Unknown Soldier

Sure the debut has more of an initial impact on the listener, but Paranoid is far more rewarding on multiple listens than the debut and in effect sets the standard for the following Sabbath albums, its the yardstick of Sabbath albums.

The Batlord

I'm of the opposite belief TBH. Paranoid is what it is, pretty much. It's doomy. Awesomely doomy, but after the sheer doominess becomes apparent, all that's left is to bask in the doominess. Black Sabbath on the other hand, is the most diverse Sabbath Record until Vol 4., and it's atmosphere only gets more cool with age.

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LOLPOCALYPSE

Paranoid is one of those rare albums that really deserves its reputation. "War Pigs" and "Electric Funeral" are my favs. I think even if a crowd favorite like "Iron Man" was removed the album would hold its weight against the debut.

Paranoid - 3
Black Sabbath - 2

Howard the Duck

kinda harder to choose this time around

i think i'll go with Paranoid just because it has better songs, and also more outstanding ones than the debut

Paranoid - 4
s/t - 2

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Malaise is THE dominant human predilection.

BastardofYoung

I think "Black Sabbath" and "NIB" are more outstanding than "Paranoid" as a whole personally. But whatever.

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last.fm

‎"I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people." - Jack Handey.

Unknown Soldier

Haha You're just feeling bitter that the debut album is losing here.

The Batlord

Well, that's because "Paranoid" was the "single" of the album. Someone told them they needed a single, so they did it in like five minutes. Or so I've heard. Great riff, but a pretty basic song that sorta doesn't fit with the rest of the album.

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Unknown Soldier

But how well do you think the two cover songs on the debut album, fit in with the rest of the material on that album?

The Batlord

Not as well, sure, but they're at the tail end of the album. I'm more forgiving of mediocrity at the end of an album. The first twenty minutes are generally the most important anyway.

It doesn't ruin anything by any stretch of the imagination, but having "Paranoid", which sounds like a more generic rock song, right after "War Pigs", is a tad off putting, and just doesn't quite feel right. It's like I get a good doomy vibe going with "War Pigs", then the vibe gets dropped for "Paranoid", and I'm bobbing my head to the riff for a couple minutes, and then I get dropped into "Planet Caravan" with it's wierdness, then I have to start the doomy vibe from scratch with "Iron Man". Just kinda awkward.

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Unknown Soldier

"Evil Woman" was the start of the old B side on the album, so not really a tail end as such. "Paranoid" certainly wasn't generic sounding back in 1970 and comes across to me, as one of those last minute inspired songs that was put on the album and in turn it became a classic, much like "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas from their Leftoverture album.