Best debut album in the last 20 years

mosstin · 28-02-2015 3:45pm #1

Been spending much of this morning listening to 'Young Team' by Mogwai, released in 1997. All things considered, it's my favourite debut album of the last two decades. Fantastic musicianship for a band so young (at the time), still sounds as relevant today as it did then and it contains the mighty 'Mogwai Fear Satan'. There have been many others - 'Funeral', Turn On The Bright Lights', 'Is This It'.
So what's yours?

Rothko · 28-02-2015 4:16pm

A few I really like:
Innerspeaker - Tame Impala
Post Nothing - Japandroids
Yuck - Yuck
Endroducing - DJ Shadow
F#A#Infinity - Godspeed You! Black Emperor
The End Of History - Fionn Regan
The Big Roar - The Joy Formidable
Crazy For You - Best Coast
Alas I Cannot Swim - Laura Marling

S.M.B. · 28-02-2015 5:15pm

I am not sure I can think of much better than Young Team or Funeral which is odd. I assumed I'd have a whole string of possible contenders.

Fever to Tell would be up there for me and Fever Ray is in with a shout although I'm not sure if it's fair to include solo/side projects off established artists.

Saipanne · 28-02-2015 5:16pm

An Awesome Wave

Fleet Foxes

loyatemu · 28-02-2015 5:30pm

The Avalanches - so good they haven't been able to make a follow up.

IamNotNumber · 01-03-2015 11:24pm

Would have to be funeral for me.That album back in 2001 was unlike most stuff I was listening to back then and its still imo their most consistent album albeit with a few tracks that I would skip if listening to it its entirety (Crown of love for one).
A few other favoured albums that spring to mind..

roksopp -Melody AM
Battles -Mirrored
jj72-jj72

S.M.B. · 01-03-2015 11:39pm

2001? Knew that didn't sound correct but had to check.

Was there any big reason behind the 5 month gap between the US and European release of Funeral?

Crazy to think that it would have been 10 years ago, give or take a day or two, when I first listened to the album.

IamNotNumber · 01-03-2015 11:48pm

S.M.B. wrote: »

2001? Knew that didn't sound correct but had to check.

Was there any big reason behind the 5 month gap between the US and European release of Funeral?

Crazy to think that it would have been 10 years ago, give or take a day or two, when I first listened to the album.

You are correct with your timing thought it was earlier..Not sure as to delay ..possibly playing catch up based on not expected success?

Funeral is the debut studio album by the Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire, released on September 14, 2004 in North America by Merge Records and on February 28, 2005 in Europe by Rough Trade Records.

According to the website Metacritic, the album had the second most appearances on end-of-decade Top 10 lists, only behind Radiohead's Kid A..

Mmh well lets not start that debate ..:pac:

Mike Guide 69 · 03-03-2015 6:07pm

The Strokes - Is This It - Fantastic debut album, it sort of did suffer I suppose some over exposure by a lot of music head luvvies in the industry, but cracking album, brilliant pop rock songs. They only released 4 singles off that album but the remaining songs could also rank along side those single releases too. Not a duff track on that album

The Longpigs - The Sun Is Often Out - A very underrated album from one of Sheffields finest, Crispin Hunts vocals are fantastic and the songs are dark but utilmately hypnotic. The single "On and On" is the greatest anti-love song of all time,honest but brutal in its approach. This band was one of Richard Hawleys early incarnations and its a shame that they went their seperate ways after the equally but amazing follow up , "Mobile Home" . Would love to seem them reunite and do a tour....

