big budgets and timeless recordings
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll
be counting down our picks for the top
10 best major label debut albums
for this list we’re featuring artists
who released music under indie labels
before signing deals with notable music
labels and while a band like Arcade Fire
has achieved international fame over the
years they’ve been with the same indie
label since their debut album
number ten raided our Queens of the
Stone Age
it was only natural for a desert rock
band to record their 1998 debut album in
their native Palm Desert
however for their follow-up Queens of
the Stone Age signed with Interscope and
set up shop in world-famous Sound City
Studios the subject of Dave Grohl’s 2013
documentary chronicling a relationship
with booze and drugs among other things
rated-r became an immediate hit in the
United Kingdom thanks to a stoner rock
joint like feel-good hit of the summer
while the lost art of keeping a secret
became a commercial hit domestically the
title from the album itself comes from
an independent outlook as rated R was
the band’s response to the labels
censorship concerns
number nine green REM
five years after their debut album
Michael Stipe and company were fed up
with IRS records and reached a deal with
Warner Bros allowing for a few perks a
larger following creative control and
perhaps a few more zeroes on their
checks
as per usual longtime fans and fellow
artists had much to say about the label
upgrade but they were quickly silenced
when REM upped the ante with the
alternative classic Orange Crush
and of course the more pop friendly
stands
released in conjunction with a 1988
presidential election green mark the
Epoque of a new era as michael stipe
utilized his unique voice musically and
politically
got my spine
number eight siren song of the counter
culture rise against when a punk rock
band scores that deal with Geffen
Records it’s a pretty big deal upon two
independent releases rise against hit
the big time with their thrashing lead
single give it all and as a follow-up
Tim McIlrath and Neil Hennessy displayed
a softer side with the modest yet
lyrically proficient swing life away
capable of pleasing both headbangers and
the more intellectual types rise against
received a platform they deserved and
capitalized with their collective siren
song of the counter culture
number seven born to die Lana Del Rey
formerly known as Lana Del Rey with an A
aka Lizzie grant the dream pop artist
from upstate New York released her debut
album in 2010 and upon a more focused
and stylized approach to her stage
persona she secured a distribution deal
with Interscope but only after video
games spread like wildfire across the
Internet
thing neither
with a baroque pops out and lyrics of
social detachment born to die convey the
fatalistic ideals of the fresh-faced
artist however the entire package
initially caught many critics off-guard
Lana Del Rey had a vision and with the
aid of multiple producers and the sick
marketing campaign she made plenty of
noise with her idiosyncratic debut
number six the moon and Antarctica
modest mouse named after the opening
scene of Ridley Scott’s 1982 film Blade
Runner this major label debut beholds an
intergalactic vibe and was recorded in
the final months of the 20th century
as musicians from the Pacific Northwest
modest mouse exemplified classic indie
intensity on their previous two albums
however with the moon and Antarctica
they were able to expand on their
musical philosophies without becoming a
packaged product written entirely by
Isaac Brock the album was far more than
just a pleasant surprise it became one
of the most critically acclaimed albums
of the decade
I can feel your energy
from total planets away number five good
kid maad city kendrick lamar born and
raised in Compton California
Kendrick Lamar dropped his astounding
2011 debut through Top Dawg
entertainment which caught the attention
of Compton’s own dr. Dre with aftermath
and Interscope holding down the business
side
Kendrick Lamar wrote a conceptual album
about his chaotic upbringing but in a
most unorthodox way if I take another
one down on my dryness and poison
abusing my limit I think that I’ll fill
in the Bob I see the love in the house I
see the fill in the freedom as
beneficial as the damage of back at home
rap the introspective rhymes that turned
heads amongst his fellow artists and the
beats were naturally on point however it
was the creative wizardry that made good
kid maad city a timeless piece of modern
art my life
reflecting the influence of a man on the
brink of success all while experiencing
the harsh realities of the streets for
Dukie Green Day
while it may seem like Green Day came
out of nowhere in 1994 with Dookie they
had actually been together since the
late 80s and released two albums with
the now-defunct lookout records but when
Green Day hooked up with reprise Records
founded by the one and only Frank
Sinatra they were about to bring Punk to
the Billboard charts via their frenetic
melodies and the schizophrenic lyrics of
Billy Joe Armstrong
the lead single Longview referenced
common daily activities for young punks
