Is This it?
This time of year we're bombarded with brand new albums from the up and coming, all waiting in a holding pattern above fame central.
Some will land, pass through, take off never to be seen again. A lucky few will make the return trip with the difficult second album fulfilling the hype and ambition.
Some will return and make the first album again, some will exceed all expectations and have a long running career, hitting their stride on their fourth album and some some will never better that sparkling debut.
So, who are those whose debut was never bettered, who should have thrown in the towel after making an album that burst out of traps exciting and teasing us all?
For what it's worth here's my choice...
New York Dolls - New York Dolls
Sex Pistols - Never MInd The Bollocks
Patti Smith - Horses
ABC - Lexicon of Love
Massive Attack - Blue Lines
Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
De La Soul - 3ft High and Rising
Ian Dury - New Boots and Panties
Oasis - Definitely Maybe
Is This It - The Strokes
Any others catches your ears playmates?
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Strokes
I wholeheartedly agree about the Strokes. I love Is This It, and have bought the two follow ups, each time hoping that it would be able to equal that first album. I suppose the crux of the matter, as Chuck D might have said, is 'Don't Believe the Hype' (especially your own if you happen to make one of these albums).
The problem there...
Was that the thing that made Is This Is such a great album was that The Strokes had hit on a brilliant FORMULA for an album - if you add or subtract anything from that album, it would be an inferior album. That left The Strokes a problem for their other albums. You can't make the same album again, you can't just hire a big name producer and add an orchestra and big production to your next album - that would ruin it- but neither can you go any more minimal. There's no way possible to improve on Is This It? (not saying that it's the greatest album ever but it's perfect for what it's trying to be) so what do you do?
Massive Attack
I think I'm alone in preferring both Protection and Mezzanine to the first album. And I wonder if the acclaim accorded the first album is due to its ground-breaking sound rather than its actual musical content.
I have to agree Fraser, and as far as De La Soul goes
De La Soul is Dead, Stakes is High and Buhloone Mindstate are terrific records which get much more play in discerning households (such as mine) than the quaint-seeming 3FHAR, which is very much of it's time.
Ditto
Tou're certainly not alone. Mezzanine is undoubtedly their masterpiece for me.
Television
Marquee Moon?
We did this not long ago, didn't we?
So I'll say now what I said then: "Rickie Lee Jones".
So will I
Bring It On - Gomez
Yes, yes, I know their latest album is a "return to form". But it's a bit late. Their second and third albums weren't, and then people like me gave up.
Oasis
I know it goes against the critical consensus, but (What's the Story) Morning Glory? is better than Definitely Maybe.
The first two Oasis albums
There's a difference?
Yes, apparently Noel learned to play
an F chord for the second one (fair enough though, it is a bit tricky)
Right then
I stand corrected.
Portishead
Portishead have a similar dilemma to the Strokes. When you've created your own distinct sound, it's very hard to develop it without leaving what folks liked about you behind. Goldfrapp and many others have managed it, though.
Also, the La's have left us with one very good album, more by luck than judgement. Lee Mavers hates it by all accounts. Stupid boy.