It's time to look back at some of our personal favourite debut albums, in no particular order. Which bands hit the ground running with their first studio albums, and for most of them, have continued to since! The likes of Jeff Buckley, Sam Fender and The Libertines are in our Top 10, what would you have ranked in your top 10?
Up The Bracket - The Libertines
The Libertines set out with their scratchy guitars, and angered rebellious nature seeping in to the sound. This resulting in to one of our favourite debut albums, featuring songs like Up The Bracket, Time for Heroes and Vertigo which are staples to get a crowd jumping at a festival!
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
It would be a disservices if we didn't include this absolute classic which pioneered the sound of Manchester, which people try and recreate now. However nothing can live up to the effortless rhythms of classic jangle guitar and confidence heard on tracks such as; I Wanna Be Adored, She Bangs The Drums, and I Am the Resurrection.
The 1975 - The 1975
Teenage angst in a major key and put a bow on it. That is the punchline continually used by lead signer Matty Healy when asked about the mark making, self-titled, iconic debut album. The album covers a wide range of styles, yet somehow making a definent sound for the British genre bending band.
Definitely Maybe - Oasis
Would it be a debut album list if we didn't include the over confident, 'cocky' Definitely Maybe by Oasis. The album set the band up for its success in 1994, infusing the confidence, arguments, and rock 'n' roll guitar.
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys
The Arctic Monkeys' debut album, Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not, contains some of the trademark from Alex Turner and Co songs such as; "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor", "Mardy Bum", "When The Sun Goes Down", and"From The Ritz To The Rubble".
Is This It - The Strokes
The sound of choppy, rough guitar riffs and head banging beats transporting you to the scene of New York City at the time, infused with the punk rock genre is what ‘Is This It’ by The Strokes does for its listener. The tracks get you off your feet, almost trying to keep up with the fast tempo of Julian Casablancas and Co.
Hypersonic Missiles - Sam Fender
For a debut album it discusses some heavy topics in tracks such as; ‘Dead Boys’, ‘White Privilege’, and ‘The Boarders’. The stories told in Fender’s music paired with the large stadium sound Sam and his band members have mastered makes for an iconic debut album.
Grace - Jeff Buckley
Even nearly 30 years on from the release of Grace by Jeff Buckley it still remains one of the most engaging albums, with Buckley only ever sounding like himself in honest and intimate songs like ‘Lover You Should’ve Come Over’, ‘Mojo Pin’ and ‘So Real’.
The Smiths - The Smiths
Although being the self-titled, debut album, it was almost like The Smiths set out with their trademark, signature sound right off the bat! The debut album from the Manchester band paved the way for the rest of their very successful career. Blending indie and rock music with a near jangly sound.
It Won't Always Be Like This - Inhaler
The album title and opening track being ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’ is six words the Irish band have held closely for several years before the debut was released, meaning something different to what it may have been interpreted as when they released it in July 2021, whilst the pandemic was on going. However the album does not radiate those isolated feelings, echoing the indie rock sound inspired by The Stone Roses, Oasis and “weirdly enough, Talking Heads”.
By CAITLIN
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