Irish_rat · 03-03-2015 7:02pm

'Whatever People say I am, that's what I'm not' was absolutely bloody fantastic at the time.

smackbunnybaby · 04-03-2015 11:20am

Mike Guide 69 wrote: »

The Strokes - Is This It - Fantastic debut album, it sort of did suffer I suppose some over exposure by a lot of music head luvvies in the industry, but cracking album, brilliant pop rock songs. They only released 4 singles off that album but the remaining songs could also rank along side those single releases too. Not a duff track on that album

Pretty much this for me.
So consistent and memorable.

daUbiq · 04-03-2015 12:05pm

Fennesz - Hotel Paral.lel
Heterotic - Weird Drift
Tropic of Cancer - Restless Idylls
Kuedo - Severant
Dalhous - An Ambassador for Laing

Anesthetize · 06-03-2015 11:45pm

So many I could choose from.

The Radio Dept. - Lesser Matters
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Camera Obscura - Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi
The Joy Formidable - A Balloon Called Moaning
Lamb - Lamb
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - F#A#oo
Le Tigre - Le Tigre
The Postal Service - The Postal Service
Silversun Pickups - Carnavas
Have a Nice Life - Deathconsciousness
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

mosstin · 07-03-2015 12:04am

Suas11 wrote: »

A few I really like:
Innerspeaker - Tame Impala
Post Nothing - Japandroids
Yuck - Yuck
Endroducing - DJ Shadow
F#A#Infinity - Godspeed You! Black Emperor
The End Of History - Fionn Regan
The Big Roar - The Joy Formidable
Crazy For You - Best Coast
Alas I Cannot Swim - Laura Marling

daUbiq wrote: »

Fennesz - Hotel Paral.lel
Heterotic - Weird Drift
Tropic of Cancer - Restless Idylls
Kuedo - Severant
Dalhous - An Ambassador for Laing

Anesthetize wrote: »

So many I could choose from.

The Radio Dept. - Lesser Matters
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Camera Obscura - Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi
The Joy Formidable - A Balloon Called Moaning
Lamb - Lamb
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - F#A#oo
Le Tigre - Le Tigre
The Postal Service - The Postal Service
Silversun Pickups - Carnavas
Have a Nice Life - Deathconsciousness
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

And if you were pressed to pick one........

Griever931 · 07-03-2015 12:14am

A lot of great debuts mentioned so far, I would add Music Has the Right to Children by Boards of Canada to the list.

Still Ill · 07-03-2015 5:06pm

Is This It - The Strokes
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Original Pirate Material - The Streets
Up The Bracket - The Libertines

All great debut albums that these bands never bettered.

wandatowell · 07-03-2015 5:11pm

Not an Indie fan but I bought the Strokes first album as its cover was great.

Christ, top class album. Still sounds fresh and someone said the album is so consistant.

A+ imo

Anesthetize · 07-03-2015 7:41pm

mosstin wrote: »

And if you were pressed to pick one........

Not an easy task.

Starscream25 · 07-03-2015 7:43pm

1977 by Ash, not counting their mini album 'Trailer'

DaithiMa · 07-03-2015 7:45pm

Django Django
vampire weekend

DaithiMa · 07-03-2015 7:45pm

Django Django
vampire weekend

galljga1 · 07-03-2015 8:31pm

mosstin wrote: »

And if you were pressed to pick one........

Funeral blew me away. I was raving about it to everyone before it broke in Europe. No one listened.
Lamb would be second on this list.

Add in:
xx
Jagged Little Pill, the angriest woman in the world
Miseducation of Lauren Hill
Definately Maybe
Is This It
O

I could go on all night and would probably change my mind tomorrow

galljga1 · 07-03-2015 8:37pm

Mike Guide 69 wrote: »

The Strokes - Is This It - Fantastic debut album, it sort of did suffer I suppose some over exposure by a lot of music head luvvies in the industry, but cracking album, brilliant pop rock songs. They only released 4 singles off that album but the remaining songs could also rank along side those single releases too. Not a duff track on that album

The Longpigs - The Sun Is Often Out - A very underrated album from one of Sheffields finest, Crispin Hunts vocals are fantastic and the songs are dark but utilmately hypnotic. The single "On and On" is the greatest anti-love song of all time,honest but brutal in its approach. This band was one of Richard Hawleys early incarnations and its a shame that they went their seperate ways after the equally but amazing follow up , "Mobile Home" . Would love to seem them reunite and do a tour....

