30. Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel
Fontaines have only gained more praise and adulation with each release, peaking with their 3rd album released earlier this year, ‘Romance’. But ‘Dogrel’ has that classic raw indie debut sound not heard since maybe Arctic Monkeys. ‘Big’, ‘Roy’s Tune’ and obviously ‘Boys in the Better Land’ being the stand-outs. One of the most exciting bands around today, but I still can’t put it above another indie album released just a couple of years before…
29. DMA’S – Hills End
That’s right, they’ve maybe not reached the same heights as Fontaines ever since (although still extremely successful) but for me this Aussie trio’s debut is one of the best indie albums released this century. There might be some bias involved, ‘Hills End’ was released in my college years, it hit me at the right time and spoke to me unlike lots of music being released back in 2016. A nearly flawless debut album, it could have been alot higher, maybe a victim of me consciously trying not to show bias.
28. Weezer – Weezer (Blue Album)
27. Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
26. The Libertines – Up The Bracket
25. Amy Winehouse – Frank
24. Digable Planets – Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
One of my favourite hip-hop albums of all time, and one of my favourite album covers of all time. Everything about it is just so cool. Many say their follow-up, ‘Blowout Comb’, is a better produced and more professional sounding album. But to me that’s what makes a debut so special. The raw, under-produced, garage band sound where it’s all about how the music makes you feel. A truly under-appreciated album and group, if you’re a fan of ‘The Pharcyde’ or ‘A Tribe Called Quest’, check them out.
23. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin
This was by far the number one answer when I asked my Insta followers for their favourite debut. It did slightly surprise me and it definitely helped it in making the top 30. What can I say, I listen to my fans.
22. A Tribe Called Quest – People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
I feel like I’m waxing lyrical about A Tribe Called Quest in every post. A nearly faultless discography kicked off in 1990 with this release. ‘Bonita Applebum’ and ‘Can I Kick It’ are the stand-outs. Maybe they’re a victim of their own greatness, I like all their albums that much that this doesn’t necessarily come into my mind when I’m thinking of the greatest debut album of all time. Still nearly cracked the top 20 though, long live the quest.
21. The Beatles – Please Please Me
Similar to Tribe, The Beatles discography hurts their debut slightly. Plus, do we really need The Beatles at the top of every list ever made? Don’t worry I’m not one of those weirdos that claims the Scouse foursome are overrated. But I do believe there are 20 better debuts, so let’s see what they are shall we…
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