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Van Halen (1978)

Van Halen sets the bar high with their first album. Eddie demonstrates his guitar prowress with the famous Eruption solo as well as many other songs. There's a couple quieter numbers, such as "Ice Cream Man." My personal favorites are "Runnin' With the Devil," "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love," "Jamie's Cryin'" "Feel Your Love Tonight," and "Ice Cream Man."

Runnin' With the Devil: If you listen to Van Halen in chronological order, this song slams you in the face. There's the high pitched vocal harmonies, the DLR squeals, and a sick bassline. Great version on "Tokyo Dome."

Eruption: I don't know much about guitars, solos, or guitar solos, but this is one of the greatest guitar solos of all time (except maybe Free Bird). Eddie Van Halen is both classically trained and also extremely innovative, which is how he comes up with many of the sounds which set this solo apart from any other. It's less than 2 minutes long, but leaves a lasting impression.

You Really Got Me: A cover of The Kinks. It's the perfect example of a hard rock cover, creating an edgier sound but keeping all the bits that made the original so catchy. The guitar solo is awesome, and the interlude has plenty of Roth sounds. I actually knew how to play this on the drums years before I knew about the Van Halen cover. Cool cover on "Right Here, Right Now," with "Cabo Wabo" stuck in the middle.

Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love: Definitely a song that sounds better live, even when covered by Hagar, just because the studio version sounds a little too slow. I'm a big fan of the cymbal bell beat. I also like how the interlude gets reeeeeeal quiet, then builds back up into the song.

I'm the One: Typical fast-paced Van Halen song. The vocal harmonies are good, and even better on "Tokyo Dome."

Jamie's Cryin': Great vocal harmonies, especially during the half-time interlude. You might recognize the drum fill, as it was sampled on Tone Loc's "Wild Thing." Great version on "Tokyo Dome."

Atomic Punk: Cool off-beat rhythm at the beginning, and with the drums throughout.

Feel Your Love Tonight: Great Van Halen song for all the usual reasons. Amazing backup vocals, especially during the chorus. Good guitar solo too.

Little Dreamer: Excellent guitar parts. An interesting song.

Ice Cream Man: You ever listen to one of those acoustic songs and just wish that at some point, it would get exciting? Well here ya' go. Starts off like a old blues song, with Roth telling everyone to "hold on." With an "alright boys!" the rest of the band jumps in, turning the song into a high energy rockfest.

On Fire: I really like the chorus in this song, just the constant high-pitched "ON FIIIIIIAHHHHHHH" screeching.

Van Halen II (1979)

An impressive follow-up to their first hit album, it contains all the elements that made them a sensation. High-pitched vocals, crazy guitar solos, and pounding drums. My favorite songs are "Outta Love Again," "D.O.A.," and "Women In Love..."

You're No Good: Not sure what's better, the vocals or the guitar riffs. I like the bassline at the beginning as well.

Dance the Night Away: What a nice latin feel, and so much vocal harmony! Just a cute song. In recent years, Roth has had a plant in the audience that he invites up on stage to dance with him.

Somebody Get Me A Doctor: I like any song that mentions medical professionals, and it doesn't hurt when they're this awesome. Killer interlude too. Awesome version on "Tokyo Dome."

Outta Love Again: One of my faves. This song reminds me of a runaway trains that's about to fly off the tracks. The guitar solo is killer. Probably the #1 song I wish had a live version.

Light Up The Sky: The backup vocals of "Light Up the Skyyyyyyiiiiieeee!" are sooo good. The drum solo with ever increasing fills during the interlude is awesome.

D.O.A.: Great guitar riff, and the chorus vocals are spot on. Another song I wish there was a live version for.

Women In Love...: The song opens with a much different, more melodious, guitar sound than previous songs, but foreshadows the sound on future albums. I think it sounds almost synth-like, similar to "I'll Wait." I like the way the chorus alternates between Roth and the backup vocals. Awesome live version on "Tokyo Dome."

Beautiful Girls: A nice groovy song to close out the album.

Women and Children First (1980)

This album's a little different, the songs are good but I wouldn't say they really stand out as much as the first two albums. The group tries to change it up with a couple longer tracks and some acapella at the end. My favorite songs are "And the Cradle will Rock" and "Everybody Wants Some!!"

And the Cradle will Rock: Have YOU seen junior's GRADES?!?!?! The vocals are the strongest part of this song, otherwise it's just a typical rock song (with a great guitar solo). The live version on "Tokyo Dome" is awesome, complete with Dave shouting "his folks are f**kin' pissed off!"