Richard Hawley's Late Night Final is also excellent, not sure whether it is a debut as he had a solo mini album out at the time. Love these threads as the make you dig out something you have not listened to in yonks.

Moontorisfar · 07-03-2015 9:21pm

Scenes from the Second Storey by the God Machine, came out in 1991 on Fiction. Awesome, intense, somewhere between and beyond RATM, Janes Addiction, Cure, Pumpkins.

Founded in California but moved to London before they got picked up...a bit like Hendrix!

They only released one more album and then their drummer died from a brain haemorrhage. First album was the better one though, think they got a lot out of their collective system.

For Irish bands, probably the Stunning's Paradise in the Picturehouse, although it was only about 25 minutes long. Otherwise, Shoulder Voices by Rollerskate skinny. I also loved An a Emotional Fish' eponymous debut, at the time, though I can barely tolerate it now.

galljga1 · 07-03-2015 9:33pm

Moontorisfar wrote: »

Scenes from the Second Storey by the God Machine, came out in 1991 on Fiction. Awesome, intense, somewhere between and beyond RATM, Janes Addiction, Cure, Pumpkins.

Founded in California but moved to London before they got picked up...a bit like Hendrix!

They only released one more album and then their drummer died from a brain haemorrhage. First album was the better one though, think they got a lot out of their collective system.

For Irish bands, probably the Stunning's Paradise in the Picturehouse, although it was only about 25 minutes long. Otherwise, Shoulder Voices by Rollerskate skinny. I also loved An a Emotional Fish' eponymous debut, at the time, though I can barely tolerate it now.

Had to throw on Celebrate after reading this. Still good but does not have the same impact. Still like grey matter. Have you listened to Jerry Fish?

whatawaster · 07-03-2015 9:43pm

I honestly think Is This It ranks up there with The Velvet Underground & Nico.

It might be the best debut ever.

Room on Fire was brilliant too, but the less said about their work since the better

Mike Guide 69 · 07-03-2015 9:54pm

Moontorisfar wrote: »

Scenes from the Second Storey by the God Machine, came out in 1991 on Fiction. Awesome, intense, somewhere between and beyond RATM, Janes Addiction, Cure, Pumpkins.

Founded in California but moved to London before they got picked up...a bit like Hendrix!

They only released one more album and then their drummer died from a brain haemorrhage. First album was the better one though, think they got a lot out of their collective system.

For Irish bands, probably the Stunning's Paradise in the Picturehouse, although it was only about 25 minutes long. Otherwise, Shoulder Voices by Rollerskate skinny. I also loved An a Emotional Fish' eponymous debut, at the time, though I can barely tolerate it now.

Well those debuts came after the 20 year category mentioned in the thread, Paradise In The Picturehouse came out around 1991-ish I think and "Shoulder Voices" was released in 1993, I know what your saying though, 2 very good debut Irish albums

Moontorisfar · 07-03-2015 10:27pm

Sorry, missed the 20 year caveat. I am probably too old to have a clue, other than that the Strokes is the wrong answer, even if it is "all about opinions".

Leftism then.

Released 1995. Evreeting shipshape an fine.

Moontorisfar · 07-03-2015 10:41pm

galljga1 wrote: »

Had to throw on Celebrate after reading this. Still good but does not have the same impact. Still like grey matter. Have you listened to Jerry Fish?

Yeah, largely unimpressed. AEF were always best live though, particularly Ger, and I've lived abroad since 92, so never seen JF live.

Listened to Celebrate myself tonight, and the bizarre Italian cover, but I always preferred Gray Matter and Lace Virginia...only found out recently that Kate Moss was in the video for that!

GetInTheHole! · 07-03-2015 10:48pm

Whipping Boy - Heartworm.

