I haver a theory about bands

DdBob

DdBob

Dogue in teh desert
....so I smoked some dope and was listening to Radiohead and I realised a thought of which I have thought many times over the years....Bands putout their best material on the 2 through 4 albums and in a lot of cases it is the 2nd and 3rd and quite often the 2nd as all below examples are.....







and then of course there are bands who anomalies like The Fall all who don't really have a peak period because the had equally great stuff throughout their careers for whatever reason, for the Fall is was constant line up changes



what are some other examples of the above, both the 2nd album theory and the "whole career" story?
 
more deep thoughts....

The first record is usually surpassed by the 2nd record because on making the first record they were under the pressure of "This is it boys...make or b break....WE GOTTA WRITE HITS' and on the second one they are free, they now got some money and with that their current and immediate mood is blissful joy and by the third they might perfect what they did on the 2nd by the 5th or more they are un oder theinfluence of staying relevant or they are under the influence of REACTION. They feel the need to change up the sound and it either works or it bombs and the exodus of fanbs begins
 
Everyone knows that the Beatles’ best album was their second US Capitol album.

I think this is too complex to set a rule, DogBob. A lot of bands do fall into the “a lifetime to write yr first album and a few months to make your second” territory—and some bands rally to the challenge and plenty of others have nothing left in the tank. In hindsight, many bands seem to crystallize their sound/quirks/approach over the second or third LP and that looks like “best” once people look back.

Maintaining a long run of compelling work requires discipline and craft and process—all things that get thwarted by the commercial “strike while the iron is hot” ethos of the music biz. And a lot of pop musicians don’t have the coaching or formal training to establish a practice that leads to long-term creative oomph (notice how we rarely talk about someone’s second novel always being their best or someone’s second series of paintings being the peak).

Lots of people get better and better at making records over time. But the nature of the pop/rock press is that no one cares much what a 35-year-old lifetime pro musician does on album #8. For example, Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes, etc.) just put out a new Flock of Dimes LP and it might be one of her best. But what’s the chance that anyone will pay attention beyond the incredibly niche world of music dweebs who catalogue semi popular music?
 
It's a good theory. The common theory is that the first album is strong because the band has been preparing for it for a long time and there is the sophomore slump with a weaker 2nd album. I often find the 2nd album to be my favorite.

My theory behind the 2nd being strong is that if it's a good band they will produce and perform under pressure. The record companies back in the day would definitely try to get a record made quickly before interest faded and likely a short time frame so that the band could get out playing live quickly. A good band will put something great together and create. The polish might not be there but maybe instead a bit of a raw quality.

I completely agree with the Zep II. I love Van Halen II. The Cult Love. Elvis Costello This Year's Model.
 
smorgdonkey said:
It's a good theory. The common theory is that the first album is strong because the band has been preparing for it for a long time and there is the sophomore slump with a weaker 2nd album. I often find the 2nd album to be my favorite.

My theory behind the 2nd being strong is that if it's a good band they will produce and perform under pressure. The record companies back in the day would definitely try to get a record made quickly before interest faded and likely a short time frame so that the band could get out playing live quickly. A good band will put something great together and create. The polish might not be there but maybe instead a bit of a raw quality.

I completely agree with the Zep II. I love Van Halen II. The Cult Love. Elvis Costello This Year's Model.
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Love doesn't get enough love around here. The band Love either.
 
Death's best albums are the 4th and 5th, Cynic's best album is their debut, your rule might apply to Morbid Angel and Deicide.
 
Led Zeppelin 1 was great. Zeppelin 2 was something special. Really liked 3. Then there's their fourth. Houses was solid. Ten Years Gone is my favorite, so Physical Graffiti. Presence was fantastic. Pretty much everything but Hot Dog.
 
Fates Warning - Theories Of Flight (2016) may be my favorite FW album, 33 years and 12 studio albums into their career.

Which proves there are exceptions to this rule :embarrassed:
 
Milli Vanilli's first album with Girl You Know It's True on it is pretty good...

But just wait until you hear their next album Rob & Fab where they sing their own material.
 
Bones McHorror said:
Milli Vanilli's first album with Girl You Know It's True on it is pretty good...

But just wait until you hear their next album Rob & Fab where they sing their own material.
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I've just put Girl You Know Its True radio on Spotify.

Lots of great tunes coming up and GYKIT is a banger. Definitely due a Roger Sanchez remix :embarrassed:
 
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