Myth of Difficult 2nd Album Syndrome - CLUAS Irish Indie Music -

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Last Post 10/2/2006 4:01 PM by Rev Jules

Myth of Difficult 2nd Album Syndrome

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Rev Jules

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Posts:1041

10/2/2006 4:01 PM
Its one of the sacred cows of orthodox music journalism, the second album that never really lives up to the debut but here are three classics that were second albums 'The Bends' - Radiohead 'Transformer' - Lou Reed 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan' - Bob Dylan True or myth, you decide

Antistar

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Posts:544

10/2/2006 5:14 PM
Nirvana- 'Nevermind' is another one. I don't think it's a myth. Many less talented bands than those listed above pour a lifetime's worth of creative angst into their first album and then have nothing left over for the second, thusly the difficult second album syndrome. Or maybe not.

Garret

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Posts:244

10/2/2006 5:25 PM
I To Sky - JJ72 hides

Vandal_with_Handle

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Posts:23

10/2/2006 5:28 PM
THE BAND!!!

nerraw

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Posts:475

10/2/2006 5:36 PM
The Prodigy Jilted Generation another. Some bands are just one hit wonders. Happen to be in the right place at right time. I predict the same will happen for a lot of the current crop of indie bands

nonemoreblack

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Posts:21

10/2/2006 5:40 PM
Depends on the band I suppose. Most first albums are the results of years of song writing as the band have spent all that time trying to perfect things and get a deal. So if the first album is a hit then the pressure is really on to get another one out there and most bands dont have the luxury on time on their side. I blame the record companies for being too eager to make a quick profit.

Pilchard

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Posts:699

10/2/2006 5:49 PM
damien rice "9"

Peejay

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Posts:340

10/2/2006 6:07 PM
quote: Originally posted by nonemoreblack Depends on the band I suppose. Most first albums are the results of years of song writing as the band have spent all that time trying to perfect things and get a deal. So if the first album is a hit then the pressure is really on to get another one out there and most bands dont have the luxury on time on their side. I blame the record companies for being too eager to make a quick profit. Exactly. A debut album could have been twenty years in the making/planning/conceptualizing...whatever. Then suddenly the same group of musicians are expected to come up with all new material in one year, usually in between touring. Some musicians work well under pressure and rise to the occasion - Supergrass for instance came out with a great second album - while others need the time and freedom to start the creative process from scratch. Frank Zappas second album, Absolutely Free, was a bit of a rush job, released only a few months after Freak Out!, and it shows. Its something people like to worry themselves with. Its like a successful debut is seen as the fluke while the real test of an artists worth is the follow-up. Bulls**t of course, but, you know, it happens. Neil Youngs debut was a hell of a false start. All fuzz-tone guitars and backing vocalists, with Everybody Knows.... a year later he really found himself.

Daragh

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Posts:666

10/2/2006 6:29 PM
quote: Originally posted by Vandal_with_Handle THE BAND!!! whooooo! (just cause theyre so great, and im gonna stick on "the shape im in") Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland, great 2nd album Led Zeppelin 2 - in my opinion, miles better than the first. mainly cos it doesnt have dazed n confused, though it does have moby dk, great riff then wk wk wk

Rev Jules

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Posts:1041

10/2/2006 6:31 PM
Here's another one 'Kitty Jay' - Seth Lakeman

Peejay

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Posts:340

10/2/2006 6:45 PM
quote: Originally posted by Daragh Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland, great 2nd album It wasn't, but Axis:Bold As Love certainly was.

dermot_trellis

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Posts:69

10/2/2006 7:11 PM
That supposed thing of having "your whole life" to write a debut album is kind of a fallacy, it's really about 4 or 5 years I'd say on average between somebody starting to write songs and finishing a first album, whereas the follow-up typically gets around 18 months to 2 years, if a band has signed a record deal. Another factor is that sometimes a lot of the songs on the second album are actually older than the ones on the first (e.g. with Talking Heads second album). I don't think it's that second albums are actually worse, it's just that a lot of the time they suffer from having lots of pre-expectations around them and it's generally harder to surprise people the second time around.

