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