So… top 20. This is where you start to really disagree with me and think what the fuck am I doing writing a music blog. From now on, everything is gonna be compared with The Beatles. So I’m gonna kick off the top 20 with an album that is undeniably better than ‘Please, Please Me’…
20. The Clash – The Clash
Okay, so maybe it’s not undeniable, but stick with me here. ‘Police and Thieves’ and ‘White Riot’. To me both these tunes are better than any song on ‘Please, Please Me’. And for that simple reason, ‘The Clash’ is the better album. Disagree with me all you want, but like I said earlier, you’re wrong.
19. Loyle Carner – Yesterday’s Gone
Right, if you didn’t like me saying The Clash are better than The Beatles (I don’t think that to be clear, just the better debut album, I swear…) than you’re really not gonna like this one. But the truth is, Loyle Carner is in a world of his own in modern hip-hop. A genre dominated by little baby’s (that’s his name, right?) cosplaying their 90s heroes, Loyle Carner has that jazz infused sound perfected. ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ and the earlier mentioned ‘Hills End’ gave 16 year old me faith that music could only get better. Praise be to Loyle Carner.
18. Guns ‘N’ Roses – Appetite For Destruction
So I’m not the biggest Guns ‘n’ Roses fan in the world, but sometimes you just have to appreciate greatness. To have ‘Welcome To The Jungle’, ‘Paradise City’, and ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ all on your debut album is pretty insane, right? Arguably the debut album with the most mega-hits on it. Three songs so ingrained in human evolution that a new-born baby could come straight out the womb and instantly join in with the ‘Paradise City’ chorus. Undeniable.
17. MF Doom – Operation: Doomsday
Another iconic hip-hop album and cover. Not to forget the influence it still has on music to this day. Ask any rapper for their top 5 albums of all time, chances are MF Doom’s debut would make the list. ‘Doomsday’ and ‘Rhymes Like Dimes’ are proper boppers aren’t they. The beats, the flow, the comedic lyrics, it all comes together to make a near perfect hip-hop record. MF Doom will truly live forever.
16. Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
Another massively iconic and influential album. This would make many of your top 5’s I’m guessing. I think I can justify the 15 coming up being above it, but I would not argue if you believe ‘Unknown Pleasures’ should be higher. It is definitely a top 5 most iconic cover of all time, I’ll give you that.
15. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not
This being above Joy Division may anger some of you. Just know it’s a personal thing. AM’s debut is one of the first albums I remember listening to in full. As a fresh 6 year old my music taste was heavily influenced by what my mum and older sisters were listening to. It was lots (and I mean LOTS) of Bon Jovi, and slightly less (but still lots) of Outkast and Arctic Monkeys. It’s one of those great, raw, aggressive indie debuts. And I won’t let anyone tell me that AM have released a better album since.
14. NWA – Straight Outta Compton
I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but once again, one word… iconic. Think of everything I’ve mentioned about great debut albums… rawness, attitude, youthful energy, ‘Straight Outta Compton’ has it all, and then some. The title track, ‘Gangsta Gangsta’, ‘Express Yourself’, ‘Fuck Tha Police’. It’s one of the highest ranking rap records on this list, but still doesn’t quite beat number 13…
13. Kanye West – The College Dropout
That’s right, Kayne’s debut is better than Ice Cube, Eazy-E and Dre. I originally had ‘College Dropout’ around 30th. And then I listened to it again, in full, for the first time in years. And wow. Easily Kanye’s best album, and I highly doubt he’ll ever return to the heights of this. He may have turned into a bit of a controversial figure, to say the least, but you just can’t deny quite how great early Kanye was.
12. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Another personal favourite of mine. ‘Kids’, ‘Electric Feel’ and ‘Time to Pretend’ all on your debut. Wow. Three massive hits, a modern day ‘Appetite for Destruction’ perhaps? Bet you’ve not heard that comparison before. Just yesterday I saw a great clip of them performing ‘Kids’ on their uni campus in 2003. The fact that they began as a parody of pop music, and ended up creating one of the greatest pop albums of all time. Love it.
11. The Streets – Original Pirate Material
Just missing out on the top 10 we have Mike Skinners debut. Capitalising on the underground popularity of Garage music in the UK, The Streets came out with this generational record. I have spent many a night chilling out and listening to this back to front. ‘Turn the Page’ is one of the greatest openers ever, ‘Stay Positive’ one of the greatest closers ever. Plus, who can forget the iconic cover.
Join me on the next page as we find the 10 GREATEST debut albums of all time… Get your predictions in for numero uno.
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