Best debut albums of all time

[Pat O' Banton]

BTW, 'Isn't anything' wasn't their debut.

:o Stand corrected; was 'Ecstacy and Wine' My Bloody Valentine's first album then?

Oh yeah Rage Against the Machine's first album is superb

[Gerrit]

Good call on both albums Gerrit. The Smiths in particular marked a sea-change in British alternative music at that time and they certainly had an impact at the time on one then-spotty teenager I can think of... ;)



Truth? As a musical work it was a pile of toss. The best thing about that album was the cover. I take your point about what it stood to represent though. :)

:ball: PP

Yes, although some songs are actually quite good even (I'll Be Your Mirror somehow floats my boat a lot, despite the fact that the vocals could have been better)

I'd say psychedelics started off with the Velvets and of course The Doors. Not a Doors fan myself (but definitely not a disliker, I appreciate some of their work myself) but they were probably the first alternative band to really rise in mainstream sight.

I am also honest enough to admit that my favourite band Echo & The Bunnymen would have probably never sounded they way they sound if it wasn't for the inspiration they gor from Lou Reed and The Doors.



As for The Smiths: legendary band with one of the most brilliant lyricists of all time. The more I hear their music, the more great I seem to find it. Such a shame that stubbornness will probably always prevend them from regrouping. Mike Joyce now selling Smiths memorabilia on eBay without asking Moz and Marr, will also not really benefit the slim chances of a Smiths reunion.

[Gerrit]

Led Zeppelin 1 is a great album

Boy - U2

Fuzzy Grant Lee Buffalo.

Definitely needs to be mentioned indeed.

I would say as well, in terms of influence on a whole style of music: The Dammed's first record set the tone for the sound of punk as it still is 30 years after its release. Songs like Smash It Up and New Rose are still the perfect representation of how true (original) punk sounded.

[noby]

Gerrit, I agree with you about the Smiths, but, and without taking sides, it's a little more than mere stubbornness that's preventing them from reforming:

Morrissey statement (http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_051130_01)


Pat O', This is your bloody valentine (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005RCAL/qid=1136968647/sr=1-11/ref=sr_1_2_11/202-0941937-5622234) was released a couple of years before loveless.

[Lim till i die]

Gerrit, I agree with you about the Smiths, but, and without taking sides, it's a little more than mere stubbornness that's preventing them from reforming:

Morrissey statement (http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_051130_01)


Good God, that Mr. Joyce likes his money :eek:

Debut albums can I add:

Husker Du - Metal Circus
Pixies - Come on Pilgrim
2Pac - 2Pacalypse Now (Granted, maybe not an all time great)

[holidaysong]

Pixies - Come on Pilgrim

My favourite!

[Lim till i die]

My favourite!

I meant 2pacalypse now for that "Maybe not an all time great" reference

Come on Pilgrim is absolute malevolant genius from start to finish and quite possibly changed my life :eek:

[noby]

Is Come on Pilgrim officially an e.p., and Surfer Rosa their debut.

Either way, the Pixies debut is quite good.


NeilMcD, Fuzzy was one of my college-years albums. I havent heard it in a long time. Must dig it out.


one more:
Inspiral Carpets - Life

[Lionel Ritchie]

Though I stand over my contention that the Housemartins London Nil Hull Four is the finest debut ever by anyone ....I'll chuck in The Wonderstuffs Eight Legged Groove Machine and Teenage Fanclubs Bandwagonesque for an honourable mention.

[noby]

I hate to seem like I'm coming on here correcting everyone, but I thought you, Lionel, would be well aware of A Catholic Education.

[tetsujin1979]

Not a particularly great album, but without Bleach, we'd never have had Nevermind or In Utero

[Gerrit]

Of course Morrissey should not regroup with Mike Joyce, and it's sad that such a geniously brilliant band ended up like this. Luckily Joyce can never erase the memories and the great songs that The Smiths recorded.

