10 Perfect Debut Albums In Rock Music History
2. Van Halen - Van Halen
When Van Halen were first getting started, rock and roll was still in the midst of the heavier side of things. Even though the Sunset Strip was a go to spot for rock stars, the latest big names at the time like AC/DC and KISS were a bit of a hard sell for people that were just getting used to the more hard edged side of rock and roll. Led Zeppelin may have been a little intimidating, but Van Halen turned the entire genre into one big party.
Although it might seem like a stretch to call the band metal in certain spots, one of the biggest draws behind Van Halen’s debut is just how forceful it is, with Eddie Van Halen’s trademark guitar solos screaming out of the speakers on songs like You Really Got Me and his showcase Eruption, which gave the entire guitar scene a new hero to be paying attention to. There might be a lot of aggression in the playing, but the subject matter of this one might be the most pure fun that has ever been packed onto a hard rock record, making songs like Ain’t Talkin Bout Love and Feel Your Love Tonight staples of the band’s live set because of how much fun they are to listen to.
You have to also remember that this was the late ‘70s, just at the tail end of the glam rock movement that was fading from view like David Bowie and T Rex, only for these guys to come along and bring a heavy spin to that party atmosphere. This album might predate the golden age of the Sunset Strip, but every single band that came since used this album as their blueprint going forward.