Top 10 Best Debut Albums in Music History

The Velvet Underground's 1967 debut sold poorly but, as Brian Eno famously noted, everyone who bought it started a band.

Lauryn Hill's 1998 solo debut won five Grammys and proved that hip-hop, neo-soul, and deeply personal storytelling could coexist on a blockbuster album.

The Arctic Monkeys' 2006 debut became the fastest-selling debut in UK chart history, capturing Sheffield nightlife with razor-sharp wit and breakneck indie rock.

The Clash's 1977 self-titled debut channeled punk fury into politically charged anthems that expanded the genre's lyrical ambition far beyond nihilistic sloganeering.

Nas was only 20 when Illmatic dropped in 1994, delivering a concise ten-track portrait of Queensbridge that many consider the greatest hip-hop album ever made.

Amy Winehouse's 2003 debut showcased her extraordinary jazz-inflected voice and sharp songwriting, foreshadowing the masterpiece that Back to Black would become.

Guns N' Roses' 1987 debut sold over 30 million copies, delivering a dangerous, sleazy brand of hard rock that dominated the late '80s and influenced rock music for decades.

Joy Division's 1979 debut defined post-punk's cold, atmospheric sound, with Ian Curtis's haunting baritone and Peter Hook's high-register basslines creating something genuinely new.

Oasis's 1994 debut was a swaggering statement of intent that launched Britpop into the mainstream with anthems like "Live Forever" and "Supersonic."

The Velvet Underground's 1967 debut sold poorly but, as Brian Eno famously noted, everyone who bought it started a band.

Lauryn Hill's 1998 solo debut won five Grammys and proved that hip-hop, neo-soul, and deeply personal storytelling could coexist on a blockbuster album.

The Arctic Monkeys' 2006 debut became the fastest-selling debut in UK chart history, capturing Sheffield nightlife with razor-sharp wit and breakneck indie rock.

The Clash's 1977 self-titled debut channeled punk fury into politically charged anthems that expanded the genre's lyrical ambition far beyond nihilistic sloganeering.

Nas was only 20 when Illmatic dropped in 1994, delivering a concise ten-track portrait of Queensbridge that many consider the greatest hip-hop album ever made.

Amy Winehouse's 2003 debut showcased her extraordinary jazz-inflected voice and sharp songwriting, foreshadowing the masterpiece that Back to Black would become.

Guns N' Roses' 1987 debut sold over 30 million copies, delivering a dangerous, sleazy brand of hard rock that dominated the late '80s and influenced rock music for decades.

Joy Division's 1979 debut defined post-punk's cold, atmospheric sound, with Ian Curtis's haunting baritone and Peter Hook's high-register basslines creating something genuinely new.

Oasis's 1994 debut was a swaggering statement of intent that launched Britpop into the mainstream with anthems like "Live Forever" and "Supersonic."