The Best Rock Debut Albums
Staying on the music theme ... another list! No commentary this time--just my astute opinion, submitted for your approval (or mockery).
Same criteria as the last music list--influence, skill, listenability, and endurance--with a strong nod to innovation as well. One note: "Supergroups," made up of well-established members of other groups, are not eligible ... so even if they would make the list otherwise (doubtful), you will not see Asia or GTR here.
So here are the top 25 rock debut albums, judged by me.
25. Bad Company, Bad Company
24. Queen, Queen
23. The Cars, The Cars
22. Steely Dan, Can't Buy a Thrill
21. Stone Temple Pilots, Core
20. Tesla, Mechanical Resonance
19. Pink Floyd, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
18. Foreigner, Foreigner
17. The Black Crowes, Shake Your Money Maker
16. Ratt, Out of the Cellar
15. Iron Maiden, Iron Maiden
14. Kiss, Kiss
13. Chicago, Chicago Transit Authority
12. Aerosmith, Aerosmith
11. Boston, Boston
10. Pearl Jam, Ten
9. Rush, Rush
8. The Police, Outlandos d'Amour
7. King Crimson, In the Court of the Crimson King
6. The Doors, The Doors
5. Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath
4. Guns 'N' Roses, Appetite for Destruction
3. Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin
2. Van Halen, Van Halen
1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced?
posted by David Amulet @ 6:16 PM
12 wisecracks
12 Comments:
No Tool? Soundgarden? Cream?
I couldn't resist... had to razz you.
The 502
Good points. I thought about Cream ... but the band's first album didn't work for me as much as it does for many critics. Soundgarden probably should have made the cut.
I'm happy that nothing on here made you wretch. At least my wiser half prevailed and I didn't include Danzig or Faster Pussycat!
d.a.
Asia was a supergroup? Really? I had no idea.
I still listen to Asia when the mood strikes me. Usually it's in the car.
The first thing I thought when I saw this was, "Pink Floyd had better be on that list." So good job with that, because their first album is highly underrated, and more or less the only Floyd I still listen to consistantly.
The only disappointing omission I can think of is the first Velvet Underground album. And maybe My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello. Thinking about this has made me realize how many artists I love weren't really worth listening to when they first started out.
Asia was a supergroup by my definition: a group formed (largely if not totally) by members of previously successful groups. Certainly Asia and GTR are NOT supergroups in the sense of the Beatles, Stones, or Who.
Happy to recognize Pink Floyd, but the Velvet Underground wasn't even close for me. The band may have had heavy influence on other artists (and more so, critics), but I find it almost unlistenably dull. Oh well, there' s no accounting for taste ...
d.a.
glad to see steely dan on there. should have included costello, velvet underground, bowie, and especially the talking heads
Actually, a few bands did make me wretch, but then we are on the subject of likeability again.
I wouldn't have these bands on my list: Van Halen, King Crimson, The Police (wretch), Boston, Chicago (wretch), Kiss, Iron Maiden, Ratt (wretch), Foreigner, Tesla (wretch), and Steely Dan.
C'mon.... Ratt?
Why no newer bands?? Korn, Linkin Park, Slipknot, Godsmack... I already know what the answer will be but still these newer bands have already reinvented and revitilzed Rock when it was dieing.
crazy dan,
I was unaware that rock was dying. It seems to be stronger than ever. I grew up during the 80's when rock pretty much sucked. Anything good that was made was either from a band/artist that was around in the 70's, or it existed under the heading of Heavy Metal. After Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit opened the doors for great hard rockers to be popular again, the mainstream improved. Dying? No. Hiding for a while? You bet.
===Happy to recognize Pink Floyd, but the Velvet Underground wasn't even close for me. The band may have had heavy influence on other artists (and more so, critics), but I find it almost unlistenably dull. Oh well, there' s no accounting for taste ...
Are you taunting me again? Are you? Huh?
No, I don't have the energy to taunt--I'm already half-asleep just thinking about that Velvet Underground album ...
Oh yes -- Van Halen IS up there. Their debut was so amazing, so BIG, it revitalized hard rock and gave birth to most of the good (and bad) things about rock in the 1980s. In fact, in my mind Van Halen rivals Jimi for the #1 spot on this list!
-- d.a.
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