Everybody Wants Some!!: Is that a Japanese beat? Probably not, but the drums really open this song up, then the guitar part takes it to the next level. One of the most famous Roth interlude ramblings, as he talks about a woman and her clothing choices. At one point, he also completely forgets the lyrics and just mumbles something about a "moopie," which they just kept in the song. Awesome live version on "Tokyo Dome."

Romeo Delight: This song has some interesting parts; it's a little weird but I like it for some reason. I really like the heavy hi-hat, which is emphasized on the "Tokyo Dome" version.

Loss of Control: Nice quick pace, and I like the gibberish radio talk at the beginning.

Could this be Magic: You can picture the band sitting on their porch in rocking chairs, singing this song. It contains the line from which the album gets its name.

In A Simple Rhyme: I'm not sure why I like this song so much, but I just do. The backup singing is on point, especially when Dave says "gonna hear the angels singin'." I like how the tempo suddenly drops down and the instruments drop out, providing an emotional tone not heard often in Van Halen songs.

Fair Warning (1981)

I think this album contains some of the most under-appreciated songs of the entire DLR era. I just love the guitar sound throughout. My favorite songs are "Mean Street," "Dirty Movies," and "Unchained."

Mean Street: This is my favorite Van Halen song, and possibly one of my top 5 favorite songs ever. I'm not a guitar person, but I can't get enough of the guitar part on this song. The solos blow my mind, and I love the guitar riff during the verses. Towards the end of the song, when everything drops down and it's just Dave speaking lyrics, I get chills every time, especially when he says "Lord strike that poor boy down." When the song comes back from that part, it's like an explosion in my brain. I love the "Tokyo Dome" version, but I don't think it completely does justice to the song (but it's still amazing).

Dirty Movies: This song builds on itself at the beginning, like layers on a rock cake. The song is all about watching XXX movies, and I love the line "remember when that girl was prom queen?" It's way more chill than "Mean Street" but a different kind of kickass.

Hear About It Later: The harmonies set this song apart. The guitar solo is also pretty schnazzy.

Unchained: If you want a song to get your blood pumping and your engine, revved, look no further. This is what I listen to at 5AM to get ready for a long day at the hospital. This song just rocks. Dave does another of his ramblings about some guy in a suit, and when someone from the recording booth says "c'mon Dave, gimme a break," Dave replies "one break comin' uppppppp!" I love that part. From there, the song goes into freakin' overdrive and ends with a bang. I love it.

So This is Love?: I like the throwback to a more bluesy sound, with lots of excellent guitar parts.

Sunday Afternoon in the Park: An instrumental track with a real creepy sound, I think it's because of the strange synthesizer tones.

Diver Down (1982)

It's my least favorite Roth-era album, not because the songs aren't good (they are), but none of them really stand out to me. I think it reminds me of the sound from earlier albums, such as VH II. My favorite songs are "Where Have all the Good Times Gone?," "Dancing in the Streets," and "Little Guitars."

Where Have all the Good Times Gone?: This song definitely reminds me of the earlier albums, with a prototypical Van Halen sound.

Cathedral: I love this instrumental track, it has a very warm, mellow sound, especially compared to the instrumental from the previous album.

Secrets: I like the use of swing beat, a change-up from the usual rock songs.

(Oh) Pretty Woman: A cover of Roy Orbison's song, it actually starts early with the track "Intruder." I think Van Halen does the song justice, maintaining the song's old-school vibe but with a harder Van Halen edge. The music video is super weird, classic early MTV era. Good version on "Tokyo Dome."

Dancing in the Street: In contrast to the previous song, Van Halen took this song and completely remade it. I like the much louder, in-your-face sound, with a great guitar part and groovy drums.

Little Guitars: Not a huge fan of the song itself, but I love the first 40 seconds of the song. There's something really dissonant about Roth's vocals during the chorus, I'm not sure if it's because he's stretching to hit the high notes but it takes a little getting used to.

Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now): Complete Van Halen change-up, a nice jazz number. Fun fact, the clarinet part is played by the Van Halen's dad!

Happy Trails: The only acapella song I will ever enjoy listening to. A beautiful way to end the album. It's a cover of the TV theme from the show of the same name.

1984 (1984)

This album is the epitome of Van Halen. This album contains the most famous songs, but each song is wonderful in its own way. There's increased use of synthesizer (Jump solo, anyone?) but everything that made them great is still here. I think the intro for the songs is what make them stand out, as they catch your attention as soon as they start playing. Every song on here is amazing, I don't have any that I don't consider a favorite.

1984: Pretty much just a short synth intro to "Jump." I included it here so that all the songs from the album could make the list. Keep on keepin' on.

Jump: The first Van Halen song I ever heard, and one of the best ever. It opens with a memorable synth riff, with surprisingly understandable lyrics for a Van Halen song. The synth solo is freakin' awesome and definitely unforgettable. Live versions can be found on "Right Here, Right Now" (Hagar) and "Tokyo Dome" (Roth).

Panama: What a classic Van Halen guitar riff. The guitar solo is really good too. I enjoy the interlude, where it drops down but then slowly builds its way back up. Plus Roth goes on a semi-ramble about his car. Hagar goes on an even longer rant on "Right Here, Right Now" which is the main reason I don't like listening to it. "Tokyo Dome" version is better.

Top Jimmy: Sick guitar intro, honestly my favorite part of the song. The song picks up speed from there, the usual Van Halen thing.

Drop Dead Legs: This song plods along, but not really in a bad way. I like the slightly delayed/offbeat vocal harmonies. The guitar solo is pretty intricate.

Hot For Teacher: The most famous Alex Van Halen drum part, it's actually multiple drum parts recorded over each other. It's still awesome live on "Tokyo Dome." Also has some of the best Van Halen lyrics. Also (also), the music video is hilarious from beginning to end.

I'll Wait: One of my favorite synth parts, and one of my favorite songs on the album. The drum fills are pretty cool too, I feel like they stand out more due to the crisper, simplified drum beat. The synth and guitar solos are awesome too. Amazing live version on "Tokyo Dome."

Girl Gone Bad: Kickass guitar riff, especially with the pounding drum beat. The guitar solo is pretty intense too. Although the intro is sweet, it's even better when it's played again after the solo. I wish this song had been played live.

House of Pain: This song sounds the most like previous Van Halen albums with the guitar-heavy sound and muddled use of cymbals. Some nice cowbell too.

5150 (1986)

In the group's first album with Hagar, they demonstrate that a new leadman hasn't knocked them down at all. In fact, it may have made them even better. Hagar's vocals are a little less high-pitched and screechy and I think the drumbeats are slightly simplified, but underneath it all is still the same Van Halen sound. Pretty much all the songs are good, but my favorites are "Why Can't This Be Love," "Summer Nights," and "Inside."

Good Enough: This song truly introduces us to the start of the Van Hagar era. Hagar shows he really is "good enough" to take over the band. I like when Hagar shouts, "Rack a' what? I'll have some of THAAAAAAT!"

Why Can't This Be Love: Great use of synthesizers to lay down the harmony. I also like the interlude, with almost "spastic" offbeat vocals, guitar, and drumming. Great live version on "Right Here, Right Now."

Get Up: This is where Alex Van Halen truly offers up an example of his thunderous style of drumming. The drums are constantly pushing this song forward, as if it's about to take off. They stop only a few times during the song, enough for him to catch his breath before beginning again.

Dreams: Not my favorite song ever, but I'll acknowledge it's good, especially the synthesizer. I do like the intrumental section in the middle.

Summer Nights: The guitar part in this song is amazing. It's also just funny to hear Hagar reminisce about summer love. Would have made a great live version. The end (right after the solo) is my favorite part of the song.

Best of Both Worlds: I've always felt like this song had a country vibe to it. Maybe because I'd heard the Hannah Montana "Best of Both Worlds" before I ever heard this? Sad, I know. The drums are much simpler with a straight beat. It's the kind of tune you can dance to or sing along with. Good live version on "Right Here, Right Now."

Love Walks In: I love the synth in this song, it's just that good. It's a little weird when you realize Hagar is talking about his supposed encounters with aliens, but hey, a good song is a good song. Great live version on "Right Here, Right Now."

Inside: One of the funniest Van Halen songs. Half the song is just the band screwing around with each other on the mic. My favorite line is "where'd you get those clothes? Outta YOUR closet! Yeah you mean my wife's closet!" The song seems to be a sign that the band is really meshing, and even better things are to come.

OU812 (1988)

My favorite Hagar-era album. Pretty much all the songs (except the last two) are killer on their own, but together they pack a musical punch. I think the songs are more interesting than the previous album, as the band explores their sound and sings about things besides love...mostly just sexual innuendo. The album gets its name from Roth's album, "Eat 'Em and Smile." My favorite songs are "Mine all Mine," "Cabo Wabo," "Source of Infection," and "Black and Blue."

Mine All Mine: I love the lyrics, and the vocal harmonies singing "mine, allllllll mine."

