Top five 1980's bands who peaked on their debut LPs.
1)Guns and Roses-Appetite for destruction (1987)
Probably the best debut of the decade and an album that I think helped hard rock and metal to stay afloat for longer than it may have. The Use your Illusion albums were good but nowhere near the level of this classic.
2)Flotsam and Jetsam-Doomsday for the deceiver (1986)
They came out of nowhere with this killer and it made such an impact that Jason Newsted got a job in Metallica and these guys got a major label deal. The sophomore album was good, but they never quite came close to this album.
3)Metal Church-s/t (1984)
Wow, speed metal was just starting to take shape and these guys were already cranking it out. The next three albums were all quite solid, but not to the extent of this one.
4)Faster Pussycat-s/t (1987)
An extremely strong and fun album that probably got slightly overlooked by the release of G-n-R's album hitting around the same time. The sophomore effort was good, but they never quite got back to this style.
5)King Kobra-Ready to strike (1985)
A really strong hard rock effort with a very solid line-up. Unfortunately their label tried to turn them into an AOR band on the sophomore effort and their third release was full of old songs and leftovers.
**Now I also considered Skid Row and LA Guns for the above category as well.
Top five 1980's bands who improved greatly right after their debut LP.
1)Cinderella-Night Songs (1986)
Really just a decent debut at best and often overrated, but after this they came into their own and cranked out three great albums.
2)Anthrax-Fistful of metal (1984)
Not a bad debut and no offense to Neil Turbin, but they were not going to stand out from the crowd doing this kind of material. Then they brought in Joey Belladonna and went to the top of the league.
3)Def Leppard-On through the night (1980)
The potential was there, but High -n- Dry saw them grow by leaps and bounds. They added the hooks, the style and they took off.
4)Dark Angel-We have arrived (1985)
The debut sounds like a bad demo with very little to offer. A year later they put out Darkness Descends which was one my top 15 albums in the great metal year of 1986.
5)Dokken-Breaking the chains (1983)
Just an okay album with a few scattered highlights. Then they stormed back with "Tooth and nail" a year later and they became a solid hard rock act.
**I really considered Dream Theater for this category as well. Some might argue for Slayer in this category, but I happen to like Show no mercy more than most people. Metallica might be another consideration, however despite their improvement on the sophomore album the debut was very important in shaping speed metal. One could also make an argument for Iron Maiden in this category as well. It was a good debut, but Killers saw them really begin to define and develop the style they make their own.
Cool idea for a list, bands who took off after their debut album. I agree with your choices, and thanks for adding Cinderella. As hair metal, they were pathetic, as blues rock, they had something going on.
ReplyDeleteTwenty years ago, I would have agreed about Flotsam & Jetsam, but I listen to Doomsday... and No Place... fairly recently and the former didn't hold up as well as the latter.
ReplyDeleteOk here's my contribution :
ReplyDeletePeak album I would add Testament as well, depending on whether one liked their change in direction or not. The Legacy was and awesome album.
On the improvement front I also considered Iron Maiden, but definitely would put Alice Cooper there.
I agree with you on Metal Church's debut. I think it's one of the most flawless metal albums ever.
ReplyDeleteOf albums not on your list, Mercyful Fate's first full-length is pretty tough to beat.