I knew the debut long before POM and I prefer POM. Does that mean I'm biased?
Well, I do not think anyone is immune. Some are more biased than others in a certain direction, depending on several factors (some I've mentioned). I do believe that most of us had to do with the familiarity I mentioned in that "Steak" starting post.
I feel you have very independent thinking (not just in music) and you're very strong about personal taste, which you may see as a very strong personal thing. I never ruled out taste. Taste is the major factor. I just think that taste is not just inside, but also outside. Taste and preference can be shaped by all kinds of factors. Most factors rule out in favour of
Piece of Mind, certainly in this voting group.
the band as a whole was more stable and had better chemistry at this point.
Who cares about band stability? It's about the songs, the stuff you hear. Are you telling me that you hear that the band was more stable when listening to
Piece of Mind? Now that would be convenient. Still, a stable band can write bad songs, so I do not see how this factor is of importance.
You're hearing a fuller guitar sound on
Piece of Mind (perhaps the fullest of the discography), you might call it production that you like. But there sure was chemistry on the debut. Lots of energy as well.
I am not advocating that
Piece of Mind is the worse album. It's the big difference in the score. This 10 to 1 score: I have to admit this also has to do with the battles. Prowler, Remember Tomorrow and and others songs would have had a bigger chance to win from less popular
Piece of Mind opponents.