10 Bad Debut Albums From Great Bands
3. 39 Smooth - Green Day
There's probably not one rock fan in the world who hasn't had Green Day as an inherent part of their life. The band have created some of the most indelible tracks in pop punk, from their landmark smash Dookie to their career renaissance in the 2000's with American Idiot.
The band may have been destined for superstardom, but their debut 39 Smooth is a much rougher affair than many fans would probably be accustomed to. Recorded on a shoestring budget in their indie punk stomping grounds, the band sounds like they're struggling to find their identity on this release. Songs like "Don't Leave Me" feel like punk-infused ripoffs of Husker Du, while oddities like "Rest" feel like a misguided attempt at psychedelic rock.
On the other hand, this album also has some highlights like "Going to Pasalacqua," which shows the band's more tuneful pop-punk sound coming into clearer view. However, the band is not even secure at this point, with original drummer John Kiffmeyer's fills not packing quite the same punch as Tre Cool a few years later. This is a solid enough pop-punk release, but the more crusty punk execution makes it feel more lopsided than exciting. There are some decent tracks to be found here, but this is only a must-own for the hardcore Green Day fanatics.