Pretty self explanatory. What do you think has been the best debut album by a band? Without thinking too much, I'd probably say Hot Fuss - The Killers or Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand

Haven't thought much about other decades, but one of those albums would take out the 00's best debut album for mine. My choice of The Killers will come under attack as some people don't like them, but rarely do you find a debut album that has no weak track on it. I won't hear anything against it. Hot Fuss and Franz Ferdinand has no weak track. None. Not in my mind, anyway.

Those are my choices. I'll have a bit more of a think about it, but I doubt I'll change.

-- Led Zeppelin: "Led Zeppelin"
-- Pearl Jam: "Ten"
-- Vast: "VAST"
-- A Perfect Circle: "Mer De Noms"

I'd elaborate as to why I chose each but I'm tired and anybody who has listened to them would know they are incredible and deserve the recongition.

I don't want to be picky [m]av, but the line "What do you think has been the best debut album by a band?" Doesn't work properly. Unless I'm wrong, in which I apologize.

The Slim Shady LP - Eminem

Used to be a massive fan of his and I think this album shits all over the bursting with daughter love album, Encore.

Unfun - Jawbreaker

When I first heard of these guys I asked jawsy if the album "Dear You" was a good one to start off with, and he said yes. I purchased it and grew to love it more and more. Then, I realised that I should see what thier other albums are like, so I downloaded (couldn't find it in three shops) this album and I love both equally. This is one of the few CDs in which I listen to the first 4-5 songs and treat them as best on the album.

Bleach - Nirvana

This was my second or third Nirvana album. At the time I adored the fact that the band weren't all fully grunge yet, and I think the track "Love Buzz" sums that up well... at least, the first part does.

I amazed myself at how many of my favorite bands albums that are my favorite aren't thier first. In many cases it is thier second or third.

Well the point of the thread was asking which band you thought had the best debut(1st) album. ;)

But wouldn't the answer to the question "What do you think has been the best debut album by a band?" be whatever the first album? I mean, no band can have 2 first albums.

I was gonna put down Mer De Noms in my list, but then I remembered I only listen up to track 8 and skip the rest. First seven songs are pure bliss, the rest, not so.

Oh, and Nirv, I'm not sure what you're on about. I could have put either debut or first, but debut sounds classier ;)

Eye-5 will never grow old.

As for me, the first debut album that springs to mind is Weezer's Blue album. Shit was off the hook.

Weezer - Blue Album
A Perfect Circle - Mer De Noms
Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted
Foo Fighters
Queens Of The Stone Age
Death From Above 1979 - You're A Woman, I'm A Machine
Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
Isis's debut album (title escapes me)
Ben Folds Five
Auf De Maur
Lovage - Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By (Take THAT Jawsy)
Incubus - S.C.I.E.N.C.E
Death Cab For Cutie - Something With Aeroplanes
The Bronx
Bjork - Post
Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit!

And I'm spent!

Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit! (As Dorepoll said)
Operation Ivy - Energy (Their one and only LP is widely regarded as an absolute classic)
Thursday - Waiting

The Arcade Fire - 'Funeral'

A debut album with balls.

I think the question should(/was meant to) be "Which band had the best debut album?"


I say The Doors - The Doors. Not only the best debut album, but also their best album and probably the best album ever. :P

Rage Against The Machine - self titled.

This is definitely their best album in my opinion. Know your enemy, wake up, freedom, killing in the name of and bombtrack would all be in my top 5 favourite RATM songs.

I think im going to echo a few albums in here, im not going to go back too far into history though;

Rage Against The Machine - Self Titled
The Living End - Self Titled
Operation Ivy - Energy
The Mars Volta - Deloused In The Comatorium

But probably the most recent debuts that ive been impressed with are Cog - The New Normal, and Bloc Party - Silent Alarm.

Yes, good stuff right there.

Yeah, pretty much all the albums I was going to say have been mentioned here already. :P

Satyricon - Dark Medieval Times

It's amazing that an 18 year old could produce such a flawless and highly influential album. Makes me wish I hadn't wait til I was 19 to buy a guitar.

Can't really think of any other truly amazing debut albums at the moment, so that'll have to do.

I always found Cog to be like Isis or Tool, just not nearly as good.


Oh and I agree with Hello, Arcade Fire's Funeral is a classic.

The Bravery's self titled debut wasn't too shabby, I certainly rate it.

Funny you say that mate, I thought of Tool too when i first heard them. They have a similar sound, but are more melodious and less beat driven.
They're definately a bit more simplistic and less diverse in their lyrics and sound respectively. Because of this, i guess they're just more easy to listen too. I always find with tool, i have to be in a certain mood.

Thinking of the bands that I used to listen to (not so much now) and I realise I didn't like any of thier first albums (Slipknot -Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat, Mudvayne - Kill I Outta, S.O.A.D - self titled). Hmmm...

The only one that comes to mind for me is Something Wild by Children of Bodom. Yes they got even better as they went on but that album is still really damn good.

Great thread.

Oasis - Definitely Maybe
The Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Stone Roses - Self Titled

Yeah, the Stone Roses debut is definitely worth noting. I love 'Fool's Gold'.

The Cloud Room's self-titles debut ain't too shabby.

I suggest "Hey Now Now" for those after a smapler.

Hey now now, we're goin' down down
and we ride the bus there and pay the bus fare...

Definately! That has to be one of my favourite albums ever.

Honourable Mentionable Debuts:
Rage Against The Machine
Damien Rice - O

Yeah, that song's great, but IMO most of the album tracks are pretty week.

Yeah, only a few good tracks, but I'm liking it better than the Kaiser Cheifs Album, and lotsa people seem to love that. :\

I was just wondering what type of music he plays? The vocalist from The Gathering has a boner for him so I figured his music might be worth checking out ;)

Without doubt, Streetlight Manifesto's Everything Goes Numb.

Yeah yeah, not many people know about these guys outside of the US, even in the US, but these guys have made an album in which EVERY song is good. And I mean every.

An offshoot from ska band catch 22, they have great harmonies, awesome anthemic ska tunes and actual themes in there music.

I know not many are into ska these days, but if you can give these guys a listen, please do.

5/5. Best Debut Ever.