jmc105

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Posts:188

10/2/2006 7:20 PM
quote: Originally posted by nonemoreblack Depends on the band I suppose. Most first albums are the results of years of song writing as the band have spent all that time trying to perfect things and get a deal. So if the first album is a hit then the pressure is really on to get another one out there and most bands dont have the luxury on time on their side. I blame the record companies for being too eager to make a quick profit. but by that logic every album after the first one would suffer from 'second album syndrome'.

aidan

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Posts:638

10/2/2006 8:11 PM
'dog man star' by suede is a wonderful second album, as is 'protection' by massive attack. however, the new scissor sisters album stinks (I loved the first one). I guess 'the second coming' by the stone roses will always be shorthand for second-album syndrome....

Daragh

Advanced Member
Posts:666

10/2/2006 8:44 PM
quote: Originally posted by Peejay quote: Originally posted by Daragh Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland, great 2nd album It wasn't, but Axis:Bold As Love certainly was. oops my bad! i thought axis came after, well, hmmmm, difficult keep the groove going album then!

kavobaggins

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Posts:199

10/2/2006 11:59 PM
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream.

kavobaggins

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Posts:199

10/3/2006 12:15 AM
quote: Originally posted by kavobaggins Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream. ooh, and Stoosh by Skunk Anansie springs to mind too for some reason.

stephen

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Posts:201

10/3/2006 3:20 AM
Great second albums? Radio City - Big Star Being There - Wilco Disappointing second albums? Adventure - Television (after the quite stunning Marquee Moon) Franz Ferdinand's second album was a clunker... the less said about Razorlight, Futureheads and Kasabian's recent efforts, the better.

stroller

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Posts:576

10/3/2006 3:46 AM
More great second albums; Whipping Boy - Heartworm TV On The Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain Weezer - Pinkerton De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead Death In Vegas - The Contino Sessions The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow The Chemical Brothers - Dig You Own Hole Hot Chip - The Warning The Pixies - Surfer Rosa Super Furry Animals - Radiator The Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique Interpol - Antics PJ Harvey - Rid Of Me Sigur Rós - Ágætis Byrjun Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back The Rapture - Echoes Van Morrison - Astral Weeks Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak Edan - Beauty & The Beat David Holmes - Let's Get Killed Queens Of The Stone Age - Rated R

MarkO

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Posts:93

10/3/2006 6:03 AM
quote: Originally posted by aidan 'dog man star' by suede is a wonderful second album, as is 'protection' by massive attack. however, the new scissor sisters album stinks (I loved the first one). I guess 'the second coming' by the stone roses will always be shorthand for second-album syndrome.... Teh thing about 'Second Coming' is that it's a decent album, it's just that it took so long & people were so expectant that it left most people cold. Unfortunately.

crucifixio

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Posts:89

10/3/2006 1:32 PM
I have a few points: "Antics" is not better than "Turn on the Bright Lights" - even though it's brilliant Is "Echoes" not the Rapture's 1st album? - I could be completely ignorant here I can't believe anyone likes Suede - maybe the singer just really annoys me.

Daragh

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Posts:666

10/3/2006 1:39 PM
jesus i never thought of astral weeks as being van's second album, cos of "Them" but yeah, that kicks everyone elses ass. genius.

stroller

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Posts:576

10/3/2006 1:42 PM
quote: Originally posted by crucifixio I have a few points: "Antics" is not better than "Turn on the Bright Lights" - even though it's brilliant Is "Echoes" not the Rapture's 1st album? - I could be completely ignorant here I can't believe anyone likes Suede - maybe the singer just really annoys me. I never said that Antics is better than Turn On The Bright Lights. This post is about classic second albums that manage to match the potential of their debuts. Nobody said that they had to surpass them. Secondly Echoes is the Rapture's second album. They released their debut Mirror in 1999. And finally lots of people like Suede including myself. The Drowners is a great tune.

Gar

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Posts:1676

10/3/2006 1:46 PM
The Frames - Fitzcarraldo

kavobaggins

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Posts:199

10/3/2006 1:53 PM
quote: Originally posted by Daragh jesus i never thought of astral weeks as being van's second album, cos of "Them" but yeah, that kicks everyone elses ass. genius. ` hafta agree with Daragh, I wouldnt have considered it a second album, but s**t, what an album. It would have to be in my Top 3 albums of all time. but hey, thats another thread altogether.

