Which artist's second album is their best/your favorite?

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TheVonSolo@reddit

Such a great album. And it gets my 11 year olds stamp of approval who upon hearing Mayonaise he said “whoa…that was a really good song.” Had me play it again and then the rest of the album.

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Specific_Hamster6778@reddit

Mayonaise is such an awesome song. It still hits me today. Amazing. And so cool that your kid approves!

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Oh still hits indeed. Reminds me of growing up. SD was one of the albums my buddy and I would blare when we would sit around and get high. He took his own life right before we graduated and I couldn’t listen to the album for the longest time.

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Specific_Hamster6778@reddit

I'm so sorry for your loss :-(

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Fine_Violinist5802@reddit

Was a huge step up on Fish as was the step from Siamese Dream to MCIS. They were on a rocket trajectory early on.

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jx2002@reddit

And in the meantime Pisces Iscariot is an absolute banger of a B-sides record

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IDrinkUrMilksteak@reddit

And then they dumped a box set of B Sides after MCIS in The Aeroplane Flies High. Just an insane stretch of productivity from Billy in those years.

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CurrentHair6381@reddit

I still cant believe how dumb i am. A friend gave me that box set, i thought it was cool as fuck. I had to sell it to the record store for some quick cash, very much a broke college student. I looked years later and that shit was worth hundreds

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pcells@reddit

Nope nope nope Siamese Dream is the peak. Melancholy has some filler. It does.

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CurrentHair6381@reddit

There it is

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Glittering-Stuff-599@reddit

I think Siamese Dream is a superior album in terms of production quality but I just like Gish more.

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JediBeagle1@reddit

Agree 💯

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mentos33@reddit

SP gilded age, absolutely perfect

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piscian19@reddit

Weezer - Pinkerton

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craighaney172@reddit

There is not a bad song on this album.

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Toothbras@reddit

Tired of sex is pretty bad

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craighaney172@reddit

Really?? I can understand an issue with the lyrics, but I think the song itself is great.

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Toothbras@reddit

Yeah the lyrics ruin it for me. Pretty “cringey” as the kids say

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ryancharaba@reddit

All down hill after this one masterpiece

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TheBr0fessor@reddit

gif

I’m gonna have to pull my Todd card for a second.

EWBAITE, White, and OK Human are really really good.

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Chalupa_Dad@reddit

No offense....but drink my blood.

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valuethempaths@reddit

Is that a weezer lyric?

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TimToMakeTheDonuts@reddit

So is Maladroit

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Chalupa_Dad@reddit

That was my least favorite part of that SNL sketch....they brought up basically every album up to that point except Maladroit!

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toasterb@reddit

It’s such a shame that the album did poorly at first and didn’t get the greatest critical reception. Rivers was really stung by that and shifted his song writing to be less personal as a response.

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hot_rod_kimble@reddit

Obligatory Weezer reply

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pieinthesky12@reddit

Came here to say this

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YoItsThatOneDude@reddit

Weezer blue was better, pinkerton was a worthy sequel

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King_of_Lunch223@reddit

Every album has something redeeming about it. The Green Album got my attention, the Blue Album got my love, and Pinkerton got my appreciation. I've been a fan of every album since.

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xt0rt@reddit

This is what I came to post. Glad to see it's right at the top.

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Somethingisshadysir@reddit

Exactly what I was going to say.

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zoosha2curtaincall@reddit

So I think we all know they got terrible after a while, but around 2014 they started getting good again. I went back and caught up a few years ago. Recommend “Da Vinci” and “Cleopatra” but there’s a ton of great stuff.

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AlchemistMustang@reddit

Offspring - Smash

Ignition was the first LP. Good album, but Smash is legendary.

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dbk1ng@reddit

Bone Thugs - E. 1999 Eternal

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KrayzieBone187@reddit

I was going to put this, but Faces of Death would make this technically the third album I think.

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dbk1ng@reddit

Yeah I totally forgot about that one, when they went by BONE Enterprise

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KrayzieBone187@reddit

Flow motion!

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TheMidnightHandyman@reddit

Garbage. Version 2.0.

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snow1868@reddit

Dave Matthews Band - Crash

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prstele01@reddit

I dunno. Crash is fantastic, but BTCS is considered their Magnum Opus, and UTTAD I feel is just as good as Crash.

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snow1868@reddit

The criteria is best/favorite, Crash is my favorite.

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SomewhereLive5921@reddit

I think it’s their best collection of songs, with Before These Crowded Streets being my favorite album. I can definitely see Crash being a lot of people’s favorites.

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prstele01@reddit

Heard that. It has definitely been my favorite at certain times in my life.

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neuro_space_explorer@reddit

I’m seeing him live tomorrow! Can’t wait.

What crazy is it’s 20 years to the month that I saw him for the first time and at the same venue!

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snow1868@reddit

My first show was "Invasion of the Crickets" show in Dallas 8/13/98. Still love Dave, but I am not a fan of the trumpet in the band these days. Last time I saw them was Tampa in 2019. They're busting out some liberations this tour, so have fun!

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prstele01@reddit

Crickets was my first show too!

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foreskinboots@reddit

I honestly can’t stand DMB music wise. But I did see them live like 30 years ago with Taj Mahal. Really really great live performance.

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neuro_space_explorer@reddit

They always put on a hell of a show, great energy. I can’t wait to dance my ass off!

