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

#21
The Mars Volta comes to mind as a band with an amazing first CD. I love their later works as well but Deloused In The Comatorium is definitely a hard thing to beat. They set the bar pretty high. Frances the Mute is awesome, Amputechture is quite an experience, and The Bedlam In Goliath is a fantastic effort a fourth album. All great CDs but they have yet to beat Deloused.

Trust Company also stands out. The Lonely Position of Neutral is absolutely amazing. There isn't a song on that CD that I would skip over. Unfortunately, True Parallels just didn't do much for me. Without a Trace and Slave were very good songs, though.
 
#26
winstonthecat said:
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.
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Good calls. I like the rest of GoF's material more than you do, but your point is well-taken.
Unrepresented said:
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.
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Whoa, I didn't know about this, I'll have to check it out.
Dave Siff said:
Son Volt. Trace is a near-perfect album. IMO, they came very close to matching it with Okemah and the Melody of Riot, but when you step to the first tee and make a hole-in-one, it's gonna be hard to top.
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I like Trace quite a bit more than the other stuff I've heard. But then, to be really unfair, I like Uncle Tupelo's first two records more than anything Farrar or Tweedy have put out on their own. (Though I do like Wilco.)

Dead Kennedys. Fresh Fruit was fantastic, IMO--Jello made his points with humor. They did evolve musically, but the later songs feel more like heavyhanded rants.
 
#27
I'm going to have to say Metallica.

Kill'em All was great. A bit rough around the edges, but that was the albums charm. This was before the douchebaggery that is Modern Metallica was even dreamed of, and all its members were tour bus free.

Ride the Lightning I've never liked. It was an OK album that I think is overhyped, its been a long time since I've listened to it though. There weren't many singable songs on this album. Many TBers, I suspect, love this album not for its great songs, but for the sole reason that its a testament to Cliff's work as a bass player. (I'm not bashing him, I like him, just not the band so much...)

Master of Puppets... possibly the most popular album from Metallica of all time. I didn't find many songs I liked on it, and I thought it was over produced. From there, for me, it was just a continuous downward slide.
 
#29
mikeypbass said:
Jet :bawl: :bawl: :bawl:
Get Born had so many great hits

And now their newish one is soooooooo bad, only one kinda good song :crying: :crying: :crying:
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Really? I think their first album had three good songs, the rest is all filler to me; but their new one is great the whole way through. it took me a while to get into it, but now i think it's actually a big improvement over their first album.
as for the topic... definitely pearl jam and GnR.
 
#31
This seems to happen a lot. I think it's because when a band releases its first album, they've been refining that material probably for many years, and they've distilled it down to some really good stuff. Their second album is usually rushed out to cash in on the first album's success. If a band's second album is as good as or better than the first, they're probably going to have a longer career.

I agree with most bands listed (except, IMHO Coldplay). I especially agree with the Killers.

Also, Third Eye Blind's debut album was really good (overplayed? you bet)...but everything after disappointed.
 
#33
GregC said:
Whoa, I didn't know about this, I'll have to check it out.
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It's subtitled "The Rough Mixes" and was released by Bomp! records in 1997 in case you're trying to look it up.

I think it holds up much better than the studio version...
MuzikMan said:
Totally Guns n' Roses! Appetite for destruction was killer from start to finish but after that..................***?
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I am a huge Gn'R fan and I respectfully disagree. I personally prefer the Illusion era material over the Appetite/Lies stuff.

I think they made huge steps forward in songwriting after Appetite.
 
#38
fretlessman71 said:
-1. I thought "A Rush Of Blood To The Head" was fantastic. X&Y tried a bit too hard, though. From what I've heard from the new one, I think we can expect great things.
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I concur, the new album is great. Different but great.

Ill have to say Funeral for a Friend CDIC was awesome, Hours was ok, TDTS was awful. Its like everything was dumbed down and they left the aggressive riffage from the previous albums. The new album isnt much better, Waterfront Danceclub (stupid name) was ok but i heard another song and it sounds like some cheesy filler song. Its too bad because they were really unique now they are just cliche.And Gareth's bass tone on the new stuff is really good since he switched to Aguilar...

the Futureheads and Franz Ferdinand also come to mind..
 
#39
Grateful said:
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.
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I agree with most of your choices, I was gonna add my own and saw your submission.

I'd add...
Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bullocks (well, they only had one album)
 
#40
GeneralElectric said:
I'm going to have to say Metallica.

Kill'em All was great. A bit rough around the edges, but that was the albums charm. This was before the douchebaggery that is Modern Metallica was even dreamed of, and all its members were tour bus free.

Ride the Lightning I've never liked. It was an OK album that I think is overhyped, its been a long time since I've listened to it though. There weren't many singable songs on this album. Many TBers, I suspect, love this album not for its great songs, but for the sole reason that its a testament to Cliff's work as a bass player. (I'm not bashing him, I like him, just not the band so much...)

Master of Puppets... possibly the most popular album from Metallica of all time. I didn't find many songs I liked on it, and I thought it was over produced. From there, for me, it was just a continuous downward slide.
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YEA, my savior right there, gets the attention off of me ;)
 

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