# Best Rock Band Debut Album? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 25, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698 "2011-10-25T02:07:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/81 "2011-10-26T16:56:04Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > No one has mentioned **Appetite for Destruction** yet? Seriously? It totally blows away every one listed so far. > > I really don’t see what other album could compete with this one for best rock band debut album. This was my first thought as well. Expecially now that Meatloaf has been disqualified. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/82 "2011-10-26T19:20:35Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > No one has mentioned **Appetite for Destruction** yet? Seriously? It totally blows away every one listed so far. > > I really don’t see what other album could compete with this one for best rock band debut album. +1. Highest selling rock debut album of all time with sales in excess of 28 million worldwide. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/83 "2011-10-26T19:26:20Z")
> [@FordTaurusSHO94](#): > > Pearl Jam - Ten Another band that I don’t think should really count, as most members had extensive recording experience with **Mother Love Bone** and **Temple of the Dog** prior to forming **Pearl Jam**. > [@FordTaurus](#): > > The Offspring - Smash Actually, **Smash** was their [4th or 5th album](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-offspring-p26810/discography). ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/84 "2011-10-26T19:26:56Z")
Ten Pearl Jam… “Alive”… 'Evenflow"… and damn… the video for 'jeremy"…jut kicks ass… ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/85 "2011-10-26T19:30:35Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Great call. All the more magnificent as we’d only get one more from the original lineup. Chris Thomas and Nick Lowe twiddling the knobs as producers as well. > > I’d like to nominate _Vivid_ by **Living Colour**. A masterpiece! Ohh yeah.. forgot bout Vivid.. man.. Vernon kills small animals on Middle Man.. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/86 "2011-10-26T20:11:42Z")
My own personal favorite debut album may be **One Step Beyond…** by Madness. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/87 "2011-10-26T21:01:25Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Another band that I don’t think should really count, as most members had extensive recording experience with **Mother Love Bone** and **Temple of the Dog** prior to forming **Pearl Jam**. Well, is it any different than Led Zeppelin (Yardbirds) and Guns N Roses (Hollywood Roses and L.A. Guns)? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/88 "2011-10-26T22:11:56Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Well, is it any different than Led Zeppelin (Yardbirds) and Guns N Roses (Hollywood Roses and L.A. Guns)? I would have no problem disregarding **Led Zeppelin** ’s first album, since half the band had recording experience prior to LZ’s formation. **Guns N’ Roses** , tho, is a different thing, since neither Hollywood Rose or L.A. Guns had recorded and released an album prior to **GnR** ’s debut. I mean, if we can count any first album, regardless of prior experience, then I pick **Frank Zappa** ’s _Hot Rats_ as the best debut album, since this was his first release under his own name and not under the **Mothers of Invention** moniker. ---
**Author:** ![smsaks2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@smsaks2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smsaks2000)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/89 "2011-10-27T00:16:04Z")
Steel Panther - Feel The Steel ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/90 "2011-10-27T00:54:07Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I mean, if we can count any first album, regardless of prior experience, then I pick **Frank Zappa** ’s _Hot Rats_ as the best debut album, since this was his first release under his own name and not under the **Mothers of Invention** moniker. Frank Zappa’s first solo album was _Lumpy Gravy_. _Hot Rats_ was the second. ---
**Author:** ![hazynlazy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bb73d2/32.png) [@hazynlazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazynlazy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/91 "2011-10-27T01:04:28Z")
Oasis - Definitely Maybe is definitely maybe my choice. Some other great albums were mentioned, though: Boston, Marquee Moon, Stone Roses. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/92 "2011-10-27T01:07:38Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Meh. Wouldn’t even make my top 20. Even just limited to hard rock/metal debuts from the '80s, I’d rank Iron Maiden’s first album above it. We’re not talking about hard rock/metal though. This is straight up rock bands. I wouldn’t classify GnR as metal that’s for sure. There are many other debuts that are better to ME but the megaton that is AfD is indisputable. It is THE hugest most explosive debut of a rock band in history. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/93 "2011-10-27T01:11:50Z")
What’s with all the lists in this thread? There was a pit thread a while back about people who come into threads asking for THE BEST of something and list 10 different things. I also think the definition of “rock band” is being stretched pretty thin here. AfD sold like 30M copies or something insane like that. How can any one dispute this album? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/94 "2011-10-27T01:16:25Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > What’s with all the lists in this thread? There was a pit thread a while back about people who come into threads asking for THE BEST of something and list 10 different things. > > I also think the definition of “rock band” is being stretched pretty thin here. > > AfD sold like 30M copies or something insane like that. How can any one dispute this album? I didn’t realize sales define what is “best.” Listen, I agree that AfD was a great album. It’d make my top 10 of best rock debuts. But not my top 5. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/95 "2011-10-27T01:19:18Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > King Crimson: **In the Court of the Crimson King** I came in to vote for that one too. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/96 "2011-10-27T01:22:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I didn’t realize sales define what is “best.” Listen, I agree that AfD was a great album. It’d make my top 10 of best rock debuts. But not my top 5. Sorry. Your daddy works in porno now that mommies not around. CMON MAN! ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/97 "2011-10-27T01:29:39Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > AfD sold like 30M copies or something insane like that. How can any one dispute this album? 'Cause I don’t think it’s that good? Fairly standard hard rock. And pretty misogynistic, too. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/98 "2011-10-27T01:37:12Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > 'Cause I don’t think it’s that good? Fairly standard hard rock. And pretty misogynistic, too. Of course it’s standard hard rock dude. Everyone copied them. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/99 "2011-10-27T02:00:54Z")
No, I mean “standard hard rock” of the type I’d been hearing since the '70s. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/100 "2011-10-27T03:15:31Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > No, I mean “standard hard rock” of the type I’d been hearing since the '70s. See, that’s the thing I don’t quite get about _Appetite_. A few people upthread seemed to allude to it being some sort of ground-breaking change in the face of music in the late 80s. I was around when it was really popular, but I don’t remember it that way. I remember it being really cool, and great, and a nice break from the typical girls-and-booze-feel-good hair-metal, but not so incredible that it ushered in a whole new wave of music. Perhaps I’m remembering the era wrong. Let me reiterate that I think it is a fantastic and solid album. I just don’t get how people say it was hugely influential or groundbreaking. It sounds like a retread/update of 70s classic rock to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698.md?page=6)