This may be a little obsessive, but I’m pretty sure I’m right about these:

Velvet Underground, White Light, White Heat
Nico, The Marble Index
Lou Reed, Transformer

Police, Regatta de Blanc
Wilco, Being There
Beastie Boys, Paul’s Boutique
Morcheeba, Big Calm
Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream
Meat Puppets, Meat Puppets II

Neil Young, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

I have to go with “Led Zeppelin II.” It was a vast improvement over the first one.

I’d also argue that “Ride the Lightning” by Metallica was light years beyond the thrash of “Kill ‘Em All.”

And on a different note, I’d like to mention that Clay Aiken’s “Merry Christmas with Love” was a huge improvement over “Measure of a Man.”

David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold The World”

Queen’s “Queen II”

Bob Dylan’s “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”

Foo Fighters’ “The Colour & The Shape”

Stone Temple Pilots’ “Purple”

How about:
Van Morrison’s Moondance
The Band’s The Band

Marah – Kids in Philly
Uncle Tupelo – Still Feel Gone

Rickie Lee Jones, “Pirates”
Bonnie Raitt, “Give It Up”
James Taylor, “Sweet Baby James”
Richard Buckner, “Devotion and Doubt”
Carole King, “Tapestry”

Neil Young’s Everybody knows this is nowhere

fun house is the best album. first last second fifth whatever….

i was going to list STP “Purple”…glad someone already did!

Pixies – Surfer Rosa (if you count Come on Pilgrim as a full length) or Doolittle – either is fantastic.

Bruce “Wild, the innocent…”
The Band “The Band”
Weezer “Pinkerton”

bob dylan-freewheeling
NIN-downwar d spiral

The Libertines – The Libertines
Sam Roberts – Chemical City

Though I’ll go with Oasis as having the best second album

System of A Down: Toxicity

Led Zeppelin, II
Cream, Disreali Gears
Bob Dylan, Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
Pearl Jam, Vs.
The Doors, Strange Days

C’mon!!! “London Calling,” is THE seminal second offering of the punk era!

Shadows Fall The War Within
Tool – Aenima
Alice In Chains – Dirt
Pearl Jam – Vs.
Metallica – Ride the Lightning
White Stripes – De Stijl

don’t see the reason zep is one here, zep one was better than two, number one on this list has to be the bends

How about:
Pearl Jam, Vs
Ben Harper, Fight For Your Mind
Dave Matthews Band, Crash
Kings Of Leon, Aha Shake Heartbreak
311, Grassroots

Pearl Jam Vs. once again slighted

Pearl Jam, Vs
Nirvana, Nevermind
Radiohead, The Bends

The Bends is a much underappreciated breakthrough from Pablo Honey and in my opinion is the best Radiohead album. Nirvana and PJ speak for themselves.

Gotta have Pearl Jam’s Vs. included

Wilco- “Being There”
Pavement- “Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain”
Neutral Milk Hotel- “In The Aeroplane Over The Sea”
Beastie Boys- “Paul’s Boutique”
Belle and Sebastian- “If You’re Feeling Sinister”
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- “Show Your Bones”

Gotta be Pearl Jam Vs.

The Band – The Band
Jane’s Addiction – Ritual De lo Habitual
Pearl Jam – Vs.
The Tragically HIp – Up to Here
Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel
Eric Clapton – 451 Ocean Boulevard

Next week why don’t you do a “Best Follow-Ups” list? Like, Wish You Were Here for Pink Floyd, Houses of the Holy for Led Zeppelin, Magical Mystery Tour for the Beatles–all follow-ups to the groups’ “best” albums.

Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dreams
Pearl Jam – Vs
Soundgarden – Superunknown
Nirvana – Nevermind (obviously)
Three very very good second albums

“Clouds” by Joni Mitchell
“Meat Is Murder” by The Smiths
“The Marble Index” by Nico
“Lionheart” by kate Bush
“Under the Pink” by Tori Amos
“Not So Soft” by Ani DiFranco
“Rid of Me” by PJ Harvey
“Radio Ehiopia” by Patti Smith
“Poses” by Rufus Wainwright
“The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” by Bob Dylan

Steely Dan – Countdown to Ecstacy
The Band – The Band
Neil Young – Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
Van Morrison – Astral Weeks
A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory

Well, at least one person remembered Siamese Dream.

Muse “Origin of Symetry”
Pearl Jam “Vs”
Weezer “Pinkerton
Beastie Boys “Paul’s Boutique”
Radiohead “The Bends”

Live – Throwing Copper
Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way

Awww Zeppelin I killsss Zeppelin II.
I’d go with Radiohead’s The Bends for sure.

Grateful Dead “Anthem of the Sun”
Jimi Hendrix Experience “Electric Ladyland”
13th Floor Elevators “Easter Everywhere”
Dave Matthews Band “Under the Table and Dreaming”
Cream “Disraeli Gears”

I know the EP “Broken” preceded it but I would say for a second full LP NIN’s “The Downward Spiral” should be strongly considered. Gorillaz’s “Demon Days” is another one; Deftones’ “Around the Fur;” Tool’s “AEnima;” The Smiths’ “Meat is Murder,” “Zeppelin 2″ and “Funhouse” take the prizes though..

You have to go The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

Pearl jam-Vs, no doubt.

Radiohead, The bends
Tool, Aenima
Alice in chains, Dirt
The smashing pumpkins, siamese dreams
Eminem, The Marshal Matters LP

Little Feat-Sailin’Shoes
Mothers of Invention-Absolutely Free
X-Wild Gift
Warren Zevon-Warren Zevon

christina aguilera, “stripped”
pearl jam, “vs.”

Just wondering wasn’t Parallel Lines Blondies 3rd Album?

Blondie, Plastic Letters then Parallel Lines?

Oh and my vote goes to weezer Pinkerton

Tears For Fears – “Songs From The Big Chair”

Weezer – “Pinkerton”

Gorillaz – “Demon Days”

Coldplay – “A Rush Of Blood To The Head”

Ben Folds Five – “Whatever & Ever, Amen”

Beck – “Odelay” (If you count “Mellow Gold” as his first official release)

Supergrass – “In It For The Money”

Modest Mouse – “Lonesome Crowded West”

U2 – “October” (yeah, I said it)

Pavement-”crooked rain, crooked rain”

Fiona Apple’s “when the pawn…”
eels “Electro Shock Blues”
and apparently The Killer’s second album will be one of the best albums of the last twenty years so maybe you can count that one early (scoff scoff)

Nirvana, Nevermind
Radiohead, The Bends
Eminem, The Marshall Mathers
The Strokes, Room on Fire
System of a Down, Toxicity

I’m all about the 90’s, but I’m working on it… sorry

TOOL, Aenema
Nirvana, Nevermind
Kyuss, Blues for the Red Sun
Smashing Pumpkins, Siamese Dream
Radiohead, the Bends
Matthew Good, Beautiful Midnight
Beasty Boys, Paul’s Botique
Nine Inch Nails, Downward Spiral
Metallica, Ride the Lightning
Led Zeppelin, Zep II
Queens of the Stone Age, R
Coldplay, Rush of Blood
…Trail of Dead, Madonna
Marilyn Manson, Antichrist Superstar
The Pixies, Doolittle
Hole, Live Through This

Live – Throwing Copper
Radiohead – The Bends
Ash – 1977

Neil Young- Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Pearl Jam Vs. ….how come this album keeps getting un-noticed? the majority of the ppl. who have posted a comment have listed this album. Once again, PJ getting overshadowed by over hyped Nirvana.

billy joel – piano man
the streets – a grand don’t come for free
my bloody valentine – isn’t anything
nwa – straight outta compton
wire – chairs missing
new order – power corruption and lies
happy mondays – bummed

Ok, sad but true…

Britney Spears, Oops… I Did It Again
-Great, much much better than the first!

Also….

India. Arie- Voyage To India
Norah Jones- Feels Like Home
Sheryl Crow- Sheryl Crow
Erykah Badu- Mama’s Gun
Coldplay- A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Destiny’s Child- The Writing On The Wall
D’Angelo- Voodoo
Distpatch- Silent Steeples
Nelly Furtado- Folklore

here’s a couple

“nevermind” nirvana
“a rush of blood to the head” coldplay
“it takes a nation of millions to hold us back” public enemy
“the lower end theory” tribe called quest
“(what’s the story)morning glory” oasis
“odelay” beck
“de la soul is dead” de la soul
“the score” the fugees
“demon days” gorillaz
“late registration” kanye west
“40 oz to freedom” sublime

All of these bands were inspired and influenced by the Beatles 2nd British release “With The Beatles” Listen and learn.

oh damn…i forgot about “the bends”…radiohead…

Tarkus / Emerson, Lake&Palmer
The Beatles / With The Beatles

I agree with ones stated already (Purple, Siamese Dream, Vs, the Bends)…here are ones no one said yet:
Pennywise – Unknown Road
Audioslave – Out of Exile
Failure – Magnified
Hum – You’d Prefer an Astronaut
Green Day – Kerplunk
Jimmy Eat World – Clarity

Pearl Jam–Vs.
Radiohead–The Bends
Smashing Pumpkins–Siamese Dream
Live–Throwing Copper
Coldplay–A Rush of Blood to the Head

My vote goes to either

Crash-Dave Matthews Band

The Bends-Radiohead

Big Brother and the Holding Company “Cheap Thrills”
Jefferson Airplane “Surrealistic Pillow”
The Cure “17 seconds”

I meant Under the Table and Dreaming

Crash is their third album

Joy Division “closer”
the Doors “Soft Parade”

Phish “Lawn Boy”
Widespread Panic “Widespread Panic”
Love “Da Capo”

I can’t believe nobody has listed this album -

Make Yourself – Incubus.

Oh yeah, this site is full of deaf readers who don’t know good music when they hear it… Nuff said -

nobody has mentioned “Reckoning” by R.E.M. yet? C’mon people!

Im amazed no one has said AIC Dirt it was far better than facelift which was still a pretty good album.

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: East – West

Faith No More- Angel Dust
(2nd album with Mike Patton)

Nine Inch Nails- The Downward Spiral

Radiohead- The Bends

Failure- Fantastic Planet

Led Zeppelin- II

Alice In Chains- Dirt

De Stijl is unquestionably the greatest follow up album of all time. There should not even need to be a list like this with albums like that in this world. Kick Out The Jams! Long Live Meg White and John Gillis!

kiss – hotter than hell
pink floyd – a saucerful of secrets
metallica – ride the lightning

Korn, Life is Peachy (definitely!)
Days of the New, Green
Pearl Jam, VS
Tool, Aenima

offspring-ignition!

Pearl Jam – VS
Eminem – Marshall Mathers LP
Outkast – ATLiens
Nirvana – Nevermind

Just wanna say that The Bends is the best album from the first (Pablo Honey) by leaps and bounds musically, lyrically, and overall effort.
Laters

Radiohead-The Bends

311 – Grassroots
Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
Simon and Garfunkel – Sounds of Silence
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Pearl Jam – Vs.
Screaming Trees – Sweet Oblivion
Oasis – What’s The Story Morning Glory?
Cake – Fashion Nugget
Flogging Molly – Drunken Lullabies
Green Day – Kerplunk
Rage – Evil Empire
Radiohead – The Bends
The Zutons – Tired of Hanging Around

Also Nevermind, but that’s a given

Definetly more advanced then the first and it shows how well The Band can function without Dylan. Also Robbie’s writing talent began to emerge.

The Band – The Band

I’m really really suprised no one has listed these yet:
+BLACK SABBATH-PARANOID!!!!
Kyuss-Blues for the Red Sun
The Bad Brains-Bad Brains (’82)
If rollingstone has any balls left whatsoever they’ll have black sabbath somewhere in the lineup-seeing as that without Sabbath and Zeppelin rock would be even worse off than it is now.

Primus – Frizzle fry
Helmet – Meantime
Alice in chains – Dirt
Beastie boys – Paul’s boutique

Whoops…sent it on accident…
Besides Radiohead…
NIRVANA-Nevermin d
SMASHING PUMPKINS- Saimese Dream
STROKES- Room on Fire (Much better than Is This It contrary to popular opinion…why don’t people notice that?)
OASIS-What’s the Story(Morning Glory)- (Also much better than debut in my opinion)
COLDPLAY-Rush of Blood
KINGS OF CONVENIENCE-Riot On An Empty Street
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE-Evil Empire
METALLICA-Ride the Lightning
SIGUR ROS-Agaetis Byrjun

1. The Beatles- With the Beatles
2. Public Enemy- It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
3. Radiohead- The Bends
4. Iggy Pop- Lust for Life
5. Weezer- Pinkerton
6. Black Sabbath- Paranoid
7. Pavement- Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
8. Big Star- Radio City
9. Jimi Hendrix- Axis: Bold As Love
10. Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

1. Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
2. Radiohead – The Bends
3. Jellyfish – Split Milk
4. Wilco – Being There
5. Led Zeppelin – II
6. Jimi Hendrix – Axis:Bold as Love
7. Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
8. Sigur Ros – Agaetis Byrjun
9. Coldplay – Rush of Blood to the Head
10. Dave Matthews Band – Under the Table and Dreaming

Arcade Fire -> Funeral (if you consider their initial EP as the first)

New Pornographers -> Electric Vision

Coldplay -> A Rush of Blood to the Head (love ‘em or hate em, AROBTH was an astonishing acheivement compared to Parachutes more folky nature)

Pearl Jam -> Vs (I STILL maintain that musically, this is better than 10!….10 just hogs all the sentimental-nostalgia )

I mean

New Pornographers -> Electric Version (not vision)

Pearl Jam
Vs

Blue October, Consent to Treatment

Ones I haven’t seen listed yet:

Garbage – Version 2.0
Idlewild – 100 Broken Windows
Beth Orton – Central Reservation
The Chemical Brothers – Dig Your Own Hole
The Dandy Warhols – Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia
The Deftones – Around the Fur
Luscious Jackson – Natural Ingredients
Sleater-Kinney – Call The Doctor
Tegan and Sara – So Jealous
Travis – The Man Who
Velocity Girl – Simpatico

Sigur Ros- Agaetis Byrjun
SOAD-Toxicity
The Hives-Your New Favourite Band
TV on the Radio-Return to Cookie Mountain
At The Drive In-In Casino Out
Broken Social Scene-Self Titled
Dr.Dre-2001 (uh huh, thats right)
JadaKiss-Kiss of Death
Minus the Bear-Minos El Oso
Stars-Set Yourself on Fire

with out a doubt…beastie boys, pauls boutique

Living Colour- Time’s Up
311- Grassroots
Metallica- Ride The Lightning
Deftones-Around The Fur
Pantera- Vulgar Display Of Power

PEARL JAM-Vs without question
TRIBE CALLED QUEST- Midnight Muraders
ALICE IN CHAINS-DIRT
MOBB DEEP-INFAMOUS are you kidding me

Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Ramones – Leave Home
The Stooges – Fun House
Public Image Limited – Metal Box

This doesn’t seem to serve much of a prpose imo… it seems more like a listing of second albums more than a bona fide top whatever..

GIVE REASONS!

Oh yeah, nice call Curt Dawgg…forgot about GARBAGE-2.0

Jesus and Mary Chain – Darklands
Janes Addiction – Nothing’s Shocking
De La Soul – De La Soul is Dead
Beastie Boys – Pauls Boutique
Beck – Odelay
Blackalicious – Blazing Arrow
David Holmes – Lets Get Killed

Bjork – Post
The Cranberries – No Need to Argue

This Year’s Model
Labour of Lust
The Wild and the Innocent
Grievous Angel

Neil Young – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

but… Parallel Lines isn’t Blondie’s second album ?!