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Ingonyama70@reddit

Savage Garden - Affirmation

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JediBeagle1@reddit

Radiohead-The Bends

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geoduckSF@reddit

This is the album I became obsessed with before they even recorded OK Computer, so it will always hold a special place in the pantheon for me. Hunting down import single b-sides, trolling alt.music.radiohead, trading bootlegs… good times.

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Kenway@reddit

This was my first thought, but I ultimately think both OK Computer and Kid A are better albums. What a wild string of releases.

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Worth-Mistake-9673@reddit

Happy to see The Bends mentioned. I've always loved it and people act like anything before OK Computer sucks.

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Kenway@reddit

I'm that sick fuck who likes Pablo Honey, lol.

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0905-15@reddit

Yup. Absolute masterpiece.

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haunted_patient@reddit

I love the Bends, but Ok Computer will always be their magnum opus to me

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JediBeagle1@reddit

It’s really close for me but I like The Bebds slight more which makes OK Computer my 2nd favorite album of all time.

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captainbeertooth@reddit

I’m with you - actually just posted the same answer. Ok Computer, Kid A, Amnesiac and In Rainbows all tie for second. I have a soft spot for the Bends tho.

OK, Computer was definitely groundbreaking, but I find it a little too clinical.

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123BuleBule@reddit

Great answer!

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BokononRex@reddit

Oasis - What’s the Story (Morning Glory)

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Wolfpack87@reddit

Its so hard to say, both were amazing.

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SnooOpinions5973@reddit

Definitely maybe is the only album by them i think is good

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zoddie3@reddit

I dunno, Definitely Maybe was pretty good, too.

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DLBuf@reddit

So many I agree with scrolling through, but Thrice came to my mind immediately. Loved Identity Crisis, but fell in love with them after Illusion of Safety.

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dornforprez@reddit

Staying 90’s specific I’d say:
1. Nirvana – Nevermind
2. Radiohead – The Bends
3. Alice in Chains – Dirt
4. Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape
5. The Black Crowes – The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
6. Dave Matthews Band – Crash

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ACW1129@reddit

4 if only for Everlong and My Hero.

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dornforprez@reddit

Agreed.

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ourredsouthernsouls@reddit

Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral if we are counting Broken as an EP as Trent wanted us to

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lankyleper@reddit

I love the entire NIN catalog except PHM. I get some nostalgia hearing songs from it, but it's my least favorite by a long shot.

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nonexistentnight@reddit

The bulk of PHM sounds downright comical these days imo. The jump to "Broken (or even the Sin remixes) feels massive. Like it makes Ministry's With Sympathy* look good.

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WaltGazaWorld@reddit

And that's wild, because when Pretty Hate Machine first came out, it was next-level hard. The industrial sound was still pretty new and it sounded like the next big thing at the time (which of course it was). Now it sounds tinny and poppy. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was 13 when I first heard it

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skillzbot@reddit

sin is still a great song

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dbzmah@reddit

But what if my favorite is Broken?

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Deathgripsugar@reddit

Pretty hate machine was my fav.

But there were the imports and singles. It was a pia collecting NIN albums back in the day.

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Dizzy_Pop@reddit

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to the conclusion that:

Downward Spiral is a “better” album, but I like Pretty Hate Machine more.

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LeftHandedGuitarist@reddit

I know, right! My favourite NIN changes daily. Currently very attached to The Slip.

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xt0rt@reddit

I didn't care for The Slip when it came out and I still haven't got around to giving it another spin or two.

To me it just sounded kinda plain, but then again, Year Zero is hard to follow.

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LeftHandedGuitarist@reddit

I'd say it's worth giving it another try, there are some real gems buried on there. Demon Seed and Head Down really click with me, just counting along with the former always feels fun.

I also have a soft spot for Corona Radiata ever since I listened to it on a long plane flight at night where I couldn't get to sleep.

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lankyleper@reddit

Corona Radiata is such a cool song!

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dbzmah@reddit

I've been listening to the Add Violence EP, as well as some of Trents recent collabs. Health - Isn't Everyone is a banger, and that Nine Inch Noize collab is too.

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ourredsouthernsouls@reddit

You’re allowed to love whatever Nine Inch Nails album you love the best! I personally love just about all of them.

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ChristyLovesGuitars@reddit

I count Broken as the second album, but the answer stands.

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ourredsouthernsouls@reddit

I also love love broken and consider it an album. But this detail let me wiggle TDS into the answer.

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MoparViking74@reddit

Pearl Jam - Vs

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jmshub@reddit

Vs is amazing! But is it better than Ten?

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RoastQueefSandwiches@reddit

It is not

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DrewBaron80@reddit

I prefer to listen to curated songs from throughout Pearl Jam‘s history (mostly the slower, more ballad-ish songs), but Vs. is probably the best album from beginning to end.

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cheribom@reddit

This is my answer also, and I’m suprised to see your comment so high up - I thought this album was mostly disregarded by a lot of people.

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zoddie3@reddit

I think any album with Daughter, Animal, Dissident, Dissident, and Elderly Woman isn't going to be disregarded but Ten is so good that I'd I'd have a hard time saying Vs. is that much better.

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Napkins4EVA@reddit

Weezer- Pinkerton. That shit is unimpeachable.

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Sayhellotoanewday@reddit

Live, Throwing Copper.

