Van Halen--Van Halen (1978)
Rating--9.5
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love--RealAudio Feel Your Love Tonight
As far as impact on the metal scene, this album is definitely among the top ten all-time. Consider the release date, the attitude, and the
absolutely pure and killer distortion sound, and it's damn near the top. The band has amassed an impressive 20-plus years worth
of music, but this devil-may-care opus still ranks as its best work---bar none.
Eddie Van Halen rips with fluidity, pulling off
riffs and fills with precision and flare that had never been seen in music before. David Lee Roth comes across with the brass of a seasoned veteran, never
letting on that this was all four of the band members' first taste of the studio. Truly a stunning accomplishment.
"Runnin' With
the Devil" begins the ride in a slow-down, churning mode, before giving way to speed and adrenaline. "Eruption" is probably
the benchmark guitar solo in hard rock, as Eddie was one of the first to (thoroughly) showcase finger tapping.
The metallic
and caustic flow of the main riff in "Ain't Talkin' About Love" is sharp and driving, and "Jamie's Cryin'" still rocks AOR radio today.
The band also introduced its love for the remake, with a scorching version of The Kinks' "You Really Got Me."
Also showcased
is the carefree and somewhat tongue-in-cheek side of the band, with the acoustic-to-shredding "Ice Cream Man."
Buried in
the band's catalog after two decades are even more great tunes, including the harmonized "Feel Your Love Tonight," and the
heavier energies of "Atomic Punk," "I'm the One," and "On Fire."
With a select handful of glistening jewls that dot metal's
history, this one belongs in every collection.
TRACK LIST: 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/Little Dreamer/Ice Cream Man/On Fire
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