Nirvana, Nevermind
Pearl Jam, Vs
Muse, Origin of Symetry
Prodigy, the fat of the land
Alice in chains, Dirt

And how come nobody told this one yet:
Michael Jackson, Thriller

MY Top 3

#3. R. Kelly .. 12 play
#2. Notorious BIG .. Life After Death
#1 Mary J Blige .. My Life

JEEZ! I can’t beleive I forgot MJ’s Thriller!!! Sorry…last comment…

What I find interesting abuot the lists below is that “2nd album” is used rather liberally. A lot of these bands (especially the more recent ones) had many albums before the ones listed here.

At any rate, the only one I would add is:

Elliott Smith – Elliott Smith

Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

Cracker’s Kerosene Hat- something for any mood. Must disagree with Being There, not much improvement (if any) over A.M.

Nirvana
[NeverMind] all the wayy

how the F*** doesn’t Vs. make the equation and your editors choose “What’s The Story Morning Glory” which is utterly ballast…

Neil Young, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Beastie Boys, Paul’s Boutique
Dire Straits, Communique

Springsteen was the first one to come to mind, someone mentioned Dylan, GREAT choice, how about Aerosmith, I still think Get Your Wings is their finest. Hole was a great choice, Rickie Lee Jones – Pirates, Warren Zevon – Excitable Boy, I don’t count Wanted Dead or Alive as his first record, neither did Warren, a lot would disagree, but Pearl Jam, I thought vs. was far superios to Ten, and Wilco – Being There, to me the best record of the 90’s.

Freaky Style – RHCP
Truth and Soul – Fishbone
Millions Now Living Will Never Die – Tortoise

I was putting STP’s “Purple” and saw it already there

Def Leppard – High n Dry
Fu Manchu – King of the Road
RATM – Evil Empire
Train – Drops of Jupiter

I’m stretching the rules just a little, but “Rumours” was Fleetwood Mac’s second album with Stevie and Lindsey.

Also:
Live / Throwing Copper
Rufus Wainwright / Poses

Nick Drake-Bryter Layter
Wilco- Being There
Eagles- Desparado
Van Morrison- Astral Weeks

Wilco – Being There
The Strokes – Room On Fire
The Walkmen – Bows&Arrows
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream

Ps-The greatest opening track to a 2nd album from an overhyped band (which they’d even tell you they were) is “What Ever Happened” on Room On Fire. Its a swift kick in the ass.

Janet Jackson

Rhythm Nation 1814

Janets best and most timeless album.

A lot of 90s bands really hit their stride on their second albums:
Nirvana – Nevermind
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dreams
Alice In Chains – Dirt
Live – Throwing Copper (now come one, this one has to be on there as the songs were so well recieved and it’s essentially a pinnical 90s album)
Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
Collective Soul – Collective Soul
Foo Fighters – The Color and the Shape
Prodigy – The Fat of the Land
Sloan – Twice Removed
And of course Pearl Jam – Vs. (now come on Rolling Stone, you put Eddie on the cover this month, don’t go back to shutting them out. Record sales and innovation combinded should easily have this album on the list).

P!nk Missundaztood

P!nk proved that she was not a britney copycat with this album. She resurrected Linda Perrys career and showed she had a rock side to her with songs like Just Like A Pill.

Neil Young, Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
Wilco, Being There
Siamese Dream
what y’all said

- Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Show Your Bones
- Coldplay’s A Rush of Blood to the Head
- John Mayer’s Heavier Things

All of their debut albums were good, of course, but they just keep getting better! Especially the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which is evident by “Turn Into” alone.

Eminem- Marshall Mathers
Christina- Stripped
Kelly Clarkson- Breakaway
Boyz II Men- Boyz II Men
Michelle Branch- Hotel Paper

COLDPLAY-RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD

Modest Mouse-LCW
Neutral Milk Hotel-In the aeroplane over the sea
Built to spill-Perfect from now on
McLusky-Mclusky Do Dallas

BTW, Dave Matthews Band’s second album was Under the Table and Dreaming, not Crash. The order goes:

1. Remember Two Things
2. Under the Table and Dreaming
3. Crash

Under the Table and Dreaming would belong on the list, though! Most definitely.

Pearl Jam’s 2nd album… VS.

smashing pumpkins – siamese dream

I agree with most of your picks, but these should be considered as well in my opinion.

Wilco, Being There
Ryan Adams, Gold
Weezer, Pinkerton

Oasis – (what’s the story) morning glory?
Coldplay – a rush of blood to the head

I always loved Stone Temple Pilots 2nd album. The classic example of a band finding their sound.

Hard to argue with Beastie Boys too.

black keys “thickfreakness”

not only is this a great album, but they recorded it in one day, and you can literally feel the rawness listening to this album. amzing and brilliant music. the most underrated band out there right now.

Malkmus – Pig Lib
Pavement – Crooked River … or whatever their second album was.

pavement- Crooked rain , Crooked rain. Radiohead the bends Lou Reed transformer and astrel weeks are good ones. But after repeat listens coldplays cd become a rush of boredom to the head.

Phish: Lawnboy
Beastie Boys: Paul’s Boutique
Pearl Jam: VS
Neil Young: Everybody knows this is nowhere
Hendrix: Axis: Bold as Love
Weezer: Pinkerton
Foo Fighters: The Colour and Shape
Eagles: Desperado

Hands down “Siamese Dream” by Smashing Pumpkins. Such an amazing album and huge improvement over “Gish.”

surfer rosa – pixies
low end theory – tribe called qwest

nevermind, odelay, dig your own hole, agaetis byrjun, what’s the story morning glory?, the downward spiral, de stijl…all great second albums, but i believe the very best second album would be the bends…

Ghostface Killah- SupremeClientele
Cee-Lo- Cee-Lo Green is a soul machine
gorillaz- demon days

That’s easy, “Late Registration” by Kanye West…

HAHAHAHA! Just kidding .

Pearl Jam – Vs.
Beastie Boys – Pauls Boutique
Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (siamese dreams was thier first right?)
Beck – Odelay
311 – Grassroots

The Pixies, Surfer Rosa

hmmm….
Greenday-American Idiot
Good Charlotte-The Young & The Hopeless
the Living End-State Of Emergency
Nirvana-Nevermind
Black Sabbath-Paranoid

also… public enemy, it takes a nation of millions to hold us back

Okay Gish was first, but Green Day’s sophomore album is Dookie. Give me a break on calling Smoothed Out Slappy hour their debut.

Hole – Live Through This
White Stripes – De Stijl
Jane’s Addiction – Nothing’s Shocking
Nirvana – Nevermind
PJ Harvey – Rid Of Me
Mars Volta – Frances the Mute
Talking Heads – More Songs About Buildings and Food
The Dirtbombs – Ultraglide in Black
Blue Oyster Cult – Tyranny and Mutation
Hank Williams III – Lovesick, Broke and Driftin’

(Note to other posters: Jane’s Addiction’s Ritual de lo Habitual and The Clash’s London Calling were both third albums, not second)

Let’s glam it up a bit….

David Bowie – Man Who Sold The World
Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure
Duran Duran – Rio

I can’t believe Collective Soul self-titled was only mentioned by 1 other person. That rocks from start to finish.

In no particular order. Here are my Top 10:

Queens of the Stoneage|Rated R
Pearl Jam|VS
Alice -n- Chains|Dirt
Motley Crue|Shout at the Devil
The Cult|Electric
Kyuss|Blues for the Red Sun
Black Sabbath|Paranoid
Janes Addiction|Ritual De Lo Habitual
NIN|Broken
Soundgar den|Loud Love

1. Oasis (What’s the Story)Morning Glory?

2. PJ Harvey Rid Of Me

3. Pixies Surfer Rosa or Doolittle(depending on if you count Come on Pilgrim as an LP)

4. Velvet Underground White Light White Heat

5. Radiohead The Bends

6. Joy Division Closer

7. Fiona Apple When the Pawn…

8. Jefferson Airplane “Surrealistic Pillow”

9. Nirvana Nevermind

10. Wire Chairs Missing

Can’t believe no one has mentioned The Black Crowes’ Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. There ain’t a dog on that sucker. Solid songwriting not to mention some great rat tat tat from Steve Gorman … that guy’s as important as the Robinson Bros.
And I concur of course Neil and Crazy Horse … Everybody Knows This is Nowhere.

Interpol “Antics”

Metals Best Sophmore Albums:

Iron Maiden, Killers

Metallica, Ride the Lightening

Pantera, Vulgar Display of Power

Guns N’ Roses, Use Your Illusions I & II if you count that as a sophmore effort

AC/DC, Let There Be Rock

greatest album ever is a 2nd:
Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

also notables:
My Morning Jacket – At Dawn
Joy Division – Closer
Olivia Tremor Control – Black Foliage
T.Rex – Electric Warrior (if you don’t count Tyrannosaurus Rex albums)

Follow up Nuggets: The Best of 60s Garage Rock’s 2nd Helpings….

Love – Da Capo
13th Floor Elevators – Easter Everywhere
Electric Prunes – Underground

Aenima by Tool

Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins

Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails (although if you count Broken it’s the third album)(and Pretty Hate Machine WAS really good…just a suggestion)

When the Pawn… by Fiona Apple – so much better than Tidal

Pink Floyd: Animals
The White Stripes: Elephant
AC/DC: Back In Black
Jethro Tull: Aqualung
Sister Hazel: Lift
The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour
Led Zeppelin: IV
The Who: Tommy

Pearl Jam “VS” – The greatest 2nd offering of all time

Radiohead – The Bends

Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream

Sublime – 40 oz of freedom

Alice In Chains – Dirt

The Strokes – Room on Fire

The Alarm – Strength (if you don’t count the EP)
Tori Amos – Under the Pink
Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
Bjork – Post
Def Leppard – High n Dry
Enuff Z’Nuff – Strength
Husker Du – Zen Arcade
King’s X – Gretchen Goes To Nebraska
Our Lady Peace – Clumsy
Faith No More – The Real Thing

Top 20 (Not in any order)
1.The Mars Volta- Frances the Mute
2.Pearl Jam- VS
3.Sum 41- All Killer No Filler
4.Coheed and Cambria- In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
5.Led Zeppelin- Led Zeppelin II
6.System of a Down- Toxicity
7.Gorillaz- Demon Days
8.Linkin Park- Meterora
9.Fugazi- Repeater + 3 Songs
10.Nirvana- Nevermind
11.The Mooney Suzuki- Alive and Amplified
12.Rage Against the Machine- Evil Empire
13.Weezer- Pinkerton
14.Lynrd Skynrd- Second Helping
15.Oasis- What’s the Story Morning Glory?
16.The Beatles- With the Beatles
17.Eric Clapton- 461 Ocean Blvd.
18.The Police-Reggatta de Blanc
19.The Strokes- Room on Fire
20.Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Show Your Bones

- The Cure: Seventeen Seconds
- Caifanes: El Diablito
- Cafe Tacuba: Re
- Nirvana: Nevermind
- Coldplay: A rush…
- Pearl Jal: VS
- Heroes del Silencio: Entre dos Tierras

Pearl Jam- “Vs”
Smashing Pumpkins- Siamese Dream
Alice in Chains- Dirt
NIN- Downward Spiral

Radiohead – the bends
Pixies – Doolittle(Come On Pilgrim doesn’t count)
Meat Puppets – II
Nirvana – Nevermind (In Utero is their best and one of the greatest ever without a doubt)
Led Zeppelin’s – II
The Stooges – Fun House
The Constantines – Shine A light(Yeah, thats right you haven’t heard of them)
I’d love to put a Stripes album but ‘De Stijl’ is there worst although I do love it
The Velvet Underground – White LIght/White Heat

New Order- Power, Corruption and Lies
Prefuse 73 – One Word Extinguisher
SLINT – spiderland
The sisters of Mercy – Floodland
Weezer – Pinkerton
QOTSA – Rated R
N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton
Gorillaz – Demon Days
DAFT PUNK – Discovery
and, maybe a strech but they did have some E.Ps first so
Boards of Canada – Music Has The Right To children

THE BLACK CROWES – Southern Harmony And Musical Companion. CANT BELIEVE THAT HAS NOT BE SAID!!!! Total classic

kings of leon – aha shake heartbreak

good recent 2nd effort…

also,

blind melon – soup
brad – interiors
porno for pyros – good gods urge

I haven’t read the whole list, but I doubt many people are listing Marilyn Manson’s Antichrist Superstar (if you’re not counting the Smells Like Children EP, which I’m not) and it deserves mention.

Also, how about Dead Kennedy’s “Plastic Surgery Disasters”, QOTSA’s “Rated R” and The White Stripes’ “De Stijl”?

Blur – Modern Life Is Rubbish

My Bloody Valentine – Loveless

Rated R – Queens of the Stone Age

Lou Reed – Transformer
The Band – The Band
Nico – The Marble Index
Joy Division – Closer
New Order – Power, Corruption, and Lies
Prince – Prince
Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Sleater Kinney – Call the Doctor
Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
Van Morrison – Astral Weeks
Carole King – Tapestry
Curtis Mayfield – Roots
Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure
Pixies – Doolittle
Metallica – Ride the Lightning
Iggy Pop – Lust For Life
The Rolling Stones – 12 x 5
Neil Young – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Weezer – Pinkerton
White Stripes – De Stijl

Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Nuff said.

The Strokes- Room on Fire!
Collective Soul should’ve been mentioned more!
Michael Jackson-Thriller
Radiohead-Be nds
Sigur Ros-Agaetis Byrjun
Kings of Convenience- Riot on an Empty Street…doesn’t anyone know about them??

did anyone mention Sleater-Kinney, Call the Doctor? Carrie jumping in on vocals, awesome album.

Beck’s Odelay.

Yeah, yeah, he had that crappy folk album and that crappy noise album, but this was the real follow-up.

Also, if some douche stole my brain and posted this before I got a chance, to him– her too, chicks can time-steal too– I say, “Touche, Douche.”

WTF!! no one mentioned Freak Show by Silverchair it rocks!!

What about Ryan Adams’ second solo album “Gold”? His debut “Heartbreaker” had the twangy “To Be Young” and other songs which continue his alt-country sound from Whiskeytown. “Gold” finds Adams advancing to a style that is more his own–a move similar to his hero Bob Dylan. “La Cienega Just Smiled” is a beautiful song. “When the Stars Go Blue” has a rare raspy tenderness. “Nobody Girl” is a pure pleasure–go back to the RS review. And “Harder Now That It’s Over” is one of the best our-love-went-bad-so-I’m-in-ja il-now songs of all time.

Now I could be wrong…but wasn’t Tragic Kingdom No Doubt’s second? If so why has nobody mentioned that?? As for the others, I agree with the usuals…radiohead, smashing pumpkins, nirvana, and strokes too.

Its damn near impossible to think that any album will ever come close to the perfection of Guns N Roses Appetite for Destruction, unarguably the greatest rock n roll cd ever conceived, but GnR’s follow up, titled Guns N Roses: Lies, is as good as a debut cd could ever be with songs like Patience, Used to Love her, and the crown jewel of the cd, One in a Million…

Weezer – Pinkerton

The band’s self-produced sophomore set is one of the most earnest rock records ever. This album affected a generation in its unique sound and plaintive lyrics. A stark contrast to the Blue Album.

Kings Of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak

This is a pretty good list, if I may say so.

Smashing Pumpkins: Siamese Dream
Beastie Boys: Paul’s Boutique
Bjork: Post
The Streets: A Grand Don’t Come for Free
Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin Bob Dylan
Bright Eyes: Fevers and Mirrors
M83: Before the Dawn Heals Us
Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP
My Bloody Valentine: Loveless
Notorius B.I.G.: Life after Death
Air: Moon Safari (Premiers Symptomes is an album in my book)
Daft Punk: Discovery
Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works 85-92

zeppelin 3 is better than 1 and 2. and hendrix’s 2nd album was axis: bold as love, not electric ladyland. Besides, his best work was First Rays of the New Rising Sun.

