Van Halen - Van Halen
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Free Music Notes for Van Halen
Free Music Review: VAN HALEN CD
Hit: 5 Stars
I AM VERY PLEASED WITH MY VAN HALEN CD. THE SOUND QUALITY IS GREAT! I ORDERED THE CD FOR MY BIRTHDAY & IT SURE BROUGHT MEMORIES OF SOME AWESOME TEENAGE YEARS! ENJOY! DEENA KENDRICKFree Music Review: One Of Rock's Biggest Milestones
Hit: 5 Stars
We all know that sometime around 1976-77, real rock died down. Glorious albums such as Queen's A Night at the Opera and Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti had been forgotten, and the music industry was overthrown by disco and pop. In days like those, people were used to listening to bands like KC and the Sunshine Band and seeing John Travolta wearing a white jacket and pointing to the sky on Saturday Night Live. All of this changed for the better in 1978, upon the release of Van Halen's eponymous debut album. With a little urging from friend Gene Simmons of KISS, the album fresh out of Warner Bros. Records had become an instant classic, sporting many well-known hits and singles that we still listen to today. This God of an album starts off with the hit "Runnin' with the Devil," which has two magnificent guitar solos by Eddie Van Halen and a great harmony by Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth (or, as he was known in those days, "Diamond Dave"). The second track might've even stunned Jimmy Page: "Eruption" is probably the greatest guitar solo of all time, and is nearly nonstop shredding all the way through. This of course brought fame to Eddie, along with a little help from his brother, drummer Alex. Another hit single was well on its way, a cover that everyone, even if they're not a Van Halen fan, has heard. It was a cover of an old Kinks song called "You Really Got Me," and while the Kinks may have wrote it, Van Halen popularized it. The song contains everything most bands want and need, whether it's the lightning fast guitar solo or the catchy chorus. Though several bands have covered this song, Van Halen's version seems to be the most popular. The fourth song on the album is what one could describe as having a more "punk" sound to it. Standing as another awesome radio hit, "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" had everyone headbanging all the way through. It wasn't a wonder to anyone as to why this song made the record. Though the band proved they can bring back 50s doo-wop pop with the song "I'm the One," it was songs like "Jamie's Cryin'" that had everyone talking. This is also where guitarist Eddie Van Halen shines, as the main riff is a bit on the complex and challenging side, and the solo is yet another great. David Lee Roth's vocal's are also great in this song. More punk and good ol' fashioned rock can be heard on the next three tracks, punk-rocker "Atomic Punk," riff-rocker "Feel Your Love Tonight" and semi-ballad "Little Dreamer," but another standout on this album is the almost all-acoustic "Ice Cream Man". An ideal song to listen to on a hot summer's day, the song really is a quiet one in its first half, consisting only of acoustic guitar playing by Eddie Van Halen and vocal verses by David Lee Roth. Van Halen picks up their style in the second half with another awe-inspiring guitar solo and more traditional lyrics. An awesome, catchy Van Halen hit can describe that song. The last track on the album is an ideal finish for any classic rock record. The song, called "On Fire," is probably the finest album finisher I can think of, in which it contains some of the greatest guitar and vocal work imaginable. Without this song the album itself just wouldn't be the same. Eleven tracks of pure hard-rocking virtuosoes is what Van Halen's first album is, as this classic should be cherished and forever listened to by music fans. From "Runnin' with the Devil" to "On Fire," no other album will change music like this one did.Free Music Review: it's coming
Hit: 3 Stars
Van Halen's influence on the world of rock music was probably the worst one that ever happened. Eddie Van Halen, while surely talented, never did anything for me. His guitar solos were never memorable in the same way many hard rock bands before him were. His style was usually played with so much speed and intensity that I always have a tough enough time even keeping up with the notes, let alone finding any enjoyment out of it. Once Eddie Van Halen arrived on the scene, mainstream rock music overall pretty much went downhill, and has remained that way for quite some time.
However, their debut album gets some points for having a few memorable songs. They were able to create some catchy songs from time to time such as "Jamie's Cryin" and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love". Another good song is "Atomic Punk". Other songs such as their cover of "You Really Got Me" is easily inferior to the great Kinks version, and "Runnin' With the Devil" is kind of boring. I have no idea who thought "Ice Cream Man" was worth putting on record.
Overall, their debut will never be one of my favorites compared to so many other great records from the late 70's, but it's decent enough to recommend a purchase.
Free Music Review: (4.5 stars) ROCK ON!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Interesting story behind how I came about this album, and this band. A friend of my brother's was trying to argue that Eddie Van Halen was a better guitarist than Jimi Hendrix. I heard about it, and I'm thinking, What? Is this kid serious? No guitarist is better than Hendrix, and you know it! Well, I still don't think Eddie Van Halen is a better guitarist than Jimi Hendrix, but this album rocks like hell. I mean, a couple of these songs are awful, like "Janie's Cryin'" and "I'm the One", but that does not keep the best material from rocking tremendously. "Atomic Punk"? Oh, hell yeah. Hilarious little satire-thingy. "Runnin' with the Devil"? You've heard that song, right? It owns. It's got a great refrain, and a great riff, and that motorcycle guitar intro-thing... cool! "You Really Got Me Now" actually manages to almost out-Kinks the Kinks' original, except for the annoying sex noises in the end that were stolen right from "Whole Lotta Love". Other than that, it rocks. Let's see... "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" has the best riff on the record, "Feel Your Love Tonight" has the best solo (never said Eddie wasn't a good guitarist, just not as good as Jimi Hendrix. There's a difference, see?).I even enjoy a couple of the lesser-known songs, like "Little Dreamer", where Diamond Dave (I want a nickname like that) has all kinds of fun on vocals, and the hard-rockin' blues shuffle "Ice Cream Man". Even the infamous guitar solo "Eruption" is decent imitation Hendrix. A lot of detractors like to say that Van Halen is a hair-metal band, but I don't buy it: it never seems like they put style ahead of substance (much like AC/DC), and even Roth's macho-man I'm-so-sexy, do-me-right-now thing seems to be ironic (another AC/DC comparison). So if you want to rock out without thinking hard at all, buy this right away.Free Music Review: What can you say?.......it was VH's first
Hit: 5 Stars
Van Halen.....with David Lee Roth, what can you say? This is there first album and it is great! I bought it on cassette and cd. One of the all time great bands. Highly recommended.