DD ahead of the debut? That's very controversial.
I'm thinking the 50 million times he's heard Running With The Devil and Jamie's Cryin' may have played into his rankings a little bit. I'm more surprised to see ADKoT with a 55 year-old Roth at number 2. But, then again, my favorite VH album is Women And Children First. People like what they like.
First, I LOVE ADKOT. I think it's Roth's finest hour, especially lyrically. That record is chock full of pretty aware and - I was going to say "deep", but that's not it. Clever, maybe? - turns of phrase. I think this line - "Mousewife to momshell in the time it took to get that new tattoo" - is one of the best on the record. Think about that; how many Karen's do you know that got that cheap tat and then thought they were now the cat's meow? And I think coming from Roth, who hit the whole tattoo scene about as hard as you can hit it (going from no ink to full irezumi, including the full body panel with the chest opening, in a matter of months) I think there's a little mocking in there, which is quintessential Van Halen. I also love the lyrics in Blood And Fire, especially the "Told ya I was comin' back (Told ya) Say you miss me (Say it) Say it like ya mean it, ahh say it" then the rippin' EVH solo. I just think there's an added layer there that is the best of both worlds (Van Halen and Van Hagar).
Second, I know the Diver Down is a controversial pick, and to be honest, on any given day... but the high parts of DD are just so good to me, it's also the first VH album that was bough "in real time", that has become a special album. Maybe unreasonably so. The only album that has no shot of ever being number one on the list is "Women And Children First".