How stupid can you all be? Doesn’t anyone know their music properly? Learn the histories of the artists you like, and stop being poseurs who don’t know anything about music.

Green Day’s second album was not American Idiot. No Doubt’s second album was not Tragic Kingdom. They are, and will remain, Dookie and The Beacon Street Collection. But Nevermind is the clear choice here.

The Band-The Band
Neil Young-Everybody Knows
Graham Parker-Heat Treatment (or Howlin’ Wind…one of those is the second release!)
Elvis Costello-This Year’s Model
Bob Dylan-Freewheelin’
Steely Dan-Countdown
Van Morrison-Moondance
U2-October
Bruce Springsteen-Wild, Innocent…
Boston-Don’t Look Back (no kidding!)
Richard and Linda Thompson-I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Rickie Lee Jones-Pirates

So many!

Just a thought: It seems most of the great bands of the 60’s and 70’s generally didn’t hit their peak (beatles, the who, stones, even dylan) until later albums – while 80s and 90s bands did. . . i blame mtv for spreading the music out – those bastards.

“Loveless”, anyone?

Oasis- Morning Glory
Led Zep II
New Order- Power, Corruption and Lies
Gorillaz- Demon Days
Joy Division- Closer

a “final thought” – Nirvana and Nevermind – the most overrated band and album, respectively, of all time.

Metallica – Ride The Lightning is a huge improvement over Kill ‘Em All

Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have It So Much Better, not a single bad song there

STP – Purple also an improvement over Core

1.- Dredg – El Cielo (The best one ever!!!!!!!!!!)
2-.- Tool – Aenima
3.- Garbage – Version 2.0
4.- Led Zeppelin – II
5.- Cafe Tacva – Re
6.- Paulson – All at once
7.- Michael Jackson – Thriller
8.- Radiohead – The Bends
9.- Neil Young- Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
10.- Pearl Jam, Vs.

DREDG “EL CIELO” BY FAAAAAAAAAR

Nine inch nails-broken
pavement-crooked rain

Yeah, the one by dredg is fu”·$ng amazing..

El cielo..

Metallica – Ride the Lightining
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Velvet Underground – White Light, White Heat

rise against – revolutions per minute

good riddance – comprehensive guide to modern rebellion

two of my favorites not mentioned

13th Floor Elevators – Easter Everywhere

Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow (One of the BEST albums of all time)

Black Crowes – Southern Harmony and the Musical Companion

Neil Young – Everybody Knows This is Nowhere

Allman Brothers Band – Idlewild South

The Band – The Band

Zappa and the Mothers of Invention – Absolutely Free

Traffic – Traffic

The Doors – Strange Days

Buffalo Springfield – Buffalo Springfiled Again (One of the BEST ever)

The Byrds – Turn!Turn!Turn!

Pearl Jam – Vs.

Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Dredg, El Cielo (Haven’t hear anything like it)

Drdeg …….. El cielo

Alice In Chains- Dirt
Pantera- Vulgar Display of Power
Metallica- Ride the Lightning
AC/DC- Let There Be Rock
Neil Young- Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Led Zeppelin- Led Zeppelin II

nirvana is the best good pick!!!!!! you all rock

How about Blind Melon Soup. Very underrated album by a very underrated band.

coldplay – a rush of blood to the head.
Gin Blossoms – Congratulations i’m sorry
Incubus – S.C.I.E.N.C.E.
Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power
Pearl Jam – Vs.
Rage Against The Machine – Evil Empire
Joe Satriani – Surfing with the alien
Deftones – Around The Fur
Jane’s Addiction – Ritual de lo Habitual

Subterranean > Lunar Strain by IN FLAMES

Hell Awaits > Show No Mercy by SLAYER

Karma in Black > Domination Commence by THE DEFACED

C’mon people! Let’s see more metal!

system of a down-toxicity

Iggy Pop: Lust For life and Public Enemy: It takes A Nation.. should definitaly be on there and i am not that into hip-hop either

INTERPOL – ANTICS

Crosby, Stills, Nash (& Young) – Deja Vu

Brand New – Deja Entendu

Ben Folds Five – Whatever And Ever Amen

Wilco – Being There

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Axis: Bold As Love

Weezer – Pinkerton

Foo Fighters – The Colour And The Shape

How come no one’s mentioned Counting Crows’ “Recovering the satellites?” First album was pretty good, but this was a flying leap better!

In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel

Lonsome Crowded West by Modest Mouse

Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain by Pavement

Being There by Wilco

Aeriosmith-Get Your Wings

Coldplay – A Rush Of Blood To The Head for sure

Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique

Tool – Aenima

Doobie Brothers – Toulouse Street

Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream

Nine Inch Nails – Downward Spiral

Quality – Talib Kweli
Same S**T Different Day – Lyrics Born
Power In Numbers – Jurassic 5
Full Circle – Hieroglyphics
The New Danger – Mos Def
Expansion Team – Dilated Peoples

I would just like to reiterate the Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream, one of the greatest guitar rock albums ever, arguably the best of the 90’s. How can RS not have it on their list?

Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion LPs!!, and I’d put Smashing Pumpkins and Metallica too

staind, break the cycle

Neil Young – Everybody Knows this is Nowhere
Tom Petty – You’re Gonna Get It
Whiskeytown – Strangers Almanac
The Clash – London Calling
Santana – Abraxas
Old 97s – Too Far to Care
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Second Helping

I agree with STP’s second album; curious that ‘in the old days’ entire albums were relished and played ad nauseum! Free wheeling by Dylan, The Stones and Beatles (depending on what was UK and what was US, not sure what the official 2nd albums for them were. I would have to add the White Stripes. And Eminem’s second, Marshall Mathers. Most of the bands I love who are more current, did not have stellar seconds. Did you hear that, Audioslave?

Pearl Jam’s Vs. for sure

I also second Tool’s Aenima, Zeppelin II, Paul’s Boutique

The Strokes – Room on Fire
Are they ever going to get any respect for this one?

David Bowie – Hunky Dory
Changes, Bewlay Brothers, Life on Mars, Queen Bitch– great album.

Adam Green – Friends of Mine
Is he ever going to get any respect for anything?

VU – White Light/White Heat
Obvious.

Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
Come on, obvious.

Lennon – Imagine
Does this one count? Another obvious one.

Marilyn Manson Antichrist Superstar

Great album highly underrated by non fans

Jane’s Addiction – Nothing’s Shocking
Placebo – Without You I’m Nothing
Audra – Going To The Theatre
The Doors – Strange Days
Nirvana – Nevermind
Gary Numan – Replicas
Jimi Hendrix – Axis: Bold As Love
Joy Division – Closer
Metallica – Ride The Lightning
The Smiths – Meat Is Murder
Oasis – (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure
Suede – Dog Man Star

SIAMESE DREAM! It’s been said already, but c’mon…it’s one of the greatest albums of the past 20 years, and no doubt put the Pumpkins on the map.

Also, a shoutout for THE LONESOME CROWDED WEST by Modest Mouse. A perfect album and no doubt a serious step forward from their first effort (not that This is a long drive…wasn’t good)

It has to be Oasis’ What’s The Story (Morning Glory). The reason Radiohead wrote OK Computer was because of this album. It totally changed the British Rock landscape. AMAZING!!

Am a little confused about this list. Is RS looking for records that are huge improvements over the first or just the best second albums? Is Led Zep II really an improvement on I??? White Light/White Heat an improvement over VU & Nico??? Still, glad to see so many know their history. Anyway, a few that haven’t appeared yet (I think):

1. David Bowie – Space Oddity (real debut was in 1967, just titled “David Bowie”)
2. Queen – Queen II
3. Teenage Fanclub- Bandwagonesque
(so underrated it’s a crime)
4. The Black Keys- Thickfreakness
5. Robin Trower – Bridge of Sighs
6. The Last Poets – The Last Poets
7. Blue Cheer – Outsideinside
8. The Move – Shazam!
9. The Pink Fairies – Neverneverland
10. Run DMC – King of Rock
11. Sir Lord Baltimore – Sir Lord Baltimore

No Strings Attached, *Nsync

Think about it.

Also,
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Neutral Milk Hotel
The Bends, Radiohead
A Rush of Blood to the Head, Coldplay
Crazysexycool, TLC
Still Feel Gone, Uncle Tupelo
Sounds of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel
Pinkerton, Weezer

If it counts,
Songs for Silverman, Ben Folds

{What’s The Story} Morning Glory is a great album but Oasis die hards will point slightly in favor of the debut ‘Definitely Maybe’

The Bends – Radiohead
Shout At The Devil- Motley Crue
In My Tribe – 10,000 Maniacs
Nothing’s Shocking – Janes’s Addiction
Peace Sells But Who’s Buying – Megadeth
Without You I’m Nothing – Placebo
Siamese Dream – Smashing Pumpkins
The Man Who – Travis

Top 10 in no particular order
PJ Harvey – Rid of Men
Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape
Queens of the Stone Age – Rated R
System of a Down – Toxicity
Radiohead – The Bends
Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
Bjork – Post
No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom (Technically the second album released by them under the Trauma/Interscope label, Beacon Street Collection was a self-released indie record)
Nirvana – Nevermind
Imogen Heap – Goodnight and Go

Recent releases that need some more time/Reevaluate in 2/3 Years
Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have It So Much Better
Strokes – Room on Fire
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones
Eagles of Death Metal – Death by Sexy

surrealistic pillow – jefferson airplane
disraeli gears – cream
the freewheelin’ bob dylan
everybody knows this is nowhere – neil young
whats the story morning glory – oasis
buffalo springfield again
led zeppelin 2
strange days – the doors
cheap thrills – big brother and the holding company
sounds of silence – simon & garfunkel

First off, if you think Nirvana was overrated, then you just didn’t get it.

Aenema was Tool’s third album.

the libertines – the libertines
air – moon safari
oasis – whats the story morning glory
travis – the man who
metallica – ride the lightning
white Stripes -de stijl
led zeppelin – led zepellin ii
kings of leon – aha shake heartbreak
junior senior – hey hey yo yo my my
eagles of death metal – death by sexy

For me personally

Bright Eyes-Fevers and Mirrors
Travis- The Man Who
Pumpkins- Siamese Dream

Would put Nevermind on there but In Utero is a much better album.

Kerplunk!!! totally missing from the list!!!

Bruce Springsteen–The Wild, the Innocent….
Beastie Boys–Paul’s Boutique
Pearl Jam–Vs
Nirvana–Nevermind
C old Play–Rush of Blood….
Radiohead–Bends
L ed Zeppelin–II
Hole–Celebrity Skin

Jane’s Addiction, Nothing’s Shocking

Big brothers & holding co. Cheap Thrills
Richard Harris A Tramp Shining
Blood Sweat & Tears
The Band
Jimmi Hendrix Axis Bold As Love
iron butterfly in-a-gadda-da-vida
buffalo springfield again
more of the monkees

oh yeah i forgot this one before
desperado – the eagles

Live – Throwing Copper

Chevelle – Wonder What’s Next

Filter – Title of Record

Ramones-Leave Home

Bootsauce – Bull

Antony & The Johnsons, I Am A Bird Now

and

ESPers, ESPers II

Kanye West- Late Registration
Beastie Boys: Paul’s Boutique
Dr. Dre: 2001
NWA: Straight Outta Compton
Snoop Dogg: The Doggfather
Wu Tang Clan: Wu Tang Forever

no sophmore slump for these guys

and i can’t forget
Eric B. and Rakim: Follow The Leader

In my opinion all these albums were better than the artist’s previous effort:

Nick Drake – Bryter Layter
Tim Buckley – Goodbye & Hello
Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin Bob Dylan
Fairport Convention – What We Did On Our Holidays
The Raspberries – Fresh Raspberries
Caetano Veloso – ‘68 or ‘69 (depending on whether or not you count “Domingo”)
Tom Waits – The Heart Of Saturday Night
Os Mutantes – Mutantes
The White Stripes – De Stijl
Tim Hardin – Tim Hardin 2
The Zombies – Odessey And Oracle
Van Morrison – Astral Weeks
The Band – The Band
Terry Reid – Terry Reid
Can – Tago Mago
Sly & The Family Stone – Dance To The Music
The Incredible String Band – 5000 Spirits or The Layers of The Onion
Traffic – Traffic
Cream – Disraeli Gears
Bridget St. John – Songs For The Gentle Man
David Bowie – Space Oddity (or Man Of Words Man Of Music, or self-titled, whatever you want to call it)
Belle & Sebastian – If You’re Feeling Sinister
Fiona Apple – When The Pawn
Radiohead – The Bends
Todd Rundgren – Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren
Joni Mitchell – Clouds
The Allman Brothers Band – Idlewild South
Donovan – Fairytale
Fred Neil – Fred Neil (if you omit the album with Vince Martin)
Randy Newman – 12 Songs
Harry Nilsson – Aerial Ballet
Elvis Costello & The Attractions – This Year’s Model (technically this is the first with the Attractions, so Armed Forces, which is better anyways, could also count)

And if solo albums by band artists count:
Lou Reed – Transformer
Paul McCartney – Ram
John Lennon – Imagine
Colin Blunstone – Ennismore
John Cale – Paris 1919 (although there is two classical collaborations between this and Vintage Violence)

Pavement-Crooked Rain Crooked Rain

white stripes – elephant
obviously led zeppelin II
raiodhead – the bends

Nellie McKay – Pretty Little Head
The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow

& if comedy counts,

Mitch Hedberg – Mitch All Together

and of course,
Vs
Bends
Aenima
Whatever&Ever Amen
Siamese
Recovering the Satellites
Nevermind
Rush of BLood

Oh! and

Everclear – Sparkle & Fade

Mars Volta Frances the Mute

the sticks “+ stones”
built to spill “there’s nothing wrong with love”

3 for sure:
The shins- Chutes too Narrow
Oasis- What’s the story morning Glory
Belle & Sebastian- If your feeling Sinister

the sticks + stones
beat happening-jamboree

Hi,

Parallel Lines(which is an excellent album is 3rd Blondie album
1.Blondie
2 Plastic Letters
3 Parallel Lines

Martti

the sticks + stones!!!
sonic youth-confusion is sex
dinosaur

the sticks! + stones

classic*****
+ stones by “the sticks”

To Cr33p:

As good as Elephant was, it was the White Stripes fourth album. So you’re a fair bit off there mate.

hi fi way -you am i
best second album ever

Black Sabbath – Paranoid

Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold The World”
Oasis’ “(What’s The Story (Morning Glory)”
Dylan’s “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”
Zeppelin’s Second album

I know these were all said before, but i wanted to show my admiration for these albums and the artists…they all got better the more they released. As a great man once said, got to admit, its getting better.

Tool – Ænima
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dreams
Afghan Whigs – Up In It
Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
Pearl Jam – Vs.
Deftones – Around The Fur
GZA/Genius – Liquid Swords
Soundgarden – Louder Than Love
Metallica – Ride The Lightning
Alice in Chains – Dirt

Metallica – Ride the lightning
Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion 1+2
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral
Pantera – A Vulgar Display Of Power (if you count from their “offical” first release)
Fear Factory – Demanufacture

Green day- American Idiot

1)NEVERMIND (Nirvana)
2)RIDE THE LIGHTNING (Metallica)
3)LED ZEPPELIN II
4)DIRT (Alice in chains)
5)(What´s the story)Morning glory?
(Oasis)

pearl jam – vs

RICKIE LEE JONES – Pirates (1981)
LAURA NYRO – Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968)
NICO – The Marble Index (1968)
BJORK – Post (1995)
FLEETWOOD MAC (classic line-up) – Rumours (1977)

Anyone thought about Kings of Leon – ‘Aha Shake Heartbreak’? Great 2nd Album that.

Ride the lightning (metallica)
Origin of symmetry (muse)

No one seems to have mentioned:

Grant Lee Buffalo: Might Joe Moon

foo fighters
the colour and the shape

Deftones “Around the fur”

The Strokes – Room On Fire
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones
VU – white light , white heat
smashing pumpkins – siamese dreams
Franz Ferdinand – You Could Have It..
My Bloody valentine – loveless
kanye west – late registration
Ryan Adams – Gold
Nirvana – Nevermind
Jay Z – in my lifetime vo1. 1
bowie – hunky dory

The Roots – Things Fall Apart

how about:
hole- live through this
alice in chains- dirt
placebo- without you i’m nothing
pixies- doolittle

Cheap Trick – In Color
Kiss – Hotter Than Hell
Sabbath – Paranoid
Metallica – Ride the Lightning
Pixies – Doolittle
Helmet – Meantime

lenny kravitz mama said

THE CRAMPS:PSYCHEDELIC JUNGLE THE GUN CLUB:MIAMI THE UNDERTONES:HYPNOTISED

“I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” by Sinead O’Connor

Pearl Jam – VS.
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Beck – Mellow Gold
Soundgarden – Louder Than Love
Pixes – Surfer Rosa
Porno For Pyros – Good Gods Urge
Tool – Aenima
Perfect Circle – Thirteenth Step

Alice In Chains “Dirt”

the walkmens- bows and arrows

Prodigy – Music for the Jilted Generation – was there 2nd Album not – Fat of the land

Cypress Hill-Black Sunday
SOAD-Toxicity
Chemica l Brothers-Dig your own hole

Cracker -Kerosene Hat.
Neil Young -Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Pearl Jam -Vs

Not The Most Important but ones we shouldn’t forget:
Pavement- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
The Stooges- Fun House
Weezer-Pinkerton
Neutr al Milk Hotel- In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

I mean, c’mon even if the debuts are outstanding why forget the killer follow ups?

Spoon – A Series of Sneaks

The Clash, Beck, Stripes, Talking Heads, Kings of Leon, Mars Volta, Soundgarden, B Boys, Radiohead, Modest Mouse, Pumpkins, Bowie, Sabbath, NIN, Elliot Smith, Strokes, CCR

Rage Against The Machine- Evil Empire

Broken Social Scene – You Forgot It In People (Someone above suggested the self-titled album, but that’s actually their third)

DMB – Under the Table and Dreaming

pearl jam VS
black crowes SOUTHERN HARMONY
led zeppelin 2
STP Purple
aerosmith GET YOUR WINGS
foo fighters COLOUR AND THE SHAPE

Linkin Parks’ Meteora
after selling over 8 million cds of their debut
meteora has sold over 5 million
one of the heaviest emotional driven musical albums of all time

my own top-ten (and i realize most of these have been mentioned):

1. Pearl Jam- Vs. (and its not even close)
2.Bob Dylan- Freewheelin’
3. Nirvana- Nevermind
4. Led Zeppelin II (easilly their best album)
5. DMB- under the table and dreaming
6. neil young- everyone knows this is nowhere
7. oasis- whats the story morning glory? (even though definitely maybe was slightly better)
8. the doors- strange days (their last great album before l.a. woman)
9. the tragically hip- up to here
10. reserved for the killers 2nd album

Honourable mention: coldplay (a rush of blood…), radiohead (the bends), the who (a quick one), ben harper (welcome to the cruel world), the strokes (room on fire…great but not as good is this it), U2 (october)

p.s. the smashing pumpkins may be one of the most overrated bands of all time, therefore no siamese dreams!

Massive Attack’s Protection

nuff said

I think there are a few missing:

-Dirt by Alice In Chains
-Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers
-The Holy Bible by Manic Street Preachers
-Sing The Sorrow by AFI
-Clarity by Jimmy Eat World

There are a few more, but those are the ones I can remember at the moment

By the way, wouldn’t Undertow be the second album by Tool, not Aenima?

Fiona Apple – When the Pawn….

Incredible stuff.

Without a doubt, Live’s Throwing Copper.

Also, Pearl Jam’s VS., Led Zeppelin II, Metallica’s Ride the Lightening and Radiohead’s The Bends.

What about They Might Be Giants, “Lincoln”

PIL–Metal Box/Second Edition
Psychedelic Furs–Talk Talk Talk
Whiskeytown–Strangers Almanac

The Rolling Stone staffers need a Blondie refresher course. Parallel Lines is 3rd after “Blondie” and “Plastic Letters.” What is this, amateur hour?

No crap on this list

Bob Dylan- The Freewheelin Bob Dylan
Radiohead- The Bends
Grant Lee Buffalo- Mighty Joe Moon
Pixies- Dolittle
Public Enemy- It Takes a Nation of Millions to hold us back.
Neutral Milk Hotel- In an Aeroplane over the Sea
The Smiths- Meat is Murder

Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Neil Young – Everybody Knows this is Nowhere
Modest Mouse – The Lonesome Crowded West
Os Mutantes – Mutantes

“Freewheelin’” is indisputably great, so it’s a pretty glaring omission from this list. Get it together, guys!

Ben Folds Five – Whatever and Ever Amen
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
The Shins – Chutes Too Narrow (unless their upcoming is out of this world )
Rilo Kiley – Execution of All Things
Thrice – Illusion of Safety (First Impressions EP excluded)
Travis – The Man Who
A Perfect Circle – 13th Step

to the guy who posted Red Hot Chili Peppers and AFI a couple posts below…better check your discographies. I agree those are both bands’ best albums, but they are far from being their 2nd albums.

Jane’s Addiction – Nothing’s Shocking
Blind Mellon – Soup
Download – The Eyes of Stanley Pain
Deftones – Around the Fur
Built to Spill – Perfect From Now On

One I keep seeing is VS. by Pearl Jam. It seems like you guys never give them credit on these dumbass lists you put together.

HELLO,
VS> by Pearl Jam
and Lonesome Crowded West by Modest Mouse and At Dawn by My Morning Jacket.

Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream

Everyone keeps talking about VS, when will people learn that Pearl Jam is not one of the great groups of all-time. Yeah they were great when you were 14, and they have a campy appeal, but they’re not that good.

Tool – AENIMA is one of the top ten albums of the 90s. They MUST be at or near the top of this list just by virtue of that fact.

TLC- CrazySexyCool
Michael Jackson – Thriller
The Fugees – The Score
Mary J. Blige – My Life
Alicia Keys – The Diary of Alicia Keys

This voice is still inside my head:

NIN – The Downward Spiral

Madonna – Like A Virgin
Tori Amos – Under The Pink
Sheryl Crow- Sheryl Crow
Matchbox Twenty – Mad Season

Placebo – Without you I’m nothing

Bob Dylan – Freewheelin’
Belle and Sebastian – If You’re Feeling Sinister
Hole – Live Through This
Jimi Hendrix – Axis: Bold as Love
John Lennon – Imagine
Nirvana – Nevermind
Pavement – Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
PJ Harvey – Rid of Me
Radiohead – The Bends
Van Morrison – Astral Weeks

Oh and in case it wasn’t mentioned already, Blondie’s 2nd album was Plastic Letters, not Parallel Lines

The Bends, Nevermind, and Paul’s Boutique look like the unimpeachables among those already listed. My additions would be Prefab Sprout’s Two Wheels Good and Beth Orton’s Central Reservation.

I agree with Nirvana, Neil Young, Pearl Jam and especially Placebo. I also think “Call a Doctor” by Sleater-Kinney is one of the best second albums ever (if not one of the best albums).
And what? Not votes for “Shout at the Devil?”

No question: Sabbath-Paranoid

Motley Crue: Shout at the Devil
Creed: Human Clay
Soundgarden: Badmotorfinger
Def Leppard: High ‘n’ Dry
and yes…TOOL: Undertow

When will people learn to quit doubting Pearl Jam. Hello, the last band standing from the best era in music excluding late 60’s early 70’s. Not to mention putting together more strong efforts than Nirvana or AIC or Soundgarden, all of which I love. PJ is that great. it’s a shame some of you don’t notice. Your loss, better seats for me.

Suede-Dog Man Star
Jane’s Addiction-Nothing’s Shocking
Jimi Hendrix-Axis Bold as Love
The Stooges-Fun House
Lou Reed-Transformer
David Bowie-The Man Who Sold the World
Radiohead-The Bends
Smashing Pumpkins-Siamese Dream
The Clash-London Calling

Bob Dylan-The Freewheeling Bob Dylan
Pearl Jam- VS
Led Zepplin – II
Clash-London Calling
Queen-Queen II
Pink Floyd-A Saucerful of Secrets
Nirvana- Nevermind
Guns n Roses- Use your Illusions 1 & 2
Jimi Hendrix Experience- Electric Ladyland
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers-You’re Gonna Get It!

The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion.

1.R.E.M. – Reckoning
2.Tori Amos – Under the Pink
3.Fiona Apple – When the Pawn …
4.Radiohead – The Bends
5.Pearl Jam – Vs
6.Hole – Live Through This
7.Patty Griffin – Flaming Red
8.P.J. Harvey – Rid of Me
9.Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
10.Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones

Hands-down, “With the Beatles”

and by the way…..
Guns ‘n’ Roses Use Your Illusion albums were NOT better than Appetite for Destruction. I thought thats what this list was about. Being BETTER than the first.

“Purple” from The Stone Temple Pilots

How can these be missed? In no particular order.

The Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
Pearl Jam – Vs
NIN – Broken
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Wilco – Being There
Weezer – Pinkerton

Neil Young-Everybody Knows this is Nowhere.

Faith no More- Angel Dust
Black Crowes- Southern harmony
Pearl Jam- Vs
Meat Puppets- Meat puppets II

Wilco – Being There
Beastie Boys – Pauls Boutigue

nirvana nevermind
radiohead the bends
lou reed transformer
pearl jam vs
foo fighters the colour and shape
iggy pop funhouse
the pixies doolittle
metalica ride the lightening

These are bands that it took 2-5 releases to hit their stride.
Wrens-Meadowlands(3rd)
Replacements-Let it Be(3rd)
Husker Du-Zen Arcade(3rd)
Flaming Lips-In a Priest Driven Ambulance(5th)
Butthole Surfers-Locust Abortion Technician(3rd)
Sonic Youth-Sister(5th)
Grandaddy-Th e Sophtware Slump(3rd)
Dinosaur Jr.-You’re Living All Over Me(2nd)
Superchunk-No Pocky for Kitty(2nd)
Clem Snide-Your Favorite Music(2nd)

white stripes-white blood cells

Offspring – Smash

Violent Femmes, Hallowed Ground(1984)

OK, so it’s not as good as the first but it’s still good.

Alas, few of you will know these records, but both are among the finest young trubadors in music today.
Jim Bryson – The North Side Benches
Joel Plaskett – Down at the Khyber
If you can find either of these, do buy them.

the doors- Strange Days
Jefferson Airplane- Surrealistic Pillow
Hendrix- Axis: Bold a Love
Simon and Garfunkel- Sounds of Silence
Traffic- Traffic
Beck – Odelay
Cream- Disreali Gears

Blondie – great band.
Parallel Lines – great album…but it wasn’t their second disc.
Blondie (self titled) 1975
Plastic Letters (1977)
Parallel Lines (1979)

oops.

Oh, and I failed to mention that both are sophomore records. Indeed if you enjoy North Side Benches, look for a new Jim Bryson release in the coming months

Pretenders, Pretenders II
Michael Hedges, Aerial Boundaries

Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream

Jeff Buckley – Grace
Zappa & the Mothers of Invention -Absolutely Free

It all depends on what you’re talking about. If you’re looking at the growth of an artist then I’d have to go with Bob Dylan’s The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. That album was out of left field. Like Kerouac’s second novel (On the Road) it really showed to the world what this musician and writer was capable of. Like Kerouac, Dylan’s first album was good but didn’t show the world the true genius that lurked behind. On his second album Dylan unleashed his fury (Masters of War), his worries (Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall), his hope (Blowin’ in the Wind), his dreams (Bob Dylan’s Dream), and his just plain lighter side (Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance). With song like Girl of the North Country and Don’t Think Twice Dylan showed the music world that songs could be deep reflections of the artist. This album is in one word, Influential. Not only did it inspire Sam Cooke to write his epic on Civil Rights (A Change Is Gonna Come), but it showed the endless possibilities of what a song could be. Dylan changed the rules of the game with this album. Though he would go one to make other classic albums this is the one he’ll be remembered for. For Bob Dylan will always be Freewheelin.

The TOOL and NIN fans should check their facts.

Agree that Undertow, not Aenima, is a fine 2nd album. Also Broken, not Downward Spiral, is a great 2nd NIN album.

Love: Police, Regatta De Blanc
Led Zep II
Pearl Jam VS. (apparently along with the rest of the Western world.)
Primal Scream Screamadelica (not 100% sure of that one being a 2nd album actually)
Eels Electro-Shock Blues is one of my all-time fave follow-ups
Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique blew me away at the time
Ice-T Power
Massive Attack Protection
Orbital II
Death In Vegas Contino Sessions
And one of my all-time favourite albums:
Faith No More The Real Thing.

You guys should do the “most disappointing follow-ups ever” next.

neil young (with crazy horse)

everybody knows this is nowhere

Faith No More fans… both the Real Thing and Angel Dust are amazing and way underrated albums but alas they are the bands 3rd and 4th record so they don’t make this list.
PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me for sure.
Will I look like too much of an 80’s wanker if I say Joe Satriani’s “Surfing With the Alien” was much better than his first album?

Fugees, The – The Score

1.Radiohead – The Bends
2.Nirvana – Nevermind
3.Pixies – Surger Rosa* (if you count Come on Pilgrim EP as 1st album; if not Doolittle is great also)
4.Pavement – crooked rain, crooked rain
5.pearl jam – vs.
6.wilco – being there
7.arcade fire – funeral* (if count self-titled EP)
8.wrens – secaucus
9.broken social scene – you forgot it in people
10.beck – odelay

also, this might bit too obscure but there is a late-great Canadian band called the Inbreds whose second album “Kombinator” is a masterpiece.

Roots, The – Do You Want More?!!!??!

How about ABRAXAS from Santana?
Their 1st self titled album was good. Their 2nd was GREAT!

As far as improvements over the first album go, it would be hard to do better than Paul’s Boutique by the Beastie Boys…

Madonna – Like A Virgin

Bjork – Post

Hole – Live Through This
Fiona Apple – When The Pawn..
Weezer – Pinkerton
Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
Radiohead – The Bends
Fugees – The Score

Chemical Brothers, The – Dig Your Own Hole

U2 “October”
Rush “Fly By Night”
Alice In Chains “Dirt”
Wilco “Being There”
Uncle Tupelo “Still Feel Gone”

Sigur Ros – Agaetis Byrjun
The Bends – Radiohead
Broken Social Scene – You Forgot it in People

vfvff

Two stand out right away for me:

Wilco – Being There

Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
(title song, Cinnamon Girl, Down by the River, Cowgirl in the Sand – wow!)

A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory

A few that may have not been posted already:
Elton John- self titled follow up to Empty Sky
Chicago- self titled album often referred to as Chicago II
Cars- Candy-O
Beachboys- Surfin’ USA
Lynyrd Skynyrd- Second Helping
CCR- Bayou Country
Paul Simon- There Goes Rhymin’ Simon(that is you don’t count his mid 60s solo album that I think only came out in England)
Rod Stewart- Gasoline Alley

The Vulgar Boatmen – Please Panic

radiohead – the bends

Dave Matthews Band, its RCA debut: Under The Table and Dreaming.
The greatest band in the world!

