asp's classic albums # 68: van halen - i
 

VAN HALEN "I"
1978, Warner Bros.

This album rules. Guitar god. Fuck. "On Fire" is AMAZING!

fucking running with the devil bass!

Can't believe this didn't get a single reply.

..I'm seeing them sometime this summer!

Another member of the "classic rock" mold I can't stand.

seriously, Derek, listen to this song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6z-nxAYhGw

it's only 3 minutes long. I'd be really shocked if you didn't dig it..

See, that sounds like Judas Priest to me. And I hate Judas Priest apart from the "Sad Wings of Destiny" album.

You really don't like all the cool harmonics and finger tapping and shit? There really is no equal when it comes to pure guitar gods, and Eddie basically invented that style.

Even when I went through my classic rock phase when I was about 10, I never really liked Van Halen. I remember liking "Hot for Teacher" though cause it was catchy.

Like a lot of bands, their first album was probably thier best.

'You really got me' is a great cover.

And where would Tone-Loc be without it? (Or am I confused?)

Agreed after the 1st album it was all downhill.

Even this one isn't really a great album, it has some good songs, that's all.

found this one in my uncle's cassette collection when i was ten. i played the shit out of it on the bus ride to and from school every day. ain't talkin' 'bout love and atomic punk were my jams back then. i also loved the cover of ice cream man too for some odd reason. not too sure what i'd think about this one now, but i'll agree that their other albums suck without question. huge downward spiral from hereon in.

Van Halen is one the only kind of those type of bands I care to think too much about. On the right albums, they're on their fucking game in spades.

I usually get kind of bored with that kind of guitar playing, but not with Eddie. He's got a truly unique vibe as opposed to alot of those other guitar players that feel really copycatish.

Yeah, Atomic Punk is crystal, amazing track.

The musicianship is excellent on this album, and the charismatic singer is always on. It's just a fun and interesting album, elevated by some next level guitarwork.

This has to be the last album I would expect to be on your "classic albums" list, atsonicpark...

But still, it's got some awesome songs...My favorite is probably "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", awesome riff and probably the easiest solo on the album. Something I think is pretty ironic is that supposedly they were making fun of punk rockers with this song, but it's easily the most punk-sounding song in their discography.

@ Count Mecha: EVH himself said sometime in the early 80s that he incorporated two-handed tapping as a way of telling a story, and when he heard other players blindly ripping it off it sounded like they were telling a joke.