10) dEUS - Worst Case Scenario (1994)
I clearly remember the first time I heard this band, watching the video for Hotellounge on MTV's 120 minutes. I've been hooked ever since.
9) De La Soul - 3 Feet High And Rising (1989)
Where Public Enemy had their magnificent powerful sound, De La Soul excelled at creating their own little sub-genre. The 'Daisy Age' was as much fun as it was experimental. The indie guitar band press loved this record. So did I.
8) Dexys Midnight Runners - Searching For The Young Soul Rebels (1980)
The first in a run of nigh-on flawless, unique albums. Proper genius that Rowland chap.
7) Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987)
If it only had one from 'Welcome To The Jungle', 'Paradise City' and 'Sweet Child O'Mine' it would still make this list. That it has all three guarantees a top 10 place.
Much of what would follow was abysmal, making this debut even more remarkable.
6) The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989)
It's become the law to include this in every music list that's ever made, so here it is.
Heaton Park, Manchester in 2012 was very special.
5) Ride - Nowhere (1990)
Massive cavernous reverb. Big old floppy haircuts. What a record. Five years ago I said it was my favourite debut. This top 10 is pretty interchangeable then.
4) Cyndi Lauper - She’s So Unusual (1983)
Seriously, just listen to Time After Time.
3) Juliana Hatfield - Hey Babe (1992)
My favourite songwriter, bar none. This, her debut after the break-up of Blake Babies was something that until recently, she didn't seem to care much for, yet it's one of her finest. This exceptional essay by Laura Fisher says more than I could ever manage.
Many albums in this list have changed my life and how I relate to music, but none more than this.
I wanted to use the video for 'Everybody Loves Me But You' here because it's fab, but it's not embeddable. Watch it on YouTube.
2) Sugar - Copper Blue (1992)
As demonstrated by 2012's Silver Age, Bob Mould is still making astonishing music. Four decades ago Hüsker Dü were remarkable too, but it is the work he recorded as Sugar I find his best. Over 20 years on, Copper Blue still excites.
1) Poliça - Give You The Ghost (2012)
This will come as no surprise to anyone who's had to put with me banging on about this band.
An album which, 2 and a half years on is still growing on me, and I continue to play it (together with their magnificent 2nd LP) an inordinate amount.
I connect with Channy's vocals, lyrics and emotion, Ryan's music, Chris's bass and the two drummers (Drew and Ben) in ways that continue to surprise me.
The best music I've ever heard.
20) Van Morrison - Astral Weeks (1968)
I'm calling this a debut as Morrison rightly considers it such. What a body of work.
19) Slowdive - Just For A Day (1991)
More popular and respected in 2014 than they ever were back in the day. So happy they reformed. They won. We won.
18) Sugababes - One Touch (2000)
The classic Overload seats routine.
Mutya Keisha and Siobhan were just 15 when they recorded this. They'll be 50 before we hear their second album.
17) School Of Seven Bells - Alpinisms (2008)
Their subsequent albums were even better. One of my favourite discoveries of recent years. I never knew or even met Benjamin Curtis but, as was the case with John Peel, his death at the end of last year affected me in ways I wasn't prepared for.
16) Kristin Hersh - Hips and Makers (1994)
I've got a long standing relationship with this record. It means a lot.
15) Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi (2010)
Everyone should go and see Anna Calvi play guitar.
14) Belly - Star (1993)
Oh Tanya. I'd seen her with Throwing Muses before but this where I took notice. I was at Belly's first UK show. She gave me a badge. Although a grown up man I wore it on my coat for years. I was somewhat besotted with her in the day, to be fair.
So happy she recently released new stuff and played some shows with Kristin. Belly remains her finest work.
13) Pavement - Slanted And Enchanted (1992)
I discovered Pavement through The Wedding Present (who covered Box Elder in 1990), so I was there for all the hype leading up to this album's release, including their London debut. Great times.
12) Gemma Hayes - Night On My Side (2002)
And so began a series of albums with consistently brilliant songwriting.
11) The Go-Go’s - Beauty And The Beat (1981)
I don't think they get the credit they deserve. Hugely influential I think. Also, Belinda.
30) The Sundays - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic (1990)
Someone wrote a pisstake letter to Melody Maker thanking the Sundays for recording a bunch of Smiths songs in a different key so they could sing along. lol.
Imagine if they did come back, though and Harriet didn't have that hairstyle. That wouldn't do.
29) Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle (1979)
One of the first albums I adored.
28) Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (2008)
'Experimental electronica' is a nonsense phrase but kind of works for Crystal Castles. They were fabulous live.
27) Oasis - Definitely Maybe (1994)
A lot of Oasis songs have been horrendous. All Beady Eye songs are horrendous. The brothers are often dicks. This leads to a lot of revisionism about early Oasis. I'm not having it. For the 2 years leading up to Knebworth in 1996, they were the most exciting band we had.