2 Glaring omissions for BEST Sophmore Albums:

Crowded House – Temple Of Low Men
LIVE – Throwing Copper

I agree with many of these. Wilco, Beastie Boys, Pixies, The Shins (most definitely), Ben Folds Five, Smashing Pumpkins all broke out on their second album.

One missing IMO is:
Third Eye Blind – Blue

Matt Snell: Opiate was an LP, not their first album.

EP, that is.

Two from the top:

Rolling Stones: Let it Bleed
Big Brother & Holding Co: Cheap Thrills

and a possible third: Steppenwolf II “I like to dream…”

A Perfect Circle- the thirteenth step

Black Sabbath “Paranoid”

Stone Temple Pilots- Purple

STP-Purple

You idiots!!!!

Parallel Lines is not Blondie’s 2nd album.
London Calling is not The Clash’s 2nd.
Elephant is not The White Stripes 2nd
Electric Ladyland is not Jimi’s 2nd
Let There Be Rock is not AC/DC’s 2nd– High Voltage and Dirty Deeds are were released in 76 and 75 respectively. Let There Be Rock in 77. Know your history phonies and go back to your Good Charlotte and Blink 182 cds!!!

Kings of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak
STP – Purple
Steely Dan – Countdown To Ecstacy
Black Crowes – Southern Harmony
Pearl Jam – Vs.
Garbarge – Version 2.0
Lenny Kravitz – Mama Said
Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique

I think that Ben Haper, fight for your mind, would be a good bet.

At Dawn- My Morning Jacket

THE BAND-THE BAND
hands down best second album ever. i’m surprised there’s not more love for the band on here.

At Dawn- My Morning Jacket; Led Zep II; pantera- vulgar; ice cube- the predator; sublime- 40 oz. to freedom;

Ok a few unusal ones. I love the lists so far, but i was thinking about unusal picks that i love.

Thomas Dolby – Flat Earth (coulnd’t be more different for him)
Cake – Fashion Nugget
Fiona Apple – When the Pawn…. (still a regular in my CD player)
REM – Reckoning
YAZ – You and Me Both
Sheryl Crow – Sheryl Crow (what a step up from her first solo album)
Paul McCartney – RAM
John Lennon – Imagine
Six Pence None The Richer – Six Pense None the Richer (if you count their indie release. So much more than Breathe Your Name)
Jars Of Clay – Much Afraid
Caedmonds Call – 40 Acres
Delirious – Metamorphasis
Jennifer Knapp – Lay It Down
Cold Play – Rush Of Blood To The Head
Nickle Creek – This Side

Jane’s Addiction – Nothing Shocking. (Don’t you people pay attention)
Black Sabbath – Paranoid – Best B side in rock and roll history
Ice Cube – Death Certificate – Black as Black can be
Oasis – What’s the story…. – Classic
Mudhoney – Super Fuzz Big Muff – Pay attention
Bad Brains – Rock for Light – The Real deal
Sinbad O’connor – I do not want ….. Emotional roller coaster.

Well, I figure I’ll mention albums that nobody else will. Not necessarily the greatets albums of all time, but very good sophomore efforts:

1. Stereophonics – Performance and Cocktails
2. Eve 6 – Horrorscope
3. The Exies – Inertia
4. Guster – Goldfly
5. Pursuit of Happiness – One Sided Story
6. Mudmen – Overrated
7. Lit – A Place In The Sun
8. Better Than Ezra – Friction Baby
9. Will Hoge – Blackbird on a Lonely Wire
10. Tonic – Sugar

Commercially and artistically it is hard to argue with Nirvana’s Nevermind….But the same can be said for Pearl Jam’s VS. ANy album that moves 1M copies in a week is off the charts…But suprised not a lot of love for THe black Crowes Southern Harmony and the Musical Companion…Awesome followup to a great debut…

Led Zep II
Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Oasis – Morning Glory
Jane’s Addiction – Nothing’s Shocking

Rum, Sodomy and the Lash by The Pogues. It’s a must!

Pearl Jams VS this somphomore album sold almost one million copies in its first week.

Neil Young, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Blue Oyster Cult, Tyranny & Mutation
Black Sabbath, Paranoid
Cream, Disraeli Gears
Buffalo Springfield, Again

prince-prince.
rage against the machine’s evil empire.
the strokes room on fire.
pearl jam vs.
led zeppelin II
whitney houston’s whitney
ac/dc t.n.t.
tori amos little earthquakes

Jesse Malin, The Heat
Old 97’s, Wreck Your Life

Pearl Jam – Vs.
Alice In Chains – Dirt
Collective Soul – Collective Soul
Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Jane’s Addiction – Nothing’s Shocking
Ozzy Osbourne – Diary Of A Madman
The Cars – Candy-O
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Korn – Life Is Peachy
Tears For Fears – Songs From The Big Chair
Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
Beck – Odelay

I know a good amount of those have already been listed, but those are my choices off the top of my head.

How come nobody has mentioned “Frances the Mute” by The Mars Volta. A tremendous album that was a significant improvement on their debut

My Morning Jacket- At Dawn
Kings of Leon- Aha Shake Heartbreak

N.W.A- Straight Outta Compton
Beastie Boys- Pauls Butique
Kanye West- Late Registration

Pear Jam—-VS. Best second album ever.

Sigur Rós – Ágætis Byrjun
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
The Doors – Strange Days
Jimi Hendrix – Axis: Bold As Love
Air – Moon Safari

Rush – Fly By Night
David Wilcox – How Did You Find Me Here
Don Henley – Building the Perfect Beast
Eric Johnson – Ah Via Musicom
Steve Vai – Passion and Warfare

Blind Melon : Soup
Mars Volta : De-Loused in the..
Smashing P. : Siamese Dream
TOOL : Undertow
Nirvana : Nevermind
NIN : Pretty Hate Machine
Porno for.. : Good God’s Urge
The Police : Regatta de Blanc
DMB : Under the table…
J.Frusciante : To Record Only…

Speaking of Pearl Jam I think allmusic.com should create a tab for “Live Albums” under the discography section, so it doesn’t appear that Pearl Jam has 85 main albums!

Not quite sure of “Ryan | 7/11/2006, 1:07 am EST” ’s sources, but I’ve never once heard that OK Computer had anything to do with Oasis whatsoever. It’s miles and miles ahead of ‘Be Here Now’ which came out that same year (1997).

Hey Clator, don’t forget your own sophomore album:
Clator Butler – White Collar Crime

New Order/Power, Corruption & Lies

Undertow is not Tool’s second album.

Pearl Jam – Vs
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Jonathan Richman – S/T

The Pixies – Doolittle (Surfer Rosa was the 1st album not Come on Pilgrim)

Hendrix – Bold As Love
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Cream – Disraeli Gears

U2- October
Tribe Called Quest- Low End Theory
Black Crowes- Southern Harmony
Pearl Jam- Vs.

Marshall Mathers LP is not Eminem’s second album.

Joy Division – Closer
Mindless Self Indulgence – Frankenstein Girls Seem Strangely Sexy
Wu-Tang Clan – Wu-Tang Forever
Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientelle
Talking Heads – More Songs about Buildings and Food
Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral
Dead Kennedys – Plastic Surgery Disasters
Marilyn Manson – Antichrist Superstar
Throbbing Gristle – 20 Jazz Funk Greats
…

Michael Jackson – THRILLER
Tears For Fears – Songs From The Big Chair
Bjork – Post

New Pornographers-The Electric Version
Neil Young and Crazy Horse-Everybody Knows this is Nowhere
The Eagles-Deperado
Buffalo Springfield-Buffalo Springfield Again
10cc-Sheet Music
Steely Dan-Countdown to Ecstasy
Roxy Music-For Your Pleasure

Oasis
What’s the story morning glory

Skid Row- Slave to the grind
Def leppard- high & dry
Alice in chains- Dirt
Michael Buble- It’s time (gay Iknow)

1 METALLICA-RIDE THE LIGHTING
2 BLACK SABBATH-PARANOID
3 OZZY-DIARY OF A MADMAN
4 SYSTEM OF A DOWN-TOXICITY
5 PANTERA-VULGAR DISPLAY OF POWER
6 SLIPKNOT-IOWA
7 LINKIN PARK-METEORA
8 DISTURBED-BELIEVE
9 KORN – LIFE IS PEACHY

downward spiral is not nin’s second album

Beastie Boys – Pauls Boutique
Daft Punk – Discovery
Pet Shop Boys – Actually
Information Society – HACK
The Shamen – Boss Drum
New Order – PC&L
The Beloved (UK) – Conscience

And to those who voted on Prodigy – ‘Music For The Jilted Generation’ is the bands second album. NOT ‘Fat of the Land’. Their fist album (Experience) is one of the best Rave albums I’ve ever heard.

Sublime-Sublime: one of the best albums of the 90’s and polished followup to 40 oz to Freedom

Black Crowes-Southern Harmony…features one of the best riffs in R&R history with Sting Me

The Killers-Sam’s Town

Well, It’s pretty easy, ALL of NIRVANA’s records!

yes..aenima by tool is their 2nd full length album..opiate has 2 live cuts and only 4 studio recordings..aenima is an upgrade from undertow..also, let’s remember that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion..so quit knocking someone if they pick pearl jam..there’s something to be said about a band that can continue to sell out stadiums some 15 years after their debut

The FreeWheelin Bob Dylan

wilco- being there

Santana – Abraxas
Mars Volta – Frances the Mute

And…one could argue that the Chili Peppers second album with John Frusciante, “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” is a legitimate choice

The brand new album from TV on the Radio, Return to the Cookie Montain. Absolutely fabulous!

Some hip-hop:

- A Tribe Called Quest “Low End Theory”
- Common “Resurrection”
- Ghostface Killah “Supreme Clientele”
- The Fugees “The Score”
- Ludacris “Word of Mouf”
- M.O.P. “Firing Squad”
- Outkast “ATLiens”
- The Roots “Do You Want More??!?!!”

Kids,

Thriller was not Michael Jackson’s second album. Got to Be There and Ben were both released in 1972.

Also, Aqualung was the fourth album by Jethro Tull.

Great 2nd album: The Least We Can Do Is Wave by Van der Graaf Generator.

3 albums come to mind-

Pearl Jam: Vs
Ben Folds Five: Whatever & Ever Amen
Kanye West: Late Registration

Also, Feist’s “Let it Die”

Bangles, Different Light
Zep II is a great album but not a significant improvement over Zep I. I perfer I to II any day, just on teh basis of Dazed and Confused

Coldplay: A rush of blood to the head

Pavement: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
Pixies: Surfer Rosa

Pearl Jam – VS
Cream – Disraeli Gears
The Allman Brothers Band – Idlewild South
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Axis:Bold as Love
Kings of Leon -Aha Shake Heartbreak
Led Zeppelin – II
The White Stripes – De Stijl
Neil Young – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us back.

N.W.A., Straight Outta Compton

R.E.M., Reckoning (OK, it is at least as good as Murmur)

Cheap Trick, In Color
Black Crowes, Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
Love, Da Capo
Squeeze, Cool For Cats
Queen, Queen II

Ben Folds Five: Whatever and Ever Amen

Foo Fighters: The Colour and the Shape

Ryan Adams: Gold

whipping boy – heartworm
also the best album by an irish band!

nevermind
Jane’s addiction – Nothing’s Shocking
Rage against the machine – evil empire
oasis – morning glory
megadeth – peace sell(but who’s buying
metallica – ride the lightning
Motley Crue – Shout at the devil
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Black Crowes – Southern harmony

CrazySexyCool – TLC ; no best albums list is complete with out tlc esp. crazysexycool their diamond certified sophomore album.

The Wailers – ‘Burnin’

In alphabetical order because my collection is(by artist):

Soup – Blind Melon
Fashion Nugget – Cake
Around the Fur – Deftones
Fight For Your Mind – Ben Harper
Antichrist Superstar – Marilyn Manson
Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? – Metric
Lonesome Crowded West – Modest Mouse
The Downward Spiral – Nine Inch Nails (debatable)
I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got – Sinead O’Conner
ATLiens – Outkast
Surfer Rosa – Pixies
Rated R – Queens of the Stone Age
Siamese Dream – Smashing Pumpkins
Elliott Smith – Elliott Smith
Extra Width – JSBX (who cares about Crypt Style)
Purple – Stone Temple Pilots
Toxicity – System of a Down
Undertow – Tool
If It Was You – Tegan and Sara
Pinkerton – Weezer
De Stijl – The White Stripes

i agree, southern harmony, black crowes, this years model, of costello, zep II. nirvana? wich was their first?

1-The Band by The Band
2-Straight Up by Badfinger
3-Minus-Plus by Smith
4-Bayou Country-Creedence
5-Pear l-Jan is Joplin
6-Moondance-Van Morrison-and many others but these are my favorites..

The Band – The Band
Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow
Buffalo Springfield _ Buffalo Springfield Again
Cream – Disraeli Gears
The Beatles – With the Beatles
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young – Deja Vu (essentially a second album)
Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin Bob Dylan
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II
The Doors – Strange Days
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Axis: Bold as Love
Love – Da Capo
Bruce Springsteen – The Wild, The Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle
Neil Young – Everybody Knows this is Nowhere
The Grateful Dead – Anthem of the Sun
Dave Matthews Band – Under the Table and Dreaming
The Allman Brothers Band – Idlewild South
A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory
Beck – Odelay

Off the top of my head:
The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
Nevermind — Nirvana
Sound of Silence — Simon and Garfunkel
De Stijl — White Stripes
Siamese Dream — Smashing Pumpkins
Prince
What’s the story (morning glory)– Oasis
Being There — Wilco
Zeppelin II

I’d have to say Siamese Dream (Smashing Pumpkins)…

But also, Dinosaur Jr.’s “You’re Living All Over Me”

If a band takes half the songs from their independent album and sticks them on subsequent albums, doesn’t that kinda nullify that indie album?

To me, Crash is the DMB album that qualifies for this list.

all before and:

Antics – Interpol
Sarceful of Secrets – Pink Floyd

Here we go…

Saves the Day: Through Being Cool
Echo and the Bunnymen: Heaven Up Here
A Perfect Circle: Thirteenth Step
The Beastie Boys: Paul’s Boutique
Blind Melon: Soup
Coheed & Cambria: In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth:3
The Dillinger Escape Plan: Calculating Infinity (I think they had an independant release before that one…)
The Smiths: Meat is Murder
System of a Down: Toxicity

…Again, Siamese Dream and Vs. are timeless, as is the consensus.

Pantera- Vulgar Display of Power
Dr. Dre- 2001

Vs. Pearl Jam

Long Cold Winter – Cinderella

De La Soul – De La Soul Is dead

Nirvana – Nevermind
Radiohead – The Bends
Fiona Apple – When the Pawn…
Tori Amos – Under the Pink
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Bjork – Post
Live – Throwing Copper
Grant Lee Buffalo – Mighty Joe Moon
Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
Alice in Chains – Dirt
Tool – Aenima (Opiate was an EP and does not count as being first)

Props to the Tegan and Sara- good album.
One I didn’t see was:
Jimmy Eat World – Clarity(I think their 2nd LP) Phenomenal Disc.

Stone Temple Pilots – Purple

The Doors: Soft Parade

Maybe their best – A masterpiece.

pearl jam, VS

Garbage- Version 2.0

Dylan’s the “Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Not even up for debate

sublime ’sublime’ is their 3rd album, robbin the hood was their first…

so 40 0z to freedom fits the list!

also, the new benevento russo duo album ‘play pause stop’ is my pick

Alice In Chains
DIRT

Suede (or The London Suede) – “dog man star”

The Replacements Sorry Ma Forgot To Take Out The Trash

Live , Throwing copper. A resoundingly complete and diverse album from an underappreciated band.