When It's Love: One of my favorite Van Halen rock ballads. The guitar solo is awesome with the drum rhythm. The drum part is also super cool towards the end, right when you think the song is about to end but it picks back up. Excellent live version on "Right Here, Right Now."

A.F.U. (Naturally Wired): This song has my favorite drum fills, especially towards the end. Just listening to them is going to make you feel wired.

Cabo Wabo: I LOVE this song. At 3:33, during the guitar solo, Eddie hits the perfect note and I get chills. Every time. It's even better on "Right Here, Right Now," when the band sneaks the song into the middle of "You Really Got Me," without Sammy "noticing." The rest of the song is amazing as well, especially the high-pitched harmonics.

Source of Infection: The perfect song for you cynics out there, Hagar hits home with the line "Life...is a source of infection." The best parts are the guitar intro and Hagar's spot-on vocals, including his interludes.

Feels So Good: A wonderful use of synthesizer and cymbal bell. I also like the more optimistic, upbeat tone of the song, a nice contrast to many of the other songs on the album.

Finish What Ya Started: The song is sung to an unknown woman, begging her to "finish what you started." As Hagar says on "Right Here, Right Now," "this song is for any guy that's been left hanging with a set of blue balls." The country/southern sound is an interesting change of pace.

Black and Blue: I love the guitar part, it has a very emotional sound. My favorite part is when Hagar sings the chorus, and the drums just come in with a "wupwupwupwupwupwupWUMP." The vocals and guitar are awesome, as per usual. This is the #1 Hagar song I wish they had played live.

For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)

I'm not totally sure how to describe this album. Many of the songs sound very similar, but in a good way. The band solidifies their sound before the double live album "Right Here Right Now." Notice the acronym created by the album title... My favorite songs are "Poundcake," "Spanked," "Runaround," "In N' Out," and "Right Now."

Poundcake: The album opens with the sound of a guitar being played with a power drill. Badass. My favorite part of the song is at 3:50, the guitar fill gives me goosebumps. An awesome live version opens "Right Here, Right Now," complete with a Hagar "hellooooooooo babe!"

Spanked: A song about calling the sex hotline. I like the heavy bass part and the drum beat that feels like it's pulling the song back to keep it cool and smooth. Great live version on "Right Here, Right Now."

Runaround: A rock song with a smidgen of country overtones. I like the use of cymbal bell. The guitar solo is sick.

In N' Out: You can't not groove along with this song. The guitar riff is the bomb. I like when the song stops, and Hagar blurts out "uh uh uh uhhhhhh" and the song pops right back in. Awesome live version on "Right Here, Right Now."

Man on a Mission: This song goes along with Spanked, with a very relaxed feel and slowed down drum beat. Good guitar solo too. And yep, you guessed it, live version on "Right Here, Right Now" as well.

Right Now: Such a cool piano intro! In fact the entire piano part is epic. I also think the drum part helps move the song along, and fits well with the guitar solo. Of course, you can't have a live album called "Right Here, Right Now" without including the song with the same name.

Live: Right Here, Right Now (1993)

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Balance (1995)

My least favorite Hagar-era album. The songs are good, but they don't do it for me as much as previous albums. The tone of the album seems to be much darker and strained, reflecting the increasing conflict between Eddie and Sammy. My favorite songs are "The Seventh Seal" and "Not Enough."

The Seventh Seal: A haunting song, complete with what sounds like Mongolian throat singing. To me, the guitar sounds out of control at times (in a good way), capturing the emotion of the lyrics as well.

Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do): This song continues the trend of darker themes. The drum beat is simple but to the point. At times it feels like you could fist pump to the song, or start a mosh pit, depending on your preferences.

Not Enough: The song is introduced with something that sounds like sounds out of a horror movie. From there, it becomes a ballad, and suddenly explodes into full rock ballad mode. I really like when the band launches back into the full ensemble towards the end of the song.

Doin' Time: A trippy drum solo track, Alex Van Halen gets his rare chance to show off why he's one of the greatest drummers. I love when he plays beats with a latin origin.

Baluchitherium: The drum solo is now followed by a solo/instrumental track, with Eddie showing off his skills. I prefer this more than some of his other solos, like 316, because it sounds more like a song and less like a free-form solo. Fun fact, a Baluchitherium is an extinct species of rhinoceros.

Feelin': The Hagar era ends with this emotion-laden song. The drum beat is pretty cool, with a more syncopated feel than is usually heard in Van Halen songs.