Almost 20 years on now and still sounds as good today.
It can be bitter-sweet listening to it at times thinking about what could have been for the band.

galljga1 · 07-03-2015 10:59pm

GetInTheHole! wrote: »

Whipping Boy - Heartworm.

Almost 20 years on now and still sounds as good today.
It can be bitter-sweet listening to it at times thinking about what could have been for the band.

They built portholes for Bono, so he could gaze
Out across the bay and sing about mountains

GetInTheHole! · 07-03-2015 11:03pm

galljga1 wrote: »

They built portholes for Bono, so he could gaze
Out across the bay and sing about mountains

Maybe..
You are what you own in this land.
You can be King and it all depends on the view and what you can see.
And around here nobody tells me what to do anymore..

galljga1 · 07-03-2015 11:22pm

GetInTheHole! wrote: »

Whipping Boy - Heartworm.

Almost 20 years on now and still sounds as good today.
It can be bitter-sweet listening to it at times thinking about what could have been for the band.

Looking at this again, Submarine was their debut, a bit patchy but a few good tracks particularly Valentine 69 and Submarine.

Anesthetize · 07-03-2015 11:51pm

GetInTheHole! wrote: »

Whipping Boy - Heartworm.

Almost 20 years on now and still sounds as good today.
It can be bitter-sweet listening to it at times thinking about what could have been for the band.

It was their second album. Also their 1992 debut Submarine was better than Heartworm.

Mike Guide 69 · 08-03-2015 12:22am

GetInTheHole! wrote: »

Whipping Boy - Heartworm.

Almost 20 years on now and still sounds as good today.
It can be bitter-sweet listening to it at times thinking about what could have been for the band.

Fantastic album, while not a debut (ref Heartworm), "Submarine" was a great album, it has that essence of heavy almost psychedelic rock approach to it, mixed with influences from "My Bloody Valentine". The guitar work on that album is brilliant

But "Heartworm" as a stand alone album completely outshines Submarine, the production and the songs are just on another different level combined with Fergal McKee's monolith vocals, it draws you in. The overall approach of the album is in itself a, "concept" album. It tells the story of the main protagonist's struggles of a dysfunctional relationship/marriage and how it goes from bad to worse, while at the same time reminiscing of the good old days through rose tinted glasses ("When We Were Young") of his singleton days and wondering will he ever feel that way again in his current situation. I've yet to see/listen another Irish album since that release that comes close to matching that album and I'm still waiting..

I can see why this album is in a lot of peoples top 10 or 5 lists of Best Irish Albums of all time. Another band who should have gone onto greater things.............

rock whore · 08-03-2015 12:39am

Another vote for Is This It and An Awesome Wave.

Also one for Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion

And Dresden Dolls' Dresden Dolls

Also, System of a Down's eponymous debut

sheesh · 08-03-2015 12:48am

I cannot believe nobody said the national, boxer is brilliant.

So was funeral though

couple of duds on melody AM but the good stuff is very good

ShaneU · 08-03-2015 12:57am

I've listened to Vampire Weekend, The Killers, The Strokes and Arctic Monkey's debuts a ridiculous amount. Find it hard to pick just one.

Moontorisfar · 08-03-2015 1:17am

Mike Guide 69 wrote: »

Fantastic album, while not a debut, "Submarine" was a great album, it has that essence of heavy almost psychedelic rock approach to it, mixed with influences from "My Bloody Valentine". The guitar work on that album is brilliant

But "Heartworm" as a stand alone album completely outshines Submarine, the production and the songs are just on another different level combined with Fergal McKee's monolith vocals, it draws you in. The overall approach of the album is in itself a, "concept" album. It tells the story of the main protagonist's struggles of a dysfunctional relationship/marriage and how it goes from bad to worse, while at the same time reminiscing of the good old days through rose tinted glasses ("When We Were Young") of his singleton days and wondering will he ever feel that way again in his current situation. I've yet to see/listen another Irish album since that release that comes close to matching that album and I'm still waiting..

