Bands that peaked with their first album?

Submitted by GroguIsMyBrogu t3_126zpck in Music

Was thinking about this today. Doesn't have to be a band with just one good record, just has to be one who's first album is still their best in your opinion. I really love Weezer's whole discography, for instance, but their first album (Blue) is still my favorite. Other examples I thought of were Guns N Roses (can't get much better when you release Appetite for Destruction right out of the gate) and Violent Femmes (their first album is a classic, the other ones are very hit and miss). Thoughts?

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JackBox4 t1_jech1sa wrote

Boston

Their first album was the best one. It was also their biggest seller.

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zombie_gas t1_jeetnlh wrote

I know it isn’t highly regarded but I’m a big fan of Third Stage. It ebbs and flows and the music really supports the rocket launch theme.

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KhelbenB t1_jeep6ju wrote

I remember talking to a friend while a Boston song was playing in a pub we were at, and he said something about them being so great while having only released one album. I did not know anything about them at the time so I assumed it to be true, but looking back I don't know if he actually believed that or if it was some kind of "There are only 3 Die Hard movies" statement.

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shendey t1_jec66t5 wrote

Probably an unpopular opinion but Rage Against The Machine’s first album is their best.

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Smarkysmarkwahlberg t1_jed0p6q wrote

Not unpopular at all. It's usually cited as their best. Though all three are in the convo.

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Blundell1992 t1_jecifjr wrote

Based. I feel like anyone who disagrees is wrong.

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TwistingSerpent93 t1_jecywg6 wrote

You don't think The Battle of L.A. stacks up? I feel like I also prefer the first album but I feel it's a very close race.

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Blundell1992 t1_jed9lqd wrote

Battle of L.A. is awesome. But if I'm ranking RATM by the album, I'll choose self titled 8 days a week. Fuckin incredible first showing, and even though LA has some of my favorite RATM songs, as a cohesive album, I think "Rage Against the Machine" takes it.

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Trobus t1_jebstn8 wrote

Interpol, I still like them and think antics and our love to admire are great, but turn on the bright lights is phenomenal.

Also The Avalanches, Gang of Four, and Hot Hot Heat.

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sgossard9 t1_jecrje7 wrote

I'd say Antics is 99% as good as the debut. It all went down hill from there.

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Trobus t1_jecujd2 wrote

Hard disagree, if the debut is 100%, antics is a good 85%, 3rd LP is around 70%, the rest is probably 60-65%

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Black_Shabbat92 t1_jedd2t2 wrote

Same both those albums are equally amazing. They still get lots of plays from me I love this band

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Sad_Intention_1657 t1_jec34vg wrote

Pearl Jam

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dogsledonice t1_jed9chp wrote

I'd say Vs or even Vitalogy are better all-around albums

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Kvothetheraven603 t1_jeeoaen wrote

I’m with you. PJ is my favorite band and Ten is amazing but I’d argue Vs is the better album, overall.

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HeywoodPeace t1_jeezam6 wrote

The problem here is production. Ten was produced well, but PJ wants their albums to sound like they were made in a garage, thus making everything else unlistenable

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Bryanole27 t1_jebs54k wrote

While I personally disagree, I can see people saying Linkin Park. I can’t deny Hybrid Theory is fucking magical, but I do enjoy their later works just as much.

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GroguIsMyBrogu OP t1_jebuvry wrote

I considered Linkin Park as well, but ultimately I couldn't decide if I liked Hybrid Theory or Meteora more.

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Fear2010 t1_jebuktm wrote

Do enjoy a lot of stuff by LP as well. Boston is one band I could think of that peaked with their self-titled album. While I like the second and third, things went downhill for them after that.

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Not_Like_The_Movie t1_jed2lvp wrote

Audioslave

While they did have some great songs on their second and third albums, every song on the first one was absolutely amazing. "Like a Stone" is probably their most well known song, but even stuff that didn't really play on the radio like "I Am The Highway" and "Last Remaining Light" were great. The first album was probably when Chris Cornell's vocals were at their best during his time with the band too.

I don't think saying they peaked with their first album is necessarily an insult to the rest of their work so much as it is a testament to just how good the first album was.

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craigechoes9501 t1_jebu0i5 wrote

Soul Coughing. Ruby Vroom

Irresistible Bliss is quite good, and El Oso is pretty good, but Ruby Vroom is fantastic

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Salty_Pancakes t1_jede2nm wrote

I saw Mike Doughty do a show the year before covid? for the Ruby Vroom 25 year anniversary, did the whole album plus a couple other Soul Coughing tunes. Great show.

