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Bands that had really good first albums that couldn't outdo themselves?

f'nar f'nar

f'nar f'nar

Sep 27, 2004
1,543
20
Melbourne, Australia
#1
This is a thread where everyone can list bands who have, in your opinions, awesome first albums but you were really disappointed in their next studio efforts.

For me, there would have to be threefold.

Franz Ferdinand: their first album was awesome and I can't think of a song that I didn't really enjoy listening too. Their second album however was thoroughly disappointing and they left out a lot of what made their first album a real treat to listen to.

The Killers: Loved their first album, many memorable songs. But I just couldn't get into their second album. It just lacked something, I can't put my finger on what.

Wednesday 13: Transylvania 90210 still one of my favorite albums of all time. Just a great album with comical content but still some hard hitting shock n roll music. The gimmick, the music, the lyrical content were all thoroughly enjoyable. Fang Bang however was a real let down. It did the opposite of what Franz did and added nothing new to the musical mix, nothing to excite me.

Hoping all these bands will have better studio efforts in the future!
 
#5
Boston - The whole album played as 1 song that you just had to turn over in the middle.

The Cars - Candy-O was a good follow up, but nowhere near the original

Pearl Jam - Some great tunes there, then .....

Asia - Still sounds awesome. They've put out 9 albums since (including greatest hits).

The Knack - Yeah, I know.
 
#9
"Journey", Journey's first. This was before they added Steve Perry and became, IMO, over commercialized. Awesome, hard hitting progressive rock, full of extended jams. I have it on vinyl but have no record player. Maybe I'll buy the CD today!
 
#13
Gang of Four - Entertainment! Every song on that album is great, follow up albums had about one decent song each.

English Beat - I Just Can't Stop It.

As for more recent bands, my Ipod has changed the way I listen to music, so I don't really listen to complete records much anymore.
 
#16
Dio.

Not sure if he counts considering he was in his 4th project by the time he did his first solo release, but I thought that Holy Diver stood head and shoulders over anything he released afterwards in terms of songwriting consistency and hooks. I will say that Strange Highways has grown on me in recent years though, I think it was just too far ahead of its time.

I haven't heard his entire solo catalogue but I think that Ian Hunter's first album may have the same quality... again, an established artist who reached fame writing and performing material prior to starting a solo career.

Joan Jett's Bad Reputation album outshines the rest of her material IMO.

Does DGeneration's No Lunch album count? Can we consider their first release with another record company which included songs that got re-recorded for No Lunch just a demo? One of the bands that never got the fame they deserved.

Oh, and going the other direction, does the Dead Boys - Younger Louder and Snottier previously unreleased demo version of Young Loud and Snotty count? It rocks far harder and rawer than the studio classic.
 
#17
*puts on flameproof cloths*

imo metallica... there still a good band and a metal powerhouse but when i listen to there first cd i feel something different then any other cd, they had balls back then and showed them on that cd, then imo they got cocky

im not saying there other stuff is bad, i still like alot of it, its just that i feel Kill em all was an epic display of talent and inovation

dont hurt me :hiding:
 
#18
Flizzy21 said:
*puts on flameproof cloths*

imo metallica... there still a good band and a metal powerhouse but when i listen to there first cd i feel something different then any other cd, they had balls back then and showed them on that cd, then imo they got cocky

im not saying there other stuff is bad, i still like alot of it, its just that i feel Kill em all was an epic display of talent and inovation

dont hurt me :hiding:
Click to expand...

I have to hurt you a little bit =P 'cause really, Ride the lightning, master of puppets? THEY WERE FRIGGIN AWESOME!!

AWESOME!



REALLY!


Anyway, I think this describes many bands today (or maybe it has always been so?). They're lucky with one song, or maybe a couple of tunes on an album, but they just can't become legendary because they cannot repeat the success
 
#19
Qvist said:
I have to hurt you a little bit =P 'cause really, Ride the lightning, master of puppets? THEY WERE FRIGGIN AWESOME!!

AWESOME!



REALLY!


Anyway, I think this describes many bands today (or maybe it has always been so?). They're lucky with one song, or maybe a couple of tunes on an album, but they just can't become legendary because they cannot repeat the success
Click to expand...

K ill give you ride the lightning but i dont feel that master of puppets has AS MANY good songs as the other 2 even though there are amazing songs on that cd aswell
 

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