#415

Van Halen, Van Halen

Release Date: 1978
Previously Owned: Yes (on vinyl)
First Time Listen: No

Impressions: Van Halen doesn’t exactly fit into my musical wheelhouse, but I secretly find them pretty awesome from time to time. Don’t tell anyone. Let’s put on their debut record here… Opens with the thump thump thump of Michael Anthony’s Jack Daniels bass guitar and kicks into gear with the spare, somewhat menacing yet fun-loving “Runnin’ With The Devil.” Their pattened brand of metal-flavored pop/rock (or is it pop/rock-flavored metal?) somehow works on the not-so-careful balance of the amazing technical precision of the Van Halen brothers and David Lee Roth’s party-time carnival barker act. They need each other, otherwise you’re stuck with turds like the no-fun 5150 or the musically flabby Crazy From The Heat. “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” gallops along “I’m The One” sounds like a looser verison of ZZ Top and then breaks into a doo wop vocal a cappella bridge. Plowing through this list can be a bit heavy, as some of these records drip importance, so it’s refreshing to run into one as flamboyant and unpretentious as this. Oddly, this record similar in some ways similar to U2’s debut Boy, in so far as both bands play without worry (also, probably not a great idea to analyze either’s lyrics too closely.) Eddie Van Halen’s sounds are still pretty startling, from the molten riffs of “Atomic Punk” to the squealing lightspeed tapping of “Eruption,” but I think their secret sauce is their great, keening backup vocals led(?) by Michael Anthony. Roth is not a brilliant vocalist but he’s a great salesman for good times, and his schtick helps put over wacky tunes like the acoustic-tinged blues-goof “Ice Cream Man.” Lots of fun, hugely influential, and never quite duplicated rock ‘n’ roll… not much more to ask for.

Starred Songs:  “Runnin’ With The Devil,” “Ain’t Talking About Love”
Sneaky Track: “Janie’s Crying,” “Ice Cream Man”
Should this album be on the list? Yes
Will you listen to this again? Yes

Verdict: Perfect, once-in-a-lifetime mix of boneheaded and brainy works like a charm and makes me pine for the days of long hair, cheap beer and brown M&M’s (almost.)

Rating: ★★★★