Great memories of attending the shoot for this Rock N Roll Star video in Southend.
26) R.E.M. - Murmur (1983)
It began here.
25) Ian Brown - Unfinished Monkey Business (1998)
When the Stone Roses split I was convinced Squire was the star to follow going forward. Then he gave me The Seahorses, and later his own awful solo albums which were even worse. I bet on the wrong horse.
When Brown released his solo debut, it pissed on The Seahorses in every conceivable way. 'My Star' remains one of my favourite ever Ian Brown related things, of which there are many.
24) Bruce Hornsby & The Range - The Way It Is (1986)
Because every list needs their 80s American Classic Rock.
Billy Joel was the reason I started to love playing the piano. Bruce Hornsby is the reason I continued. The master.
23) Madness - One Step Beyond…(1979)
At school, this was the band everyone liked.
22) Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome To The Pleasuredome (1984)
With it's bonkers concept, extra long mixes and an oddly out of place but surprisingly good Springsteen cover, this is far more rewarding 30 years on than it should be.
A marvellous, unique band.
21) The Wedding Present - George Best (1987)
The band I've seen live more than any other. There would be far better stuff to come but so much jangly of its time indieness to enjoy here.
Numeros 40 to 31 then:
40) Blondie - Blondie (1976)
This, and the three albums that would follow are sublime and as good as any other band from their era.
Their fifth one was bobbins, mind.
39) Gayngs - Relayted (2010)
A supergroup of Minneapolis based musicians led by Ryan Olson. "A collection of drugged-up keyboards and slick production almost exclusively inspired by 10cc's I'm Not in Love".
38) Howling Bells - Howling Bells (2006)
Their finest hour.
37) Beyoncé - Dangerously In Love (2003)
Crazy In Love dominated 2003 and it dominates this album from the beginning. Righly so, it is one of the best songs you'll ever hear. There's more here though. A mighty solo debut from an artist who has gone on to even better moments.
36) The Pretenders - Pretenders (1980)
Seeing Chrissie Hynde live this summer made me realise what a great collection of songs The Pretenders have. A shed load are on this debut.
35) Morrissey - Viva Hate (1988)
Suedehead was far better than anyone dared hoped. Then came Everyday Is Like Sunday. What a track.
Morrissey stuff > Smiths stuff remains by controversial opinion.
34) Cinerama - Va Va Voom (1998)
Although the Cinerama name would continue until 2004, this debut is the only David Gedge album that doesn't sound like The Wedding Present. Recorded with his then partner, Sally Murrell, it's a great departure with wind and string instruments.
33) Ash - 1977 (1996)
One of indie's great singles bands, and their debut is packed full of some of their best.
32) CHVRCHES - The Bones Of What You Believe (2013)
Influenced by the very best 80s synthpop. Already influencing others.
31) Gene - Olympian (1995)
There's some beautiful songwriting here and it would continue until their final and often overlooked masterpiece - 2001's 'Libertine'.
Ok then, inspired by this project as compiled by @CLButler76 here's a list of top 50 debut albums, as chosen by me.
These are the debuts I've enjoyed the most. That's the only criteria I've applied. 'Influential' or 'landmark' isn't factored in. This of course is just my excuse for putting things like the Little Boots record here. I'm not claiming it's more important than your Zeppelin or your Psychocandy. Although I am.
Numbers 50-41:
50) Veruca Salt - American Thighs
Neither loose nor tight. Neither black nor white.
They're back together now. All four of them. As it should be.
49) Kenickie - At The Club (1997)
I don't think Lauren realises how good Kenickie were.
48) Secret Machines - Now Here Is Nowhere (2004)
Benjamin Curtis was involved in two very different and special bands. What a talent.
47) Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (2007)
Atmospheric. Emotional. Very Justin Vernon.
46) Little Boots - Hands (2009)
I know you've all forgotten about this pop masterpiece already. You shouldn't have. It's ace.
45) Tanya Donelly - Lovesongs For Underdogs (1997)
A natural progression in sound from Belly. The standout tracks are the singles Pretty Deep and The Bright Light. Oh Tanya.
44) Madonna - Madonna (1983)
What exceptional early 80s pop this is, Borderline especially.
43) The Killers - Hot Fuss (2004)
We're not supposed to like this lot anymore it seems. Not sure why. I love this album.
42) Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979)
I got into this record late. Very late.
41) Exitmusic - Passage (2012)
Although they released an 8 track 'EP' in 2007 this is officially their debut I think.
The Los Angeles Citybeat reviewer nailed it with "The freakishly talented duo of Aleksa Palladino and Devon Church always makes me think of two sweet kids strolling hand-in-hand into Armageddon".
I'd been listening to them for ages before I watched a video and realised Aleksa played Angela in Boardwalk Empire. Like finding out that Donna Hayward or Shelly Johnson fronted Throwing Muses.