However, as Moz and Marr did almost all the songwriting (both lyrically and musically) I think that if they would team up again they'd be entitled to use the moniker The Smiths, with another drummer replacing Mike Joyce. I am not sure how it is legally, I'm sure Joyce would complain about it, but morally he's not really entitled to stop it. All Smiths classics were mainly the work of Morrissey amd Marr, so if they want to re-unite and take over (;) ) to bring the songs of the Smiths again, I don't think there's any artistic or moral objection to it.

Mike Joyce is a rip-off, and what he does is a stab in the back of Morrissey and Marr. Without these musical geniuses, Joyce would have never earned anything close to his 10% of Smiths royalties, he may just have kept on playing in pubs in front of 50 people. He just played the songs that Moz and Marr composed, and those songs made the Smiths to the iconic band they are. The pleasure and privilege was his to be able to team up with people like Morrissey and Marr, he should be thankful instead of giving them a huge slap in the face.

[superfrank]

most first albums are the better albums in my opinion...
I think the third one is always the best. For example "Mothership Connection" Parliament, "Aquemini" OutKast, "I Am..." Nas.

[Gerrit]

Second ones.

Heaven Up Here - Bunnymen
Without you I'm nothing - Placebo
Mechanical animals - Marilyn Manson
Paranoid - Black Sabbath


In The Smiths' case you can debate though which was their second and third album. Hatful Of Hollow was in fact a collection of demo's, BBC session recordings, and a few songs that later appeared on Meat Is Murder. So it's discussable if Hatful of Hollow is a true album or more of an EP.
Same debate can be held regarding Smells Like Children (Marilyn Manson), Hullabaloo (Muse), ...

[tetsujin1979]

Manson's second album (if you're not counting Smells Like Children) is Antichrist Superstar

[noby]

Gerrit, in the case of the Smiths, there's no debate: Hatful of Hollow is a compilation, much the same as 'the world won't listen' and 'louder than bombs'.
In which case, TQID is their third album, which fits in nicely with superfrank's theory. But what about the Stone Roses?

Gerrit, Morrissey is about to release another album, and go on tour with it. He gets to sing Smiths songs on tour. At the moment, I would say reforming the Smiths is the last thing on his mind.

[razor]

After all thats been said and done there ain't a snowballs chance in hell of The Smiths reforming.
VH1 - Bands Reunited, don't be wasting your time.

[klein4]

Not a particularly great album, but without Bleach, we'd never have had Nevermind or In Utero
all the more reason to hate it....the guitars are out of tune and the vocals are not in key..

[Gerrit]

Yep, Moz has his new album done, and I will definitely catch a show of him. He never skips Dublin on tour, so that's a close-to-home concert (maybe they can even get him here in Belfast. The Odyssey got Coldplay and Phil Collins, so why wouldn't they be able to get Moz?)

If he does How Soon Is Now and There Is A Light... I'd be extremely pleased. How Soon Is Now is a personal anthem, it's amazingly self-reflecting to me.



And I know we'll never see the original Smiths line-up again, but as I said, if Morrissey and Marr reform I think they are well entitled to use the moniker The Smiths, even if Mike Joyce (and possibly also Andy Rourke) are replaced.


Hatful of Hollow is a compilation, but still, some songs on it were hits or cult songs in the indie scene before they were appearing on Meat Is Murder. I more or less agree with Hatful of Hollow being a compilation, but it's different than World Won't Listen, Singles I & II, and The Very Best Of.



By the way, 2006 promises to be a busy year for me. Placebo, Muse, Morrissey and Indochine are all touring again, there's the Bauhaus reunion, and the Bunnymen continue their Siberia Tour...
My wallet is well-prepared to. Bring up those gig dates! :cool:

[noby]

He's (Morrisssey, that is) playing 4 dates in Manchester, in 4 different venues around april/may. That's all that's been announced so far.

[Lionel Ritchie]

I hate to seem like I'm coming on here correcting everyone, but I thought you, Lionel, would be well aware of A Catholic Education.

indeed

:o

[Gerrit]

Moz never skips Dublin, he'll definitely do Olympia Theatre or The Point again, and I'm secretly hoping he may come up here and play The Oddyssey.


