|
Great debut albums!
If this thread already exists, I'm sorry! However, I'm guessing it doesn't.
So on to the point. I often find debut albums to be quite exciting. There are many reasons, but most basically, it's just fun to see where bands and artists come from, and often - what made them popular. In this thread, I'd like for people to write a little about debut albums they find are great or otherwise interesting. For example, you could write about one debut album per post. Of course, some words about why you think it's good along with some trivia or other interesting information is a nice added bonus. There are many great debut albums, but I'll start it with this one : Kate Bush - The Kick Inside (1978) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/80/Kbtki.jpg Favourite tracks : Moving, The Saxophone Song, The Man With the Child in His Eyes, The Kick Inside Being a bit of a musical prodigy when she was young, Kate Bush signed a contract with EMI at the mere age of 16 after having been "discovered" by David Gilmour. During the time between the contract and her first album, she would write more than 200 songs. In 1978, when she was 19, she released her debut album, The Kick Inside. The album, she says, contains songmaterial written throughout her teenage years, from 12-13 to 19 years of age. The album spawned a few singles. "Wuthering Heights" (inspired by Emily Bronte's novel by the same name) possibly remains her best known song today and was the first single by a female artist to reach number one in the UK. The album is a progish-poppish-rockish-album that draws from different influences, both in music and lyrics. Kate Bush's extremely unique voice gives much of the album a light and upbeat feel to it. The album also feels wonderfully creative and musically uncorrupted, perhaps because of her young age. Without elaborating too much, the production is good and feels very much like a 70s record. Later in her career, Kate Bush would go on to produce her own albums, removing herself more and more away from the mainstream. For me, however, The Kick Inside remains her finest work to date and I think it's a definite should-have for any serious collector. It's definetly up there among my favourite debut albums. So to conclude : If you don't know it - get it! So what are your favourite debut albums? :) |
God, there are so many.
I guess I'll have to go with Arcade Fire - Funeral. Favourite songs include - Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels), Une Anne Sans Lumiere, Neighbourhood #3 (Lights Out), Wake Up, Rebellion (Lies). Everyone knows about this album. It's certainly a huge hit in Canada. The title of the album was inspired by the death of a number of relatives in the band. It's a very man vs. self sort of album, with most conflicts between people as opposed to society, which they would get to in their follow up Neon Bible. Despite the number motif, the album is not really a concept effort, though that's arguable, of-course. The album's sound is rather expansive, with violins, violas, xylophones, French horns a number of other orchestral instruments used in a number of the songs, and apparently all in unison in Wake Up. They're sort of send-chills-up-your-spine material, with lyrics that could possibly be too saccharine for a number of people, but just perfect for those with a knack for imagery and the bittersweet. If you haven't heard of them, do check them out if you have an open mind. They're definitely not for everyone. By the way, I think I'll have to check Kate Bush out now : ) |
The Strokes - Is This It?
Perfect blend of rock and pop. Perfect song writing. Perfect voice (for the band). Absolutely perfect. This was the album that defined my high school years. It was the album that broke me away from the Taking Back Sundays and Dashboard Confessionals polluting my brain. Is it a hipster album? Yes. Was it "cool" to like The Strokes? Sure. But that doesn't take away from the beauty of it. The song writing was perfect; you never knew what Julian Casablancas was talking about, but you knew what he was feeling. The guitar riffs were as plentiful as they were catchy. The bass lines were gorgeous, yet simple. Is This It, the title track, remains my favorite bass line of all time. The sound of the album could have been mistaken for something written by The Velvet Underground yet it was still uniquely original. Every track is a standout, but Hard to Explain would be my favorite. Also: good choice Roygbiv. |
T.Rex - My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows (1968)
Before Marc Bolan went glam, he wrote some of the strangest psychedelic folk songs known to man. If you know Bolan's vocals by the song "Get It On", these early pigmy-squeaks might be a lot to swallow (they were for me). But like many unconventional vocal styles, the initial discomfort of listening to them will fade and the listening experience is quite rewarding after that. Marc claimed with this album he wanted to do what Pink Floyd did with "Piper at the Gates of Dawn," only acoustically. I only what to know where in the world this music came from, and how such a cacophony of acoustic instruments can sound so cool This is a WEIRD album and will not be for everyone, I can tell you that. But it's definitely one of my favorite debuts (not to mention the kickass cover and title!) |
Quote:
|
Why do the Strokes get to bang ridiculously hot chicks?
