Did RATM, Black Flag, Television, SDRE, Taking Back Sunday peak with their debuts?
The Onion's serious media companion, The AV Club has put together an interesting list of artists who never managed to top the acclaim and influence of their debut albums. Leading the list is Rage Against the Machine who single–handedly made rap/hardcore into a genre. The list makes some interesting assessments with a few classic CBGB acts in the list like Richard Hell and The Voidoids, Television as well as some controversial choices like naming Black Flag's Damaged.
More recent, but less controversial choices include The Strokes, Sunny Day Real Estate and Taking Back Sunday.
You can check out the full list here.