10 Rock Albums That Were Ahead Of Their Time
4. Van Halen - Van Halen
Though the 70's had given us bold new rock music, the pop sounds were still dominated by the glam scene. With everyone still reeling over bands like Sweet and T. Rex, many were wondering what the next phase of rock music was going to look like. Erupting from downtown Los Angeles, Van Halen emerged into the mainstream and rewrote the book of rock.
Across the band's debut record, each member flexes their chops and showed what the rock scene would look like for the next decade. From the guitar wizardry of Eddie Van Halen to David Lee Roth's irresistible stage charisma, these guys had a phenomenal stage presence that was far removed from the glam scene. Instead of having the old time rock and roll songs, Van Halen's riffs blew the doors wide open with infectious hooks and an energy that made you want to party all through the night.
Once the band got a few more albums under their belt, the entire Los Angeles scene began to follow suit, as many bands adopted their model and became known as hair metal. Though bands like Motley Crue may have made the scene their own, it all comes back to these four guys from California who ushered in the future of hard rock.