1. Backstreet Boys – Millennium
2. Karaoke All-Stars – Vol.2
3. Now That’s What I Call Music – Vol. 2
4. Kid’s Bop 2

Wilco-Being There

The Strokes- Room on Fire

Radiohead- The Bends

Nirvana-Nevermin d

David Bowie- Man who sold the world

Some that come to mind quickly

Hendrix Axis Bold as Love

Sparklehorse-Good Morning Spider

butch walker-letters
oasis-whats the story morning glory
marvelous 3-hey album
radford-sleepwalker
si ster hazel-fortress
the wallflowers-bringing down the horse

and coldplay sucks

and dave matthews band is definately not “the best band in the world”

Blige, Mary J. – My Life

and someones an idiot because lift is sister hazels 4th album

Rammstein-Sehnsucht

an album without a single word of english going platinum in america deserves recognition

felt – felt 2:tribute to lisa bonet

i can’t believe someone thought Elephant was the White Stripes’ second album. oh, and whoever thought london calling is the second clash album, you were also wrong. that was give ‘em enough rope. Ah well… retards.

that being said, i think their REAL second album, De Stijl, would be a fine candidate, as well as (some already listed):

Pinkerton by Weezer
Lincoln by They Might Be Giants
Whatever and Ever Amen by Ben Folds Five
Doolittle by Pixies

aaand that’s all i can think of off the top of my head.

1)The Wallflowers – Bringing Down the Horse (although they’re all good)
2)Led Zeppelin II
3) Green Day – Kerplunk!
4)Nirvana – Nevermind
Not in that order, and there’s others that are better, but defenitly the Wallflowers is the definitive Sophomore album

Hey Nathew,

You can’t believe someone thought Elephant was The White Stripes’ second album? Well I can’t believe you think Doolittle was The Pixies’ second album. Surfer Rosa, anyone?

You’re forgiven,
D6

Kanye West – Late Registration

My notables (sorry if there are any repeats):

Wilco – Being There
Built to Spill – There’s Nothing Wrong with Love
Pearl Jam – Vs.
R.E.M. – Reckoning
Replacements – Hootenanny
T. Rex – The Slider (if you don’t count the days as Tyrannosaurus Rex)
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Fiery Furnaces – Blueberry Boat
Smashing Punpkins – Siamese Dream
Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
Cream – Disraeli Gears

P.S. Doolittle was the Pixies second album – Come on Pilgrim was just an EP

Sme of mine are….

Sheryl Crow’s second album
Veda Hille- Spine
The Rheostatics: Melville
The Dixie Chicks: Fly
Radiohead: The Bends
System of a Down: Toxicity

Ep’s and Lp’s count as an album. If it was released and you can buy it, you have to include it as an album, therefore TOOL’s Undertow is there 2nd album along with a million others you have all nervously placed on your lists.

This is hilarious….I’m going down these people’s lists, and probably 20% of their choices AREN’T the 2nd album by that artist. Just because it was the 2nd one you remember, doesn’t make it so. If I see ‘White Blood Cells’, ‘Doolittle’, ‘Dr. Dre 2001′, or any of the 4 Doors albums that are all listed as their 2nd album, I’ll bust a gut from laughing at you retards

Psychedelic Furs- Talk Talk Talk

Pogues- Rum Sodomy and the Lash

Mudhoney- Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge

Oasis – (What’s The Story) Morning Glory

Radiohead – The Bends

The Cribs – The New Fellas (just joking)

Gotta Second these:
RADIOHEAD- The Bends
Janes Addiction – Nothing’s Shocking
Beastie Boys – Pauls Boutique
Weezer – Pinkerton
Colplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
A Tribe Called Quest – Low End Theory
and add:
Tortoise – Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Slint – Spiderland

all amazing albums

Jimi Hendrix-”Axis: Bold As Love”
Johnny Winter-Self-Titled (Columbia Records)
Paul Butterfield Blues Band-”East/West”

this is simple…GUNS N ROSES USE YOUR ILLUSION 1 and 2..Nevermind gets all the credit for the best rock album of the 90’s..but GNR were always the better band..especially if we are talking about talent..Every song on Nevermind sounds the same..whereas the songs on Use Your Illusion come from all different genres. Not to mention the fact that the Illusions sold twice the amount of albums that Nevermind did…and Appetite For Destruction pisses all over nevermind…Bottom line..grunge was a 2 year fad..whereas GNR wrote classics…and still sell out arenas across the world..without the original lineu up….suck it Kurt…

Alanis Morissette “Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie” was better than her blockbuster debut, in my opinion.

GZA – Liquid Swordz

One more thing…Use Your Illusion wasn’t a second album..Appetite for Destruction and G-N-R Lies were definitely before, yes?

GNR LIES was an EP…not an album…but even that pisses all over Nevermind…

James Taylor-Sweet Baby James
Joni Mitchell-Clouds
Mothers of Invention-Absolutely Free

Idlewild South…The Allman Brothers Band

Bump City…Tower of Power

ummm Madonna’s Like a Virgin

James Taylor-sweet baby james.
Picked up this gold nugget on vinyl at a local Salvation Army store this past weekend for 50 cents. An Absolute Masterpiece!

Simon and Garfunkel…The Sounds of Silence

I can’t believe nobody has mentioned Metallica’s Ride the Lightning..and if I am not mistaken War was U2’s second, not October….and Bleach was Nirvana’s first album…..and another that needs to be on the list is Counting Crows Recovering the Satellites

Vs by Pearl Jam, (Whats the Story) by Oasis, and Siamese Dream by the Smashing Pumpkins are three really superb sophomore albums, probalby better than the respective debuts of those great bands.

but if we are considering the grade of musical evolution from the first to the second (and the astonishment that progress created in critics and public)…
Radioheads The Bends is well avobe any other.

In second place I should point a great second album by an excellent indie band: Bang Bang by Dispatch

Mahavishnu Orchestra…Birds of Fire
Rufus Wainwright…Poses

The Beatles-With The Beatles: There isn’t a better album with this many covers on it.

Oasis-What’s The Story Morning Glory: It delivered a nation’s worth of bands to the U.S. and made Oasis the biggest band in the world.

The Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape: It’s sound established the F.F. as their own band, not a spin off of Nirvana.

Cheap Thrills…Big Brother and the Holding Company

The Band’s second album, which is self titled is a Rolling Stone Classic and a classic in my eyes. Smashing Pumpkin’s Siamese Dream is also a great second effort. Neil Young’s Everbody Knows this is nowhere is a classic. Paul’s Boutique from the Beastie Boys is too funky not to be on that list. Finally, Wilco’s Being There (2 cd’s, not just one) is the greatest of their collection, with ballets and easy rockers.

A.D.E. — An All Out Bash!

In my opinion the best Sophomore album is Alice in chains masterpiece Dirt

Thursday: Full Collapse
Alice in Chains: Dirt
nine inch nails: Downward Spiral

Nine Inch Nails – Broken

Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power

Beck – One Foot in the Grave

Soul Coughing – El Oso

My Morning Jacket – Z

Sublime – 40oz. To Freedom

i also forgot
our lady peace – clumsy
pearl jam – vs
stp – purple

Traffic – “Traffic”

Hole- live through this…

Red Hot Chili Peppers By The Way is by far the greatest sophomore album of all time. In second place is def. Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon(RIP Syd). Then Tupac’s All Eyez on Me. I think its hilarious how people try to be so music savvy and they list albums that weren’t sophomore albums. LEARN YOUR MUSIC trivia like I have before you make posts.

To the guy who said Inbreds “Kombinator”: I would like to buy you a beer. I really wanted to put that, but figured I was pretty much the only person in the world who still had a copy of that album. If you want go Canadian, how about throwing in Sloan’s “Twice Removed?”

The biggest growth from first to second album has to be Freewheelin Bob dylan Songs:
Blowin in the wind
Hard rains gonna fall
and Dont think twice its alright
and those are just the highlights

After “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”, I’d have to go with “Sin After Sin” by Judas Priest!

Bright Eyes – Letting off the Happiness
The Good Life – Black Out
The Appleseed Cast – Mare Vitalis
Elliott Smith – Self-Titled
Reclinerland – Self-Titled (#2)

Ben Folds Five – Whatever and Ever Amen

Weezer – Pinkerton

Harvey Danger – King James Version

Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Music God 2006 (below) better recheck his or her discography for RHCP and Pink Floyd. By the way and DSofTM are each band’s 8th(!) album – Freaky Styley is a good 2nd record tho.

How can we forget these:

OutKast “ATLiens”: easily one of the best sophmore albums of all time in hip hop atleast.

System of a Down “Toxicity”

Erykah Badu “Mama’s Gun”

Rage Against The Machine “Evil Empire”

Alice In Chains “Dirt”

Jill Scott “Beautifully Human”

Mars Volta – Frances The Mute
Incubus – Make Yourself
Audioslave – Out of Exile

A couple sophomore favorites:

Graham Parker & Rumour: Heat Treatment
Elvis Costello: This Year’s Model
Eagles: Desperado
James Taylor: Sweet Baby James
Emmylou Harris: Elite Hotel
Paul McCartney (solo): Ram

tyrannisaurous hives- the hives

No doubt about it: Pixies’ Surfer Rosa.

And, yeah, it was their second album, after Come on Pilgrim.

It belongs on the RS list.

Spiritualized: Pure Phase
Soul Asylum: Made To Be Broken
Dandy Warhols: The Dandy Warhols Come Down (i saw mentioned somewhere on this list ‘urban bohemia’ but that was the dandy’s 3rd record.)

Jackson Browne-For Everyman (1973)
For inwardly panoramic songwriting of an apocalyptic bent, Jackson Browne’s second album is rivaled only by his first (the second one wins), and Jackson himself is rivaled by nobody. Brilliantly conceived, imcoparably immediate, For Everyman truly earns its title. (RS 148)

- Janet Maslin, Rolling Stone, November 22, 1973

Let’s do 80s albums:

The second albums from Tears For Fears, Culture Club and even Sting were head and shoulders above the first records. So that would be:

Songs From the Big Chair – Tears For Fears
Colour By Numbers – Culture Club
Regatta de Blanc – Sting

Ryan Adams-Gold
Coldplay-Rush of Blood
Dave Matthews Band-Crash
Elton John-Elton John
Train-Drops of Jupiter

I must say, the greatest sophmore album of all time is “The Band” who here can argue? Its the seminal recording from quite possibly the most important group in America in the history of rock music. After that:

The Bends – Radiohead
Vs. – Pearl Jam
A Quick One – the Who (how is this not on here yet?!?!?!?)
Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd
Being There – Wilco
Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan – Bob Dylan

Pete – Dark Side of the Moon isnt Pink Floyds second album its about there 8th

I recommend Tindersticks II. It not only improved tenfold upon its predecessor but sounds as fresh today as it did back in ‘95.

Live Through This definitely
The Bends too
and Siamese Dream
and The Score
and Doolittle
and Pinkerton
…..

Green Day’s Kerplunk clearly has been snubed. A truly great album, an ode to rock and roll and everything it represents. it’s great to see the humble and brilliant beginnings of such talented and prolific musicians.

…and neither American Idiot nor Dookie were second albums, but timelessly essential none the less

couldn’t agree more

Hey.. I was just thinking… here’s some good ones

1. Buffalo Springfield Again – Buffalo Springfield
2. Talking Book – Stevie Wonder
3. Paranoid – Black Sabbath (how did no one list this?!)
4. Piano Man – Billy Joel
5. Nick Drake – Bryter Layter
6. Modern Life Is Rubbish – Blur
7. Paul Simon – Paul Simon

… all I can think of for now.. these are all damn good and proved that the band/artist definatly improved from the first album to the second

i like the f*cktard that said RHCP’s ‘By The Way’ was their second album. he he. Only about 15 years too late. I hope i have been duped and nobody is that stupid.

Dave Matthews Band – Crash (b/c remember two things was mostly a live album)
I agree with Wilco’s Being There, although it is a vastly underrated album (mostly cuz its real long)
Ben Harper – Fight for Your Mind
White stripes – White Blood Cells

This Year’s Model
Imagine
Anthem Of The Sun
A Sauceful Of Secrets
Strange Days
October

Tool – Aenima (Opiate is an EP).. plus Aenima is one of the greatest albums of ALL TIME.
Secret Machines – Now Here Is Nowhere
Something For Kate – Beautiful Sharks
Pearl Jam – Vs.
Okkervil River – Don’t Fall in Love With Everyone You See
Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antenna To Heaven
Swervedriver – Mezcal Head
Dave Matthews Band – Crash
Metallica – Ride The Lightning

all I can think of for now…

the sleepy jackson – personality
NERD – fly or die
coldplay – a rush of blood to the head
michael jackson – thriller
paul mccartney – ram

ohh and hot chip – warning

i honestly think plastic ono band was alot better than imagine apart from the title track

Fear Factory – Demanufacture
Pantera – Vulgar
Radiohead – The Bends
Led Zep II
Black Crowes – Southern Harmony
SRV – Couldn’t Stand the Weather
Tool – Aenima

Personal Opinion:

I wouldn’t say DMB Crash was a huge improvement on Under the Table. I actually prefer Under the Table.

i would have to agree with that, cjb.

Definetly

Southern Harmony and the Musical Companion-The Black Crowes

vs- pearl jam
evil empire- ratm
everybody knows this is nowhere- neil young
aenima- tool
dirt- aic
ride the lightning- metallica
steal this album- soad
frances the mute- mars volta

Pearl Jam ‘Vs’
Gomez ‘Liquid Skin’
Tool ‘Aenima’
The Dany Warhols ‘The Dandy Warhols Come Down’
Blind Melon ‘Soup’

AXIS: BOLD AS LOVE by Jimi hendrix

Radiohead, THe Bends

Blue Cheer
Bob Dylan
David Bowie
CSN (& Y)
Iron Butterfly
Jefferson Airplane
Nirvana
Simon & Garfunkel

http://www.geocities.com /manolom2000

No one mentioned:
Live- Throwing Copper
Foo Fighters- The colour and the shape
Crowded House- Woodface
Oasis – Whats the story…

One of the best albums of the 90s and significantly better than their earlier effort.
Also, there is no way you can argue that Vs by Pearl Jam was better than TEN, and the same can be said for STP’s follow-up to CORE, the Purple album..great album but CORE was the precedent.

Aghh you kids slay me! LOL
Dave Matthews -Crash – was their 3rd album. Under the table was #2. Remember 2 things did have a few live tracks,but it still constitutes as a DEBUT album “it was a full length record, not an EP. —
Also, SOAD’s 2nd album was Toxicity, not Steal this album, which was mainly leftover material from the Toxicity sessions, that had leaked to the net, so the band released the finished product of this album, so needless to say it was more of a “B sides album” type deal. Still good stuffs though.

Okay this one is easy… The Free Wheelin’ Bob Dylan… way better than his debut. Honestly White Light/ White Heat isnt an improvement just a different step in a totally different direction by VU, and I like it more, so i add that one. Bowie’s Space Odditty should be added as it is near classic, and a strong step in the right direction past his self titled debut. A Rush of Blood to the shead anyone? Alice in Chains’s Dirt is one hell of an album of the 90’s. Siamese Dream.

Come on Pilgrim was an e.p., i mean jeez its compiled from home demos… Doolittle is the sophmore album, but still it isnt a big enough leap over Surfer Rosa to make this list.

This may be subjective–
What about The Smiths– “Meat is Murder”? I always liked this far better than their debut.

LL Cool J– “Bigger and Deffer”; better than “Radio”

WHOOAAA…..

im a huge nirvana and zep fan but..

what about PARANOID BY SABBATH????