and when I come around touched on Rome
at but it was basket case’
took America by storm and challenged the
comfy ideals of 90s mainstream America
number three elephant the white stripes
the song no computers no tricks all rock
and roll that was the concept behind the
fourth album by Michigan duo of the
white stripes and what do you know the
final product earned them a Grammy Award
already a prominent act in the indie
scene after three notable releases with
sympathy records Jack and Meg white
stripped everything down aesthetically
while retaining a heightened intensity
most notably in the international
sensation known as seven nation army
for for Elephants the white stripes were
respected musicians and after they were
global rock stars
number two never mind Nirvana the name
Kurt Cobain is now synonymous with the
emergence of 90s grunge music however
back in the late 80s he began a
rebellion against the conformities of
the blossoming Seattle music scene
the album Nevermind was the realization
of his vision and with the addition of
Dave Grohl on drums Cobain drew lyrical
inspiration from the intricacies of his
daily life while aiming to blend a
variety of musical influences for an
innovative sound a sound that would
ultimately be defined by critics as
grunge
with butch vig as producer Nirvana
served up something entirely new as each
and every song became part of rock music
lore especially upon the 1994 death of
Cobain
before we unveil our topic here are a
few honorable mentions
but I just gotta keep that back room
make a mess a living
gotta get my
number one The Slim Shady LP Eminem much
like dr. Dre played a prominent role in
Kendrick Lamar’s good kid maad city he
was also the man behind another iconic
major label debut when he plucked a
Detroit rapper from obscurity and made
him a prominent voice in hip hop music
how could you take advantage of she’s
passed down disgust light thou that foul
with the Slim Shady LP Eminem not only
transcended racial barriers he showed no
fear in speaking his mind and when he
wasn’t clowning on pop culture figures
on tracks like my name is by the way
when you see my dad
ask him if he bought a porno mags see
man he took a more disturbing approach
by investigating his inner demons and
confronting his increasing detachment
from social norms under the tutelage of
one dr. Dre Eminem became a legend in
his own right but this was only the
first step albeit a major one so do you
agree with our selections what is your
favorite best major label debut album
more mind-blowing top tens published
daily be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll
be counting down our picks for the top
10 best major label debut albums
for this list we’re featuring artists
who released music under indie labels
before signing deals with notable music
labels and while a band like Arcade Fire
has achieved international fame over the
years they’ve been with the same indie
label since their debut album
number ten raided our Queens of the
Stone Age
it was only natural for a desert rock
band to record their 1998 debut album in
their native Palm Desert
however for their follow-up Queens of
the Stone Age signed with Interscope and
set up shop in world-famous Sound City
Studios the subject of Dave Grohl’s 2013
documentary chronicling a relationship
with booze and drugs among other things
rated-r became an immediate hit in the
United Kingdom thanks to a stoner rock
joint like feel-good hit of the summer
while the lost art of keeping a secret
became a commercial hit domestically the
title from the album itself comes from
an independent outlook as rated R was
the band’s response to the labels
censorship concerns
number nine green REM
five years after their debut album
Michael Stipe and company were fed up
with IRS records and reached a deal with
Warner Bros allowing for a few perks a
larger following creative control and
perhaps a few more zeroes on their
checks
as per usual longtime fans and fellow
artists had much to say about the label
upgrade but they were quickly silenced
when REM upped the ante with the
alternative classic Orange Crush
and of course the more pop friendly
stands
released in conjunction with a 1988
presidential election green mark the
Epoque of a new era as michael stipe
utilized his unique voice musically and
politically
got my spine
number eight siren song of the counter
culture rise against when a punk rock
band scores that deal with Geffen
Records it’s a pretty big deal upon two
independent releases rise against hit
the big time with their thrashing lead
single give it all and as a follow-up
Tim McIlrath and Neil Hennessy displayed
a softer side with the modest yet
lyrically proficient swing life away
capable of pleasing both headbangers and
the more intellectual types rise against
received a platform they deserved and
capitalized with their collective siren
song of the counter culture
number seven born to die Lana Del Rey
formerly known as Lana Del Rey with an A
aka Lizzie grant the dream pop artist
from upstate New York released her debut
album in 2010 and upon a more focused
and stylized approach to her stage
persona she secured a distribution deal
with Interscope but only after video