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antisocialnetwork77@reddit

Mental Jewelry was fantastic as well.

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RoastQueefSandwiches@reddit

I prefer MJ to TC if I have to choose one

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Sayhellotoanewday@reddit

For sure, it’s not well known (which is probably why it took so long to be mentioned in the thread), but it was a fun album too!

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locusofself@reddit

I don't think this album withstood the test of time particularly well

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b_sketchy@reddit

Just banger after banger

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Ilovefishdix@reddit

Portishead. Dummy gets the most love, but the second album is my favorite. I enjoyed the vibe more

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locusofself@reddit

On equal footing at least!

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Lethave@reddit

Fiona Apple

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locusofself@reddit

Absolutely! All her albums are great but When The Pawn is just the best

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Jr5309@reddit

When the Pawn….is perfection.

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avt2@reddit (OP)

I'll start: the Deftones with Around the Fur.

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locusofself@reddit

I agree. Tough call against White Pony though

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ThePerfectSnare@reddit

The shade is a tool.

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remeolb@reddit

A device, a savior

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smashy_smashy@reddit

Damn, it’s tied with Adrenaline for me!

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Full-March-4700@reddit

This is the answer

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lactoady@reddit

Grandaddy- The Sophtware Slump

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Agreeable_Mouse6000@reddit

Tool - Aenima

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locusofself@reddit

Aenima has way more "atmosphere" than their other albums. When Lateralus came out I loved it but it was weird how "dry" it sounded to me, and they kept that going. Aenima is a universe unto itself.

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bradfo83@reddit

I started listening with Laturalus, and that remains my favorite. I of course have the whole discography and love all of it, but to each their own.

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DrunkenAdama@reddit

Last good Tool album. It got pretty insufferable after that.

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DrewBaron80@reddit

I love them all, but Aenima is a hair ahead of Lateralus for me. Probably has a lot to do with the album coming out when I was 17 years old and would listen to my favorite CDs 10 times a week. The songs are imprinted on my brain.

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Agreeable_Mouse6000@reddit

Same. But it really does feel like they took a huge leap with their production, songwriting, and musicianship with Justin Chancellor taking over on bass, and course Danny Carey’s playing just absolutely taking off into the stratosphere.

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-SandorClegane-@reddit

Albums from this kind of "auteur band" are hard to compare with what came before or next.

A person's favorite Tool album tends to be the most recent release at the point when that person started listing to Tool. For people of our age, that is most likely going to be Aenima (Undertow of you were already a metalhead).

I still listen to all of them (in chronological, sequential order) while WFH/gaming and it's impossible for me to say which is superior to all the others. FWIW, I think the reason you hear the words "Lateralus" and "masterpiece" in the same sentence most often is due to its release during the height of their commercial popularity. And yeah, I really like Fear Inoculum, too (I also love Puscifer, but pretty meh on APC).

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GreenHairyMartian@reddit

I dunno man, I been listening to tool since undertow was released.

10,000 days is definitely my favorite album of theirs, hands down.

And don't shit on temple of the dog, man.

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-SandorClegane-@reddit

Yeah, forget all that bullshit I just said, 10,000 Days is my favorite, too. I'm standing my ground on Temple of the Dog though.

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FatReverend@reddit

That was the 3rd if you count the Opiate EP.

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FRESH_TWAAAATS@reddit

Okay then Tool - Undertow :)

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Wolf_Parade@reddit

"second album"

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FatReverend@reddit

An EP is still an album, just a miny one.

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EBMille4@reddit

I love Opiate so much

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thinkfloyd_@reddit

EPs don't count!

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Chubbadog@reddit

Stone Temple Pilots - Purple

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skillzbot@reddit

tiny music my personal fav

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giantmaters@reddit

Tough one for me. Purple is good, but Core rocks your face off.

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mattingshead@reddit

“I aaaaaaam smelling like a rose that somebody gave me on my birthday death bed

I AAAAaaammm….”

What great way to start an album. I do prefer purple, but yes Core does, indeed, rock your face off.

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Glittering-Stuff-599@reddit

100% agree.

I feel the same way about Pearl Jam Ten and Vs.

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whahaaa@reddit

fly in the vaseline, I am

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VampireOnHoyt@reddit

Yes! So underrated.

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craighaney172@reddit

One of the greatest albums ever.

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electricstache@reddit

My buddy had the vinyl, it was purple. So cool.

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Osurdum@reddit

The Band - The Band.

I have the music tastes of a 74-year-old dude.

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Gloomy-Delivery-5226@reddit

Don’t feel bad, I was going to post the same thing lol. Although I do love Music from Big Pink a lot.

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Osurdum@reddit

It's also excellent.

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kyarilora@reddit

Tori Amos - Under the Pink (depending on the day)

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Sugarcicle@reddit

I love Little Earthquakes, but she absolutely nailed it on Under the Pink!!! I was 40+ before I heard Trent Reznor’s backup vocals in Dolby and it honestly gave me goosebumps.

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SupermouseDeadmouse@reddit

It’s sooo good, but I LOVE Little Earthquakes too.

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haymelz@reddit

You could argue that Little Earthquakes is her second album if you count Y Kant Tori Read. 🙃

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SupermouseDeadmouse@reddit

Good point

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kyarilora@reddit

My favorite Tori albums rotate constantly - LE, UTP, and BFP could be my favorite Tori at any time. Listening to the new album these past few weeks. Tori is still fire 🔥 🔥🔥

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sharmas13@reddit

Yes! 100% one of my top ten faves of all time. Still hits me right in the gut when I hear it even after all these years.

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Squish_Miss@reddit

Came here to say this!

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ThizGuyFawkes@reddit

The Killers - Sam's Town

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Rebekah513@reddit

I posted this as well. Sam’s Town made me a hardcore Killers fan. I still follow them around to this day.

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TabsAZ@reddit

No way - like the entire first half of Hot Fuss was hit singles.

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ThizGuyFawkes@reddit

I'm telling ya, Sam's Town is a smidge better. The good songs don't always get radio play.

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Rebekah513@reddit

The Killers- Sam’s Town

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electricstache@reddit

Nirvana, Nevermind.

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HechicerosOrb@reddit

I think their best is In Utero

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Peelboy@reddit

Man, maybe I’m the only one who really likes bleach. I like most of their stuff but bleach just feels good.

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HechicerosOrb@reddit

it rules, great great record. Probably the one I’ve listened to the most, but I think In Utero really levels up the songwriting, the engineering is so good, it’s got Dave grohl.

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Potential-Ant-6320@reddit

I would take bleach

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electricstache@reddit

Bleach didn't reach me as well. I think it was a timing thing. I didn't get into Nirvana until some time after Nevermind was released. I didn't go back and listen to Bleach until much later.

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HechicerosOrb@reddit

Bleach rules, that’s my next fav. I’m a negative creep and I’m STOOOOOOOONED

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electricstache@reddit

Heart-Shaped Box is one of my all time favorite songs. Dumb, All Apologies, Rape me... Definitely a solid album.

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NYCWriterOfAllThings@reddit

Ding

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snot3353@reddit

Isn’t this their third album?

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electricstache@reddit

Just Bleach before as far as I know.

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snot3353@reddit

Wow yea you’re right… for some reason I thought In Utero came first.

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OptimalAmbition8524@reddit

I think it gets a bad wrap for its commercial success. But side b of that album could not be better

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electricstache@reddit

I agree. It's the album that broke me out of the Christian music bubble my mom put me in. It was all hype for me.

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Purfectenschlag@reddit

Commercially speaking, this was the one that came to mind for me. Not saying it’s everyone’s personal favorite, from a pure sales perspective though, Nevermind was their biggest success album.

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FoppyRETURNS@reddit

This is the answer.

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pizza-regret@reddit

Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape

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MisterPickles44@reddit

Pearl Jam - Vs

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sultan33g@reddit

System of a Down - Toxicity

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-Andar-@reddit

Collective Soul

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Dizzy_Pop@reddit

I’m personally partial to Dosage, but self-titled is a masterpiece, too. Definitely a step up from their debut.

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Peelboy@reddit

I really like blind melons second album.

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KindFail7638@reddit

Pearl Jam VS

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BinocularDisparity@reddit

Almost every artists second album is the best album

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nyXhcinPDX@reddit

As I Lay Dying-Shadows of Security

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ourredsouthernsouls@reddit

Sloan - Twice Removed

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ourredsouthernsouls@reddit

Interpol - Antics

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CaterpillarIcy1056@reddit

Weezer Pinkerton.

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Fantastic-Sea-7806@reddit

Fiona Apple - When the pawn…

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NMViking@reddit

Fear Factory - Demanufacture

Amazing blend of industrial and metal. I saw them live last year on the 30th anniversary of that album's release. The new singer absolutely nailed it. They sounded so good, I briefly questioned if they were just playing the album and lip syncing (they were not).

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amiableviking@reddit

Dude, hell yes

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owlcityy@reddit

Limp Bizkit - Significant Other

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whahaaa@reddit

Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual

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After_Match_5165@reddit

Nothing's Shocking is still my favourite but objectively I know Ritual is better.

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jmjacobs25@reddit

Slipknot.

If you're a real fan you know I mean their self-titled, not Iowa (although Iowa is pretty damn good as well).

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TheFoxandTheSandor@reddit

The Decemberists her majesty

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ServoWHU42@reddit

gif

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amiableviking@reddit

Opeth - Morningrise

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ebles@reddit

Good one, but I have to respectfully disagree and say My Arms Your Hearse.

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amiableviking@reddit

Noted, and accepted! Seems like Ghost Reveries and Blackwater Park get most of the love, but Morningrise/MAYH/Still Life were when they were the most unfuckwithable IMO

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ServoWHU42@reddit

gif

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ebles@reddit

In my opinion, Åkerfeldt, Lindgren, Lopez and Mendez was the definitive lineup.

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Tinyhulk27@reddit

Drove 5 states away with some friends to see them live. No regrets.

Also username fits.

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German_Merman@reddit

Big Star - Radio City

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Nervous-Rush-4465@reddit

Queens of the Stone Age “Rated R”. Just incredible.

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ConspicuousSomething@reddit

Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair.

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-electric-warrior-@reddit

The Black Crowes - Southern Harmony and Musical Companion

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Chivalry4Me@reddit

Beyoncé- B Day TLC- CrazySexyCool

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adamusama@reddit

Burial - Untrue

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NorthsideB@reddit

Twista. Adrenaline Rush is miles better than his first album Mista Tung Twista.

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MitchellSFold@reddit

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Ziggity_Zac@reddit

Oh man! Love this album!!!

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MitchellSFold@reddit

It never ages. Had it on in the car all day today... on CD, no less!

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Azipcoder@reddit

Counting Crows - Recovering the Satellites

gif

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blahdeep@reddit

Bjork

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snot3353@reddit

SCIENCE

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FUWS@reddit

Linkin Park Meteora. Pretty much every song is a banger

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OptimalAmbition8524@reddit

Faint, is what made me go back and give Hybrid Theory another chance

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discerningpervert@reddit

Still can't beat Hybrid Theory IMO

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Far-Ad-9798@reddit

Exactly, Hybrid Theory was a masterpiece.

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ChimmyChongaBonga@reddit

Have to agree here, Hybrid Theory is a debut masterpiece.

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farttowel84@reddit

Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire

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OptimalAmbition8524@reddit

The Battle of Los Angeles is classic.

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nyght2063@reddit

Seal!

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Toclaw1@reddit

ATLiens - OutKast

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I_AM_DEATH-INCARNATE@reddit

Brand New - Deja Entendu

That was the soundtrack to my college days. Jesse is a shit and tainted it but I still have fond memories of it all, including the music.

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jmshub@reddit

That album is over 18, so Jesse would hate it now.

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ChimmyChongaBonga@reddit

Deja Entendu doesn't have a bad song on it. One of the best albums of its era imo. It's a shame Jesse turned out to be such a scumbag.

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fourofkeys@reddit

weezer's pinkerton

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fourofkeys@reddit

gotta follow up with nine inch nails' the downward spiral.

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919_919@reddit

Broken was in between Pretty Hate Machine and the Downward Spiral.

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fourofkeys@reddit

you guys are killing me with these comments. broken was an ep. that is not an album.

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919_919@reddit

They called it an EP. EPs have less than 6 songs and is less than 30 minutes. Broken had 8 songs and is longer than 30 minutes.

It should be classified as an LP.

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fourofkeys@reddit

Two of the songs on the recording were initially bonus tracks and the EP was six songs. Streaming has changed how people access the recordings, but it's still listed on streaming as an EP for a reason. https://www.reddit.com/r/nin/comments/164960i/what_makes_broken_an_ep_instead_of_an_album/

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FatReverend@reddit

That's the forth if you count Broken and Fixed.

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fourofkeys@reddit

those are eps.

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FatReverend@reddit

I know. Technically an EP is still an album by definition.

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fourofkeys@reddit

next you're gonna tell me that a demo is a full album.

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fourofkeys@reddit

no it's not lol. according to wikiepedia "An extended play (EP) is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album.^([1]) "

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burjja@reddit

Hootie and the Blowfish - Fairweather Johnson.

I haven't listened to it in a while but in my memory it had a similar sound to Cracked Rear View. The difference was you weren't bombarded by the songs 50 times a day. Radio, TV, shopping at a store; you couldn't escape the first album.

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prstele01@reddit

This is a crazy take.

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BigBoyLaroux@reddit

While I wouldn't say I like Fairweather Johnson better than CRV, I absolutely do still think it's a great album that really doesn't get the love it should (as I think people were already sick of Hootie by then based on their insane popularity with CRV)

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burjja@reddit

You're probably right that in a vacuum, CRV is probably the better album. It's just forever tainted from the overexposure, and the cringe you feel when he sings he's such a baby, the Dolphins make him cry.

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Toocl7@reddit

Belle and Sebastian - If You're Felling Sinister

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ThaDude8@reddit

Offspring - Ignition

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5thSeasonFront@reddit

YES! Correct answer for ‘90s bands. What a killer album. Even better than Smash, IMHO.

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ThaDude8@reddit

Smash was a great album for sure, but Ignition was just a bit more raw and powerful for me

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Agent17@reddit

The prodigy - music for a jilted generation. Still banger city.

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NJ2SD@reddit

Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power (I'm ignoring the glam era)

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tettoffensive@reddit

Did they have glam era albums?

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TabsAZ@reddit

Yep, complete with “Diamond Darrell” in the credits.

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NJ2SD@reddit

That's what the fans tend to refer that era as, but it was more of the style they were sporting. They had a couple of other singers before Phil, although he was the singer on Metal Magic. So, Cowboys From Hell could also work if you're only counting the most famous lineup.

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tettoffensive@reddit

Yea I am familiar I just haven’t heard any albums from that era.

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Siphoneder@reddit

It's like Ministry's "With Sympathy". You can hear small hints of what the band evolved to in some songs, but it's clearly from a different era and in such contrast to what they became it might as well be a different band name.

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NJ2SD@reddit

Same, actually

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youcancallmet@reddit

Adele - 21

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ILustForVolcan0@reddit

Superdrag - Head Trip in Every Key

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panic_the_digital@reddit

Absolutely their masterpiece, grossly overlooked

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Negative-Farmer476@reddit

King's X, Gretchen goes to Nebraska.

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critical_patch@reddit

Led Zeppelin

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Tripl3Dee@reddit

Soundgarden - Superunknown

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ExplanationShoddy233@reddit

Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique

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BraveLittleToaster8@reddit

Easily one of my top ten albums of all time.

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frougle_mcdugal@reddit

gif

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TinFinsFC@reddit

Bitch better have my honey.

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lastcallpaul11@reddit

Voodoo Glow Skull - Firme

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instant_ramen_chef@reddit

El Cucuuuuuuuy!

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xt0rt@reddit

Shoot the moooooon!

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instant_ramen_chef@reddit

Green Day - Kerplunk!

Here's some shocking info, Dookie is their 3rd album.

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brainvheart143@reddit

If we count 36 Chambers as first, then Tical all the way.

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ebles@reddit

City by Strapping Young Lad.

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VinylCollector1@reddit

The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It

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GoodElectricNW@reddit

Outkast - ATLiens

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foreskinboots@reddit

Hell yea. That album was like my mid/late 90s soundtrack.

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_gonesurfing_@reddit

Unh huh. Yeah yeah.

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neuro_space_explorer@reddit

Great answer, might be my favorite of theirs.

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foreskinboots@reddit

Nas - It Was Written

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FreeBadCo@reddit

System of a down -Toxicity

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Wiserputa52@reddit

“Blind” by The Sundays

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DemonMF777@reddit

Danzig II

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ncpsycho@reddit

Eve 6- Horrorscope

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sleeperninja@reddit

Not Spacehog.

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ChefNorCal@reddit

Blink 182 - Dude Ranch

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slopesurgery@reddit

I prefer Cheshire Cat, and I think it may technically be their second due to Buddha. Upvoting no matter what because it’s Blink!

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sattyspritz@reddit

Correct. Scott Raynor forever.

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slopesurgery@reddit

Jimmy Eat World - Clarity

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slopesurgery@reddit

The Get Up Kids - Something to write home about

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34thUsernameAttempt@reddit

Days of the New - Days of the New II, the Green ablum

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DrunkenMaths@reddit

Mr Bungle - Disco Volante

Again ignoring the demo albums I do still love the self titled, and California!

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Worth-Mistake-9673@reddit

Beck - Odelay

How am I the first person to put this one on the list? Okay okay, so it's complicated because Beck released some albums under indie labels but broke out with his major label debut Mellow Gold, so it was his first broadly commercial album.

I think he earned a particular reputation with "Loser" and was written off by many as a one-hit wonder, but when that was followed up with the incredible Odelay, that catapulted him into critical and commercial success and demonstrated his immense talent. It remains one of my favorites in what is to me a flawless discography.

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GardenRafters@reddit

Low End Theory-Tribe Called Quest

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needmoregatos@reddit

First album I ever wrote out the lyrics to. Spent many hours rewinding that cassette!

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emilybg78@reddit

OutKast—ATLiens

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captainbeertooth@reddit

If we can consider a ‘new lineup’ of a band.. Blood Sugar Sex Magik blows Mother’s Milk to dust.

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--CDXX--@reddit

Raconteurs. Second album is masterpiece level imo

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nochumplovesucka__@reddit

Not their 2nd album, but their 2nd album after getting famous.

Green Day

Insomniac > Dookie

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captainbeertooth@reddit

Radiohead. I love most of their albums except ‘Pablo Honey’.

‘The Bends’ was maybe the first CD I bought (err.. begged mom to buy at KMart haha) and I still think it’s one of their best.

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davidsdurions@reddit

Collective Soul - self titled second album is their best.

Debut album Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid was their best first CD I purchased and I loved it. But that second album is banger after banger all the way through. They have 1-3 good singles on their subsequent albums but that second one is chock full.

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Enough-Persimmon3921@reddit

Claypool Lennon Delirium - South of Reality

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PhillNewcomer@reddit

Limp Bizkit - Significant Others

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_shaftpunk@reddit

Cryptopsy- None So Vile

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relaxguy2@reddit

Blind Melon ~ Soup

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HalfwayHomie@reddit

De La Soul is Dead

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BrazilianMerkin@reddit

Buhloone Mind State and Stakes in High are both so good though

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whyneedaname77@reddit

They are. But is dead is just all over the place and great.

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BrazilianMerkin@reddit

I can’t argue with anything you’re saying, having grown up with them, to me it’s like picking a favorite sibling. I love them all, but my favorite isn’t permanent and changes back and forth over time depending on mood, current life situation, etc.

We recently got a new car that came with a free year of Sirius radio. Found LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells channel and it’s incredible. Plays Tribe, De La, Wu Tang, Black Star, OutKast, etc.

Over the past several months I’ve heard several DLS tracks I haven’t listened to in decades and it makes me so nostalgic and happy. I can’t remember the names of most of my kids’ friends, definitely not their parents, but Ego Trippin or Roller Skating sJam Named Saturday comes on the radio and it’s like some magic memory prompt and I remember all the lyrics and embarrass the hell out of my kids when I’m taking them and their friends out for ice cream.

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whyneedaname77@reddit

The thing I love about the album is how they do like a hard core rap song or they do the beat and the cadence that would be used and they use their own goofy lyrics like oh you want hard rap we can do that if we want. And house music oh we can do that if we want. They show how talented they are.

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GrigsbeeYoBoy@reddit

Came here for this!

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nicgk@reddit

Stone Temple Pilots - Purple

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ChimmyChongaBonga@reddit

Gorillaz - Demon Days

Their debut self titled album was amazing but Demon Days refined their sound and set the tone for their future collaborations.

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lankyleper@reddit

Great album (along with pretty much their entire catalog), but their 1st album will always be the best for me.

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ShooterMcG305@reddit

Plus the live performance videos performing the entire album are great!

