The A.V. Club's 20 Acts That Peaked With The Debut Album
Here we are in the midst of '08, a year that will undoubtedly see debut albums by a few bands we won't know about next year. Or, on the other hand, bands we wish we'd stop hearing about next year. It's true: Sometimes a group crystallizes their finest moments the first time around, spends the rest of their career trying to somehow tap that early magic. The people at the A.V. Club are smart. They know this, too. In fact, they've given us a Top 20. Via A.V. Club:
20 Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary
19 Snoop Doggy Dogg - Doggystyle
18 Supergrass - I Should Coco
17 The Sugarcubes - Life's Too Good
16 Wu-Tang clan - Enter The Wu-Tang
15 Boston - Boston
14 Marshall Crenshaw - Marshall Crenshaw
13 Black Flag - Damaged
12 The Sundays - Reading, Writing, And Arithmetic
11 Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends
10 Television - Marquee Moon
09 Kanye West - The College Dropout
08 John Prine - John Prine
07 The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die
06 Nas - Illmatic
05 The Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers
04 The Strokes - Is This It
03 Richard Hell And The Voidoids - Blank Generation
02 50 Cent - Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
01 Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
Actually, the list is pretty tight. We're not entirely sure we agree with the inclusion of The College Dropout. Since the pointing out of the ones they missed is inevitable, we'll get it started with a pair of roses: Guns 'N Roses, Stone Roses. Your move.
Posted at 6:26 PM
-->
-->
I don't entirely agree with the strokes and rage, but most are pretty accurate.
they're definitely missing bands like bloc party and clap your hands say yeah.
so disappointing.
Score = -2
Well I think Kanye is totally wrong for this list. It is very debatable which is his best album between his first two. Including the Strokes is a joke. I mean they only have two albums out. Artic Monkeys should be on there before the Strokes. If you just want groups that never matched their first album you could certainly include The Pixies. As for groups that peaked with their first album, number one should be The Sex Pistols. But, of course, they never realeased another album.
Score = -3
Well...lots of bands that peaked with their first album went on to do some pretty brilliant stuff later -- is this list emphasizing stratification between earlier and later material or just mentioning what bands' debuts were their best album? If it's the latter then add Pavement and The Velvet Underground to the list.
Lots of rappers.
Score = 0
Rage did not spend the rest of their career trying to recapture the sound of their debut. Evil Empire is a great album.
Score = 0
They forgot to include Arcade Fire.
Score = 0
The Violent Femmes. Duh.
Score = 5
God am I the only one that thinks Evil Empire is vastly superior to Rage's debut? It's less "hard" or whatever but it just musically sounds better.
Score = -2
i whole-heartedly agree with the kanye inclusion.
Score = -1
interpol - turn on the bright lights
Score = 13
so agree!! i though i would love interpol forever when i heard that album...not so much in retrospect.
Score = 1
Okay, first thing Bloc Party has only 2 albums out. little early there poalo. Also, Battle for Los Angeles was WAY better than their eponymous debut. Evil Empire was prolly better also.
Score = 2
why include bands that are in the middle of their career?
i think the strokes have a lot left, and i guess same with kanye, though i'm not a huge fan. as for bloc party, clap your hands say yeah, and arcade fire.... only 2 albums out by each, but i have to agree on interpol.
Score = 9
Add: Dead Kennedys, Ryan Adams, and probably REM
Score = -8
That's the most random list I've ever seen.
But I agree with Ralf, there's no greater example of this phenomenon than Violent Femmes.
Maybe De La Soul comes in second.
The Shins.
And Blood Sweat and Tears, but that might be a little too random, although not as random as Marshall Crenshaw.
Score = -1
De La Soul? That's a joke, right? "De La Soul is Dead" is tremendous ... and, hell, "Buhloone Mindstate" is equally amazing.
Totally disagree with Sunny Day's inclusion on this list. The pink album, for me, is tops.
Score = 1
the shins? definitely not chutes too narrow and wincing the night away are equal or better
Score = 7
Counting Crows - August and Everything After
You can say they suck if you want, but there's no debate that was there best album by far.
Score = 3
You can't be serious about Counting Crows! Recovering The Satellites was far superior to the debut. Even This Desert Life was great. They only lost it with Hard Candy. Amen to whoever said Ryan Adams. His solo career has been a steady downwards trajectory, similar to one of those vertical drop rollercoasters. It's also way too soon to judge The Strokes or CYHSY and anyway, Room On Fire was massively overlooked. And Mark BT deserves to be shot for including Big Star. Radio City is phenomenal. How about Son Volt, Fountains of Wayne or Ben Kweller? I know I automatically lose 3000 cool points for mentioning them but I think Third Eye Blind's first record was pretty great and they've been crap ever since.
