We asked on our Instagram Stories to name the best debut albums of all time and the responses didn't disappoint. From era-defining classics to left-field favourites, here's a selection of your picks!
The Heavy Hitters
The Strokes - Is This It (2001)
An instant classic by sounding effortlessly cool and completely new, kick-starting a garage rock revival and reshaping indie music for the decade that followed. A must have in any Indie fans collection.
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006)
A modern debut classic by capturing the voice of a generation in real time, pairing razor-sharp observation with songs that felt instantly iconic and impossible to escape.
The Streets - Original Pirate Material (2002)
When the world was introduced to Mike Skinner and The Streets it sounding like nothing else at the time, turning everyday British life into sharp, funny and painfully honest storytelling that changed the shape of UK music.
Black Sabbath = Black Sabbath (1970)
Considered a classic debut for inventing heavy metal almost single-handedly, with dark riffs and ominous atmosphere that still feel otherworldly decades later.
Weezer - Weezer: The Blue Album (1994)
Blending geeky charm, catchy hooks, and heartfelt lyrics into a sound that felt both playful and anthemic, instantly carving out Weezer’s place in ’90s rock.
And Scott has so many copies we had to put it in!
LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem (2005)
Fusing dancefloor beats with sharp, witty observations of modern life, creating a smart, sweaty, and endlessly influential take on electronic rock.
Left-field & Curveball picks
Black Midi - Schlangenheim (2019)
Combining jagged rhythms, unpredictable song structures, and fearless experimentation that marked Black Midi as a band willing to twist rock in completely new directions.
MF Doom - Operation Doomsday (1999)
A cult-classic debut by introducing MF DOOM’s singular blend of witty, off-kilter lyricism and lo-fi, sample-heavy beats, laying the foundation for one of hip-hop’s most enigmatic careers.
Daft Punk - Homework (1997)
Homework didn’t hit everyone immediately but quietly laid the groundwork for Daft Punk’s revolutionary take on electronic music, mixing raw house grooves and inventive production that would take a few albums to be fully appreciated.
A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990)
A foundational hip-hop record by blending jazz-infused beats, playful wordplay, and thoughtful storytelling, setting the stage for A Tribe Called Quest’s lasting influence on the genre.
Whether you grew up with these records or are discovering them for the first time, great debuts always feel like lightning in a bottle.
Many of these are available in-store and online and we'll definitely be revisiting this topic again.
Got another question we should throw out to you? Let us know!