The White Stripes – De Stijl
Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death

“The Band,” The Band; “White Light/White Heat” The Velvet Underground.

This one’s a bit of a cult classic, but it deserves mention. Actually, I think it “deserves” to be seen as the best hard rock album of the 90s but for now I’ll settle for “mention”. How about:

Kyuss, Blues for the Red Sun

“Reckoning” R.E.M.

“Radio City” Big Star

“It Takes A Nation…” Public Enemy

Samshing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream

What was the Beatles 2nd album?

What about Burning’ by The Wailers???

Pearl Jam – Vs.
Metallica – Ride The Lightning
Foo Fighters – The Colour And The Shape

Hole – Live Through This

The Sound, From the Lions Mouth
Comsat Angels, Sleep No More
Death Cab for Cutie, We Have the Facts
Seabound, No Sleep Demon

Travis – The Man Who

Freewheelin’-by Dylan, of course
Badmotorfinger-Soundga rden
Loaded-Velvet Underground
Odelay-Beck,not counting SSM&OFITG
Antics-Interpol
Th e Last Broadcast-Doves
De Stijl-White Stripes

Hole – Live through this
Nirvana – Nevermind
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese dream
Pearl Jam – Vs
Led Zeppelin – II
Foo Fighters – The colour and the shape
Pixies – Surfer Rosa/Doolittle
Jane’s Addiction – Ritual De lo Habitual
Nine Inch Nails – Downward Spiral
Alice In Chains – Dirt

WITHOUT A DOUBT! Smashing Pumpkins SIAMESE DREAM needs to be added to that list!!!

GISH was a great album, but Siamese Dream is their best album which can be played over and over again!!!!

nirvana – nevermind
michael jackson – thriller
radiohead – the bends
black sabbath paranoid
joy division – closer
grateful dead – anthem of the sun
coldplay-rush of blood to the head
smashing pumpking – siamese dream
jefferson airplane – surrealistic pillow
oasis-whats the story morning glory
chemical brothers-dig your own hole
nwa – straight outta comptain
ccr – green river
cream – disraeli gears
alice in chains – dirt
the police – ragatta de blanc
the strokes – room on fire
simon&garfunkle-parsley sage rosemary and thyme

Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
and I think Tiny Music is even better than those two

o ya and public enemy – it takes a nation of millions to hold us back and blondie – parallel and i guess eminem – marshal mathers

“The Bends” by Radiohead. It doesn’t even sound like the same band that did “Pablo Honey”.

“What’s The Story” by Oasis. Probably my favorite album of the 90’s next to Definitely Maybe.

Radiohead- The Bends
Nirvana- Nevermind
Wilco- Being There
Tool- AEnima
The Velvet Underground- White Light/White Heat
Eminem- The Marshall Mathers LP
The Band- The Band
Bob Dylan- The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
Pavement- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
The Shins- Chutes Too Narrow
Beck- Odelay
Oasis- What’s the Story (Morning Glory)?
Joy Division- Closer

Just want to point out a factual error – ‘Parallel Lines’ by Blondie was not, in fact, their 2nd record – it was their third.

I’m at work, so this is a top-of-the-head list

In order
1. Neutral Milk Hotel – In An Aeroplane Over the Sea
2. Radiohead – The Bends
3. Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
4. Pixies – Doolittle (I am not going to count Come On Pilgram, which was an EP)
5. Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
6. Elvis Costello – This Year’s Model
7. Neil Young – Everybody Knows This is Nowhere

———–

This is a local band that hasn’t broken out yet, but I really like Everything, Now!’s Police, Police

I should probably spell “Come on Pilgrim” right

Big Sugar – Five Hundred Pounds

definitely Radiohead’s “The Bends”!

mewithoutYou – Catch for Us the Foxes. (really. trust me. it’s that good)
Sigur Ros – Agaetis Byrjun.
Starflyer 59 – Gold.
Tool – Aenima.
Nirvana – Nevermind.
Radiohead – The Bends.
Jane’s Addiction – Nothing’s Shocking.
Weezer – Pinkerton.
Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique.
Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head.
David Crowder Band – Illuminate.
Over the Rhine – Patience.
PJ Harvey – Rid of Me.
Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP.
Explosions in the Sky – The Earth is Not a Cold, Dead Place.
The Prayer Chain – Mercury.
Gorillaz – Demon Days.
Hole – Live Through This.
Thrice – The Illusion of Safety.
Joy Division – Closer.
Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral.
Sunny Day Real Estate – LP2.
Marilyn Manson – Antichrist Superstar.
My Bloody Valentine – Isn’t Anything.
De La Soul is Dead.
Pearl Jam – Vs.
Poor Old Lu – Sin.
Rancid – Let’s Go.
Thursday – War All the Time.

I think you’re really forgetting of:
Led zep bbc sessions
jimi hendrix
the wall pink floyd
back in black acdc
and too many more…
nirvana of course it’s included
i’m from bahia blanca buenos aires argentina and your magazine rocks!

Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream

Not In Order*** Except Nirvana Greatest Album Period.

1.Nirvana “Nevermind” (No Brainer)
2.Mars Volta “Frances The Mute”
3.Interpol “Antics”
4.Rage Against The Machine “Evil Empire”
5.Queens Of the Stone Age “Rated R”
6.Radiohead “The Bends”
7.Tool “Aenema”
8.Kanye West “Late Registration”
9.System Of A Down “Toxicity”
10.Wu-Tang “Wu-Tang Forever”
11.The Strokes “Room On Fire”
12.Led Zeppelin “Zeppelin II”

Nevermind – Nirvana
Gold – Ryan Adams
The colour and the shape – Foo Fighters
Magic and Medicine – The Coral
Uplifit Mofo Party Plan – RHCP
Lapalco – Brendan Benson
——————-
B ut the best are the second album for The Clash and the second album with Mike Patton in the Faith No More, ANGEL DUST!!!

Dude Ranch- blink-182

Pearl Jam’s Vs. is better than the attention-grabbing debut by the Seattle luminaries and needs to be recognized. There are no weak points on the entire record. From “Go” to the burning “Indifference” it is my favorite album of all time-by any band.

seems like alot of people don’t know what they mean by sophomore album…

Good on ya for including The Stooges and Talking Heads. However, I have a few more (not in order):

Aerosmith, “Get Your Wings” (Steven Tyler finally finds the voice we know and love today)

The Fugees, “The Score” (HOW could you forget this one??? They jumped from a totally generic gangsta record (Blunted On Reality) to this?? A total masterpiece)

Santana, “Abraxas” (Black Magic Woman. Need I say more?)

Chili Peppers, “Freaky Styley” (Whoever is was up there who suggested Uplift doesnt know his Peppers. Here they hook up with George Freakin’ Clinton and turn out the funkiest music of their career. Good stuff)

The Doors, “Strange Days” (This is where the Doors get even darker than before. From the eerie as hell organ intro of the title track right to it’s own 11 minute closing epic, “When The Music’s Over”, this album doesnt stop surprising)

Queen, “Queen II” (Not only does it introduce the immortal band image that reappeared at the beginning of the Bohemian Rhapsody video 2 years later, it also features some of the most evil riffs Brian May ever produced and it influenced countless other bands including The Smashing Pumpkins (it’s Billy Corgan’s Favorite) and even Metallica)

John Lennon, “Imagine” (COME ON!!!! Need I say more than the title track? Well there is more. Lennon decided the scream therapy of his first had run its course, so he turns up the charm and the gloss to hit us with one classic after another….Gimme Some Truth, Oh Yoko!, How Do You Sleep, etc.)

Rush, “Fly By Night” (The first with Neil Peart, one of the best drummers ever and one of the best rock lyricist around, this is where Rush drop the Led Zeppelin posturing and come into their own. Anthem kicks your ass right from the get go, but you also find the title track, one of their most famous songs, and their first great epic, By-Tor and the Snow Dog)

The Who, “A Quick One” (You can find the seeds for Tommy in the genius mini opera of the same name, but you also get a side of the other band members’ personalities with Keith Moon’s Cobwebs and Strange, John Entwistle’s Boris The Spider, and Roger Daltry’s See My Way)

Foo Fighters-Colour and the Shape
STP-Purple
Rage-Evil Empire
Pearl Jam-Vs
Nirvana-Nevermind
Qot sa-Rated ‘R’
Alice n Chains- Dirt
Freak Show-Silverchair

Oasis – What’s the Story Morning Glory
Radiohead – The Bends
System of a Down – Toxicity
Tool – Aenima
Sam Roberts – Chemical City
Billy Talent – Billy Talent II
Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral
A Perfect Circle – Thirteenth Step

Dinosaur Jr – You’re Living All Over Me
Pixies – Doolittle
Sebadoh – The Freed Man
Meat Puppets – II
My Bloody Valentine – Loveless

All CLASSICS

Rage Against the Machine-Evil Empire
DEFINETLY!!!

Living Colour- Time’s Up

I found it difficult to even listen to Vivid after hearing this album.

A too often neglected masterpiece.

Beatles – With the Beatles; probably the ultimate 2nd album

Jesus and Mary Chain – Darklands; great record, very different from their first.

I was gonna say Loveless by My Bloody Valentine as some others did but I think people tend to forget about This Is Your Bloody Valentine, which makes Loveless their third album! Discounting that debut it’d be the biggest step forward on a second album though, in my opinion.

Ok Here’s my list.

Please take into concideration that I can’t remember Led Zep 11, Neil Young and Velvet Underground’s second releases.

These I do remember though.

1.Michael Jacksons Thriller – The biggest selling studio album of all time, 6 # 1’s, Launching MJ into Mega International Stardom never to be surpassed. The greatest pop album of all time! No matter what MJ has done since then in his personal and proffesional life, Thriller Kicks Butt

2.Nirvana’s Nevermind – The band and album that knocked MJ off his perch. Contains the greatest song of the 90’s.

3.Madonna’s Like a Virgin – The album that launched the career of pop’s biggest female artist of all time. Nuff said!

4.The Fugees The Score – Biggest selling Hip Hop album of all time, making Hip Hop accessable to the commercial record buying public. Springbord to the solo careers of Wyclef and Lauren

5.Kanye West’s Late registration -Rolling Stone Magazine’s Album of the Year 2005.

6. Guns ‘n Roses Appertite for Destruction (If you concider Lies the 1st)- The greatest Rock record of all time. Came at a time when Rock was pass’e and cheesy pop ruled the airwaves. GNR reinvented the bad boy rock image and became pop stars in their own right with out loosing any authenticity!

7.Prodigy’s Music for the Jilted Generation – In the mid Nineties Dance music ruled the party scenes around the globe, Rock seemed to be dieing a slow death. Enter the Prog MFTJG, merging Techno Breaks with Anarchic Punk visuals and energy. Saviors of Rock ‘n Roll

8.Sting’s Nothing like the Sun -Second Solo album from the front man of the Police Poignant with classics like Fragile, Englishman in New York and They Dance Alone.

9.Massive Attack’s Protection -One of the most difinative sounds of the 90’s Trip Hop, defined by this Album

10.Radiohead’s The Bends – If there was no The Bends there would be no OK Computer – The Greatest Album of the 90’s

Ok every is allowed their say but come on! The Wall was the 11th Pink Floyd album. In honour of the recently deceased Syd Barret we should get it right (even though he was long off the scene by then) and Back in Black was the 8th AC/DC album.

I agree with all those noting Vs by Pearl Jam as the best sophomore album. Its peerless.

smashing pumpkins- siamese dreams
incubus- science
radiohead- the bends
tool- aenema
coheed and cambria- in keeping secrets…
led zeppelin- II
dredg- el cielo
mewithoutyou- catch us for the foxes
mew- and the glass handed kites

1. Led Zeppelin “II”
2. Nirvana “Nevermind”
3. Lou Reed “Transformer”
4. The Velvet Underground “White Light / White Heat”
5. Black Sabbath “Paranoid”
6. Kanye West “Late Registration”
7. Beastie Boys “Paul`s Boutique”
8. The Stooges “Fun House”
9. Tool “Aenima” (I know about the Opiate EP, thats not an album)
10. Run DMC “King Of Rock”

Rumours”- Fleetwood Mac.
If you count the Buckingham/Nicks lineup as the only lineup of the Mac and skip the Peter Green-blues era Mac, than this would qualify as a sophmore release. If so it is easily the best sophmore album of all time, no doubt about it, perhaps the best album of all time. Lindsey Buckingham has to be the most underated guitar player of all-time, and who doesn’t like such awsome songs as “The Chain”, “Go Your Own Way”, and “Goldust Woman”.

Go-Betweens “Before Hollywood”

Sonic Youth
They’re the finest band ever on the planet!!!

Dar Williams- Mortal City

Lots of good ones mentioned, but none better than Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral

counting crows- recovering the satellites

Garbage – Version 2.0

It defined them.

Chicago II, which was really just Chicago… but we hhave to count the Chicago Transit Authority as #1…

Dream Theater – Images & Words

Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Hum – You’d Prefer An Astronaut

Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape

Santana’s “Abraxas” cannot possibly be overlooked for a list like this. It continues to be so popular that it is a small industry in and of itself for Columbia, which can’t think of enough ways to repackage it to continue re-relasing it…
The Mahavishnu Orchestra’s “Birds of Fire.”
Of more recent vintage: The Mars Volta’s “Frances the Mute.”

Definitely have to add Coldplay’s “A Rush of Blood to the Head”, Suede’s “Dog Man Star” and The Verve’s “A Northern Soul”.

Not sure if any one has mentioned these …but :

1. Shout at the Devil – Motley Crue
2.Strength – Enuff Z Nuff ( underrated band)
3.Stabbing Westward – Wither Blister Burn and Peel
4.Saigon Kick – the Lizard
5. Our Lady Peace – Clumsy

yes honestly, where are the big rock albums of the 90’s at? i think the 90’s and the 70’s turned out some of the best music ever anyway….(no order)
1.Tool – AEnima
2.NIN – The Downward Spiral
3.Alice in Chains – Dirt
4.Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
5. Radiohead – The Bends

Duran Duran – Rio
Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

Robbin’ The Hood-Sublime
Transformer-Lou Reed
Sad Wings Of Destiny-Judas Priest
Get Your Wings-Aerosmith
Killers-Iron Maiden

These are the first 5 that come to my mind.

Best Follow-ups:

Pinkerton
Paul ’s Boutique

For that matter, these personal favorites are Weezer and the Beastie Boys’ greatest albums.

Black Crowes – Southern Harmony and Musical Companion

Love – Da Capo
Crabby Appleton [grandfathers of power pop - Matthew Sweet must have listened to these guys!] – Rotten to the Core
Moby Grape – WOW [didn't get great reviews then, but holds up much better than most albums of its period]
Alice Cooper – Easy Action
Mothers of Invention – Absolutely Free!
Captain Beefheart – Safe As Milk [second in order of recording date]

Alan Stivell – Renaissance de la Harpe Celtique

Wilco – Being There

gwar – scumdogs of the universe
butthole surfers – psychic powerless another mans sac
test dept. – the unacceptable face of freedom
throbbing gristle – twenty jazz funk greats

Christina Aguilera, Stripped

Parallel Lines was Blondie’s 3rd.

I think of Elton John’s self titled 2nd album.

Hoodoo Gurus – Mars Needs Guitars!…my fave album of all time.

The Bends – Radiohead
The Colour & the Shape – Foo Fighters
vs – Pearl Jam
Siamese Dream – Smashing Pumpkins
You’d Prefer an Astronaut – HUM
Pleaure and the Greed – Big Wreck
Rush of Blood to the Head – Coldplay
Nevermind – Nirvana

Social Distortion- Prison Bound
M. Manson- Antichrist Superstar
Beasties- Paul’s Boutique

*****QUEEN II*****
Although their first album was more of a collection of three years’ worth of prior singles and studio versions of live standards, Queen II was the first cohesive and conceptual release. In my opinion this was a masterpiece, especially for its time.