Score = -1
Does it really count as being a one album wonder if you die after your second? I Think Life After Death is an amazing album. Biggie definitely didn't peak after Ready to Die.
Score = 2
Does Britney Spears fall into a special category for peaking with her debut single?
Score = 2
@ George:
REM? Are you kidding? Conventional critiques would probably assert that they peaked with Automatic for the People; being a fan, I believe Fables of the Reconstruction, Life's Rich Pageant, Document, AND Automatic are all on par with Murmur.
Score = 2
I've never cared for Automatic, but you may be right.
Score = -1
agreed, golden until Document--spotty after
Score = 0
I'm not the biggest Strokes fan, but I figure it should be obvious to anyone with ears that Room On Fire is an IMPROVEMENT of Is This It? Shouldn't this be common knowledge by now?
Score = 5
It should be! I agree wholeheartedly.
I also think they're wrong about John Prine, but I don't imagine screaming "WHAT ABOUT 'SWEET REVENGE'?" at the top of my longs will really spark much debate among stereogum readers.
As for the Modern Lovers, that's iffy. Yeah, The Modern Lovers were better than Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers, but I don't know of anyone who thinks of them as the same entity. Maybe a second Modern Lovers album would have been just as good, but there wasn't one, so it's kind of stupid to have it on this list.
And naturally the Modern Lovers peaked with their first (only, if you ask me) album: it's only got the greatest rock 'n' roll song ever(!) on it.
Score = 4
Room On Fire blew...
Score = -11
the alarm
Score = 0
BLOC PARTY.
and crappy bands like paramore and the academy is... great debut albums, bad,overhyped follow ups.
Score = -6
The Evens.
Not like Ian Mackaye really needs to vindicate himself any further....
Score = 0
vampire weekend.
Score = 15
VIOLENT FEMMES AND WEEZER OBVIOUSLY
Score = 0
VIOLENT FEMMES AND WEEZER OBVIOUSLY
Score = 0
Pinkerton is so much better than the Blue album
Score = 1
@ paolo
Pavement? Grow some taste: CR and Wowee were both incredible
also, an artist should have a minimum of 2 albums after their first to be included in this discussion, so guys like clap your hands say yeah are out
this list isnt terrible, but it's mostly a bunch of huge names...they didnt really go out on a limb or anything here. I agree with Nas, but only because illmatic is the best rap album ever made, and no one can be expected to top that
my two cents: clinic
i win
Score = 0
do the Sex Pitsols count?
Score = 1
do the Sex Pistols count?
Score = 1
I gotta call shenanigans on the Wu too
Score = 1
Definately don't agree with Kanye West. Graduation is a great cd, equally as good as college dropout for different reasons. He's developed a new style and its a great album all the way through, I can recall a few songs that I skip over when listening to College Dropout.
Score = 0
i agree. i think its awesome that kanye is doing what he is doing. Aside from maybe timbaland no other mainstream rapper is putting that much emphasis on musical experimentation and all that sonic bullshit...
Score = 2
Haha fuckkk, that wasnt @ paolo, it was Ralf
and you didnt exactly nominate pavement for the list, either, i read that too fast.
sorry for the rant :p
Score = 0
Foo Fighters--by far--should be number one. Badass debut, okay to mediocre albums since.
Score = 0
id...do you really want to include arcade fire into the sophomore slump category? i actually thought funeral was a pretty damn amazing album...
...yes, there was an album before funeral with a better version of no cars go.
Score = -3
that was an ep. doesn't actually count. or at least not in my book. which we all know is definitive. this list is all relative anyway.
Score = -1
that wasn't a proper album. it was an EP, wiz kid.
Score = 3
Neon Bible fucking blew, and if we're talking about debut ALBUMS, Arcade Fire EP does not count.
Score = -3
SERIOUSLY...what about Clap Your Hands Say Yeah?
Score = 1
I don't think it counts when the debut sucks.
Score = -2
They only have one record out after the first!
relax
Score = 0
Black Flag Damaged? I guess technically their third album, but they had enough recorded output with multiple singers before Rollins to make 2 albums worth of music.
And Modern Lovers.. that's ridiculous. All the Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers albums are AMAZING.
Score = 0
Honestly though, what the FUCK was going on with that Snoop Dogg cover art?
Score = 5
Clap Your Hand Say Yeah does not belong on this list. They aren't important enough.
Score = 1
minus rage, john prine and television, this is just a list of shitty bands/rappers.
i think AIR should be on here.
