6 of the Best No. 1 Debut British Albums from the Last 20 Years for National Album Day

National Album Day 2024 is celebrating iconic British bands like The Beatles, Queen, The Who, the Rolling Stones, and all the rest of the classics that we know and love. What about the last 20 years, though? Where’s the love for Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, or Florence & The Machine, the rock, pop, and indie debuts that defined the 2000s and beyond? Here are just some of the quintessential debut albums that made that era, all of which landed at No. 1 on the U.K. charts.

National Album Day 2024 — Iconic No. 1 Debut Albums of the 2000s

2000 — Parachutes by Coldplay

Do you remember where you were when Parachutes came out? Did your mom have that CD on repeat in her station wagon while she drove you to school all through that year? Coldplay have been at it for a long time, but their debut still holds up to nostalgia. “Sparks,” “Don’t Panic,” and the ever-romantic “Yellow” are the standout tracks, but the entire album was cohesively successful. It set the tone for Coldplay’s career-spanning sound, and while they’ve experimented sonically over the years, there’s still a little bit of Parachutes in everything they do.

2006 — Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not by Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys’ 2006 debut album was the fastest selling album that year, and made the band one of the U.K.’s hottest exports. Alex Turner’s way around a turn of phrase made this album so lyrically dense you can take a bite out of it, and their brash, nervy rock sound charmed hearts all over the country. From cheeky teenagers playing their first shows at the Boardwalk in Sheffield, to international rockstars constantly pushing lyrical boundaries, Arctic Monkeys have come a long way in 18 years. The entire album is golden, but highlights of their debut include “Fake Tales of San Francisco,” “Mardy Bum,” “Red Light Indicates Doors are Secure,” and “A Certain Romance.”

2008 — The Age of the Understatement by The Last Shadow Puppets

This National Album Day, let’s go out on a limb and call Alex Turner and Miles Kane the 2000’s answer to Lennon and McCartney. The pair released their debut album as The Last Shadow Puppets in 2008, coming together during an Arctic Monkeys hiatus. The Age of the Understatement blended their similar approaches to meaty songwriting with 1960’s baroque-rock inspirations, notably the work of Scott Walker. There were strings, Miles Kane’s expert control of the electric guitar, and Alex Turner’s audacious turns of phrase, which put them at No. 1 on the charts. The Puppets returned eight years later with Everything You’ve Come to Expect, which explored similar sounds but with a more relaxed, sensual sonic experience. Eight years have gone by again, and Puppets fans are left wondering: are the lads going to try for another baby?

2009 — Lungs by Florence & The Machine

Florence Welch burst onto the indie scene with a flurry of long red hair and the song “Dog Days Are Over.” Her lyrics are complex while still being relatable, and she has continued that trend into the band’s latest album, Dance Fever. It’s been 15 years since Lungs, and the debut still holds up—Florence Welch’s easy ethereality, flowing grace, and intense vocals make her something of a terrifying angel, and the debut remains more like a collection of poetry put to music than a cut-and-dry album.

2017 — Harry Styles by Harry Styles

This was Harry Styles’ breakout into his successful solo career after splitting from One Direction, and he instantly charmed fans with a new side of himself and his artistry. He proved he’d grown beyond his boy band image with this debut, taking inspirations from 60s and 70s rock. Styles focused on love in its many different forms, working through complex subjects with grace and—dare we say—style.

2024 — Prelude to Ecstasy by The Last Dinner Party

The Last Dinner Party debuted just this year, but they’ve already been called “British rock royalty” by Brian May of Queen, a National Album Day icon. Prelude to Ecstasy blends baroque-pop with Britpop, indie, and extravagant rock, creating a lavish opera of dark, sensual themes. For a debut, it’s incredibly strong, and the all-girl band worked hard to curate their aesthetics and music around each other. The result is a seamlessly cohesive experience that put them at the top of the charts.

Featured Image by FILIPE AMORIM/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock