Van Halen

iTunes Review

Van Halen’s 1978 self-titled debut album is one of those rare debut albums — think The Doors, Jimi Hendrix’s Are You Experienced,  Ramones — that simply announces itself. Eddie Van Halen’s lightning-fast guitar leads are everywhere (especially the under two-minute instrumental explosion of “Eruption”), Michael Anthony’s swinging yet thunderous bass matches up perfectly with drummer Alex Van Halen’s quirky sense of time, and singer David Lee Roth is simply on fire from the onset. “Runnin’ With the Devil” sets the tone. Roth screeches, cajoles and croons with the assurance of a veteran pitchman hawking his product to any sucker who dares to pause. He introduces Van Halen’s guitar solos with genuine anticipatory glee. Add a rambunctious cover of the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me,” the inescapably catchy chorus of “Jamie’s Cryin’,” the crash and burn dynamic of “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” and the bluesy yawp of “Ice Cream Man” and there isn’t anything these four men can’t touch and turn into pure Van Halen. For that, they have made one of the all-time finest party albums.