There is a myth in popular music that for every brilliant debut album there is a poor second attempt. That can obviously be the case, but it's by no means a rule. In fact I'm going to argue that it's not the sequel that's the problem for most bands, it's trying to make a great third record.
Take a classic debut album. I'll be obvious and say 'Definitely Maybe'. It is obvious but also makes a perfect example. It's indisputable that it's one of the greatest first efforts in modern history. If you think otherwise, well, not only are you in the minority, but you're wrong. I hope that's changed your mind. Anyway, Oasis followed that up with "What's the Story (Morning Glory)" obviously, I don't need to tell you that. Then came the pompous, over blown, coke-fuelled 'Be Here Now'. By the writers own admission, it's not great. Exhibit A.
Now for someone more obscure but no less close to my heart, Mansun. 'Attack of the Grey Lantern' a masterpiece I'm sure you'd agree, followed by 'Six' an experimental, off the wall work of genius, then 'Little Kix' which signalled the point where it all started to go a bit wrong.
There is an argument that, in fact, when a band reaches it's third LP that they run out of ideas and start going off in different directions, literally and artistically. Groups fall out and apart. End of band. Not before making a stinker and losing a large proportion of the fan base.
It's unfair, sometimes, to state that certain records are completely shit. In the examples I've given there are saving graces (D'ya know what I mean, Comes as no surprise) there are some cuts of pure gold but as a complete piece of work it's just not as good as the previous two. I mean, where do you go from two of the biggest selling, best received albums of the all time? You disappear into a cloud of gak and blow trumpets out of your arse whilst your A List mates add slide guitar and backing vocals.
Or in Mansun's case, you let the record company stick their ores in and get you a producer who tries to turn your 20 minute jams into concise, radio friendly 3 minutes and make you sound MOR. What comes out the other end? Your least successful record and the beginning of the end. Well done Parlaphone, you couldn't just leave it alone could you?!?!
The exceptions to the rule. Nick Drake. He only made three before he died for crying out loud but managed to come up with triplets of staggering beauty and prodigious brilliance. Kings of Leon managed to squeeze out three fantastic albums before getting the stylists in and dreaming of the stadium gig. I'm mean, does anyone actually like 'Sex on Fire'? Arguments can be made for and against I,II,III Led Zeppelin records. One thing is for sure, two of the biggest and best bands of all time certainly didn't start with their best efforts. Them being the Beatles and Rolling Stones if you hadn't guessed. In their defence, the "Album" wasn't what it became in the mid to late 60's and it was more a vehicle for all the singles you released than a concept of it's own, which you could say, The Beatles and The Stones trail blazed themselves. Certainly the tit for tat 'Sgt Pepper' and 'Her Satanic Majesties..' were part of the early swathe of albums being constructed as a piece of art in there own right.
It seems that some bands have the knack of releasing a belter of a debut, follow it up with another cracker and then lose their way. Some have the ability to get it back, just a momentary blip. The Arctic Monkeys are once such band who managed that. The first was monumental, the second a lesser triumph, but a triumph none the less, and then 'Humbug'. Not so much of triumph. Then they came back with 'Suck it and See' that was far better received and then 'AM' back to their best.
Other bands lose their audience, sometimes not through any fault of their own. Off the back of Britpop, a number of great bands seemed to fall away and never quite saw the same success. The Bluetones are a prime example. 'Expecting to Fly' is an underrated, subtle masterpiece, 'Return to the Last Chance Saloon' was a perfectly pitched Spanish/Mexican influenced record with some brilliant, brilliant songs and then 'Science and Nature' just didn't seem to land, despite having a higher chart position than 'Return..'. By 2000, Britpop was very over. It was the calm before the "Strokes" storm and 'Nu-metal' had risen from the gutter, mutated and become a colossal monster of bleurgh.
The 'Tones had lost their market and it was never quite the same. Which is a huge shame as "Keep the home fires burning' is cracking. Thankfully, Mark Morriss is still with us carving out a nice little solo career for himself.
It is still happening. Some bands haven't quite made it to their 3rd record yet, but some are about to release them, and if the opening gambits are anything to go by, it's not looking great. Everything, Everything released two excellent albums in 'Man Alive' and 'Arc', that have been described as "geek rock" but for me just shows an intelligence and the ability to craft clever songs out of odd time signatures, different singing styles and bizarre lyrics. Unfortunately, they seem to have forgotten how they made those first two records and have, in their own words, attempted to "stop trying to make the perfect song and go with a vibe" and what has been shat out the other end of this "vibe" is 'Distant Past' with its frankly bloody awful 90's dance one note synthesiser hook in the chorus. It sounds like a mix of "Encore un fore" and "No Limits" with a bit of Faithless chucked in for good measure.
That may (does) sound bitter but I was so incredibly disappointed by the song when it premiered on Zane Lowe's show on Radio 1, I turn it off when ever it's played on other stations now. They are so much better than that. Frustrating.
This all came about from a question asked on Twitter, to name a band or artist who released three great albums straight off the bat. The list was small. Discussions aplenty. I suppose it does depend on your opinion of the third album. Some people love 'Be Here Now'. There's no accounting for taste.
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