Which is more important?

[Goat01]

Which album is more important to a band - their debut record, or their sophomore release?
Their debut record is where they break onto the scene, but the sophomore record is where they have to prove they're more than just a one-hit wonder.

So, what's more important?
A solid debut record, to establish a fanbase, or a great sophomore record, to keep it.

[crln]

sophomore, easy one.

[whataclush]

debut, its your fucking debut! first impressions always matter...

[bard]

easily is your debut

sophomore is important to show you're going to be sticking around and doing well, but with a debut it's pretty much necessary to blow away people to hold their interests when your sophomore album comes out.

for example, tmv - deloused in the comatorium

[Theseventhson]

Sophomore, no question.

[SeanEBoy2686]

If you peak on the debut, you're screwed, just ask The Academy Is...

Both are important, but debuts are good for beginning a fanbase, and then the sophomore album is used to build a stronger connection with that fanbase. If you don't follow up a good debut with another good album you'll start losing fans and it'll put you back near square one. Needless to say, my vote is for the sophomore album.

[doppelganger]

i picked debut. after reading what other people said though, im starting to think sophmore

[loganmmm]

Debut.
If you don't release a great debut, no one is going to pay much attention to the sophomore release.

[PenThrive]

A great Sophomore shows possible longevity of a band.

[billyboatkid]

Sophomore.

Debuts get you in. Sophomores better not suck.

[Broden Terry]

Voted creating a freat sophomore record. Debut's are actually probably equally important so it was a hard decision.

[schenksta]

i say sophomore because as long as you create a decent debut album you will start a fan base, and that fan base will grow with a solid sophomore album. if you create a great debut followed by a decent sophomore, it goes the other way

[xBrandNew]

consistancy. most first albums are solid because they have to prove who they are. the best is when a band gets better with every cd, like brand new. especially if their debut is great as well.

[ManicanParty49]

Your debut can be great...but its your sophomore that's going to decide longevity on the business.

[ryanhartkopf]

I know plenty of bands who were amazing when they released their first record, then the scene and record labels got to them and they turned into mainstream, overproduced junk.
A sophomore album proves you still got the balls.

[newfoundmichael]

Word. The same goes for TBS

I think their sophomore effort is almost if not just as good as their debut. Everything after that sucks.

[ElevenElm]

if you have a sucky debut but a good sophomore, it's understandable.
if you have a fantastic debut and a sucky sophomore, then you just suck.

[Forever.Zero]

A great Sophomore shows possible longevity of a band.

I agree with this

[IanIsSuperRad]

Debute. If you don't but out a good debute, I'm not even going to bother with any more albums you put out.

[CarouselBoy]

I say debut album. It's not gonna matter what you're sophomore album is like if no one knows who you are. If it's really good then it's essentially your debut album because you never had to work to meet expectations and avoid a sophomore slump if no one knew or cared about your first album.

[abbysmith]

I said sophomore. The way I am is if you keep getting better, I'll want to keep coming back for more. If you get worse, I most likely wont want to listen to anything released after.

[handlikesecret]

sophomore, easily.

[Jet Set Paul]

You get your entire life to write your debut album. If you can write a good follow up to it within 10 months, then you really have talent.

[Colin1755]

^exactly you have have a good first one but if the second one sucks your fan base wil start doubting you.

[just.Starla.]

Debut

[SanePsychotic]

Sophmore.

[Kill_the_radio]

Great debut albums must be followed by even better sophomores imo

[Nerdy91]

all you need really is one catchy song on the debut enough to make you known but on the sophmore you have to show what your made of to prove that your staying otherwise your screwed

[Indoor Living]

You get your entire life to write your debut album. If you can write a good follow up to it within 10 months, then you really have talent.

Well put. That changed my answer.

[xJesusFreakx]

I think that the debut is more important than the sophomore release. A good debut can win you a loyal fan base that will forgive your sophomore slump, and maybe another average release after that. A poor first release won't haunt you forever if you can make up for it later on, but if that first one does too poorly, you might not get the chance for a second one. In today's saturated market, getting lost in the shuffle or pigeonholed with the wrong bands is a dangerous thing.

[Goat01]

You get your entire life to write your debut album. If you can write a good follow up to it within 10 months, then you really have talent.

Well said.

[Everiggs]

Gotta get over that sophomore slump.

[Zippedychick]

It's all about gettiing better.

[SLoT]

Debut. Simple. If I don't like you then I won't like you now, and you will none of my support. If I dig your debut, you have a shitty sophomore, I always look forward to the third album to bring it back.

[Robb]

If you peak on the debut, you're screwed, just ask The Academy Is...

Luckily, Santi was awesome.

[TangledUp]

It depends, I suppose.. but to me, a great sophomore album is more important because it shows growth from their first one. But with some bands, their debut albums are solid and then any other release after that don't even come close. So it really depends.

[Undue Noise]

I agree with many previous comments that debuts can screw over many bands. While having a good debut is great, following it up successfully is more important.

[mwheeler1987]

Def. sophomore album... P!ATD are a perfect example of a killer debut and then a wtf sophomore album

[BrennanHickson]

Assuming you've created a following after the debut, you've got to release a solid sophomore album (at least one the fans will perceive as "solid") in order to define the future endurance and direction of the band.