Sophomore Albums by a band.

While collecting these titles I was trying to narrow down what criteria qualified an album to make the sophomore list… best album by a band? personal meaning? notable mention? In the end I found that while any of the reason could be valid for some, they were not for all. In conclusion, there is NO SPECIFIC REASON for any of the ten albums I listed, other than, well they are all worth picking up and listening to. I will talk briefly about each, but that doesn’t really mean anything.

Joanna Newsom – Ys – First exposure when immpressionable means a lot. Ys was my first encounter with Joanna Newsom. This album in timeless and brilliant and all of the above. Monkey and Bear

Die Kreuzen – October File. I purchased October File the day it was released on my lunch break at the grocery store I worked at. I was yearning and just way too eager for another release by Die Kreuzen. After the first and second listen and third listen, I was completely disappointed. What happened to these guys? One week later I sold the vinyl to a friend at work for a few dollars cheaper than I paid for it. That’s how bad I wanted to get rid of it. Much to my surprise, about three years later I heard the opening track Man In The Trees at a part and found myself interested. I heard this before – but what is it and why? I discovered it was the album I gave away. I had to get it again. It wasn’t until the revisit of this album that I realized how flawless and imperfect (yes I meant to write that) it actually was. Thus…. Man in the Trees

Superchunk – No Pocky For Kitty. I’ve referred to this band a lot, solid second album, probably their best. Throwing Things

Fugazi – Steady Diet of Nothing. – This was the first Fugazi album I got close to before going backward and then forward for the rest of their career. Stacks

Queens of the Stone Age – Rated R. Amazing release by an unpredictable band. The only place to start is at the beginning! Track one: Feel Good Hit of the Summer

Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention – Absolutely Free. Everything Zappa and the Mothers did for the first 5 albums was groundbreaking, serving as a catalyst for musical composers for life. Absolutely Free holds no weak spots – pure genius. Duke of Prunes

Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure. It was their first album that progressed me to the second album, rather recently. Three words; Do the Strand. Do The Strand

Praxis – Sacrifist. – I was full swing into free jazz and experimental when this album came out, the draw was the John Zorn. It was through this album (1993) that I discovered Yamatsuka Eye, Buckethead, Bill Laswell, as well as the expanded careers of Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrell. (And the film Tetsuo: The Iron Man which I do own a copy if anyone is interested). Each track on this album is an entity of it’s own hitting all spectrums and carving at each emotion. It’s best played loud. Cold Rolled/Iron Dub

Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros – Global a Go-Go. Bhindi Bhagee

Hüsker Dü – Zen Arcade. I have probably listened to this album 500X and will probably listen to it again 500X Something I Learned Today, Never Talking to You Again and Standing by the Sea

Tim’s 1989 Lists

Albums:

1. Postcard C.V. (Senseless Things) – They were way ahead of their time and extremely young and naive, but I was a devoted fan. This is the perfect debut album – ten concise pop-punk treatments on teen angst.

2. Overdosed On (Chemical People) – Still the tightest, fastest band ever. Catchy tunes – perverted lyrics – singing drummer/3piece – what more do you want?

3. Earthquake Weather (Joe Strummer) – For years I considered this album a guilty pleasure; compared to The Clash, I was unsure that it was any good at all. It’s an eccentric mix of funk, dub and world music and some of it doesn’t work at all, but in my old age I’m determined that it’s Strummer’s best work. Get to know ‘Earthquake Weather’ and it’ll serve you well.

4. Doolittle (Pixies) – What can you say about the best album by the best band? Other than it should be #1 on my list.

5. Love Is A Battlefield of Wounded Hearts (Hard-Ons) – First studio album from the Australian singing-drummer/3piece (see a trend here?) Pop-punk perfection.

6. The Stone Roses (The Stone Roses) – Psychedelic Marvin Gaye and jangly anthemic pop from a bunch of Manchester hooligans seemed impossibly brilliant when this was released. Though ‘I Am The Resurrection’ is probably the weakest song on the album, the improvised jam at the end (3:37 onwards) is truly remarkable.

7. Automatic (The Jesus And Mary Chain) – A concentrated pop album from the Scottish doomlords – the only thing with a drum machine that I could tolerate at the time!

8. Paul’s Boutique (The Beastie Boys) – I was definitely not a fan of the Beastie Boys when this album came out, but I could not resist The Dust Brothers incredible beats. Between this album and Young MC’s debut they blew their load – but what a money shot! 

9. Bizarro (The Wedding Present) – Jokingly referred to as Smiths fans second favourite band, The Wedding Present are a strange bunch – if you can stand Gedge’s vocals and the frenetic barrage of shrill guitars you might understand why their songs are up there with Morrissey’s.

10. Energy (Operation Ivy) – One of those albums that just sounds like nothing else before it. A strange hybrid of The Specials, the Clash and Bad Brains – they had a weird funky style and solid message of interracial “UNITY!!!” The first time I’d heard of ‘Skatepunk’.

Notable misses:

Snuffsaidbutgorblimeyguvstonemeifhedidn’tthrowawobblerchachachachachachachachachachachayou’regoinghomeinacosmicambience (Snuff) 

Songs:

1. Fools Gold 9:53 (The Stone Roses) – To fans of their debut album, this 12” single seemed a mind-blowing left-turn. I love the restraint in the performances on this track. After this, every band had drum loops and wah-wah – welcome to Madchester!

2. Monkey Gone To Heaven (Pixies) – There’s not a bad song on this album – and ‘Silver’ is one of the most incredible tracks imaginable – but the riffs and lyrics on Monkey Gone To Heaven are irresistible.

3. Awkward Kid (Mega City Four) – This single is in the tradition of frail sensitive Buzzcocks songs or Mick Jones’ Clash B-Sides – fragile and emotive, heavy-on-the-heart.

4. Too Much Kissing (Senseless Things) – Last track on ‘Postcard C.V.’ and played at the end of every show – classic song.

5. Last Of The Famous International Playboys (Morrissey) – 1989 saw a bunch of good singles from Mozzer – this is the funniest one.

6. Pet Semetary (Ramones) – A surprise return to form for Ramones, thanks to Stephen King’s rubbish horror novel.

7. Dizzy’s Goatee (Joe Strummer) -The strung-out Strummer was only loosely involved in this album’s creation, but with lyrics this intense and vocals this bare we get him at his most authentic.

8. You Surround Me (Erasure) – It doesn’t get much gayer than this band and this song. Always had a huge admiration for Vince Clark’s production and Andy Bell’s vocal style.

9. Get Wet (Hard-Ons) – marrying sexual perversion with melancholy pop. There are 6 chords in this song, but they could’ve done it with two.

10. UV Ray (The Jesus And Mary Chain) – The dark track from a great pop album – Ministry and Nine Inch Nails were listening.

Notable misses:

Epic (Faith No More)

About A Girl (Nirvana)