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elevenghosts t1_jebwo9u wrote

Nas, Stone Roses, Television.

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CoercedCoexistence22 t1_jedljw4 wrote

>Stone Roses

Genuinely baffled by how good the self titled is and how bad second coming is

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Mike_Love_Not_War t1_jee0afv wrote

I love second coming. And more than the debut as well. The first album is just singles and b-sides. Second coming is banging from. Beginning to end.

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ilikepacificdaydream t1_jecq3jm wrote

The Killers

Also. I think some of Weezer's best work is post 2014. So gonna disagree with OP there. But ye Olde Blue debate rages on.

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pressplaynk t1_jed3fom wrote

Sam’s Town is The Killers best in my opinion, but that’s just like my opinion man.

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Kvothetheraven603 t1_jeeo4lf wrote

Hot Fuss for me but their first three (HF, ST and Sawdust) are basically 1a, 1b and 1c for me.

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30andhurty t1_jecaxa8 wrote

Foster The People.

Torches was nothing but bangers - all good songs from start to finish and still in my top 5 favorite albums of all time. Supermodel had maybe 2 or 3 songs I listened to more than once. Sacred Hearts Club - one ok song.

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DJMoneybeats t1_jebz5uh wrote

The Cars

the Ramones

Gang of Four

MGMT

Television

Devo

B-52's

Psychedelic Furs

Elvis Costello

N.W.A.

All fantastic albums. Hard to Top

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dhayes67 t1_jeccj2a wrote

I agree with most of your list, but Costello?

He’s put out 32 studio albums, and many of them are great. I’m not sure My Aim is True would crack the top five for me.

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DJMoneybeats t1_jecegbz wrote

I guess you could make a case for his 2nd or 3rd album but nothing after that is in the same league for me!

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dhayes67 t1_jecf3vc wrote

This Year’s Model, Imperial Bedroom and King of America are at or near the top for me. Trust isn’t far behind.

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NonagonSerif t1_jecg033 wrote

Disagree with MGMT, I’d still say Little Dark Age and Congratulations are well above it. The debut has great hits but it’s not their most consistent or ambitious

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ricketychairs t1_jeeepnr wrote

B-52s is a tough call IMO. I love Wild Planet as much as their first album.

This said, their first album had some pretty clever shit going on, particularly with the lead guitar. I don’t remember if Wild Planet lived up to.

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DJMoneybeats t1_jega9wn wrote

You're right. Those first 2 albums are a perfect pair. I guess I was thinking about how unique and ground breaking their debut album was when it came out but I love the 2nd album just as much!

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DevinBelow t1_jec3939 wrote

I prefer Freedom of Choice for Devo, but other than that, I agree 100%.

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TheDudeOfYou t1_jec46gi wrote

Hard call, it Are We Men? Is just the best.

I would argue most deep Ramones fans prefer album 3 (“Rocket To Russia”) to the first album (which is a classic undeniably)

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DevinBelow t1_jec54dh wrote

Those first four Ramones albums are really all perfect, but the debut is the template.

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TheDudeOfYou t1_jec5xz6 wrote

Agree 💯. The first was the template. I personally feel the best songs are on the 3rd, and the production on the 4th is the best. I probably grab the 4th (“Road to Ruin”) the most.

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DJMoneybeats t1_jecdmce wrote

Well put. The first 4 are perfect but the debut album changed a lot of lives, or at least the way we thought about music

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DevinBelow t1_jece0m8 wrote

Yes. That first album was not just the template for the Ramones. I think its easily one of the 10 most important albums of all time.

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Pyromania1983 t1_jecpuk2 wrote

I'd have to disagree on the Cars. I think "Heartbeat City" is their finest work. It has pristine sonic quality and the songs are perfect from start to finish.

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dogsledonice t1_jed99rt wrote

It's got good tracks, but their debut is a goddamn greatest-hits collection.

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dogsledonice t1_jed9492 wrote

A lot of these yes, but not Elvis (This Year's Model would take the prize for me) or the Furs (Talk Talk Talk or Mirror Moves)

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HeywoodPeace t1_jeezkan wrote

What do you consider NWA's first album? Because NWA and The Posse isn't their best album, but it's their first

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Hobonics t1_jebt7g1 wrote

claps your hands say yeah, mgmt, youth lagoon, verve, strokes, dave matthews band, the black keys, epmd, de la soul, wu tang clan, uhh who else?

