10 Artists Who Released Their Best Album First

Black Flag had existed a while before their first studio album hit store shelves, but with Henry Rollins fronting the Southern California outfit through much of the 80's, Damaged kicked off the band's best era.

Credit alone should be given to the band's first release for granting us a stark introduction to the unbridled energy of Rollins, but while Damaged was indeed a pleasant introduction to the frontman, it was also a phenomenal introduction to their sound. Such an offering was critical in kickstarting --and maintaining-- the hardcore punk movement until Bad Religion truly perfected it with 1988's Suffer.

The fuzzy riffs and raspy vocals are inkeeping with the time. Artists like Minor Threat and Bad Brains were producing similar tunes at a similar time, yet the intensity even of the cover matching the intensity of the tunes, as well as the topical themes of each track makes Damaged stand above the rest.

Damaged became a defining moment for hardcore music, and was a refuge for pissed off teens across the globe, much to the dismay of parents everywhere.

If you've got a six pack and nothing to do, reacquaint yourself with Black Flag's crowning achievement; you'll be glad you did.