Bands with great second albums

bdp, my issue with leave home isn't the musicianship but the songs, which are just a little less inspired than the debut and sound just slightly contrived. by the time of their classics, rocket to russia and road to ruin, they were essentially a pop band, where studio craft (and a better drummer) really did matter.now, for another disappointing second album i'd throw out give em enough rope by the clash, which is surprisingly flat compared to the classics that preceded and followed it. likewise the stone roses, who get hilariously namedropped in "shaun of the dead"

Yeah loomis, the songs and the band are separate issues. I too felt the 2nd album material wasn't up to the level of the 1st. My comments about Marky vs Tommy on drums were intended to make the point that Marky is a more muscular, hard hitting drummer, which benefits both the band and the material.

@bdp24 
@loomisjohnson 

I am in agreement that Road to Ruin is their best album, but I think all of the first four--and Too Tough to Die--are classics. I also think the Clash's Give 'Em Enough Rope is great, though I have never cared much for the production on that one. I feel kind of the same way about Television's "Adventure," a great record that doesn't get its due because it is always compared to "Marquee Moon," an iconic record. YMMV.

agree with you on "adventure"--the songs are definitely there, esp. "glory" and "ain't that nothing", but the sound is a bit too polished and new wav-y. i haven't heard too tough to die in years--i remember it being something of a throwback to their punky days; gonna give it another listen. 

tseliot

Baxter’s was the Airplane’s third album