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dogsledonice t1_jed8fsd wrote

You think Storm in Heaven is better than Northern Soul or Urban Hymns? Love them all but Storm is third-best of those IMO

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Hobonics t1_jed9os3 wrote

haha yes A Storm in Heaven is in this man's opinion a perfect album. I'm not a huge fan of Richard's ballads and prefer the music lead by Nick and Simon. Their EP is probably my 2nd favorite release of theirs. And I love So it Goes and Life's An Ocean & Stormy Clouds, but if i had to take one album with me it's ASIH. 92-95 they were incredible imo ;)

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dogsledonice t1_jedavnq wrote

It's good but I think they peaked at NS. And UH's got Come On, which is one fuck of a closer

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heylyla11 t1_jedqjaa wrote

Come On is fucking incredible. What a closer

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heylyla11 t1_jedqias wrote

Big fan of Storm In Heaven, but I believe Simon joined during Urban Hymns?

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Hobonics t1_jeek6g4 wrote

You’re possibly thinking of Simon Tong who was brought in to try and fill in for Nick. Simon Jones has always been a part of the band, and always been the bass player.

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redditjam645 t1_jecwgo1 wrote

Snoop Dogg! Nothing he has done has ever come close to Doggystyle. If you count The Chronic (by Dr. Dre) as his debut, then nothing comes close to The Chronic lol.

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RenegadeMaster- t1_jebwpw9 wrote

Oasis with Definitely Maybe

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Small_Listen2083 t1_jec56ra wrote

Be Here Now is an awesome album.

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jammin_on_the_one_ t1_jedh1uz wrote

both be here now and what's the story are better imo. be here now being their best

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terryjuicelawson t1_jedusep wrote

It was far too overblown, if they had reigned in the excess and probably held some songs back that went out as b-sides it would have been much better. Noel was believing his own hype too much - we did not need All Around the World to be that long and have a reprise! They lost their soul after this album for sure (and founding members), none is worth bothering with. But their first album is at their raw best.

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dawglb20 t1_jed79c7 wrote

Definitely Maybe is pretty amazing, but (What's the Story)Morning Glory? is a classic record. Of course there's Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova but Roll with It, Don't look back in anger, some might say and morning glory are all great songs

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zyglack t1_jecqg8m wrote

Ned's Atomic Dustbin.

Belly.

AwolNation

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Mappachusetts t1_jecx4mk wrote

Regarding Belly, no doubt Star is great, and their most commercially successful, but I think King is even better. I fucking love that album, even 28 years in, it never gets old.

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Ethan_Skywalker4 t1_jed2u0l wrote

As much as I love all of their later albums, I still have to admit that Is This It is definitely still the best Strokes album.

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MrObviousChild t1_jeeihyh wrote

Bloc Party. Silent Alarm is a masterpiece. I tried so hard to like more of their music and struggled.

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BigMartinJol t1_jeerk6l wrote

Silent Alarm has to be the ultimate example of this phenomenon. I really like Weekend In The City as well though.

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FearTheOldBlood1 t1_jebsd42 wrote

Shinedown

Story of the Year

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amandamaniac t1_jecdq3r wrote

I loved page Avenue. Let me just say if you haven’t listened to their new album yet, I’d honestly say it’s even better.

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maddmax_gt t1_jech24v wrote

Leave A Whisper is a GREAT album, don’t get me wrong. I am a sucker for all Shinedown but really? No Us and Them and REALLY not Sound of Madness? Sound of Madness has some of the best music they’ve ever put out.

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FearTheOldBlood1 t1_jecia32 wrote

Leave A Whisper just does it for me. It has the heaviest, most raw sound and is packed with the most emotion of anything they've put out.

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jessann71 t1_jecrtpt wrote

I'd have to say Guns and Roses. While Use Your Illusions 1 and 2 were pretty good, the didn't come close to matching the the raw energy of Appetite For Destruction.

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dogsledonice t1_jed9u6i wrote

Am I the only one who loves The Blind Leading the Naked?

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hjvkjvkjvg t1_jedlwt5 wrote

Television with Marquee Moon

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Spruce-Moose t1_jednsm4 wrote

I'd go with Arcade Fire. I adore their second album but the first is their peak.

