6. Van Halen (1978) - Van Halen
This is the album that really started it all. Van Halen's self-titled debut (often referred to as Van Halen I) was really the first to give us a taste of things to come in the next decade. And it's also one of the few albums where fans of hair metal and fans of heavier metal can find common ground. It really is that influential. If you need me to tell you why it's influential, you may need to get your head checked. But in case you've been living under a rock, this album introduced us to Eddie Van Halen, the man who singlehandedly changed guitar forever. His techniques and riffs have been copied time and time again. Warning: If you're new to guitar and you hear Eruption for the first time, you may want to just quit playing. It's pretty daunting. The album itself is chock-full of awesome tunes. Most of Van Halen's signature material is here: Running With The Devil, Kinks cover You Really Got Me, Jamie's Cryin', Ice Cream Man. But I have to say, I'm actually surprised that all the songs on the album weren't hits. And I'm not just saying that because I like them.