Sophmore Jinx

[HyperBully]

There's a legend called the "sophmore jinx" that basically means that a band's second effort is always inferior to their debut because of the pressure put on them by the success (or poor peformance) of their first album. I've found that in many cases, this is true. (GNR is a good example.) However, like the "i before e except after c" rule, it also fails occasionally, as there is always an exception. What do you guys think? Give examples of bands you've encountered that have overcome the sophmore jinx.

[Applerill]

Here are a few that stand out for me. Even though not all of these were as commercially successful as the debuts, I personally put them in superior regard.

Avril Lavigne-Under My Skin
Kelly Clarkson-Breakaway
Rush-Fly By Night
Alanis Morissette-Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
Neutral Milk Hotel-In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
The Clash-London Calling
Fiona Apple-When the Pawn

[Bork]

The Allman Brothers Band - Idlewild South
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Guy Clark - Texas Cookin'
Collective Soul - Collective Soul
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bayou Country
Deep Purple - Deep Purple
Green Day - Kerplunk
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
Nirvana - Nevermind
The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy & the Lash
Santana - Abraxas
Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, The Innocent & the E Street Shuffle
ZZ Top - Rio Grande Mud

These are just a few examples. Conclusion...there is no sophomore jinx.

[40footwolf]

I think the whole idea is absolute horseradish. Check it out:

II-Led Zeppelin
A Quick One-The Who
Idlewild South-The Allman Brothers Band
Radio City-Big Star
Favourite Worst Nightmare-Arctic Monkeys
Paranoid-Black Sabbath
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan-Bob Dylan
White Light/White Heat-The Velvet Underground
Closer-Joy Division
More Songs About Buildings and Food-Talking Heads
The Real Thing-Faith No More
Disco Volante-Mr. Bungle
Drunken Lullabies-Flogging Molly
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven-GSY!BE

And just a whole lot more.
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I love all music. It makes you feel like living. Silence is death.

-John Cassavettes

[Kiki]

[Charicature]

Jesus Jones - Doubt (greatly outsold their debut Liquidizer)
Catherine Wheel - Chrome
Grant Lee Buffalo - Mighty Joe Moon
Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
Blur - Modern Life Is Rubbish
Stone Roses - Second Coming (I know people will argue with me on this, but it's at least as good and personally I think it's better)
Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
Nirvana - Nevermind
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<(: @ >

[cartoken]

i don't think that this rule is credible. People like the first album of a band because of the "Novelty thing" when they release their first, even if the second album is as good or even better, it will not be as appealing or as extraodinary than the first one ...

here's some few 2nd best album.

Radiohead - The bends
Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
M.I.A - Kala
Pixies - Doolittle
Muse - Origin of Symmetry
Gorillaz - Demon Days
Beck - Odelay

but to prove your point HyperBully (or someone else) here's something more scientific to do: take any top 100 best album ever (for example the top 100 albums of this site ) and simply see what is the share (%) of the 1st album. of course you will have to take one album per artist (the better ranked) ... so if you have time !!!

[purple]

Come on Pilgrim and Surfer Rosa both came before Doolittle

[cartoken]

[Mr. Shankly]

1. If You're Feeling Sinister- Belle & Sebastian
2. This Year's Model- Elvis Costello and the Attractions
3. Talk Talk Talk- The Psychedelic Furs
4. Bryter Layter- Nick Drake
5. NeverMind- Nirvana (perhaps the most obvious one?)
6. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (most people actually consider his debut inferior to a lot of his great albums)
7. The Bends- Radiohead (proof that some bands are great right off the bat and some take a while to develop)
8. We Have the Facts and We Are Voting Yes- Death Cab for Cutie
9. Aquemini- Outkast
10. Everybody Knows This is Nowhere- Neil Young
11. Being There- Wilco
12. Loveless- My Bloody Valentine (another obvious one)
13. The Low End Theory- A Tribe Called Quest

Apperill: London Calling is The Clash's third album actually. Their second is Give Em' Enough Rope, a good album, but arguably inferior to their debut.