Also I'd say The Doors.

Also American Football.

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Pduke t1_jee36p8 wrote

Weezer

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photog_in_nc t1_jedb2s7 wrote

Van Halen made some great records, but that first one was never really surpassed in many ways

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harryhood78 t1_jedgl9k wrote

I mean, does it ever get better than Van Halen I🔥🤟🏻🎸

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fairnuff77 t1_jedyos5 wrote

Tom Petty said something along the lines of You get 10 years to come up with your first album but only a year to come up with your second one.

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bottle-of-smoke t1_jeehvfe wrote

Will I be downvoted into oblivion if I say Led Zeppelin’s first album was the best they ever sounded? It’s certainly my favorite.

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GroguIsMyBrogu OP t1_jef023q wrote

I hope not. I disagree but it bugs the hell out of me when people downvote opinions.

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ivanvector t1_jeejw8b wrote

Boston.

To be fair their second and third are still decent albums, but when your debut is one of the best rock albums ever recorded there's really nowhere to go but down.

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WW_III_ANGRY t1_jebs9an wrote

Local h, The offspring, Bush, off the top of my head

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RabidJoint t1_jebuwaq wrote

The Offspring have had way better albums than their first one bro lol

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koen1007 t1_jeehvus wrote

For Bush, I'd argue their first 3 are great, and 4th good. Everything after Nigel left is okay, but not amazing

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GroguIsMyBrogu OP t1_jebv9yn wrote

I like Americana the most myself. It's the first Offspring album I listened to and it's got a special place in my heart because of it. Smash is an easy second, though, if you're considering that their first

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DevinBelow t1_jec4xgk wrote

I could probably make some arguments that some of these aren't their very best work, but they are all incredible and vitally important debut albums, and are my personal favorites from all of them.

X - Los Angelas

The Cramps - Songs the Lord Taught Us

Big Star - #1 Record

Notrious B.I.G. - Ready to Die

Ween - GodWEENSatan: The Oneness

The Residents - Meet the Residents

Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted

The Band - Music From Big Pink

David Crosby - ....If I Could Only Remember My Name

The Soft Boys - Underwater Moonlight

Propagandhi - How to Clean Everything

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dogsledonice t1_jed9l0q wrote

I know Los Angeles gets all the love, but my heart is with More Fun in the New World

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Going_for_the_One t1_jecfu9i wrote

There is a lot of bands that start out with a very strong debut album, but there are not so many as I would have thought where the debut remains the strongest album.

Here are some I can think of:

Family (Progressive rock/psychedelic rock)

Exodus (Thrash metal)

Blue Cheer (Heavy rock/proto-metal)

Iron Butterfly (Psychedelic rock/heavy rock)

Mayhem (Black metal)

There are other bands where the debut is my favorite album, but the quality of several of the other albums are comparable. I’m not including these.

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NonagonSerif t1_jecply0 wrote

I think there are like 6 or 7 Maiden records you can justify putting above the debut

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Going_for_the_One t1_jecu6ws wrote

Yeah three are certain, and depending on my mood, up to three others would also be put above it.

Notice that I wrote Iron Butterfly, not Maiden ;)

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NonagonSerif t1_jecxdhe wrote

I’m not gonna lie I’ve kinda been fucked up with vertigo when I read that but I’m also a colossal dumbass anyways LMAO cheers

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Going_for_the_One t1_jed28pr wrote

No problem. You probably combined Iron with Mayhem, which would be easy to do when browsing fast. Not a bad name for a band either.

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BlunderFunk t1_jechngg wrote

yeah yeah yeahs, second one is alright but after that is literally a synthpop band, and the last album was a total snooze, nostalgia is the only factor this band is relevant. The punk moshing crowd is no more at their shows nowadays :(

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LostprophetFLCL t1_jecjm2p wrote

Static-X. Band has been pretty consistently good but Wisconsin Death Trip will likely always be their magnum opus especially without Wayne Static around R.I.P.

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DetectiveLinden t1_jecl592 wrote

Counting Crows.

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Counting-Trains t1_jed074n wrote

even if one were to argue that august and everything after is Counting Crows’ best album, which i’d personally have to say it’s not —their second album recovering the satellites is musically, lyrically, and vocally more impressive than the former, the band has three other nearly perfect records after august; recovering the satellites, this desert life, and hard candy. as it stands for all great artists, the “best” record they output doesn’t necessarily standalone as their “peak” if it is that they continue to produce music at a high level afterwards; ie. counting crows. if august is your pick for their best album, that’s perfectly understandable, but if recovering the satellites, this desert life, and hard candy are like marginally 3-7% less convincing than AAEA as an album at worst, it can’t be that such consistent quality would lend their peak to being defined by their efforts in 1993 alone.

