[Shaun]

True or not?

I have quite a few artists where the second album has been my favourite [The Killers - Sam's Town; Antony and the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now; Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare]

But it's often the case with a lot of emerging talents that they can't match their debut [though you could argue they've had their whole lives to work on the debut and 2-3 years for the second].

I would argue this is the case with Mika, Kasabian, the Strokes, Franz Ferdinand and the Scissor Sisters.

Definite exceptions: Muse [showbiz was ew. Origin of Symmetry was amaze.], Gorillaz.

Oh and don't even bother naming acts who don't actually write their material. This is specifically directed at those who do.

[InOne]

Another exception is WTSMG.

Ermmm Maybe The Kooks? The Enemy, The Music, Goldfrapp, The Fratellis, Kaiser Chiefs

[Billy]

As much as people don't really like her on here, I think Kate Nash has struggled to match Made Of Bricks.

[InOne]

I predict a difficult second album for Pixie Lott as well, she had a few hits off the first, but that last few have not charted well.

[Jayson]

Agree with Muse, although Showbiz is still good.

For me, Empire is better than Kasabian's debut album.

[*mazedsalv**]

2nd albums normally sell much less than the first.

One example where this is not true is Rihanna. Her 3rd album sold more than her first 2 combined i think!

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by *mazedsalv**

2nd albums normally sell much less than the first.

One example where this is not true is Rihanna. Her 3rd album sold more than her first 2 combined i think!

ive heard leonas album its not that bad

[BB_Eye]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Definite exceptions: Muse [showbiz was ew. Origin of Symmetry was amaze.], Gorillaz.

Showbiz is the Muse album for people who don't like Muse, hence it's my favourite of theirs.

Off the top of my head Liz Phair, Leonard Cohen, the Dead Kennedies, Black Flag, Joy Division (although they didn't have much time to), Suede and REM never surpassed the quality of their debut albums.

[Mrluvaluva]

I am interested in seeing the next offerings from Amy Winehouse and Adele. They have a lot to live up to. Maybe might get to hear Amy's in about....another 10 years? Florence Welch's follow up material should be interesting too. Hopefully.

[Princess]

Take That's 2nd album 'Everything Changes' is my least fav, Mark Owen's 'In Your Own Time is my fav,Christina Aguilera's 'Stripped',amazing. It all depends really.

edit:Gary Barlow personally hates his 2nd album and he got dropped after it,but I think it's quite good.

[Z]

I think the pitfall is that they take too long to release a second album; they need to ride that wave of the first album and quickly send out a second album of decent quality; key example being Lady GaGa. Had she not done that, I think she'd have fallen into that category of having a difficult second album, but because she quickly released more material, it's cemented her position and she can take a break now. Most artists make the mistake of taking a break between their first and second album, which in my opinion is where they fall flat on their faces. Paolo Nutini, The Kooks, The Fratellis... the list is endless.

[CaraRawr]

I agree about Muse.

I guess it's the truth with 30 Seconds To Mars, A Beautiful Lie is their strongest album. My favourite is This Is War though (their 3rd).

[Lewis.]

Totally agree Zee.:thumbsup:

[MrGaryy]

It definitely is a problem for a lot of artists, Mika, Kate Nash, MGMT, Scissor Sisters and in my opinion, The Killers but I think it's equally balanced by artists like Christina Aguilera, THe White Stripes, Kelly Clarkson, Muse, P!nk. I think a lot of it is to do with how much control they're given on thier first record.

[Smithy]

I think it depend on the standard of the first album, sometimes there just no chance of it meeting those heights again. But artists like Lily Allen manage to excel themselves

[Shaun]

Hmm I personally prefer Alright, Still but 'It's Not Me, It's You' was equally good quality.

['Conor]

like sugababes 1st album flopped but there second album sold nearly a million copies in the UK

[MeMyselfAndI]

leona lewis echo didnt do aswell as spirit but it still did fantastic

[Shaun]

Read the OP I said artists that write their material.

[MeMyselfAndI]

i think you find leona co wrote 7 songs

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Hmm I personally prefer Alright, Still but 'It's Not Me, It's You' was equally good quality.

Well you get my point

[Mrluvaluva]

It all depends. Look at the success of Alanis Morissette's "Jagged little pill" album. It was her 3rd album. She changed her style and it was an amazing success she was never going to top. TLC also released an amazing 2nd album in CrazySexyCool. Some artists do find it hard to follow up a successful debut of high standard. Some can pull it off. And some of the best artists can pull it off over and over again.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by MeMyselfandI

i think you find leona co wrote 7 songs

Sitting on a beanbag and going 'yeah I like that, that's reeeally gooood' isn't co-writing.

[xDramatick]

Christina Aguilera, P!nk, Kelly Clarkson, Lady GaGa & Ashlee Simpson all had very successful second albums!

Evanescence did too, but it wasn't as successful as Fallen.

[iRyan]

When you're a new artist, you really have to strike while the iron is hot with your second album.

Like with Lady Gaga, 'The Fame' made her very famous but once she released 'Bad Romance' along with 'The Fame Monster', she launched herself into mega stardom and instantly became a pop icon and legend.