Bands with great second albums

Butthole Surfers "Rembrandt Pussyhorse."

waltersalas, vg list, altho i though "leave home" was decidedly weaker than the debut.

loomis, I agree, and that's why I left in off my list. I feel The Ramones didn't get really good as a band until Marky replaced Tommy on drums. It was on their 4th album---Road To Ruin---that they fulfilled their potential. The earlier albums had great material, but Tommy's weak drumming undermined the power of the songs. Marky is a much "stronger" drummer than was Tommy.

+1 Warren Zevon "Excitable Boy" I didn't realize that was his second, great album.

Mothers of Invention- Absolutely Free
Pink Floyd- Saucerful of Secrets 
Velvet Underground-White Light White Heat
Doors-Strange Days
Free-Free