Chasing Greatness: Artists That Never Topped Their Debut Albums (Part 1)

Once in a blue moon, a band or artist enters the limelight from seemingly out of nowhere with a debut creation so incredible it instantly earns them a spot in the upper echelons of music. Whilst the credibility of releasing a defining album so early into a career is such an exciting prospect, it also puts an immense amount of pressure on the artist's shoulders to continue to reach such a peak for future releases. In some cases pressure creates diamonds and certain acts continue to grow with each effort. However for others, their debut album is their peak and nothing they release afterwards has the same gravitas. Here is a list of what the general consensus of music listeners would consider to be the debut albums which could never be surpassed.

1. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory

Many would agree that rock music in the late 1990's was beginning to stagnate. With an overwhelming amount of sub-genres coming into fruition and most of the pioneers of the genre deviating from what made them iconic, something needed to change. Californian rock outfit Linkin Park made a lot of noise when they formed and released the most pivotal heavy album of recent years. Hybrid Theory was the breath of fresh air that the scene needed - it encapsulated traditional rock'n'roll values whilst catering for entirely new audiences. The ingenious blend of rap, rock and nu-metal was unique of its time and Linkin Park executed it to a tee. Many paramount tracks came from the Millenium-turning's Hybrid Theory, with the likes of In The End and Papercut still regarded as all time classics. Whilst Hybrid Theory handed Linkin Park the platform to keep on pushing, they never produced a record as monumental. They gave fans glimpses of what could have been, examples being Meteora's Numb and Minutes To Midnight's What I've Done, but the band couldn't produce an overall album with as much vigor. After the tragic passing of singer Chester Bennington in 2017, his legacy will always be remembered and Hybrid Theory cements Linkin Park as one of the faces of noughties rock music.

2. Lady Gaga - The Fame

Global icon Lady Gaga completely changed the game with debut release The Fame in 2008. The American singer created a seminal record which saw the revival of electronic dance music pair up with pure, unashamed pop music. The Fame contained countless classic anthems with the likes of Poker Face and Just Dance becoming unavoidable on all radio stations and music channels. Lady Gaga's innovate fashion and ideologies were also attributed to The Fame's success and her acclaim as an artist. When an album such as The Fame exists with pop songs of the highest calibre topping charts around the world, the subsequent music will always be compared to the debut and it falls flat. It could be argued that Gaga was too experimental and outlandish with future music and it lost its accessibility and decorum, which is why went over the heads of the mainstream.  

3. Oasis - Definitely Maybe

Not only is Definitely Maybe regarded as Oasis' best album, but it is also one of the best British albums in music. The Brit pop spearheads honed in on their craft with the quintessential Definitely Maybe, an album made by the people for the people. With relatable classics like Cigarettes and Alcohol showcasing the mundanities of everyday life, many music fans found solace in the music of Oasis. With the Gallagher brothers directly at the helm, the songwriting and musicality was inevitably going to be first rate. Most Oasis fans go back and forth debating whether the Manchester legends' sophomore release (What's the Story) Morning Glory? was the band's greatest achievement and it truly is a flip of the coin, but Definitely Maybe defined the whole of British music in the mid '90s and influenced many acts for years to come. Even though the band have long since split up, tracks from Definitely Maybe are still staple features in both Liam and Noel Gallagher's live sets and with how spectacular the likes of Rock 'n' Roll Star and Live Forever are, can you blame them?

4. Keane - Hopes and Fears

Another album in the realms of best of British music is Keane's Hopes and Fears. In 2004 the alternative rockers made themselves a household name after the release of Brit Award winning Hopes and Fears. The impressive debut deservedly topped the UK charts and solidified Keane as the most exciting band of the time. The band's enthralling gift for songwriting was highlighted in amongst the heartfelt Bedshaped and the poetic Somewhere Only We Know. Keane's future success was ultimately carried by Hopes and Fears - their later albums came somewhat sparingly and didn't contain the musical prowess to compete with the debut, an album which many still consider an absolute classic.

5. Nas - Illmatic

Illmatic is a landmark in rap music - a prestigious album which sits proudly on top of the pedestal it earned. Back in 1994, New York wordsmith Nas exploded onto the scene with Illmatic, an album that would shift the landscape of East Coast hip hop forever. In just ten songs, Illmatic displays the best of Nas' natural grasp of rhyming structure and vivid storytelling. N.Y. State of Mind details the dangers of living in New York in the 90s so viscerally, anyone could picture the scene - a talent which Nas drips into every song of the album. Illmatic was seen as a gift and a curse for Nas as every subsequent album fell short of the mark, despite managing to outsell the original. The impact of Illmatic overshadowed Nas' future output, even though he had some incredible hits such as Street Dreams and Hate Me Now, however it was always an improbable task to eclipse an album which gave the genre of hip hop a voice of hope.