Van Halen II Van Halen

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CD

  • Release Date: 04/29/2008
  • Original Release: 1979
  • Sales Rank: 137,288
  • Label: WEA JAPAN
  • UPC: 4943674078790

Listener Rating: (5 ratings)

Detailed Rating: "Stimulating" See All

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CD - Remastered$8.99

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  • Overview
  • Tracks
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Customer Reviews
  • Details & Credits
Track List
Click on LISTEN or link to hear an audio clip.
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Van Halen II

1LISTENYou're No Good 3:17
2LISTENDance the Night Away 3:09
3LISTENSomebody Get Me a Doctor 2:54
4LISTENBottoms Up! 3:06
5LISTENOutta Love Again 2:53
6LISTENLight up the Sky 3:13
7LISTENSpanish Fly 1:02
8LISTEND.O.A. 4:11
9LISTENWomen in Love... 4:09
10LISTENBeautiful Girls 3:56

About this Artist

Editorial Reviews

It's called Van Halen II not just because it's the band's second album but because it's virtually a carbon copy of their 1978 debut, right down to how the band showcases their prowess via covers and how Eddie Van Halen gets a brief, shining moment to showcase his guitar genius. This time, he does his thing on acoustic guitars on the remarkable "Spanish Fly," but that temporary shift from electrics to acoustics is the only true notable difference in attack here; in every other way, Van Halen II feels like its predecessor, even if there are subtle differences. First, there's only one cover this time around -- Betty Everett's "You're No Good," surely learned from Linda Ronstadt -- and this feels both heavier and lighter than the debut. Heavier in that this sounds big and powerful, driven by mastodon riffs that aim straight of the gut. Lighter in that there's a nimbleness to the attack, in that there are pop hooks to the best songs, in that the group sounds emboldened by their success so they're swaggering with a confidence that's alluring. If the classic ratio is slightly lighter than on the debut, there are no bad songs and the best moments here -- two bona fide party anthems in "Dance the Night Away" and "Beautiful Girls," songs that embody everything the band was about -- are lighter, funnier than anything on the debut, showcases for both Diamond Dave's knowing shuck and jive and Eddie's phenomenal gift, so natural it seems to just flow out of him. At this point, it's hard not to marvel at these two frontmen, and hard not to be sucked into the vortex of some of the grandest hard rock ever made. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Even the mighty Van Halen couldn't escape the sophomore slumpby SS70

Reader Rating:
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April 08, 2009: Really, how can one follow up such an astounding debut as Van Halen's first album? Literally anything the band could have done would have been found lacking in the light of that record. So, the band chose the wise course and plowed ahead, dealing out their particular brand of high-energy metal licks and vocal exuberance. As on the first record, Eddie Van Halen's playing is absolutely pyrotechnic, giving proof positive that, at the time, he was simply light years ahead of his nearest competitors. As for David Lee Roth, well...you either loved him or wanted him to shut up. I'm of the former stripe, and his contribution to any of the VH records he participated in should never be underestimated. There are some radio evergreens here, like "Beautiful Girls", "Dance the Night Away" and "Somebody Get Me a Doctor". What is still a distracting annoyance is Ted Templeman's production style. In aiming to replicate the band's onstage sound, he kept the guitar panned over to one side, the bass to the other, and mixed the drums and vocals down the center. It doesn't make for pleasant listening sometimes, especially on headphones, but I suppose it's better than having someone go in and remix the albums, potentially ruining their impact. As far as party albums go, you really can't go wrong with this one. Even after thirty years it still makes one want to grab a beer, a smoke and a girl.

This review was written about the CD Remastered edition.

Hard to top this!!!by Anonymous

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January 28, 2006: This album is a add on to the first, but it has its differances. On there first album they didnt do anything like dance the night away. Eddie still rocks, although on this joint he dosnt show off his skill quit as much. It may not be as good as the first album, but it still rocks the night away.

This review was written about the CD Remastered edition.


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