Best of Volume I (1996)

The release of this greatest hits album came with three new songs recorded with Roth. The reunion didn't last long.

Humans Being: I'll admit, I'm not sure what the title means but it's an interesting name.The verses sound like they're being shouted instead of sung.

Can't Get This Stuff No More: This song sounds like it could be a hidden track on an early album, mostly because of the return of Roth's vocals. The guitar solo uses a much different sound than normally heard in other albums, but in a refreshing way.

Me Wise Magic: My favorite of the three songs. Maybe it's that the verses sound flat, both lyrically and instrumentally, and the chorus is full-on Van Halen, a wonderful contrast. Great guitar solo (duh). I also like the Roth shouts and screeches, a pleasant addition which has been missing from the past few albums.

Van Halen III (1998)

Whether they're on Team Hagar or Team Roth, most Van Halen fans hate this album. The thing is, it's not a bad album. If you spend a bunch of time at Disney World, your tiny local theme park is going to seem lame by comparison. It's the same deal with this album; the songs are good but they're nothing compared to previous albums. There's something strange and dissonant about Gary Cherone's vocals, which takes a little getting used to but I think it offers a unique sound not heard elsewhere.

Without You: A nice straight rock song. The dissonant vocals are apparent, and the backup vocals sound reverb-y during the verses. Weird music video though.

One I Want: No idea why they keep talking about men in this song. I like the offbeat drum part. Cool guitar solo too.

Dirty Water Dog: The song opens with what sounds to me like a bunch of guys at a construction site dropping pipes and sanding wood. I do like the beat in the rest of the song though.

Fire in the Hole: Cool guitar riff and solo. This song was featured in Lethal Weapon 4, for whatever that's worth.

How Many Say I: This song is a huge change of pace from the rest of the album. Much more subdued, it opens with a piano solo. The piano is soon accompanied by vocals, and instead of a guitar solo, a violin is featured. Who are you and what have you done with Van Halen?

Best of Both Worlds (2004)

A greatest hits album containing music from both the Roth and Hagar eras, it also included 3 new songs recorded with Hagar. They're all pretty good.

It's About Time: I feel like this song has a rough but clean rock sound...whatever that means.

Up For Breakfast: Maybe this is just me, but I think "up for breakfast" is a euphemism for sex (I could be wrong). The numerous possibly sexual breakfast-related references were a pretty big clue. I like the guitar solo with the background rhythm.

Learning To See: The most chill of the three songs, just by a little bit. There's a lot of Sammy Hagar shouting and a cool guitar solo. Just the usual.

A Different Kind of Truth (2012)

After a long hiatus, Van Halen reunited with Roth and added Eddie's song Wolfgang on bass, getting rid of Michael Anthony. The album contains some new songs, along with some songs that had been written in the early days of the band but never put on an album. The original Van Halen sound is there, but slightly more mature and with less Roth screaming. Overall, an enjoyable listen. My favorite songs are "Tattoo," "Chinatown," "Outta Space," and "Stay Frosty."

Tattoo: It's legit a song about the underlying meaning of tattoos. It's a very guitar-heavy song, showing that Eddie is definitely back in action. The harmonies are pretty nice too. Good live version on "Tokyo Dome."

She's the Woman: I pretty much just like the drumbeat in this song, that's all. Pretty good live version on "Tokyo Dome."

Chinatown: The driving beat and fast lyrics give it a palpable energy. The chorus is pretty schnazzy too. Awesome live version on "Tokyo Dome," my favorite live rendition of the songs on this album.

Blood and Fire: I think this song has a lighter sound than expected from Van Halen, but it has some nice vocals. Cool guitar solo too.

Honeybabysweetiedoll: I love the guitar/bass riff, with an intense hard rock quality. It gets even better during the halftime tempo part.

Outta Space: This song has a pretty cool chorus with some stop-time involved, and I like the guitar riff as well.

Stay Frosty: Maybe it's just me, but "Stay Frosty" feels like a 30+ year facelift on "Ice Cream Man," from the style of the song to the name itself. It opens with Roth doing an acoustic blues tune, then of course the band blasts in after the second chorus. The lyrics are ridiculous, the guitar solo is sick, and of course the band ends with a nice long crazy ending. I love listening to this fo' sho'.

Beats Workin': A nice drawn out intro to finish off the last song in the album. I like the slow rocking rhythm during the verses, with a faster beat during the chorus with plenty of guitar fills. Finally, the song closes with the sound of guitar feedback, maybe a final signoff before the next album? Who knows?

Tokyo Dome in Concert (2015)

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