Being that this is my debut “Top Ten” i’m writing for this blog, I thought it would be only fitting to countdown my 10 favorite debut albums of all time! Don’t worry I’m not spoiling anything! Presley’s Debut, like countless other more than honorable mentions, doesn’t make our list. Though, in a way, it was the first of its kind: a bold artistic showcase perfectly encompassing the style and sound of “The King” before he even had one, ushering in the album age. These 10 albums were chosen not only for their stand alone quality, but for the impact of their arrival. These albums announced the presence of great talent, even if some could never again reach such musical heights.
Disclaimer:
These are ten albums that I think are great debuts,
some of my favorite debuts aren't even on here and this is simply based on my opinion.
Enjoy!
#10. The Beastie Boys- License to Ill (1986)
Not only one of the most influential rap albums of all time, the Beastie Boy’s debut served as artistic springboard for the group, using it’s cult success as a base for more experimental sounds (like the fantastic Paul’s Boutique). The boy’s tight and often hilarious raps were highlighted by Rick Rubin’s rocking and sample rich production, creating a crossover that fans of both rock and rap could love. Every song on this album is a classic, and though they’ve all been sampled half to death by now, for the uninitiated: There’s never a bad time to “Get Ill”
Favorite Tracks: “No Sleep Till’ Brooklyn”, “The New Style”, “Girls”, “She’s Crafty”
#9. The Doors-The Doors (1967)
Its hard to believe at first listen that this is a debut album. I mean, its just so good, so fresh, so Doors! The Doors seemingly arrived fully formed and at the peak of their powers. From the trashing opener “Break on through” to acid rock masterpiece: “The End”, The Doors fusion of Rock, Blues, and Jazz music paired with Jim Morrison’s dark poetry captured the imagination of a generation and influenced everyone from The Stooges to The Strokes. Not to shabby for a debut.
Favorite Tracks: “Break on Through”, “Light My Fire”, “Crystal Ship”
#8. Joy Division- Unknown Pleasures (1979)
The iconic sleeve of Joy Division’s landmark 1979 debut album for Factory records, depicts (quite fittingly) the radio waves emitted from a dying star. Peter Saville's incredible artwork reflects the dark, cold atmosphere of the album itself thanks, in no small part, to Martin Hannett’s revolutionary space emphasizing production. While much of the bands punk energy may have been lost with the toning down of the guitars, the final product (infused with Hannett’s “unusual” sound effects) is a claustrophobic, guilt-ridden masterpiece. The album set the blueprint and tone for countless bands looking to find their sound after the comedown of the short-lived high of the punk era. If you own the sweatshirt from Urban Outfitters and haven’t heard the album: Fuck you.
Favorite Tracks: “Shadowplay”, “Interzone”, “Disorder”, “New Dawn Fades”
#7. Eric B. and Rakim- Paid In Full (1987)
While not as iconic, or commercially successful, as their fellow modern rap forerunners, (Beastie Boys, Run DMC, LL Cool J, etc.) the duo of Eric Barrier and MC Rakim are perhaps the most influential on Rap music’s evolving sound out of them all. Eric B’s heavily sample based production (while it might sound a little bare nowadays), complemented perfectly with the sheer genius of Rakim’s lyrical ability. Off beat rhymes, velvet smooth flow, and complex internal rhymes changed the game for MCs in 87’ and basically invented the modern lyrical technique. Despite the dated cover, the duo proved they “Ain’t No Joke”.
Favorite Tracks: “Paid in Full”, “Ain’t No Joke”, “Move the Crowd” “Eric B is President”
#6. D’Angelo- Brown Sugar (1995)
In the mid nineties R&B music wasn’t exactly at an artistic highpoint. So its surprising to see, given all the cheesiness of the era, how modern a record D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar still sounds. If there is one word to describe the instrumentation of this album it’s “organic”. Pulsating bass, atmospheric percussion, and Prince-esque guitars and keyboards combine to create a lush soundscape to back D’Angelo’s velvety vocals. This album pays tribute to its funk and soul forefathers while looking foreword to R&B’s neo-soul future. A benchmark album in the ever growing history of Soul..
Favorite Tracks: “Brown Sugar”, “Cruisin”, “Lady”
#5. Wu-Tang Clan- Enter the 36 Chambers (1993)
The Nineties were chock full of rap groups, (Cyprus Hill, The Fugees, and A Tribe Called Quest just to name a few), but few were as influential or all around talented as RZA and the Wu-Tang Clan. This, their debut record, is largely responsible for shaping the sound of east coast hip-hop at large and paving the way for other east rappers such as Nas, Biggie, and Jay Z to put New York back on the Hip/Hop map. Lyrically the streetwise, and often cartoonishly comical MC’s deliver one classic verse after another, each with distinct personality and flow (Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s raspy almost sing-song verses are my favorite). Meanwhile RZA’s groundbreaking production provided the perfect gritty backdrop for the talented MC’s, utilizing eerie beats, and an abundance of Kung Fu action clips and Soul music samples. Surprisingly, despite the group’s hardcore sound, the album peaked at number 41 on the Billboard 200, and was even certified as platinum, selling over 2 million copies. Wu-Tang Proved that with great music: it “Could All Be So Simple”.
