Underrated Second Albums

Music
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You know the score: group/artist’s debut is lauded across the board, then everything goes wrong on their second album. Sometimes that’s fair, sometimes it’s not, and this thread is about the latter. Here’s my two favourite examples:

The Sundays - Blind

Their first album is stunning, and it seems the follow-up got pretty short shrift when it came out. I don’t understand why, as everything on Blind sounds so much more accomplished to me compared to RR&R: the lyrics are more mature, the melodies subtler yet prettier, the mood more expansive and ethereal. I actually wish the UK edition I have didn’t close with their cover version of Wild Horses, as it’s completely unnecessary, a crap song to start with (sorry, Stones fans) and ruins the real end of the album. Goodbye is the main single, and it’s genuinely one of the most incredible songs I’ve ever heard; everything about it sends shivers down my spine.

Cannibal Ox - Blade of the Ronin

Yes, it’s not as good as The Cold Vein, but virtually nothing is. Bill Cosmiq does a fantastic job of creating an El-P esque mood without obviously aping his predecessor’s beats; Vast Aire & Vordul Mega’s lyrics are perhaps a bit more random/esoteric/trivial in places but still compelling. A great array of guest features, including the mighty DOOM on one track: what’s not to love?

(this is a pretty muffled & shitty rip of the track, the album version sounds much bettter)

Your turn!

2 Likes
2

Room On Fire

19 Likes
3

A Weekend in the City by Bloc Party. Is excellent because of its huge overreach rather than in spite of it.

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5

Doesn’t have some of the punch of the debut but lovely melodies and lyrics and harmonies. This one is especially bittersweet

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feel like blade of the ronin is underrated in the sense that a lot of people straight up passed on it (or never realised it existed in the first place) rather than it being a lost classic or something. it’s okay.

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Reasonable Doubt is great obviously, but I think In My Lifetime is a massively underrated record. Might actually prefer it.

1 Like
8

One thousand pictures has got some really affecting songs on it and is the equal of the pete and the pirates debut.

Just as shite, before some patter merchant says it.

9

The Bends. I actually prefer it to Pablo Honey, in many ways.

25 Likes
10

The Bends is underrated actually, but in comparison to what came after rather than what came before.

10 Likes
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Yeah, joking aside I do agree it’s underrated

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13

Islands - Arm’s Way

I think this pretty much killed off any buzz they had after Return to the Sea but I like how it throws everything including the kitchen sink in there

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14

Thought Kelly Lee Owens’ second album was amazing and way better than her debut, most people on here seemed to disagree.

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15

IToSky

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16

GOAT album

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17

100% - Corner of my Sky is a perfect song

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18

I wouldn’t say it’s a lost classic by any means, but I consider it a very good album.

19

Priests’ second album is actually very good if you ignore two meh songs.


edit: these aren’t the two meh songs, these are very good

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20

Always contended that if you liked the first Vines album (and I know a few people on here do, myself included) then there’s really no reason you wouldn’t enjoy the follow up. Heavier than the debut in places, janglier and prettier in places, and has their best song on it

7 Likes
21

METZ’s second album gets lost among the rest but it’s great. Very abrasive and aggressive.

8 Likes