10 Hard Rock Bands Never Better Than Their First Album
7. The Stooges
The Stooges are the reason that rock grew up into something heavier after the '60's. Fueled by heavy rock sounds and a lot of attitude, these guys weren't necessarily what the rock world wanted at the time, but they were sure as hell what we needed.
From the word go, the band's self-titled debut is by far the greatest release in their entire catalog. It's a bold claim, but the tunes presented on this album each laid a benchmark for how rock would be structured in the coming years. The slinky guitar groove of "1969" is absolutely drenched in sleaze, while other tracks like "I Wanna Be Your Dog" are some of the best examples of proto-punk that the decade had to offer. Even for fans of heavier music, the 9 minute dirge "We Will Fall" doesn't overstay its welcome, as it goes from its trance-like beginnings to a full on ominous journey through the abyss.
Make no mistake, there were still great records by the Stooges that were released after this like Raw Power, but the debut was where everyone first got a taste of what this band could do. Each of the Stooges' records are more than worth your time, but the starting point should definitely be at this 1969 masterwork.