Bands that had a great second album. We all know the obvious ones Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, The Beatles. What are your votes for great second albums. Some of mine are: Neil Young - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere Elvis Costello - This Years Model Allman Brothers Band - 'Idlewild South' Badfinger - No Dice
Walter, it was I who stated I felt Road To Ruin was the album on which The Ramones fulfilled their promise, loomis stating that he felt by that time they had become a Pop band. It is my opinion that they had always been a Pop band, just as are Weezer. The proof that they may also have viewed themselves that way is in their decision to have Phil Spector produce their End Of The Century album. I didn't care for that decision any more than I did The Beatles decision to do the same.
agree with you on "adventure"--the songs are definitely there, esp. "glory" and "ain't that nothing", but the sound is a bit too polished and new wav-y. i haven't heard too tough to die in years--i remember it being something of a throwback to their punky days; gonna give it another listen.
I am in agreement that Road to Ruin is their best album, but I think all of the first four--and Too Tough to Die--are classics. I also think the Clash's Give 'Em Enough Rope is great, though I have never cared much for the production on that one. I feel kind of the same way about Television's "Adventure," a great record that doesn't get its due because it is always compared to "Marquee Moon," an iconic record. YMMV.
Yeah loomis, the songs and the band are separate issues. I too felt the 2nd album material wasn't up to the level of the 1st. My comments about Marky vs Tommy on drums were intended to make the point that Marky is a more muscular, hard hitting drummer, which benefits both the band and the material.
bdp, my issue with leave home isn't the musicianship but the songs, which are just a little less inspired than the debut and sound just slightly contrived. by the time of their classics, rocket to russia and road to ruin, they were essentially a pop band, where studio craft (and a better drummer) really did matter.now, for another disappointing second album i'd throw out give em enough rope by the clash, which is surprisingly flat compared to the classics that preceded and followed it. likewise the stone roses, who get hilariously namedropped in "shaun of the dead"
loomis, I agree, and that's why I left in off my list. I feel The Ramones didn't get really good as a band until Marky replaced Tommy on drums. It was on their 4th album---Road To Ruin---that they fulfilled their potential. The earlier albums had great material, but Tommy's weak drumming undermined the power of the songs. Marky is a much "stronger" drummer than was Tommy.
Good ones tseliot, though After Bathing is The Airplane's 3rd album (the 2nd with Grace; they had a different singer and drummer---Skip Spence, later in Moby Grape---on the 1st album, Takes Off). And Veedon Fleece, from 1974, is Van's 8th album!
Agreed, the second is much better. Better sound, better songs, better singing, and I say that as a fan of the debut. Yes, I do like the Continental Drifters cover as well. Excellent. Have you heard Return of the Grievous Angel, an entire album of Parsons covers? There is some cool stuff on that, and perhaps a few head scratchers. Overall, a fun record, and one I probably play as much or more than GP, but not Grievous Angel.
Walter, I found Gram's Grievous Angel to be quite a bit better than his first, mostly because his tendency to go flat is minimized. There are great songs, including his nice duet with Emmylou on The Every Brothers' "Love Hurts", and a great band. Real fine album. Have you heard The Continental Drifters recording of his "A Song For You"? Better than the original (on Gram's GP album).
Gram Parsons, "Grievous Angel" Big Star, "Radio City" The Feelies, "The Good Earth" New York Dolls, "Too Much Too Soon" Silos, "Cuba" R.E.M. "Reckoning" PJ Harvey, "Rid of Me" Ramones, "Leave Home" Talking Heads, "More Songs About Buildings and Food"
Yes- Indeed, Fragile is great... But their second album Time and a Word is a strong album. I really like their their first four, with Close to the Edge next. I am always engaged by their first two, and Time and a Word early press LP sounds darned good. Agree on Joni: Clouds, but I feel it is sandwiched between two better albums.
elvis costello, this years modelgraham parker, heat treatmentmeat puppets iielliott smith s/twire, chairs missingjoy division, closerposies, frosting on the beaterloudon wainwright, album ii
Led Zep Aerosmith Grand Funk Lynyrd Eagles Elton Wayne Shorter Sade Dwight Yoakam George Straight Lyle Lovett Don Henley Alice In Chains Allman Bros Bruce Springsteen Nirvana Dave Matthews Steely Dan Radiohead Emmylou Harris ZZ Top Clapton Guess Who Joe Cocker Live Nick Drake Rod Stewart Santana SRV Sting Van Halen
Sorry for the long list but to me these artist second albums were as good (or close) as their first (if not better)
i agree with Dylan-The Freewheelin; Springsteen-The Wild,The Innocent; Steely Dan-Countdown to Ecstasy; Elvis Costello-This Year's Girl; Led Zeppelin-II; Neil Young-Everyone Knows; Jackson Browne-For Everyman; and the Band's S/T album. I'd add Joni Mitchell- Clouds; Graham Parker-Heat Treatment; Steve Forbert-Jackrabbit Slim; James Taylor-Sweet Baby James, Warren Zevon-Excitable Boy; Simon & Garfunkel-Sounds Of Silence; and U2-October.
Al, I went on to Amazon to check out the Projections disc. I liked it and ordered it. If you aren't already familiar with it, may I suggest Seatrain. I prefer the self-titled disc to Marblehead Messenger. Andy Kulberg was a member of that band as well. Really great songs.
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