That's what I wanna know about the Strokes |
Quote:
|
"Murmur"—REM
REM's first full length may quite possibly be their best album. There's something about this album, sort of like what I said about the first Strokes album, that's very bittersweet. And somehow this album has always felt old to me, like some vinyl you dust off in the back of a record shop that brings back nostalgic feelings through the crackles and pops. I first heard it only about four years after it came out, but even then it still somehow sounded old. |
http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/44252.jpg
Magma - Kobaïa (1970) Hmn, what to say about one of the most interesting debuts of the decade, and from a French group who nobody at the time paid attention to until they were simply too big to ignore. With this steller debut, the first to be sung entirelly in a completely made up language called Kobaian constructed by drummer, founder and composer Christian Vander, came the beginnings of a particularly awesome genre of music called Zeuhl and some of the best jazz-fusion known to man. Fans of this group tend to overlook their first album because of its off-kilter and somewhat inconsistant experimental tendencies compared to later works (as they were still in the midst of discovering their sound at this point), but on its own merits this is quite the listen nevertheless. :thumb: Barabajagal: Nice choice there. Been wanting to dl T.Rex's debut for some time now, but having trouble getting it... |
Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Inner Mounting Flame (1971)
|
Three great debuts, all accused at the time of their releases of being "Dylanesque." Coincidence?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5174X5AJ9PL.jpg John Prine (S/T): The country arrangements are hokey and somewhat uninspired; the songwriting is not. This is one of the best written records by anybody. I dare you to find songs more potent than Hello In There, Far From Me, Donald & Lydia, and Illegal Smile. http://www.springsteenlyrics.com/lyr...-greetings.jpg Bruce Springsteen: Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ: Springsteen would go on to make records with better songs and more assured playing, but he never came close to recapturing the excitement of his first album. Ok, Mary Queen Of Arkansas and The Angel are crap (why did he include them instead of, say, Janey Needs A Shooter?), but the other seven cuts are glorious pieces of pop/rock. Secret highlight: Lost In The Flood. Listen to that one if nothing else. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg Dire Straits (S/T): How good is this album? Welll, Sultans Of Swing isn't even the best song. Mark Knopfler's guitar gets all the press, but everyone forgets what a tight band the original Dire Straits were. Listen to John Ilsley's bass on Six Blade Knife or Pick Withers' drumming on Sultans. |
System of A Down - Self Titled
The Doors - Self Titled |
Karnivool, 'Themata'
http://4.music.bigpond-images.com/im...XL/Themata.jpg Cog, 'The New Normal' http://www.melodic.net/img4/cog-newnormal.jpg Tori Amos, 'Little Earthquakes' http://whattheballs.com/wp-content/u...arthquakes.jpg And there are so many more that I could think of. I also disregarded some EPs and singles in this... just went by debut albums. |
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Showbiz - Muse
Nocturne - The Human Abstract Kezia - Protest the Hero Boston - Boston Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine The Blue Album - Weezer (in before ToeAndNo bashes) |
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
:bonkhead: You're silly. |
|
Anyone mentioned Unknown Pleasures yet?
