0025: 10 Great Rock Debut Albums
Submitted by lbangs on Tue, 02/20/2001 - 10:26
Tags:
- 1. Exile in Guyville - Liz Phair
- 2. The Pretenders - The Pretenders
- 3. Is This It? - The Strokes
- 4. Murmur - REM
- 5. Slanted & Enchanted - Pavement
- 6. Music from Big Pink - The Band
- 7. Blue Lines - Massive Attack
- 8. The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground & Nico
- 9. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
- 10. Marquee Moon - Television
Author Comments:
This idea was shamelessly ripped off of Johnny Waco...
I would include The Feelies "Crazy Rhythms"
and Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers self-titled debut.
No doubt these are both worthy contenders. Ah, the curse of limiting a list to 10!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
What is classified as a debut album? Is it just a major label or semi-major label album?
This question reminds me of watching The List on VH-1 the other night. They were voting on best debut albums, and at least 3 albums were mentioned at some point in the program that were not debuts in any sense of the word (M. Gaye's What's Going On, Beck's Odelay, and Van Morrison's Astral Weeks, which actually ended up on David Gray's list.)!
I'm counting any album (not EPs, of course, or else Murmur wouldn't be on here) released on a fairly major label. Nirvana's Bleach would count, being on Sub Pop, but most self-released albums would not. Van Morrison's debut, contrary to popular belief, was not Astral Weeks, but Blowin' Your Mind, released on the Bang label. Bang may not have been largest label in the world, but since he did manage to score a hit from the album (Brown Eyed Girl), I felt I could not count Astral Weeks as a debut. It's on my Sophomore album list.
I do not count Liz Phair's Girlysound demos, home-produced and passed about by hand, as a debut.
Does this help?
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Immediately, I am struck by the abscence of Are You Experienced? and Marshall Crenshaw's debut. That last one would particularly seem to be right up your way.
Zeep! Zeep! Zeep!
Both great albums, and both worthy contenders if this list were twenty items long.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
i must add Pearl Jam's 10 and oasis "definately maybe"...i've always thought those were 2 of the best debuts. definately agree with pavement, velvet and stone roses albums!
Thanks!
So many great debuts, yet only ten spaces. Ah...
:)
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Marquee Moon is pure genius, so many memorable songs. I would also make a case for Unknown Pleasures, Joy Division.
Unknown Pleasure used to be on this list before I updated it, and for what it is worth, it is probably number 11 now. A terrific album.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I have always been very fond of Jackson Browne's first album. Everything that was right about that LA singer,songwriter movement can be found there. Of course if you listen close enough you will also see the shadows of everything that is wrong pretty quickly too.. but still a stunning debut.
That debut is terrific, and if I owned a copy and had the chance to spend more time with it, perhaps my appreciation would swell!
I'll have to try to nab it and listen to it some more.
Great suggestion. Thanks!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Can't disagree with most of these, but I was unaware you held Is This It? in such high esteem. I don't know if this list ranks the albums or simply presents them in no particular order, but either way, wow!
My own list would probably include Costello's My Aim Is True, The Doors' The Doors, and The Byrds' Mr. Tamborine Man, among others.
Johnny Waco
Uh, okay, I just saw your note referencing a debut album list I did. I guess I need to search my archived lists and see what I have already listed. Boy, my memory must really be going...
Johnny Waco
Crazy. The three I listed are the top three! Some sort of subconscious memory, I guess;)
Johnny Waco (who needs to stop replying to himself..)
You are simply one consistent man...
Of course, those are all terrific debuts, and perhaps I should stretch this list out a bit. I love the opening salvo from the Strokes, but would I place it quite so high today? I honestly don't know; I'll have to think a bit.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Here's my list:
1. Underworld - dubnobasswithmyheadman
2. Elvis Costello - My Aim is True
3. The Orb - Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld
4. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
5. Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
6. Ween - God Ween Satan
7. They Might be Giants - s/t
8. Brian Eno - Here Come the Warm Jets
9. Television - Marquee Moon
10. Yellow Magic Orchestra - s/t
Good list!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs