10 worst follow up albums of all time
The difficult second album. What happens when you release an album and become a hero, icon, music pioneer? You have to follow it up (unless you're the Sex Pistols). Here is a countdown of the 10 worst follow up albums of all time, some being expensive, over-produced and bloated washouts, some being so dull you'd be forgiven for falling asleep, and some simply seeming to be pisstakes.
10) The Darkness: One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back (2005)
Remember them?! In 2003 the Darkness were huge,
headlining rock festivals, releasing Christmas singles, even gaining a fan base
stateside. Unfortunately the novelty wore off and when they released their
expensive flop One Way Ticked to Hell…
and Back, the huge rock tide which the Darkness had been riding crashed down
to earth. They recently reformed in early 2012... but nobody cares.
9) Stone Roses: Second Coming (1994)
Possibly a controversial choice on the back of the recent Stone Roses reunion fever of 2012, but back in the early 90's, after a 5 year wait for the follow up to their the genius self-titled debut, the arrival of the Stone Roses second album was a tepid blues rock affair rather than being the divine second coming we were expecting.
8) The Farm: Love See No Colour (1992)
Remember in the midst of 'Madchester' in the early 90's, The Farm's debut album Spartacus peaked at No.1 in the UK album chart, which included the triumphant anthem All Together Now. Remember anything they did after that? No me neither, Love See No Colour being one of the most forgettable follow up albums of all time.
7) Jet: Shine On (2006)
Australian band Jet exploded into the mainstream with their catchy jukebox classic Are You Going to Be My Girl from their debut album Get Born. Big things were expected from their follow up album, but sadly they weren't able to conjure up the same excitement with their second album, and faded into rock obscurity, breaking up after their 3rd album.
6) Audio Bullys: Generation
(2005)
After their debut release of Ego War, Audio Bullys were seen
as modern pioneers of house music. But their keenly anticipated second album Generation was exceedingly dull and
lacked any of the innovativeness on their first release. The group themselves
later denounced the album.
5) Happy Mondays: Yes
Please (1992)
Recording in Barbados, the rave icons Happy Mondays spent
their budget for the album on drugs, and when the album was finally released it
cost so much to make their label Factory Records went bust. Sean Ryder and Bez were in so much debt they've since had to make appearances on Big Brother, I'm a Celebrity and reform the band several times.
4) Guns N Roses: Use
Your Illusion I and II (1991)
Whilst in 2012 we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s Nevermind, its easy to forget that
in the same year Guns N Rose released their follow up Use Your Illusion I and II, a massively bloated double album consisting of covers, excessive 10 minute long ballads, and songs of B-side
quality, and which took the ‘difficult second album’ to another level.
3) Oasis: Be Here Now
(1997)
After their first two albums, Be Here Now was expected to be Oasis’s masterpiece. Unfortunately
it was a major disappointment, lacking any of the catchy stadium sing-alongs
which featured on their first two albums. The album is now seen as best
forgotten, with none of the tracks from Be
Here Now appearing on their 2006 best of Stop the Clocks.
2) Terrence Trent D’Arby: Neither Fish Nor Flesh (1989)
You’d forgive anyone under the age of 25 for not having a clue who Terrence Trent D’Arby is. He should have been an 80s icon, but the success of his debut album Introducing went to his head, and his follow up Neither Fish Nor Flesh was so over-indulgent and self-obsessed, it’s difficult to tell if the album was one big joke or if he was actually being serious.
1) Lou Reed: Metal Machine Music (1975)
On the back of the popularity of his album's Transformer and Berlin, Lou Reed was reaching his peak of popularity as a solo artist. But, aware that he only had to release one more album to fulfill his contract, Reed released Metal Machine Music, an hour long recording of guitar feedback. Its debatable if Reed was actually intent on releasing an avant-guard 'noise' album or if he simply wanted to get out of his record contract, nonetheless give me 'Perfect Day' any day over this.
