It’s not been the best year to release a debut in, but our favourite artists have come through with some total stunners. We’ve had shining stars in every area of what a debut should be – something new, something old, something unexpected, but always something absolutely gold. Here are (in no particular order) our top five.
Halloweens – Morning Kiss at the Acropolis
Though Justin Hayward-Young and Timothy Lanham are far from novices, on their debut album as indie-via-Ancient Greece outfit Halloweens, the pair bring a remarkable feeling of freshness.
Check out our review here.
Bloxx – Lie Out Loud
Bloxx’s first full album has been a long time coming, and it’s more than worth the wait. Fee Booth’s effortlessly cool songwriting and Bloxx’s penchant for crowd-rousing anthems come together to make something magic, and magically honest too.
Check out our review here.
Ist Ist – Architecture
It feels strange to be including Architecture on a round-up of debuts, when Ist Ist’s diamond-sharp darkness feels polished to levels some bands never even reach. It’s as sprawling and doomful as 2020 has felt – but in the best way.
Check out our review here.
Beabadoobee – fake it flowers
This is a masterclass in how to defy expectations. Beabadoobee first won us over with woozy, intimate bedroom-pop, but on fake it flowers she breaks out of those walls to state her arrival as a bona-fide rock star ready to go.
Check out our review here.
Marsicans – Ursa Major
And this is a masterclass in how to exceed expectations. Marsicans, as the resident darlings of the indie scene thanks to their failure to produce anything but the brightest singalong tune, had high hopes to meet – and they did. Ursa Major is packed with bangers, but Marsicans have also thrown a delightful depth into the mix as well.
Check out our review here.
Watch out for these five and many more on our Albums of the Year list, coming soon.