With its White Side and Black Side, each with a white or black queen titled track, this was a real clever work. The Black Side is one of the best stretches of mixed tracks since side B of “Abbey Road”.

I read that Brian May considers this the band’s best work. I would agree even though “Sheer Heart Attack” which followed was also a classic.

Suggestions for this list aren’t really interesting unless the second album really improves on the first album as was originally suggested. I mean, why all the votes for RATM’s Evil Empire? It’s practically the same album as their debut.
And there’s no way you can argue that “Vs.” was a significant improvement over “Ten” for Pearl Jam… even if you think it’s better it’s not like going from “Ten” to “Vs.” is like “Bum Rush the Show” to “It Takes a Nation…” Quit whining about Pearl Jam being overshadowed by Nirvana.

The Partridge Family Sound Magazine… but, seriously.
A Saucerful Of Secrets – Pink Floyd, In Color – Cheap Trick, Van Halen – Van Halen II, Rush – Fly By Night

Graham Parker and the Rumour — Heat Treatment

Folklore – Nelly Furtado
The Bends – Radiohead
The Colour & the Shape – Foo Fighters
Siamese Dream – Smashing Pumpkins
Rush of Blood to the Head – Coldplay
Nevermind – Nirvana

WTF!!! Nobody is mentioning With The Beatles!!!???? Should be a nop brainer.

Emmylou Harris – Elite Hotel
Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel
Sigur Ros – Agaetis Byrjun
Nirvana – Nevermind.
Radiohead – The Bends.
Ramones – Leave Home
Pixies – Doolittle
Elvis Costello – This Year’s Model
Neil Young – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
The White Stripes – De Stijl
Wilco – Being There
Sinead O’connor – I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
Supergrass – In It For The Money
Third World – 96° In The Shade
Lou Reed – Transformer
Santana – Abraxas
X – Wild Gift
Stooges – Fun House
Jackson Browne – For Everyman
Nick Cave – Bryter Layter
The Band – The Band
Bob Dylan – The Freewheeling’ Bob Dylan
Belle And Sebastian – If You’re Feeling Sinister
The Cramps – Psychedelic Jungle
Dwight Yoakam – Hillbilly Deluxe
Talking Heads – More Songs About Buildings And Food
Graham Parker & The Rumour – Heat Treatment
Pink Floyd – Saucer Full Of Secrets
Gun Club – Miami

sorry – that is Nick Drake below. will choose Nick Cave another time. :-p

Hey Dingus– No name was EVER more fitting. What a moronic tool.

The Go-Betweens-Before Hollywood

The Levellers-Levelling The Land was one of the best albums no one heard in the ’90’s

and Thursday-Full Collapse is absolutely amazing.

I’m sure folks will disagree with me, but heres’ 2:

U2 – October
Rush – Fly By Night

Nevermind, obviously. Going from a shabbily-recorded indie release made for $600 dollars to a 10 million-seilling all-time classic is progress, although Bleach was a VERY GOOD record with About a Girl (maybe the best pure pop song Kurt wrote), School, Negative Creep eto. Not sure why everyone’s saying Colour and the Shape was so much better than Foo Fighters’ first album. The first one contained many of their best songs (at least some of my favorites) “This is a Call”, “For All the Cows”, “I’ll Stick Around”, and who can doubt “Big Me.” Maybe if we’re talking about production value. Dave recorded and produced and played every instrument on the first album by himself.

What about the Eagles ‘Desperado.’

Elvis Costello: This Year’s Model
Oasis: What’s the Story…
Rolling Stones: 12 X 5
Led Zeppelin II
X: Wild Gift
Ramones: Leave Home
NY Dolls: Too Much Too Soon
The Pogues: Rum, Sodomy & the Lash

Someone mentioned they were confused at RATM’s Evil Empire being posted…anyone who claims those albums sound “the same” is not listening at all. Their first album is good and for it’s time very innovative. But have you LISTENED to Evil Empire?? SO much more technically advanced, Tom starts doing things with the guitar that nobody had done or has done since…even more so than their first album. It became the first TRUE hip-hop rock fusion in my opinion and it was amazing and totally original.

And..it’s their best album

This may be a stretch, but Wildflowers by Tom Petty was his second solo album. Also preferred Sheryl Crows self titled second album over Tuesday Night Music Club.
Black Crowes, Southern Harmony and Musical Companion

The Mars Volta – De-loused in the Comatorium (if you incude Tremulant EP as their first album) or if not Frances The Mute.
The Mars Volta can do no wrong in my eyes. Pushing the envelope totally!

Stone Temple Pilots – Purple

Karnivool – Themata

Cog – The New Normal

Deftones – Around The Fur!!

Pearl Jam Vs

T-REX “Electric Warrior” Note: I know Tyranesaurus Rex had albums out, but Marc Bolan Changed the name and this was the 2nd album which definitely defined the group.

Correction: Parallel Lines is Blondie’s THIRD album. Plastic Letters is the second. One would think that Rolling Stone would have done their research!

STP’s Purple
Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy
RATM’s Evil Empire

Okay, i get the importance of rock, but let’s not forget awesome pop albums too, shall we?
Nelly Furtado-Folklore
Colplay-Rush of Blood to the head
Madonna-Like a Virgin
Michael Jackson-thriller
Bjork-Post
Sheryl Crow-Sheryl Crow
Pink-Mizundastood
Nine Inch Nails-Downward Spiral
Kings of Leon-Aha Shake Heartbreak
Hole-Live Through This

lots of good albums mentioned from what I’ve read of the comments so far (With the Beatles, of course, among others), plus some good ones from the Rolling Stone story.

I don’t know if this was mentioned in the comments (since I didn’t read all of them), but what about Brand New’s Deja Entendu album?

and from my previous comment, I’d also like to mention Relient K’s second album, The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek.

i would have to say for newer bands i will go with
shinedowns us & them
audioslave out of exile
black crowes southern harmony for musical companion
live throwing copper
def leppard high n’ dry
tom petty & the heartbreakers damn the torpedoes

A Short List

The Beatles – With The Beatles
R.E.M – Reckoning
The Moody Blues – In Search Of The Lost Chord
John Lennon – Imagine
The Rolling Stones – 12 x 5
Joy Division – Closer
Metallica – Ride The Lightning
Ozzy Osbourne – Diary Of A Madman
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Axis: Bold As Love
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin 2
Nirvana – Nervermind
(Impossible not to be so repetitive aout those last three…)
Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
The Police – Reggatta De Blanc
Cream – Disraeli Gears

I forgot Lust For Life. What an idiot I am.

The list is fairly accurate.

I’d add “I’m With Stupid” by Aimee Mann and drop “II” by Zeppelin. Let’s face it, they didn’t get good until “IV”.

The lists have been great so far; here’s a few that I haven’t seen mentioned yet:

1.Ducks Deluxe-Taxi To The Terminal Zone

2.Tuatara-Trading With The Enemy

3.The Minus 5-The Lonesome Death Of Buck McCoy

4.Peter Gabriel-Peter Gabriel 2 (the one with the claws; produced by Robert Fripp)

5.Carlene Carter-Musical Shapes (way ahead of its time)

6.Mark Eitzel-West (I don’t care what anyone says, it’s better than his debut and the Songs Of Love live album doesn’t count)

7.Sondre Lerche-Two Way Monologue

8.The Pernice Brothers-The World Won’t End

9.Young Fresh Fellows-Topsy Turvy

10.Badfinger-No Dice (an overlooked classic)

These have already been mentioned, but are worth repeating:

Nick Lowe-Labour Of Lust
Supergrass-In It For The Money
R.E.M.-Reckoning
Doobi e Brothers-Toulouse Street
Replacements-Hootenann y
Travis-The Man Who

All indisputably great!

OK… I know I might get a lot of flack from the rest of the crew here at RS… but since I have a 16 year old daughter who has been blasting this album for over a year… and she DID WIN 2 GRAMMY’S… what about:

“Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson

What about Roll On from The Living End?

Greetings from across the Atlantic (Portugal). Here are some of my best second Albums:

At the Drive-In – In/Casino/Out
Offspring – S.M.A.S.H.
Radiohead – The Bends
Pearl Jam – Vs (this one is controversial) :p
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
Portishead – Dummy
Stone Temple Pilots – Purple
Incubus – Make Yourself
…

r.e.m. – reckoning
b boys – paul’s boutique
wilco – being there
smash pump – siamese dreams
stooges – fun house
nirvana – nevermind

Sarah McLachlan- Solace
The Cranberries- No Need to Argue
Coldplay- A Rush of Blood to the Head
Travis- The Man Who
Oasis- What’s the Story…
Jewel- Spirit

Tom Clark and the High Action Boys – Cross Eyed And Bow Legged

Weezer-Pinkerton
Gorillaz-Dem on Days
Franz Ferdinand-You Could Have it So Much Better
Kanye West-Late Registration

Is Opiate all of a sudden not an album anymore???

I’m seeing a lot of nominations for Aenema on here, but wouldn’t that be Tool’s third album???

I therefore nominate Undertow by Tool.

Hellooo – Mothers of Invention: Were only in it for the money

…hot poop, what’s the ugliest part of your body (your mind), take your clothes off when you dance. After all I am the m other people.

Jimi Hendrix and the Kings of Leon

Nine Inch Nails, The Downward Spiral (if you count only full lenght releases–easily one of the best)

PJ Harvey, Rid of Me

Doolittle – Pixies
Downward Spiral – Nine Inch Nails
De Stijl – The White Stripes
R – Queens Of The Stone Age
Siamese Dream – Smashing Pumpkins
Evil Empire – Rage Against The Machine

I Forgot One
The Bends – Radiohead

I didn’t see this mentioned:

The Strokes – Room On Fire

I guess it’s still hated on, but no matter what, the more time passes the more this album will be respected. People just love to hate the Strokes just to hate them, and Room On Fire is the haters’ pet album.

Same bands with the best debuts:
1. NEVERMIND- Nirvana (Perfection)
2. ANTICS- Interpol (Newest perfection)

I saw a lot of the same albums I would have picked…what about
Incubus, Morning View
Rage Against the Machine, Evil Empire and the Beastie Boys, Paul’s Boutique. Each band took their sound to a new level with the second album.

I add other albums and support some choices:
- Pixies: Surfer Rosa (Come on pilgrim is an album!!?!)
- The velvet Underground: White Light / White Heat
- The shins: Chutes Too narrow
- Franz Ferdinand: You could have it so much better
- Wire: Chairs Missing
- Michael jackson: Thriller
- Roxy Music: For Your Pleasure
- Led Zepellin: II
- Smashing Pumpkins: Siamese Dream
- The Stooges: Fun House
- My Bloody Valentine: Loveless
- The Fugees: The Score (a forbidden great album)
- Joy Division: Closer
- Radiohead: The Bends
- Fleetwood mac : Rumours
- I’ve gotta admit it, Nirvana: Nevermind
- Neutral Milk Hotel: In the aeroplane over the sea
- Chemical brothers: Dig your own hole
- Garbage: Version 2.0
- The Beatles: With the Beatles
- Basement Jaxx: Rooty
- Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

Excuse me. The Score is not a forbidden album, is a FORGOTTEN album (bad english). But I don’t know why critics seem to banned, if it was a phenomenon in 1996.

A last sophomore album I didn’t include:
- Antony & The Johnsons: I am a Bird Now

Pearl Jam is nothing compared to Nirvana.

My List of great 2nd albums in no real order:
1) Alice in Chains: Dirt
2) 13th Floor Elevators: Easter Everywhere…takes the first album up a notch
3) Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (possibly the best 2nd album ever, and Dylan’s peak).
4) Radiohead: THe Bends–a huge surprise after a subpar debut.
5)Love: Da Capo–if it weren’t for the last song Revelations which is 18 minutes long, this would be in the list of the best albums of all time. It still is incredible despite it’s huge flaw.
6) Oasis: What’s the Story Morning Glory. They peaked at #2, then vanished.
7) Jimi Hendrix: Axis Bold aS Love
Jefferson Airplane: Surrealistic Pillow. You could also argue that After Bathing at Baxter’s is a second album since it’s the second album with Grace and Spencer Dryden. Either one is great. I prefer Bathing though mainly for Spencer Dryden’s amazing jazzy drumming.

9) Talking Heads: More Songs about Buildings and Food. Great album sure, but not as good as the one before it or after it. A more transitional album. It’s still has enough peaks (Artists Only, Take me to the river, Thank you…angel, Found a Job to warrant inclusion.

Over-rated 2nd albums:
1) THe Doors: Strange Days. Completely inferior to the first cd. It’s weird that this one gets the nod critically over the overlooked gem Waiting for the Sun.
2)Pearl Jam: Vs. Has some GREAT moments (Rearview Mirror, Animal,Elderly…, Daughter, etc) but also has some real junk (Leash, WMA, Glorified G, etc.
3) Led Zeppelin: II. Zep’s second has its share too of great songs, but it has some AWFUL tunes too (Moby Dick, The Lemon Song).
4) The Beatles: With the Beatles. I am the biggest Beatles fan around (hence the Frankie Crisp name) but With the Beatles is the most unfairly praised album ever. For my money it’s a big step down from Please Please Me. Sure some of the originals are great “All I Gotta Do”, “Not a Second Time” and the covers of “Till There was You” and “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” two of their best covers ever, but the rest of it is slight (All My Loving, Little Child, It Wont Be Long), derivative (Money compared to Twist and Shout) or just plain bad (Devil in Her Heart, Please Mr. Postman). The onlV weak regular beatles album….not counting the cash in Yellow Submarine.
5) Van Morrison: Astral Weeks. A few great moments (title Track, Sweet THing, Madame George), but the rest of it meanders around a bit too much. Overall, despite Van’s obvious talents, he is completely overrated in my book.

Prodigy – Music for the jilted generation

Chemical Brothers – Dig your own hole

our lady peace – clumsy
i mother earth – scenery and fish
moist – creature
the tea party – the album with temptation on it

these bands are better than a lot of the american rock bands.

You guys missed a big one with “Tapestry.”

Parallel lines was not Blondie’s second album rolling stone, it was Plastic Letters, which is a 4-5 star album in it’s own right and is what broke Blondie wide open on an international level with hits like Denis, Presence Dear and Detroit 442.

Have problems with the top 500, some noteable exceptions and stuff that shouldn’t be there, that said , this relates to the best second albums
The Comsat Angels – Sleep No More.
NME said the Comsat Angels – Waiting For a Miracle was the greatest debut album ever.
Sleep No More their second needs recognition. These guys are the fathers of ‘Alt Rock’ and Sleep No More is an amazing gospel.
Gang Of Four – Solid Gold -need I say more
The Pretty Things – Get the Picture
Rolling Stones second
Associates – Sulk – cosmic and incredible

i think we can all agree that This Year’s Model is the best second album of all time.

I have to say…as multiple people here got this wrong, that Kerplunk! is Green Day’s second album and possibly the best sophmore album ever.
(cheers to the 3 who got this right)

Did I miss something, or was there no Steely Dan in the top 500

Some great stuff listed , but I did not see Funkadelic’s second….”Free your mind and your ass will follow”

Prince’s second album of his amazing 30 years of making love and music entitled “Prince”.
“I Wanna Be Your Lover” and “I Feel For You” – both intended for Patrice Rushen, who declined to record them.Check out “Bambi” (check out the amazing lead/rythm guitar interplay) and “why u wanna treat me so bad”..

Hi all. I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply ALL my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.
I am from Egypt and learning to speak English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: “Government moves to staunch massive medicare fraud.”

With love :p, Robbin.