Top 50 Debut Albums (30-21)

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.

Top 50 Debut Albums (40-31)

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'.

Top 50 Debut Albums (50-41)

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.

The War On Drugs - Red Eyes (Later, 2014)

Still sounding good.

DRONE BONING Featuring Taggart & Rosewood (2014) *NSFW*

NSFW

Via Totally Gross National Product:

“Taggart & Rosewood is Zach Coulter (Solid Gold) and Ryan Olson (Polica), founding members of Gayngs. After years in the studio and the addition of Jim Eno (Spoon) on drums, the new collaboration culminated in their debut album The Killingest. Existing in a dream state, The Killingest is a rumination on something vast and powerful. Made with precision and depth, it is filled with reason and purpose. But of what, we don’t know. ”

This video, by Ghost & Cow Films includes new music from Ryan's latest project.

It's quite a thing.

I stress again quite strongly here: *NSFW*. It's called Drone Boning. It is exactly what the title suggests.

Daisy Victoria - Nobody Dies EP

New EP from Daisy Victoria - one of the best acts I saw at this year's Latitude.