Indifferent as I am to the meteoric rise of the Arctic Monkeys, it has been noted that the recently released Whatever You Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not has become the fastest selling debut of all time. Their catchy blend of pop rock neither intrigues me nor induces the nauseating effects of the Coldplay X and Y variety. However, as I occasionally like to torture myself with utterly futile and insoluble conundrums I ask myself the following: ‘What is the greatest debut album of them all?'

Being an entirely personal question, the criteria on which you choose your album will determine its chances of making it to the top of the list. Will you choose an album on the merit of being historically ground breaking material for its time? Jimi Hendrix's Are you Experienced comes to mind. Or pick one that evokes sentimentalities of a certain time and place that was joyous to you. Could it be the fact that the album is as relevant and as fresh today as the first time you played it on tape, vinyl or cd. Or does every track just simply have you bouncing off the walls time and time again?

If you are to judge each debut album by its individual merit, rather than the promise they show or the cultural earthquake they foreshadow then there shall be no place for The Beatles Please Please Me or Pink Floyd's The Pipers At the Gates of Dawn. Along with the self titled openers from The Smiths The Smiths and The Clash's The Clash these amazing albums have stood the test of time admirably but would hardly be considered anything near these artists defining work. Whereas The Who The Who sings my generation, The Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks and Led Zepplin's self titled opener all come much closer to this accolade. Or you may be endeared to more modern day classics such as Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights or the Arcade Fire's Funeral.

If not of the stadium rock persuasion you may prefer Bjorks aptly titled Debut or Portishead's Dummy. Leftfield's Leftism may have consumed you for a number of years for the truly remarkable work it is. If its Reggae you like it could be Bob Marley's Catch a Fire, or the softer more melodic Closing Time by Tom Waits or Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left might do it. And while the most successful selling debuts of all time make slightly depressing reading, the name dropping of possible contenders to this throne could continue for hours unabated. Ten, Appetite for Destruction, Tubular Bells, SurferRosa, Space Oddity, Here come the Warm Jets, The Doors, Unknown Pleasures, Silent Alarm, I Just Can't Stop It, Velvet Underground and Nico, Blue Lines, You forgot it in People, Grace, Bring It On.....but to name a few.

Whatever you choose, the album should be one that resonates with you anytime you stick it on, track after track after track. You should be able to pick it up twenty years from now and enjoy it as much. My choice album is unquestionaly the self titled 1989 masterpiece released by the Stone Roses. A predictable choice I admit but without question one of my favourite albums of all time. From the opening classic 'I Wanna Be Adored' straight through to its breathtaking conclusion with 'I am the Resurrection' this 48:48 minute 11 track work of genius, is for me music at its magical best. And without a doubt the Greatest Debut of them All.

Dae


tags:[stone roses]

Published by Colm.