Mully

Advanced Member
Posts:849

10/3/2006 2:05 PM
quote: Originally posted by stroller M Van Morrison - Astral Weeks The 'Citizen Kane' of Irish Albums. Always tops the 'Greatest' lists, even though few have heard it.

Daragh

Advanced Member
Posts:666

10/3/2006 2:26 PM
quote: Originally posted by kavobaggins hafta agree with Daragh, I wouldnt have considered it a second album, but s**t, what an album. It would have to be in my Top 3 albums of all time. but hey, thats another thread altogether. ok so top 3 albums...!

Punchbowl

Basic Member
Posts:205

10/3/2006 3:07 PM
Well, I've just heard 'Sam's Town' by the Killers. It ticks all the boxes by being, A)the second album and, B) difficult. It's a derivative record, complete with faux-Beatles intro tune and condescending drugs-rant (in the form of Uncle Johnny). Sure, the guitars are loud but they're merely sub 'The Edge'. The melodies, which came so easy first time round, are not so well rounded this time and it all throughout it struggles to keep up with the pace set by 'Hot Fuss'. Most of the tunes sound like they're were stolen off the floor from Gary Numans studio and injected with a false swagger and pace. If Brandon Flowers wants to be Bono, maybe he should start going to Lillies and get drunk once in a while. Not a fun record and unlikely to have the Bravery shaking in their Docs...

comet

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Posts:485

10/3/2006 3:42 PM
quote: Originally posted by stroller More great second albums; Whipping Boy - Heartworm TV On The Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain Weezer - Pinkerton De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead Death In Vegas - The Contino Sessions The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow The Chemical Brothers - Dig You Own Hole Hot Chip - The Warning The Pixies - Surfer Rosa Super Furry Animals - Radiator The Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique Interpol - Antics PJ Harvey - Rid Of Me Sigur Rós - Ágætis Byrjun Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back The Rapture - Echoes Van Morrison - Astral Weeks Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak Edan - Beauty & The Beat David Holmes - Let's Get Killed Queens Of The Stone Age - Rated R Impressive list! I was struggling trying to think of some! British Sea Power - Open Season is another I think.

Padre Cruz

New Member
Posts:13

10/3/2006 4:11 PM
Echo and the Bunnymen, Heaven Up Here way ahead of Crocodiles. Dunno bout th 'few have heard Astral Weeks' bit....

Garret

Basic Member
Posts:244

10/3/2006 6:39 PM
Air - Moon Safari Oasis - Whats The Story Morning Glory Joy Division - Closer The Smiths - Meat Is Murder Doves - The Last Broadcast all quality second albums

raoul

New Member
Posts:79

10/3/2006 10:51 PM
...on the other hand there really are plenty of albums that never really lived up to the debut, like the Yeah Yeah Yeah's second album for instance, bit of a let down (imo), or The Strokes second ablum, no where near as good as the first..

Unicron

Veteran Member
Posts:1696

10/4/2006 10:01 AM
Sufjan Steven's second album is pretty difficult.

roadhousemag

Basic Member
Posts:124

10/4/2006 10:12 AM
two things; the bravery are a bag of s**te...they are the type of band that spend their caree playing at fashion shows in front of the royals of monaco and the like.....the ultimate souless hairdo band... on second albums,republic of looses follow up was cool, if alot different to the first album... most thought it was the first album! The Zutons "tired of hangin around" is ok, not as good as the first but still decent enough to lash on and enjoy...

Man in a can

Basic Member
Posts:106

10/4/2006 10:19 AM
I thought Settlers second album was alot better then their first and their first was amazing anyways. They are broken up now but i think they still have stock in Road Records, "Hard Won ,Hard Wired" is the name and its brilliant.

Daragh

Advanced Member
Posts:666

10/4/2006 10:20 AM
yeah forgot about RoL, great second album, very different to the first. Must go stick it on now actually, well i would if i could bring myself to take mighty stef's off!

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