No picture or explanation necessary i think. |
Quote:
| *points to Jack's post* | | |
1 Attachment(s)
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE-RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE(1992)
A politically charged genre busting record that ushered in the Clinton era in the United States. With an album cover that held a historical significance that resonates through the ages and music that was ahead of its time. This album makes you angry and happy at the same time. From the rollicking bass line of "Bombtrack" to the great story song "Freedom" this album has no let downs. It has as much or more meaning today as it did 16 years ago. Highlights(out of an album of all highlights):Bombtrack, Killing in the Name, Take the Power Back, Bullet in the Head, Freedom. This is a must own record. |
A lot of good albums here, many of which deserve a little more mention than they got.
Khfreek mentions Boston (by Boston) from 1980 which is another of my favourite all-time debut albums which I guess is not surprising as it sold platinum 3 months after release and reached 17x platinum in 2003, making it one of the most successful debut albums ever, at least from a sales point of view. It's a solid rock album from start to finish with several immortal rock classics .. "Smokin" and "Rock And Roll Band" are my favourite tracks! Bulldog posted "I Should Coco" from 1995 by Supergrass, which is another interesting mention, I think. I know Gaz Coombes (singer) was only 17 or 18 years old when they started out in the studio to produce their first single ("caught by the fuzz", also a track on the album) and he was only 19 when their album was released in 95. A bit like Kate Bush's "The Kick Inside" that I posted about, to me - this album feels a bit raw, distilled youth. It's playful, upbeat, creative, fast and fun. Although they draw on familiar influences, I definetly think they found their own unique sound and for me, Supergrass is the most interesting band to emerge from the britpop era. After this album, they did change sound a bit and got more serious. Because of that, there is no other Supergrass album quite like it. Gaz (I think it was) also mentioned in interviews that the image of them as slightly comical, happy-punky teenagers haunted them for quite some time after this record. Last, I'll add, though, that over time, this album has lost some of it's appeal for me and my favourite track now would probably be "time" which is also the slowest song on the album .. but that's probably just because of repeated listenings. There is no real weak track, but "alright" is the most famous single .. It's definetly not my favourite song from that album, so if that's the one you know, don't base your opinion just on that track and do yourself a favour and get the rest. I'd write something about Experienced and My Aim is True, both of which are albums I like very much .. maybe in a later post if noone else does it first. I've seen many recommend Joy Division's debut (in magazines, other forums etc), but although I do have it in my collection, I've yet to actually sit down and listen to it. It's on my ever-growing to-do list, though. Barabajagal, I never quite "got" T.Rex's debut, though .. That's a strange album indeed. I think it's gonna need a few more spins before I get used to it. :p Anteater, it's fun that you mention Kobaïa because I just picked up that one along with a couple other Magma albums after reading an article on them. Quite strange, especially with the kobaian language and all! |
Some great debuts that were pretty influential, too.
Television - Marquee Moon Patti Smith - Horses Richard Hell & the Voidoids - Blank Generation ...not quite as influential but equally great. The Dictators - Go Girl Crazy http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...55046j08ts.jpg |
The debut albums of the following artists/bands are all great and in all cases among the finest in their entire discography:
The Clash, Sex Pistols, Elvis Costello, R.E.M., B-52's, The Velvet Underground, The Jam, The Sonics, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Joy Division, George Harrison, Bo Diddley |
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Has anyone mentioned Boys Don't Cry by The Cure yet? Horrible album art but definitely a fantastic debut.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...'t_Cry.jpg |
Quote:
|
Quote:
Quote:
|
Quote:
VU&Nico is fairly famous, Procol Harum's "White Shade Of Pale" is f*cking amazing. |
Everyone who's read one or more music magazines know that Led Zeppelin, Patti Smith, Television, Joy Division, The Velvet Underground, Elvis Costello etc etc had great debuts because they are mentioned quite often. I don't need to know if they were good - I'd rather know what it is you think makes them good.
Janszoon, The Cure's debut album is called "Three Imaginary Boys". The album "Boys Don't Cry" is a US rerelease of that album with a slightly different song lineup and coverart. |
The college dropout!
|
Quote:
|
|
|
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:37 PM. |
© 2003-2024 Advameg, Inc.