games spread like wildfire across the
Internet
thing neither
with a baroque pops out and lyrics of
social detachment born to die convey the
fatalistic ideals of the fresh-faced
artist however the entire package
initially caught many critics off-guard
Lana Del Rey had a vision and with the
aid of multiple producers and the sick
marketing campaign she made plenty of
noise with her idiosyncratic debut
number six the moon and Antarctica
modest mouse named after the opening
scene of Ridley Scott’s 1982 film Blade
Runner this major label debut beholds an
intergalactic vibe and was recorded in
the final months of the 20th century
as musicians from the Pacific Northwest
modest mouse exemplified classic indie
intensity on their previous two albums
however with the moon and Antarctica
they were able to expand on their
musical philosophies without becoming a
packaged product written entirely by
Isaac Brock the album was far more than
just a pleasant surprise it became one
of the most critically acclaimed albums
of the decade
I can feel your energy
from total planets away number five good
kid maad city kendrick lamar born and
raised in Compton California
Kendrick Lamar dropped his astounding
2011 debut through Top Dawg
entertainment which caught the attention
of Compton’s own dr. Dre with aftermath
and Interscope holding down the business
side
Kendrick Lamar wrote a conceptual album
about his chaotic upbringing but in a
most unorthodox way if I take another
one down on my dryness and poison
abusing my limit I think that I’ll fill
in the Bob I see the love in the house I
see the fill in the freedom as
beneficial as the damage of back at home
rap the introspective rhymes that turned
heads amongst his fellow artists and the
beats were naturally on point however it
was the creative wizardry that made good
kid maad city a timeless piece of modern
art my life
reflecting the influence of a man on the
brink of success all while experiencing
the harsh realities of the streets for
Dukie Green Day
while it may seem like Green Day came
out of nowhere in 1994 with Dookie they
had actually been together since the
late 80s and released two albums with
the now-defunct lookout records but when
Green Day hooked up with reprise Records
founded by the one and only Frank
Sinatra they were about to bring Punk to
the Billboard charts via their frenetic
melodies and the schizophrenic lyrics of
Billy Joe Armstrong
the lead single Longview referenced
common daily activities for young punks
and when I come around touched on Rome
at but it was basket case’
took America by storm and challenged the
comfy ideals of 90s mainstream America
number three elephant the white stripes
the song no computers no tricks all rock
and roll that was the concept behind the
fourth album by Michigan duo of the
white stripes and what do you know the
final product earned them a Grammy Award
already a prominent act in the indie
scene after three notable releases with
sympathy records Jack and Meg white
stripped everything down aesthetically
while retaining a heightened intensity
most notably in the international
sensation known as seven nation army
for for Elephants the white stripes were
respected musicians and after they were
global rock stars
number two never mind Nirvana the name
Kurt Cobain is now synonymous with the
emergence of 90s grunge music however
back in the late 80s he began a
rebellion against the conformities of
the blossoming Seattle music scene
the album Nevermind was the realization
of his vision and with the addition of
Dave Grohl on drums Cobain drew lyrical
inspiration from the intricacies of his
daily life while aiming to blend a
variety of musical influences for an
innovative sound a sound that would
ultimately be defined by critics as
grunge
with butch vig as producer Nirvana
served up something entirely new as each
and every song became part of rock music
lore especially upon the 1994 death of
Cobain
before we unveil our topic here are a
few honorable mentions
but I just gotta keep that back room
make a mess a living
gotta get my
number one The Slim Shady LP Eminem much
like dr. Dre played a prominent role in
Kendrick Lamar’s good kid maad city he
was also the man behind another iconic
major label debut when he plucked a
Detroit rapper from obscurity and made
him a prominent voice in hip hop music
how could you take advantage of she’s
passed down disgust light thou that foul
with the Slim Shady LP Eminem not only
transcended racial barriers he showed no
fear in speaking his mind and when he
wasn’t clowning on pop culture figures
on tracks like my name is by the way
when you see my dad
ask him if he bought a porno mags see
man he took a more disturbing approach
by investigating his inner demons and
confronting his increasing detachment
from social norms under the tutelage of
one dr. Dre Eminem became a legend in
his own right but this was only the
first step albeit a major one so do you
agree with our selections what is your
favorite best major label debut album
more mind-blowing top tens published
daily be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
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