1984 (studio album) by Van Halen

I like Pnama and I'll Wait, the rest of album is mid in my opinion.

3 or 4 big songs and then the rest of the album is filler for me. It really does rock when the music is good though with Panama and Jump being amongst some of the best songs ever created. They dominate this album and without them this album would be a shell of what it is. I do think I'll Wait flies under the radar as well as that song is amazing. The music is very easy listening as well and when that is paired with the short run time it makes it an extremely accessible release. However, the filler tracks are just boring and have nothing to hook us into the songs. They are also not complex or experimental so there really isn't anything to do when they are on so I find myself just sat there waiting for them to end. Overall, the big hits are exceptional and everything else is just alright.

all the best elements of rock and roll. let it fly

The deep cuts on this album are better than the hits

From llibnanoon 06/24/2020 13:09

Masterpiece!

The VH album with all the hits. Its not my favorite album from the band, but the peak of their mainstream popularity with David Lee Roth.

This was my intro to Van Halen, through obvious favorites like Jump, Panama, and Hot for Teacher. But outside of that, the deeper cuts are enjoyable but forgettable.

1984 is a sometimes inconsistent records with only really the the big 4 songs and girl gone bad really having a purpose with the rest of it being filler. obviously Eddie delivers, alex has his shining moment in Hot For Teacher, Dave is probably at his songwriting peak (Along with Eddie), and Micheal Anthony's bass fits the songs especially well.

Besides the three singles, "House of Pain" and "Girl Gone Bad" are the best songs on this album. Specially the latter. Great album, and pretty much alongside Def Leppard's Pyromania set the template for mid-to-late-80s hard rock/glam metal that was copied by bands like Bon Jovi, Poison, Motley Crue, Ratt and Cinderella and Dokken.

From adnielsen 04/12/2018 19:17

Some causal VH fans scroll past this album and subsequent albums for their use of synthesizers and just sounding very "80s". That's what I find charming. This is a classic album that sounds like its time and makes no qualms about it. Jump is one of the definitive classic rock songs of the 80s. Not far behind as some all time best VH songs like I'll Wait, Panama, and Hot for Teacher. A fine album for non-snobs.