As for Nirvana: I honestly dislike them. Lithium is a good song, the rest is bad to worse IMO.

[gustavo]

Pixies - Come on Pilgrim
)
wasnt that more of an EP?

[davey]

If he does How Soon Is Now and There Is A Light... I'd be extremely pleased. How Soon Is Now is a personal anthem, it's amazingly self-reflecting to me.

:

Saw Mozzer at the SECC in Glasgow in 2004, opened with How Soon is Now - unbelievable!!!! Superbly delivered.

Also did a strangely lacklustre version of There Is A Light... - disappointing

The only other Smiths song he played was Shoplifters Of The World.

I'm hoping he plays Glasgow this year - with a few Smiths songs to boot

[Lionel Ritchie]

Said before -saw him in the point in dec 04 and was a little disappointed as he's one of my all time heroes.

Started with 'How soon is now' (never really loved that song like i do so many other smiths songs) and played 'There is a light...' TWICE. the second time was fine as it was his last song and they do an extended version where they drop out one by one leaving just the keyboard/synth-panpipe riff which was very nice -but why do the same song twice when you've a back catalogue the size of his. There was an awful lot of what I would consider 'starting 11' songs left out of the set. No 'Ouiija board', No 'Roy's Keen', No 'Alma Matters', No 'Boxers', No 'Boy Racer'....

[noby]

Saw him on the maladjusted tour (circa 1997, I think) in Cork.
The last song was "Lastnight I dreamt...". The band kept playing the melody over and over, while Morrissey quietly slipped away.
He played a few Smiths songs including Meat is murder.
'Roy's Keen' was given alternative lyrics too.

[Gerrit]

Moz plays Glasgow, Greenock, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Stirling: www.true-to-you.net (which is almost as reliable as the official site, as the webmistress is a personal friend of Mozzer)

Also check his replies to questions asked by fans. He compares Bush and Blair to Saddam Hussain, as Morrissey says all three of them are emotionless dictators. Cruel, yet spot on.

[davey]

Moz plays Glasgow, Greenock, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Stirling: www.true-to-you.net (which is almost as reliable as the official site, as the webmistress is a personal friend of Mozzer)

Also check his replies to questions asked by fans. He compares Bush and Blair to Saddam Hussain, as Morrissey says all three of them are emotionless dictators. Cruel, yet spot on.

Cheers Gerrit. Playing at the much smaller Academy in Glasgow which is brilliant news. Now to get those tickets

[Marked Man]

Best Debut by anyone:
Spirtualized: Lazer Guided Melodies

Some other seriously good ones (that I didn't see mentioned above):
AC/DC: High Voltage
Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures
Leftfield: Leftism
Prodigy: Experience
PJ Harvey: Dry
Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Conflict: It’s Time to see Who’s Who
Crass: The Feeding of the 5000
Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan
Autechre: Incunabula
Bauhaus: In the Flat Field
Cramps: Songs the Lord Taught Us
Death in Vegas: Dead Elvis
Fugazi: Fugazi
Orbital: Orbital
Pogues: Red Roses for Me
The Orb: The Orb’s Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld

Quite like Damien Dempsey’s debut “They don’t teach this **** in school,” but it’s not in the running for best debut. Still good though.

[razor]

Saw him on the maladjusted tour (circa 1997, I think) in Cork.
The last song was "Lastnight I dreamt...". The band kept playing the melody over and over, while Morrissey quietly slipped away.
He played a few Smiths songs including Meat is murder.
'Roy's Keen' was given alternative lyrics too.Was that in the Opera House ? If so that was late 1999. great night.

[noby]

Yes it was. Great night indeed.
In hindight it wasn't the maladjusted tour, but the "I don't need a new album to go on a major tour, I'm Morrissey" tour.


Marked man, some good ones there that nearly slipped through the net.

[Gerrit]

Cheers Gerrit. Playing at the much smaller Academy in Glasgow which is brilliant news. Now to get those tickets

You could even see him twice if you want. Greenock is not that far from Glasgow.

