Best debut albums

First records that arrived fully formed. No warm-up, no apprenticeship - just a band turning up knowing exactly what they were.

6 albumsby simanUpdated 27 July 2026Starter packs

This order was decided by the TakeRank community: 62 head-to-head votes across 6 albums, settled with an Elo rating.

  1. 1
    The Stone Roses
    The Stone Roses

    The Stone Roses (1989)

    1079
    11 votes
  2. 2
    Definitely Maybe
    Definitely Maybe

    Oasis (1994)

    1078
    11 votes
  3. 3
    Is This It
    Is This It

    The Strokes (2001)

    1064
    11 votes
  4. 4
    Franz Ferdinand
    Franz Ferdinand

    Franz Ferdinand (2004)

    948
    10 votes
  5. 5
    Boy
    Boy

    U2 (1980)

    925
    10 votes
  6. 6
    Pretty Hate Machine
    Pretty Hate Machine

    Nine Inch Nails (1989)

    906
    9 votes