Second Verse, Greater Than The First (2 Viewers)

[rockaction]

Hip Hop itself was less than fifteen years old at the time and its boundaries were still being extended on a regular basis.

Makes sense then.

 

[Eephus]

Did the second ABC have the "pounds, dollars...puhpuhouhpounds, dollars" tune on it? It was decent of so.

No that's the third album.  How To Be a Zillionaire.

Other 80s acts...Thomas dolbys The Flat Earth was a flop after the blinded with science album, but still great and maybe even better.

Talk Talk iirc. Joe Jackson had an epic first four album run.

Dolby's catalog is poorly represented on Spotify for rights related reasons.

Talk Talk got better as they went along.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Love that Dolby stuff. He somehow sounded both nerd and funky simultaneously.

 

[Eephus]

Not their first and second albums, but first and second national and international distributions, Congratulations...I’m Sorry after New Miserable Experience for the Gin Blossoms always seems unfairly panned.  Some great driving tunes on that album, and I often prefer the version with ‘Til I Hear It From You on it to New Miserable Experience.

Didn't the songwriter die or quit the band or something?

 

[Henry Ford]

Didn't the songwriter die or quit the band or something?

Yes. 

 

[zamboni]

Allmans: Idlewild South IIRC initially wasn’t as widely praised or accepted as the s/t debut, but is just as, if not stronger.

 

[zamboni]

Love that Dolby stuff. He somehow sounded both nerd and funky simultaneously.

And played a key part on Def Leppard’s Pyromania.

 

[rockaction]

Yes. 

I had posted a longer response about that, but it was long-winded and got jettisoned for the sake of continuity. It was about critical and audience expectations of the album because of that, the seismic movement in FM radio from '92-'96, record companies and supply-side hits vs. actual demand, etc., but it went into the ether.

Safe to say, yes, he died and many thought the band went with him. Perhaps prematurely. 

 

[Ilov80s]

It got good reviews and is well liked but I feel like Evil Empire doesn't get the same praise as the other RATM albums and it might be my favorite of theirs. 

 

[wikkidpissah]

Many of my favorite artists had their peak on their 3rd record - Yes w Fragile, Little Feat w Dixie Chicken, Laura Nyro w NY Tendaberry, Radiohead w OK Computer

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Not really fair because the second was a double album, but Wilco - Being There was creative leap ahead of A.M., a solid album in its own right.   

I was just going to post this one.  

 

[Long Ball Larry]

It got good reviews and is well liked but I feel like Evil Empire doesn't get the same praise as the other RATM albums and it might be my favorite of theirs. 

I was thinking about this.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Wu-tang?

 

[rockaction]

Wu-tang?

i certainly considered it as a neat contrarian pick because even Iron Flag was a quality album, but at no point is the second album Wu Tang Forever, after the solo albums came out, anywhere as groundbreaking as Enter... or the solo efforts, IMHO.

 

[McBokonon]

The Violent Femmes self-titled debut brought us Blister in the Sun, Please Do Not Go, Kiss Off, Gone Daddy Gone, Add it Up..it was an insanely good album and I think they should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - nobody sounded like them before, and nobody has sounded like them since. They are truly their own thing.

Their second album is largely forgotten even though it has Country Death Song, Black Girls, and Jesus Walking on the Water on it but Hallowed Grounds is great.

Sweet Misery Blues

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Echo & the Bunnymen - Heaven Up Here (Crocodiles)

Many fans would go with Crocs but I think HUH is just as good if not a little better 

 

[Northern Voice]

I've said this in like twenty different threads here and RA already knows this but the answer is The Strokes' Room on Fire. 

 

[Northern Voice]

Here is a music thread because we're sorely lacking them on the front page these days (Where have all the countdowns gone? Never mind the rude boys).

I plan on posting the '18 countdown results at some point, then doing a '19 songs draft, a '19 album poll, a '10-19 song draft and a '10-19 album poll over the next six months - you're all on notice. 

 

[rockaction]

I plan on posting the '18 countdown results at some point, then doing a '19 songs draft, a '19 album poll, a '10-19 song draft and a '10-19 album poll over the next six months - you're all on notice. 

Heh. I was being tongue-in-cheek. You paint such worlds of possibility. I'm personally very much up for the '10-19 stuff.

 

[Mister CIA]

Many of my favorite artists had their peak on their 3rd record - Yes w Fragile, Little Feat w Dixie Chicken, Laura Nyro w NY Tendaberry, Radiohead w OK Computer

Digressin, lots of fun to be had over greatest debut, 2nd, 3rd, 4th records of all time.  

The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion ranks very near the top in greatest 2nd albums of all-time, backed up by critical acclaim, alas.

 

[Mister CIA]

Is "alas" the greatest word of all time?

 

[rockaction]

Digressin, lots of fun to be had over greatest debut, 2nd, 3rd, 4th records of all time.  

The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion ranks very near the top in greatest 2nd albums of all-time, backed up by critical acclaim, alas.

Steve Hoffman forum had a thread about the greatest fifth albums in existence. Interesting thread, but too many pictures and not enough reasoning behind why the albums were so good. They were just like lists out there in the ether. 

 

[rockaction]

Is "alas" the greatest word of all time?

Donnie Darko says "cellar door"

I say that "forsooth," "therefrom," and others are pretty good, too. "Therefrom" is just so mellifluous and utile at the same time. Love it. 

 

[Mister CIA]

Donnie Darko says "cellar door"

I say that "forsooth," "therefrom," and others are pretty good, too. "Therefrom" is just so mellifluous and utile at the same time. Love it. 

Therefrom ...

 

[Mister CIA]

Is "alas" the greatest word of all time?

The prosecution rests.

 

[-fish-]

Rock, I really enjoy this thread even with the misunderstandings.  Have to add Led Zepppelin II.

 

[-fish-]

I’d add Electric Version over Mass Romantic, but I’m not sure the first was critically acclaimed/popular enough to count.

 

[zamboni]

Rock, I really enjoy this thread even with the misunderstandings.  Have to add Led Zepppelin II.

Not sure this applies either, as both I and II are pretty equally revered.

 

[rockaction]

Not sure this applies either, as both I and II are pretty equally revered.

Wilco...Zep II

:shrugs:

life is what you make it

 

[-fish-]

Wilco...Zep II

:shrugs:

life is what you make it

one of my favorite songs ever.

 

[Eephus]

I plan on posting the '18 countdown results at some point, then doing a '19 songs draft, a '19 album poll, a '10-19 song draft and a '10-19 album poll over the next six months - you're all on notice. 

Did we even submit 2018 lists

 

[Eulogys]

Depending on if you count an EP as a 1st album, Tool's "Undertow" was greater than "Opiate". If not, "Ænima" is greater than "Undertow".

Queensryche's "Rage for Order" is greater than "The Warning" which is greater than the debut EP "Queensryche"

And as great as "Mechanical Resonance" is, I feel Tesla's second release, "The Great Radio Controversy" is a better than the 1st album.

 

[El Floppo]

Did we even submit 2018 lists

Yes.

 

[UncleZen]

Paul's Boutique is the 1st one I thought of as well. On the flip side, Nirvana's "Nevermind" was a huge success but I didn't think it was as good as "Bleach." I loved the raw energy and sound on Bleach.

 

[rockaction]

Paul's Boutique is the 1st one I thought of as well. On the flip side, Nirvana's "Nevermind" was a huge success but I didn't think it was as good as "Bleach." I loved the raw energy and sound on Bleach.

Wow. That's a rare complaint, but if you were already steeped in Seatlle's sound, I can easily see it. Nevermind was such a departure. 

 

[UncleZen]

Wow. That's a rare complaint, but if you were already steeped in Seatlle's sound, I can easily see it. Nevermind was such a departure. 

I wouldn't call it a complaint. I did enjoy Nevermind. I just liked Bleach better.

 

[Ilov80s]

Does anyone think Congratulations is better than Oracular Spectacular?  I don't but I thought the negative overreaction to Congratulations was insane. 

 

[Northern Voice]

I plan on posting the '18 countdown results at some point, then doing a '19 songs draft, a '19 album poll, a '10-19 song draft and a '10-19 album poll over the next six months - you're all on notice. 

Did we even submit 2018 lists

I think I got like 13, which is why I wasn't super motivated for it. 

 

[rockaction]

Does anyone think Congratulations is better than Oracular Spectacular?  I don't but I thought the negative overreaction to Congratulations was insane. 

That's awesome. No way was Congratulations better, but I'd love to hear that defense.

Totally in the spirit of the thread, and a post after my own local heart. (MGMT is from CT, like literally two doors away from old stomping grounds.)

 

[rockaction]

liturly

 

[Northern Voice]

That's awesome. No way was Congratulations better, but I'd love to hear that defense.

I'm not passionate enough about either album to make the case but 'It's Working' is pretty easily my favourite song of theirs over the big singles from Oracular 

 

[rockaction]

I'm not passionate enough about either album to make the case but 'It's Working' is pretty my favourite song if theirs over the big singles from Oracular 

Huh. I'll have to check it out. That was an instant revulsion listen, Congratulations was.