Score = -5
Supergrass' debut album was great, but most of their other albums (bar their brand new album) have been pretty great too. They definitely don't belong on this list. Personally I thought that Bloc Party's second album was superior to their first. But every Strokes album has sucked! The Stone Roses definitely belong on the list. What about Elastica?
Score = 2
Supergrass has been putting out consistently excellent albums for ten years man. That's a totally unfair and uneducated addition to the list.
Score = 0
Jesus & Mary Chain
Score = 3
uh, the title of the avclub's list specified rock/rap. I agree that bands with only one or two albums shouldn't be included, unless there's no chance of them releasing more material. Thus, we can include The Unicorns and The Libertines.
Score = 1
Weezer for sure should be on there.
Score = 1
Are you kidding? Pinkerton? Weezer definitely peaked on their second album.
Completely agree with the TBS, Strokes, RATM and SDRE, though.
Score = -1
kidacomputerok I totally agree with you about the Foo Fighters! Glad to see some other people calling BS on naming Supergrass on this list.
Score = 0
Supergrass's 2nd album "In It For the Money" is vastly superior to their debut ...
Score = 2
What about RADIOHEAD?!?!
.... (kidding)
Score = 4
Biggie only released "Ready to Die" while he was living, any other album came out after he died, of course none of them were any good!
Score = 2
Weezer did not peak with the blue album. Even if you like it more, they obviously peaked with Pinkerton and it was down hill after that. I think they tried not to include bands that only had 2 albums to their credit, hence the absence of Bloc Party.
Score = 1
Arctic Monkeys
Yeah Yeah Yeah's
Amy Winehouse (and i stand by my prediction)
Band of Horses
Hot Hot Heat
Jack Johnson
Kings of Leon
Neutral Milk Hotel
some of these bands have had only 1 or 2 albums out but it's obvious that they're done
Score = -21
Hot Hot Heat is definitely a good one to include. Their major label signing pretty much put them into the "Whatever Happenned To..." pile and watered their sound down to par with Strokes B-Sides.
Score = 1
Right on, Mike. "Knock Knock Knock," the first E.P. they released (after acquiring their poodle-headed singer), is by far the best thing they've ever done. It's darker, heavier and has more of a Clash/ Punk sound. Dante De Caro's departure hammered the final nail in their coffin. I saw them in Toronto just before their first full-length came out; everyone left immediately after opening band "Pilate" performed (which made no sense because they sounded like Coldplay being raped)
Score = -1
So you're saying that Neutral Milk Hotel peaked with On Avery Island instead of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea? Or are you not counting On Avery Island since it was prety much just a Jeff Mangum solo album with a band name on it?
Or did you just not know that album existed?
Score = 5
Neutral Milk Hotel was a typo. I forgot at the time that Avery Island was first.
Score = 0
Jesus and Mary Chain were always spotty, but Stoned and Dethroned is a great fucking album.
Score = 0
Wait. Scratch Neutral Milk Hotel. I take that one back
Score = 3
How about Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ... Not that their first album is all that good, but better than the crap they've served up since
Score = -3
Howl was an incredible album.
Score = 1
radiohead - pablo honey
Score = -4
Anyone who says Weezer or Pavement is fucking idiot/joke
Score = 5
Slanted and Enchanted is Pavement's best album. It's debatable whether or not the Blue Album is Weezer's.
Score = 0
Yeah, but this is more a list of artists who had a great first album and went on to disappointing careers, i think. Pavement made at least two more incredible albums, and were still great even after wowee, though they werent the same
Score = 0
i fucking disagree with the richard hell inclusion. destiny street was amazing. it had 'staring in her eyes'. his stuff with the dim stars was awesome.
Score = 0
Only one thats debatable at all is damaged, my war is great and black flag had tons of other material before damaged.
Score = -1
I agree with whoever said Weezer.
Score = -1
People - give "Hallowed Ground" a chance. It is a true original and has some great ass songs on it.
sincerely, Mrs. Ground
Score = 0
Thank you for saying that jps! Hallowed Ground is one of my favorite records and I've loved it more than the debut....
Score = 0
badly drawn boy. he blows ass now, but that first album was pretty great.
Score = 3
agreed, kevin.
Score = 0
the beatles
Score = 0
Ha - on the flip side of this, it would be interesting to make a list of the bands who have aged the best over time, or improved like fine wines...
Score = 3
Murmur is the best thing REM did. One of the best albums anyone did. Thats not disrespecting the great REM albums that came after it.
Score = 1
YOUR OPINIONS ARE WRONG! MY OPINIONS ARE RIGHT!
Score = 7
Radiohead. Nuff said.
Score = 0
what about the killers? i kinda dug their first album, but everything else has been shite.
Score = 1