10 More Rock Music Albums That Were Way Ahead Of Their Time
2. Van Halen - Van Halen
Part of the reason why R.E.M. weren't big mainstream stars in the '80s, was because people like Van Halen came along. These rabblerousers were megastars in the world of hair metal and even dabbled with synth pop on the wildly successful Jump. However, when they released their debut album in 1978, the world was a very different place.
Hard rock existed, sure, but not in the Van Halen way. Not in the powerful chords, emphatic harmonies, fretboard-tapping way.
This self-titled debut totally changed the game, injecting a much-needed dose of originality into a genre that was in danger of growing stale. It was as if the band had plucked this new style out of the ether and just dumped it at everyone's feet.
People were confused, but they also liked it.
This record heralded the arrival of hair metal's golden age. In just a few years time, everyone was copying what Van Halen had done in '78, including Van Halen themselves to a certain degree!
There are very few albums that can be labelled as the exact starting points of subgenres. However, thanks to it's completely one of a kind sound, Van Halen's debut is one of them.