Reflections on Paste's '100 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time'

~ Mark fails at reading comprehension ~

The 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time

So, this is funny. I’m going through this list thinking “Why this album? Why this album?” because I forgot that the premise of this Top 100 list is Debut albums. I’m going to leave my goofy notes for entertainment purposes.

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Do these 100 albums hold up? Here are my stances.

Holds up:

The Postal Service: Give Up (2003)

Kanye West: The College Dropout (2004)

Frank Ocean: channel ORANGE

Talking Heads: Talking Heads ‘77 (1977)

The Stone Roses: The Stone Roses (1989)

The Cars: The Cars (1978)

R.E.M.: Murmur (1983)

Black Star: Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star (1998)

Nas: Illmatic (1994)

Notorious B.I.G.: Ready to Die (1994)

Madonna: Madonna (1983)

Portishead: Dummy (1994)

Guns N’ Roses: Appetite for Destruction (1987)

Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures (1979)

The Smiths: The Smiths (1984)

Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

Weezer: Weezer (1994)

Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift (2006)

The Jesus and Mary Chain: Psychocandy (1985)

Britney Spears: …Baby One More Time (1999)

Whitney Houston: Whitney Houston (1985)

The Clash: The Clash (1977)

Liz Phair: Exile in Guyville (1993)

Wu-Tang Clan: Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)

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Might hold up:

Lorde: Pure Heroine (2013) – It’s been 10 years so I’m pretty confident. Ask me again in 10 more years.

SZA: Ctrl (2017) – Ditto: ask me in 10 years.

Madvillain: Madvillainy (2004)

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~ Notes ~

‘Faith’ is the one track by George Michael’s album by the same name that I actively listen to.

I listen to The Supremes occasionally but cannot truly weigh in on this.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs have one track that will live forever and IYKYK.

Big Star is a big deal in part because they influenced a lot of musicians/bands I like—notably Elliott Smith. Elliott Smith’s cover of ‘Thirteen’ is beautiful.

Lynyrd Skynyrd just isn’t good. I tried to like them like I tried to like many “classics” as a teenager and, frankly, I don’t know why I bothered. Ditto: Eric Clapton.

Jeff Buckley doesn’t have the best cover of ‘Hallelujah’. That prize goes to Rufus Wainwright.

‘Pop 2’ is the Charli XCX album that is going to mean something in 20 years. Wait for it.

The Ronettes is another gap in my music knowledge. Ditto: The B-52’s. I’m sure I know the hits but I don’t even know that I know. So where does that leave us?

The fact that I can think “Sex Pistols? Take it or leave it” probably seems like blasphemy to some.

Pavement is a great band. I love certain tracks. A lot of this is wrapped up in nostalgia for high school. I don’t listen to albums straight through anymore. Their Best Of is quite good.

I like Janelle Monaé but I can’t comment on the longevity of this 2010 album.

I will not be getting the Led out. No, I will not. (possible John Oliver quote?)

I got it out in high school… and more than was necessary. Boys (insert eyeroll)

I like Boston but that’s my problem. I want to include them on the list of albums that have stood the test of time. I’d prefer to see Journey’s ‘Escape’ on this list.

My understanding of “X” is that it’s the fake name of a ruined social media network.

Devo has always confounded me. Not really in a good way.

WTF is “Jackstrap”??

The Avalanches: Since I Left You (2000):

This is a pretty good album. I’m surprised to see it on this list. It’s like putting Burial’s ‘Untrue’ on here. It’s not music for everyone.

I like Missy Elliott but, admittedly, I don’t know her music well enough to make a serious comment about being on a Top 100 album list.

Seems like they’re being too smart for the room by choosing a Herbie Hancock album that isn’t ‘Head Hunters’. Seems, um, a pretentious choice.

Hahaha…. A Wire album? Really? What about Primus? What about Phish? Yeesh.

D’Angelo… interesting choice. Not my R&B choice, personally.

DJ Shadow: Endtroducing….. (1996):

Doesn’t hold up as well as I want to say it does.

The Best Of album is a better go to.

N.W.A.: Straight Outta Compton (1988):

This is an important album but important isn’t the same as good or what you want to listen to… it definitely matters a great deal for historical purposes and to explain the trajectory of rap / hip-hop movements.

Ditto: Run-D.M.C.: Run-D.M.C. (1984)

Ditto: The Beastie Boys: License to Ill (1986)

I strongly dislike Van Halen.

Clipse. What? Are we being serious? Is Nelly on this list, too?

The Pretenders are good but not Top 100 good.

I’m not a Gen Xer so I have limited feelings about Blondie.

Unclear why Taylor’s self-titled album is the one that gets on this list. It’s good though, sure.

Weirdly (it seems to me) I’ve never gotten into PJ Harvey.

I’ve always disliked The Strokes. I really hated that album when it came out in 2001. Felt like sellout music. Now, I can barely remember the deal with them. The vibe (in my mind) is a highly polished version of The White Stripes (which I generally also find pretty difficult to listen to).

King Crimson has never sat well with me.

I don’t know Loretta Lynn’s music well enough to weigh in. Great voice, no question.

Leonard Cohen, in general, does hold up. I haven’t listened to him a ton. I can’t vouch for this.

The Band is overrated.

I don’t know all that much about Fiona Apple. “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” is a crazy good name for an album.

Pet Shop Boys… uhh… interesting choice.

Yes, The Beatles, obviously.