I can see why this album is in a lot of peoples top 10 or 5 lists of Best Irish Albums of all time. Another band who should have gone onto greater things.............

THIS x infinity no returns!

GetInTheHole! · 08-03-2015 1:25am

Genuinely thought it was a debut.
My bad so..

(still fantastic though)

Moontorisfar · 08-03-2015 1:26am

Leftism, for expanding dance music by being too brilliant to ignore, with Lydon's contribution on Open Up, and Toni Hallidays vocals too.

And also for Song Of Life, an epic remix of which was the soundtrack to my first and best eccie trip. "They're snogging. And they're girls. That's cool as fuk."

1996, la Belle Époque, edinburgh. The night my life changed for the so much better.

theteal · 08-03-2015 1:28am

Stereophonics - Word Gets Around

The follow ups never got near it!

galljga1 · 08-03-2015 1:30am

Mike Guide 69 wrote: »

Fantastic album, while not a debut, "Submarine" was a great album, it has that essence of heavy almost psychedelic rock approach to it, mixed with influences from "My Bloody Valentine". The guitar work on that album is brilliant

But "Heartworm" as a stand alone album completely outshines Submarine, the production and the songs are just on another different level combined with Fergal McKee's monolith vocals, it draws you in. The overall approach of the album is in itself a, "concept" album. It tells the story of the main protagonist's struggles of a dysfunctional relationship/marriage and how it goes from bad to worse, while at the same time reminiscing of the good old days through rose tinted glasses ("When We Were Young") of his singleton days and wondering will he ever feel that way again in his current situation. I've yet to see/listen another Irish album since that release that comes close to matching that album and I'm still waiting..

I can see why this album is in a lot of peoples top 10 or 5 lists of Best Irish Albums of all time. Another band who should have gone onto greater things.............

Should have! This thread has led me to discover that they have a new album on spotify: Baptism of Ire. Sounds pretty much MOR Country with a lot of female vocals (maybe Lolita?). No way you would know it's WB.

Moontorisfar · 08-03-2015 1:33am

theteal wrote: »

Stereophonics - Word Gets Around

The follow ups never got near it!

I refer you to Ian Hislops quote about the Spice Girls.

"'Posh' Spice is clearly a relative term."

Moontorisfar · 08-03-2015 1:41am

Moontorisfar wrote: »

THIS x infinity no returns!

That whole second verse inWe Don't Need ...

"Yeah, and you thought you knew me..."

Jesus, the degree of self-loathing eclipses even his contempt for the woman.
Brutal, and brilliant. I shudder with a horrible admiration every time I hear that line delivered, especially if you hear it in the context of A Natural.

Everythin coming up Milhouse · 08-03-2015 3:05am

sheesh wrote: »

I cannot believe nobody said the national, boxer is brilliant.

Probably because Boxer is their fourth album!

whatawaster · 08-03-2015 10:46am

sheesh wrote: »

I cannot believe nobody said the national, boxer is brilliant.

So was funeral though

couple of duds on melody AM but the good stuff is very good

Boxer is not their debut though

Welsh Megaman · 12-03-2015 9:06pm

daUbiq · 13-03-2015 11:17am

mosstin wrote: »

And if you were pressed to pick one........

Kuedo - Severant

http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=9884

cashback · 14-03-2015 12:30am

Grimes-Visions (Loved it despite it not being my type of music)
Interpol-TOTBL
Arcade Fire-Funeral
Doves-Lost Souls
Fleet Foxes
The xx-xx
DJ Shadow-Endtroducing
Janelle Monae-The ArchAndroid
Warpaint-The Fool

IamNotNumber · 14-03-2015 12:46am

Eagulls,Sleaford Mods? and ought all excellent debuts from last year.
Bummed that eagulls gig didnt happen they were on fire at that time.

Best debut album in the last 20 years

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