@ The Apollo https://youtu.be/aFMHtTJBaQc?si=MmY2Aa9IcTe1nMiP

@ Manchester Orchestra House https://youtu.be/lA-pDMKmiw4?si=SmFYzktSVNRHIbxg

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NoLimitHonky@reddit

I WORE OUT, this album. So good!

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WorldwidePies@reddit

Lots of great suggestions already. How about these :

Lou Reed - *Transformer*

Black Sabbath - *Paranoid*

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C0BRA_V1P3R@reddit

The Cure - Seventeen Seconds

Suede - Dog Man Star

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Intersectaquirer@reddit

Radiohead - The Bends

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RetroBerner@reddit

Deftones - Around the Fur

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Tylerdurden389@reddit

Alexander O'Neal - Hearsay

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sweat-it-all-out@reddit

Garbage - Version 2.0

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basiden@reddit

I was listening to that yesterday. So good still. I picked it up randomly as a teen and was debating that vs a more expensive George Michael album. I feel like that choice changed the whole trajectory of my musical taste.

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theluzah@reddit

Korn - Life is Peachy

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BluEydMonster@reddit

Garbage

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johnnyhammerstixx@reddit

Live- Throwing Copper

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Fine_Violinist5802@reddit

Ride the Lightning

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basiden@reddit

My kid and I have been listening to this on loop on our school runs lately. I feel like I didn't fully appreciate what we had when I was a teen.

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DBPanterA@reddit

Only song off the album I have not heard live is Escape. They played it once. 🤪

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Don_Shetland@reddit

I came to say metallica. Ride fucking kicks ass.

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VelvetMatthews@reddit

I always go back and forth between this and MoP as my favorite but I’ve played RtL many more times so what does that tell you.

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pladhoc@reddit

That you have good taste

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Red_bearrr@reddit

Came here to say this. Went from good thrash metal to genre changing phenom.

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koei19@reddit

I second this, massive improvement between Kill 'Em All and Rise the Lightning

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discerningpervert@reddit

I think Creeping Death was on the B side of Kill em All. Probably my fav Metallica song ever, released again/later on Ride the Lightning.

For Whom the Bell Tolls is another classic. Fade to Black, Call of Kthulu, all classics. Kill em All was good too, but Ride the Lightning was better.

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NYCWriterOfAllThings@reddit

Interpol - Antics

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whyneedaname77@reddit

De La Soul. De La Soul is Dead.

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JediNeo101@reddit

Thriller

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kmckenzie256@reddit

He technically had like 4 albums before Off the Wall (when he was a kid) but I tend to agree with this take. 👍

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JediNeo101@reddit

Didn't even think to include the Jackson 5 discography.

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kmckenzie256@reddit

I mean solo albums

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JediNeo101@reddit

Oh wow, did not know that. Thought it was off the wall then thriller.

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listener_x@reddit

Alice In Chains - Dirt

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Ziggity_Zac@reddit

Just registered to this whole album, start to finish last weekend. What a great collection of songs.

It was during cigar time on Saturday, so I just sat and really listened.

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ItsDarwinMan82@reddit

100%

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nighmeansnear@reddit

Violent Femmes, Hallowed Ground

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whahaaa@reddit

Boards of Canada - Geogaddi

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whahaaa@reddit

Nightmares on Wax - Smoker's Delight

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LoBisTAH_chOWdah@reddit

Led Zeppelin II

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REO_Speed_Dragon@reddit

Glad I didn't have to say it. They're all good but II is the magnum opus.

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seymourscagnetti420@reddit

Good argument for it. I love LZ I, LZ II, LZ IV, and Physical Graffiti all so much that’s it hard to decide, but if you made me pick, LZ II might be my favorite. I was wondering how far I’d have to scroll to see LZ II mentioned since they’re not really a band of “our generation”, but still the greatest band that ever lived imho

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discerningpervert@reddit

I, II and III are all pretty incredible, but IV is on another level. I can't think of any album like it, except maybe Dark Side, but for totally different reasons.

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seymourscagnetti420@reddit

Hard to argue that. LZ IV is def the obvious choice, but what’s the fun in that lol. I could def make a real argument for LZ II and Physical Graffiti too tho. IV is probably the best album, but I enjoy listening to II just as much if not more. I’ve never been a huge fan of LZ III. Great album obviously, but my personal taste leans more to the harder stuff where Bonzo real shines. Imho, Bonzo is the one who really separates Led Zeppelin from so many other great bands.

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discerningpervert@reddit

III has Tangerine, also Since I've Been Loving You and Immigrant Song, both of which have incredible love versions

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seymourscagnetti420@reddit

No, I get it. I’m very familiar with the album. It’s a great album, but when debating which album amongst a bunch of great albums is the absolute best, it requires some splitting of hairs, and I def prefer LZ I, II, IV, and Physical Graffiti over III. Just a personal preference. I probably like Houses of the Holy more than I like LZ III as well.

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Separate_Counter9427@reddit

System of a Down - Toxicity

Led Zeppelin II

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whahaaa@reddit

Fatboy Slim - You've Come a Long Way, Baby

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whahaaa@reddit

FSOL - Lifeforms

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whahaaa@reddit

Massive Attack - Protection

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elkniodaphs@reddit

Vs. by Pearl Jam is a sympathetic (though not technical) favorite. Glorified G is basically my anthem.