Favorite Tracks: “C.R.E.A.M.”, “Method Man”, “Protect Ya Neck”, “Bring Da Ruckus”
#4. Elvis Costello- My Aim Is True (1977)
1977 was a landmark year for music. As the peak of the punk “movement”, in the UK, it was also home to a lot of great debuts, only one of witch makes this list (sorry Never-mind the Bollocks). My Aim is True is one of the few truly great records of the first wave of punk, widely considered a singles genre (2 chords only go so far), because of its humor, rawness, and pop sensibility. It also introduced the world to one of the finest artists of his generation. Despite, or perhaps because, the album was recorded and so cheaply, the albums quirky cleverness translated to raw punk/pop energy, and scathingly honest tunes. From the Fast paced “Welcome To the Working Week” that opens the album, until the guitars fade on “Waiting for the End of the World”, this debut is pure sonic bliss.
Favorite Tracks: “Alison”, “Blame it on Cain”, “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes”, “Less Then Zero”
#3. The Strokes- Is This It (2001)
Its easy to forget just how important an album Is This It really is. Amidst all the nu-metal power riffing and post-grunge Eddie Vedder imitations, The Strokes debut took rock music back from the flannels and into a new revival, (short-lived as it was). There was a clear before and after following the release of this album, shaggy hair and tight jeans were back, great garage rock bands were cool, and nu-metal was a thing of the past. Objectively, there isn’t much here that you haven’t heard before; take the guitar interplay of CBGB’s greats like Television, throw in a little Garage sloppiness ala' The sonics, roll it in a Jim Morrison Croon, and top it all of with a dash of Lou Reed for that vintage warm sound. Still, what these garage-pop tunes lack in originality, they more than make up for in quality and passion. It was the perfect record to capture the ambivalence of a post-millenial (not to mention post 9/11) america, and form the blueprint for hundreds of bands to inevitably follow.
Favorite Tracks: “Last Night”, “Take It or Leave It”, “Someday”, “Hard to Explain”
#2. Nas- Illmatic (1994)
What more can you say about Nas’s Illmatic that hasn’t already been published a hundred times before? It’s one of the most influential Hip/Hop albums of all time, it was largely responsible for the renewed interest in New York’s rap scene at the time of its release, it was the first album ever to receive the coveted “Five Mic” rating from The Source Magazine! But honestly if you really want to know what all the fuss is about, listen to Illmatic today. The style and sound of this album (it was produced by, among others, Jazz-Rap heavyweights Q-Tip and DJ Premier!) were so influential and groundbreaking it still sounds as fresh as it did twenty years ago. Nas’s complex lyrical poetry still hasn’t lost it’s bite either. Who cares if he hasn’t put out anything as good since, when you make Illmatic, you don’t need to.
Favorite Tracks: “It Ain’t Hard To Tell”, “One Love”, “The World Is Yours”, “NY State of Mind”
#1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience- Are You Experienced (1967)
Well here we are, we made it to our first #1. It was not easy making this list, I probably scrapped and rewrote this thing five or more times. The one album, however, that always remained in at least the top 2, was this: Are You Experienced, well are you punk? If you have not experienced this awesome record i suggest you find out for yourself exactly what all the fuss was behind this Hendrix guy. In one album, Jimi synthesized all the cutting edge sounds swirling around in 67, and released it at the height of the psychedelic era. Yes, the guitar work is stunning, and the groundbreaking use of feedback, distortion, and raw technical skill still sounds great today. But everyone already knows that! This was the sound of a man with something to prove, and listening to it today, the fact that he proved it makes it sound even sweeter.
Favorite Tracks: “Manic Depression”, “The Wind Cries Mary”, “Purple Haze”, “Hey Joe”
Honorable Mentions:
The Libertines-Up The Bracket
The Killers- Hot Fuss
The Velvet Underground- The Velvet Underground and Nico
The Sex Pistols- Never-mind The Bollocks
The Notorious B.I.G.- Ready to Die
NWA- Straight Outta Compton
DJ Shadow- Endtroducing
Arcade Fire- Funeral
Daft Punk- Homework
What do you think about Kanye's the college dropout or Big L's Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous? I think they're two of the most influential albums in Hip-Hop let alone debut albums.
ReplyDeleteJust my two cents though