Great albums after the band as "Made it"

[Nazbuk]

I was reading another thread and a statement was made that once a band has 'made it' their next album becomes subpar.

Can anyone think of a band or artist that did a second album that was good or better than their first one that made them?

[Kiely]

Fuck you to everyone that thinks "OK Computer", as the bends was the best.

[WarderX]

I'd say Beck would fall into that category. I dunno, maybe I have different definitions of what it means to 'make it'.

How about bands that get amazingly popular after they break up

[Sole]

I'd say Tool for sure... Although Undertow lacked the raw feel of Opiate it was musically 10x better imo, and the followup with Aenima just trumped Opiate and Undertow.

Possibly Pantera too. I guess you'd have to assume Cowboys was their "made it" album and while Vulgar Display switched gears a little they still produced a solid album and layed a foundation for future releases. So why Vulgar wasn't necessarily "better" it wasn't any worse either.

System of a Down's debut album pales in comparison to Toxicity as well. Though some might argue that Toxicity was their "made it" album.

[findar]

the comment is made because usually bands are required to make an album after X amount of time so instead of the 5-6 years of trial and error and polish they gotta rush something.

that being said, kanye west's cd was pretty badass.

[brekk]

white stripes, outkast, kanye west

[Menoz]

Outkast definately. What about Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC? Am I the only one that listens to classic rock these days?

Sublime did this with 40 oz to freedom and then the self titled album. Weezer with the blue album then pinkerton. Almost every one of the Beatles' albums is considered great. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have had albums that i feel are equal to or better than Blood Sugar Sex Magic. All in all it's a matter of opinion.

[Raytes]

Mastodon. Leviathan "made" them (it won 2004 album of the year from Revolver and Kerrang and at least one other major metal magazine). They got signed to a major label (Warner) and have been doing some pretty big tours/festivals. Just last week they put out Blood Mountain which is, IMO, one of the best albums to come out in a couple years, regardless of genre. I know Rolling Stone gave it 4 stars (not that I respect their opinion of music but they don't review a ton of metal albums, nor do they give out 4 star ratings left and right).

Lamb of God is another one. They "made it" with Ashes of the Wake and the follow-up, Sacrament, is fantastic as well.

[Spare Oom and War Drobe]

Right on with Mastodon

The Yeah Yeah Yeah's if you consider Fever to Tell the second album. They had lots of great small stuff out before and they were under a retarded amount of pressure from internet hype. Basically they went into the studio for a single weekend and came out with a near perfect CD. Its like they were oblivious to the massive expectations everyone had for them.

Also Interpol Turn On the Bright Lights and Antics are both amazing

Nirvana followed Bleach with Nevermind... so obviously that was a big success

[Zimphultron]

Orgy with Vapor Transmission.
System of a Down with Hypnotize/Mezmerize.
Metallica with The Black Album
Christina Aguilera with Stripped
Smile Empty Soul with Anxiety

[Angry Amadeus]

Originally Posted by Spare Oom and War Drobe

Nirvana followed Bleach with Nevermind... so obviously that was a big success

My friend, you have no idea how closely to home that comment hits.

Truly.

Ta,

[Jovec]

Originally Posted by Nazbuk

I was reading another thread and a statement was made that once a band has 'made it' their next album becomes subpar.

1) The album on which a band "made it" is usually one that came out earlier in their career, often times their first big label album. Such an album tends to have songs refined over years and years of time. Compare this to their follow-up album(s), which the label probably wants out in a year or less to capitalize on the hype, and has to be made while touring heavily in promotion of the first album.

2) In the same vein as bands that "sell out," the band gets older, their tastes change, and they've been playing and singing the same songs night in and night out for years. For those reasons and others subsequent albums can often differ drastically in style as the band wants a change.

3) Sometimes a band "makes it" on a single or two, and that single is often not representative of the band's sound.

Can anyone think of a band or artist that did a second album that was good or better than their first one that made them?

Along with some of the other bands previously mentioned, I find Stone Temple Pilot's Purple to be better than Core.

-Jovec

[Soygen]

Originally Posted by Spare Oom and War Drobe

Nirvana followed Bleach with Nevermind... so obviously that was a big success

Bleach was hardly the album that they "made it" with, though. That being said, In Utero was an awesome follow up to Nevermind.

[Jack Burton]

Originally Posted by Zimphultron

System of a Down with Hypnotize/Mezmerize.

I think Hypnotize/Mezmerize pale drastically in comparison to Toxicity. Regardless, are you glossing over Steal this Album on purpose? Or is that considered more like B sides?

[Kasonic]

Sometimes a band "makes it" on a single or two, and that single is often not representative of the band's sound.

See: Maroon 5. The song that made them one hit wonders sounds like an entirely different band than their CD.