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_gonesurfing_@reddit

Less than Jake - Loosing Streak

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Far-Ad-9798@reddit

Losing streak is what got me into LTJ. Hello Rockview, Anthem, or GNV FLA rotate as my favorites.

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TangerineFade@reddit

Hole - Live Through This

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Tiny_Entertainer_713@reddit

Hole - Celebrity Skin

Sorry but Live Through This just doesn’t do it for me.

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ErnieMcVenkman@reddit

Incubus - S. C. I. E. N. C. E..

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Far-Ad-9798@reddit

Correct, easily their best albums with Make Yourself not far behind.

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thakroz@reddit

Marshall Mathers LP

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ScreenSensitive9148@reddit

Fiona Apple

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tehSchultz@reddit

311 grassroots

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Far-Ad-9798@reddit

I'd argue that Music was better than Grassroots. I'd even go as far as saying the self titled, Transistor, Soundsystem, and From Chaos are all better than Grassroots. Hell I'd even put Mosaic above it.

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shiftdown@reddit

Man, I can't put anything above their 3rd that's self titled.

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tehSchultz@reddit

Music, grassroots and the blue album are all really 1a 1b and 1c if you ask me but I just feel grassroots as a whole work is their best. It’s not knocking anything off the other two but it’s my preferred listen

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roncopenhaver13@reddit

Pantera Vulgar Display of Power

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melissisms@reddit

That was their sixth album, darlin.

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roncopenhaver13@reddit

Ok; I know this, you know this, that makes 2. The band doesn’t even acknowledge those albums

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blueblockerhiphopper@reddit

Granddaddy - “The Sophtware Slump”

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Far-Ad-9798@reddit

Zebrahead- Waste of Mind

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Don_Shetland@reddit

Since Ride the Lightning was already commented, I'll add this...

Black Sabbath - Paranoid

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Comedian_Recent@reddit

System of a down Toxicity

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FatReverend@reddit

Great album from a band that has no bad ones but I actually thing the first is the best and put Toxicity in 3rd place after Steal this album.

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StillhasaWiiU@reddit

Rammstein: Sehnsucht

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FatReverend@reddit

Hmm. Tough call but I am going to have to agree, though its worth considering Mutter as a contender for their best album.

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Jolly_Werewolf_7356@reddit

Def Leppard - High N Dry

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korbendallas13@reddit

Blind Melon

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kissmeimfamous@reddit

The Low End Theory

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Drab_Majesty@reddit

Bjork - Post

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FatReverend@reddit

Post gets 2nd place of her albums for me. I like Debut more but just by a hair.

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throwinitallawayeay@reddit

Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

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monstherocket@reddit

Alexisonfire - Watch out!

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blantdebedre@reddit

Pantera - vulgar display of power (at least on a major label)

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FatReverend@reddit

Yeah I think we can count that as the true 2nd Pantera album, Before Phill joined, they were just not the same band at all.

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BigBoyLaroux@reddit

What's interesting is for the majority of these answers, the albums mentioned are already objectively considered the artist's best album and/or are the albums where the artist truly burst onto the scene and put them on the map (after an under the radar initial release). Seems like a lot of acts really caught fire with their second albums. STP, RATM, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Collective Soul, Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains, Live, Blink 182, etc

There are of course mentions here that buck that trend like PJ, Weezer, Blind Melon, Beatie Boys, NiN, etc, where the second album is not what truly "put them on the map" and there's more of an argument to be had in terms of which album is actually better (debut or second).

For me, it's The Bends by Radiohead. Pablo Honey (and Creep) put them on the map in a big way. And with The Bends, they weren't quite on to the completely new sound of OK Computer and Kid A. While I like Pablo Honey, and the albums that followed, The Bends was the sweet spot for me.

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FatReverend@reddit

I also think it is worth noting that in the world of metal, more often than not- the sophomore LP is lackluster compared to the debut and third or latter albums. Korn for example, I am not shitting on Life is Peachy at all but I feel the first and third are much better albums. Same goes for Dope, Slayer and many more.

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radiojosh@reddit

Counting Crows - Recovering The Satellites Dave Matthew Band - Crash Crash Test Dummies - God Shuffled His Feet

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Critterteeth@reddit

Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West

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sassyfontaine@reddit

Daft Punk’s Discovery

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Mike__O@reddit

Garbage Version 2.0

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bascule@reddit

New Order - Power, Corruption, and Lies

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Potential-Ant-6320@reddit

Carly Rae Jepsen - Emotion

Weezer - Pinkerton

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GreenZebra23@reddit

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FatReverend@reddit

Acid Bath, When the kite string pops.

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Apidaelia@reddit

Marcy playground - Shapeshifter

It's funny that sex and candy was their only radio hit, because it wasn't the best song on that album, and their second album is excellent.

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5thSeasonFront@reddit

Great pick, and 100% accurate post.

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Dramatic-Dark-4046@reddit

Blind Melon - Soup

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GarciaWolf@reddit

I can listen to that front to back.. such an underrated band and album

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rsauer1208@reddit

I just wish Galaxie didn't have that intro before the song. It's a great song but the tacked on intro rather than what was shown in the music video as the song always makes me want to fast forward.

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Basic-Aioli-7652@reddit

Placebo - Without you I'm nothing. Absolute classic for me.

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NoLimitHonky@reddit

Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, for me

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SweetCosmicPope@reddit

Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Supersrar

The Offspring - Ignition

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