No dates known apart from the Manchester shows and Scotland. I hope they comes to Belfast, though if not I'll just go down to Dublin and back to see the show. I think though he'd sell out the Waterfront Hall or the Oddysey rather easily.

[Gerrit]

Best Debut by anyone:
Spirtualized: Lazer Guided Melodies

Some other seriously good ones (that I didn't see mentioned above):
AC/DC: High Voltage
Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures
Leftfield: Leftism
Prodigy: Experience
PJ Harvey: Dry
Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Conflict: It’s Time to see Who’s Who
Crass: The Feeding of the 5000
Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan
Autechre: Incunabula
Bauhaus: In the Flat Field
Cramps: Songs the Lord Taught Us
Death in Vegas: Dead Elvis
Fugazi: Fugazi
Orbital: Orbital
Pogues: Red Roses for Me
The Orb: The Orb’s Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld

Quite like Damien Dempsey’s debut “They don’t teach this **** in school,” but it’s not in the running for best debut. Still good though.

Class !

Two more weeks till the Bauhaus show, I can hardly wait!

[Marked Man]

Class !

Two more weeks till the Bauhaus show, I can hardly wait!


Have to say I was a bit disappointed by their show in NY a while ago. Note perfect, a good light show, but a bit too polished. Not really what you want from Bauhaus. I definitely got the feel that this was a nostalgia show, as opposed to a show to be taken on its own merits.

I hope the show you go to is better, Gerrit.

[Gerrit]

What I heard is that Peter Murphy was not 100% 'with it'. I hope it was an off-day. He promised a new Bauhaus reunion from before, so I find it hard to believe that he'd see it as an obligation and nothing more. The setlists from the American part of the tour looked great though.

[TonyD]

Trashcan Sinatras - Cake

Oh yeah, now you're talking. I congratulate you on your excellent taste. It also has one of the best opening songs on any album(debut or otherwise) in the sublime "Obscurity Knocks". One of my very favourite bands. Their last album "Weightlifting" is a gem, and "I've Seen Everything" would be in my top 5 albums of all time. Other best debuts on my list would be :

REM - Murmur(How come no-one has mentioned this yet - or did I miss it?)
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - Rattlesnakes,
Aztec Camera - High Land, Hard Rain

and a Home Grown Classic:

Stars of Heaven - Sacred Heart Hotel (A mini Album, to be pedantic, but still brilliant)

*OK - I forgot about "Chronic Town by REM when typing the above. But it's more of an EP really.

[Pat O' Banton]

Adding in George Best - The Wedding Present and Red Roses for Me - The Pogues

[Hulsey]

Gotta be "Do or Die" by Dropkick Murphys. Absolute quality band!!

[CollegeTillIDie]

I agree with many of the suggestions already made but am curious about this omission.

"Rattus Norvegicus " by The Stranglers is a definite classic.
But guys there's a very good reason why the debut album's by bands are good. They have had their entire lives up to that point to write the songs for it. The difficult second album syndrome comes cause they only have a year of so to crank that one out usually. The Stranglers first three albums were all good but that was because most of the songs for the first two were already in the stage set when they signed their first contract in 1976. They even had a couple from the third written and rehearsed at that stage and it wasn't released till 1978.

[Marked Man]

"Rattus Norvegicus " by The Stranglers is a definite classic.

You're not wrong there; glaring omission alright.

[Gerrit]

I agree with many of the suggestions already made but am curious about this omission.

"Rattus Norvegicus " by The Stranglers is a definite classic.
But guys there's a very good reason why the debut album's by bands are good. They have had their entire lives up to that point to write the songs for it. The difficult second album syndrome comes cause they only have a year of so to crank that one out usually. The Stranglers first three albums were all good but that was because most of the songs for the first two were already in the stage set when they signed their first contract in 1976. They even had a couple from the third written and rehearsed at that stage and it wasn't released till 1978.

I'd say the second and/or third albums are usually a band's best. The first album often has some 'childhood diseases' while the band matures from that point on and can aim for perfection on the next albums.