gave it a serious run. At the time, I was stoked of course but in hindsight...that was NOT a worthy successor to F.U.C.K.

**Raldo** · 07.15.20, 03:25 AM

ADKOT

Great rock album regardless of when some of the music originated.

**ziggysmalls** · 07.15.20, 05:42 AM

WACF. Its very raw and unpolished. There is an edge to most everything on the album. While there are some choruses with hooks the album like FW has harder edge to it. Most of their albums it seemed that they had created a song that appealed to radio. Jamie's Cryin. Dance the Night Away. Pretty Woman, Jump, etc. This and FW don't have that. Since FW is considered to be the best album, going to make WACF the most underrated

**salg** · 07.15.20, 06:17 AM

I would have to say ADKOT. I remembering listening to it for the first time....I felt like I got raped by a guitar !!! Eddie totally kicks major ass on that record.

**BlindtotheWorld** · 07.15.20, 06:40 AM

I'm going to go with WACF. It may well be their best album but it never comes up in the discussion (outside or the Links of course).

**smithtone** · 07.15.20, 07:16 AM

I have to pick one from each era.

WACF
The production rawness and loose performances stand out. EVH hadn't yet gotten heavily into layering the guitar parts (FW) and it's the last album where they ripped it out in two weeks (Diver Down was mostly covers). The quick turnaround shows and I think we all appreciate the "under-processed" VH. I wouldn't change a thing about it. I also have the opinion that In A Simple Rhyme might be the most underrated song VH has done - at least from the classic era. And after borrowing my friend's VH1 and VH2 records, it was the first VH album I bought.

FUCK
When I first listened to this CD in '91, I thought it was tremendous. Great production with a high number of strong songs - Poundcake, Judgement Day, The Dream Is Over, Runaround, Pleasure Dome, Top Of The World. And I believe Right Now is one of the finest piano pop songs ever - and Sam stepped up with great lyrics for it, too. But the remaining years of that decade ignored this type of music, the band ignores this part of its history, you only hear Classic VH on the radio, and fans don't bring this album too much. But I remember being floored at the time at how good it was.

**Jedi McFly** · 07.15.20, 07:56 AM

ADKOT, easily. People sleep on it due to some of the songs having been around in demo form and the production issues.

Every single VH album has songs on it rooted in demos from years prior, so I don't understand the negativity surrounding that. I do understand the issues with the brickwalled production and overly gainy guitar tones.

But man, that album really is awesome. I wish they'd led with a different single (possibly She's The Woman) because I think Tattoo turned a lot of folks off too.