10 Amazing Artists With Terrible Debut Albums
3. Green Day - 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours (1991)
Released on independent label Lookout Records in 1991, the band who would go on to define pop punk and even the rock opera started out with a debut featuring a trio struggling to find their feet with a slightly different lineup to the one we know and love today.
Comprising of Billie Joe Armstrong on guitar and vocals, Mike Dirnt on bass, and John Kiffmeyer on drums, the album has several songs that showcase the future potential of Green Day, but most of them lack the punch and impact and relatable lyrical elements of their later work. Also known as 39/Smooth, the collection of songs also relies far too heavily on its influences such as The Clash and The Ramones to be as iconic and interesting as the group's later work.
Due to the legendary status the band would go on to achieve, the album has received somewhat of a resurgence in recent years, eventually going on to sell more than 2 million copies worldwide.
Luckily though for us and Green Day, their next album Kerplunk and their major label debut Dookie would introduce listeners across the world to the trademark Green Day sound we all know and love today.