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DetectiveLinden t1_jed31yh wrote

Opinions vary.

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Counting-Trains t1_jedar0b wrote

you’d be very correct.

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DetectiveLinden t1_jefbf9f wrote

I think AAEA is one of the best albums ever by any artist, so sadly, it’s only little steps down after that 🙂

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Counting-Trains t1_jefiu3q wrote

it is truly that good. i’m glad that you still appreciate the other records too, however —even if that means placing them a little lower in comparison with AAEA. counting crows are a great band; i think that’s the common perspective here at least.

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DetectiveLinden t1_jegmkq0 wrote

For sure. I think for many bands, their first is the best, and then a huge drop off. Counting Crows held up there for subsequent albums.

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Sir_Poofs_Alot t1_jecr5lc wrote

Bro Weezer didn’t even START until Scott Shriner joined the band

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pyllbert t1_jee69mt wrote

Man, if you like Scott Shriner wait til you hear about Matt Sharp!

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TheMelv t1_jeesh1r wrote

Their best albums were before he joined.

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obik501 t1_jecv5c9 wrote

As much as I love the entire Testament catalog, pound for pound, I think The Legacy beats them all.

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dogsledonice t1_jed8yi6 wrote

Lots from the early punk/postpunk era:

I'd say B-52s, Devo, Gang of Four, (English) Beat, Specials, Madness, Sex Pistols, Television, Pretenders, UB40 and the Cars

Also Tracy Chapman and Stone Roses

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bop999 t1_jedc8rv wrote

Throwing Muses

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MingusinWinter t1_jedf0le wrote

Presidents of the United States of America?

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latinoresiste t1_jedg4cx wrote

The streets... Original pirate material slays!!! On heavier territories: Bloodbath, Metallica, Cradle of Filth, Hypocrisy, Korn .. they all had strong first albums. And for many people their best/realest sound.

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CoercedCoexistence22 t1_jedlq9h wrote

Ride. I like nearly everything they've done barring Carnival of shite and Tarantula but Nowhere is unbeatable

Starflyer 59. Gold and Talking voice get very close, but Silver is still probably their best album

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Ormidale t1_jee4xrw wrote

I can't support this objectively, but Song to a Seagull is the Joni Mitchell album that I happen to enjoy the most.

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ProseBeforeSnows t1_jeeklxj wrote

Thomas Dolby. His 2nd and 3rd albums (The Flat Earth, Aliens Ate My Buick) are really good, but he never quite got back to the level of The Golden Age of Wireless. It’s a goddamn masterpiece.

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CharlieH786 t1_jeel69y wrote

rainbow kitten surprise. I live all of their albums, but their first, Seven + Mary, is my all time favorite

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mekonsrevenge t1_jeemshc wrote

Kiss. It was actually listenable compared to the comic book crap that followed.

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Throwaway2471127 t1_jeewq1e wrote

They say you have 10 years to make your first record and 3 months to make your second

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Yeah-Yeah-Yeah-Yea t1_jeewu0p wrote

Many examples imo: Pearl jam, Interpol, Editors… to name a few

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HeywoodPeace t1_jef0xv9 wrote

Cinderella

Alan Parsons Project

Lady Gaga

Lindsey Buckingham

Stevie Nicks

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Hayseed Dixie

Sinead O'Connor

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ByeLassMyLove t1_jegih27 wrote

Dschinghis Khan (German) is probably one of them.

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patronsaintpizza t1_jedfip1 wrote

Owl City’s first album Ocean Eyes is far superior than anything else he’s put out

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Airwolf_BDTW t1_jecbt24 wrote

AC/DC peaked with their first song on their first album, IMO.

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[deleted] t1_jeco3uw wrote

Had to look it up. It is by far my favourite version of that song. Everything is perfect.

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ycckk t1_jecqu2y wrote

Deftones and Static-x

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redditjam645 t1_jecwo13 wrote

Deftones!?

White Pony > Around The Fur > Diamond Eyes > Adrenaline > Deftones > rest of the discography (which is still good. Gore is kinda boring though)

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