Which artist's second album is their best/your favorite?
Posted by avt2@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 443 comments
Posted by avt2@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 443 comments
listener_x@reddit
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
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.
Specific_Hamster6778@reddit
Mayonaise is such an awesome song. It still hits me today. Amazing. And so cool that your kid approves!
TheVonSolo@reddit
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.
Specific_Hamster6778@reddit
I'm so sorry for your loss :-(
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.
jx2002@reddit
And in the meantime Pisces Iscariot is an absolute banger of a B-sides record
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.
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
pcells@reddit
Nope nope nope Siamese Dream is the peak. Melancholy has some filler. It does.
CurrentHair6381@reddit
There it is
Glittering-Stuff-599@reddit
I think Siamese Dream is a superior album in terms of production quality but I just like Gish more.
JediBeagle1@reddit
Agree 💯
mentos33@reddit
SP gilded age, absolutely perfect
piscian19@reddit
Weezer - Pinkerton
craighaney172@reddit
There is not a bad song on this album.
Toothbras@reddit
Tired of sex is pretty bad
craighaney172@reddit
Really?? I can understand an issue with the lyrics, but I think the song itself is great.
Toothbras@reddit
Yeah the lyrics ruin it for me. Pretty “cringey” as the kids say
ryancharaba@reddit
All down hill after this one masterpiece
TheBr0fessor@reddit
I’m gonna have to pull my Todd card for a second.
EWBAITE, White, and OK Human are really really good.
Chalupa_Dad@reddit
No offense....but drink my blood.
valuethempaths@reddit
Is that a weezer lyric?
TimToMakeTheDonuts@reddit
So is Maladroit
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!
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.
hot_rod_kimble@reddit
Obligatory Weezer reply
pieinthesky12@reddit
Came here to say this
YoItsThatOneDude@reddit
Weezer blue was better, pinkerton was a worthy sequel
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.
xt0rt@reddit
This is what I came to post. Glad to see it's right at the top.
Somethingisshadysir@reddit
Exactly what I was going to say.
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.
AlchemistMustang@reddit
Offspring - Smash
Ignition was the first LP. Good album, but Smash is legendary.
dbk1ng@reddit
Bone Thugs - E. 1999 Eternal
KrayzieBone187@reddit
I was going to put this, but Faces of Death would make this technically the third album I think.
dbk1ng@reddit
Yeah I totally forgot about that one, when they went by BONE Enterprise
KrayzieBone187@reddit
Flow motion!
TheMidnightHandyman@reddit
Garbage. Version 2.0.
snow1868@reddit
Dave Matthews Band - Crash
prstele01@reddit
I dunno. Crash is fantastic, but BTCS is considered their Magnum Opus, and UTTAD I feel is just as good as Crash.
snow1868@reddit
The criteria is best/favorite, Crash is my favorite.
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.
prstele01@reddit
Heard that. It has definitely been my favorite at certain times in my life.
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!
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!
prstele01@reddit
Crickets was my first show too!
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.
neuro_space_explorer@reddit
They always put on a hell of a show, great energy. I can’t wait to dance my ass off!
Ingonyama70@reddit
Savage Garden - Affirmation
JediBeagle1@reddit
Radiohead-The Bends
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.
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.
Worth-Mistake-9673@reddit
Happy to see The Bends mentioned. I've always loved it and people act like anything before OK Computer sucks.
Kenway@reddit
I'm that sick fuck who likes Pablo Honey, lol.
0905-15@reddit
Yup. Absolute masterpiece.
haunted_patient@reddit
I love the Bends, but Ok Computer will always be their magnum opus to me
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.
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.
123BuleBule@reddit
Great answer!
BokononRex@reddit
Oasis - What’s the Story (Morning Glory)
Wolfpack87@reddit
Its so hard to say, both were amazing.
SnooOpinions5973@reddit
Definitely maybe is the only album by them i think is good
zoddie3@reddit
I dunno, Definitely Maybe was pretty good, too.
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.
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
ACW1129@reddit
4 if only for Everlong and My Hero.
dornforprez@reddit
Agreed.
ourredsouthernsouls@reddit
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral if we are counting Broken as an EP as Trent wanted us to
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.
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.
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
skillzbot@reddit
sin is still a great song
dbzmah@reddit
But what if my favorite is Broken?
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.
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.
LeftHandedGuitarist@reddit
I know, right! My favourite NIN changes daily. Currently very attached to The Slip.
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.
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.
lankyleper@reddit
Corona Radiata is such a cool song!
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.
ourredsouthernsouls@reddit
You’re allowed to love whatever Nine Inch Nails album you love the best! I personally love just about all of them.
ChristyLovesGuitars@reddit
I count Broken as the second album, but the answer stands.
ourredsouthernsouls@reddit
I also love love broken and consider it an album. But this detail let me wiggle TDS into the answer.
MoparViking74@reddit
Pearl Jam - Vs
jmshub@reddit
Vs is amazing! But is it better than Ten?
RoastQueefSandwiches@reddit
It is not
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.
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.
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.
Napkins4EVA@reddit
Weezer- Pinkerton. That shit is unimpeachable.
Sayhellotoanewday@reddit
Live, Throwing Copper.
antisocialnetwork77@reddit
Mental Jewelry was fantastic as well.
RoastQueefSandwiches@reddit
I prefer MJ to TC if I have to choose one
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!
locusofself@reddit
I don't think this album withstood the test of time particularly well
b_sketchy@reddit
Just banger after banger
Ilovefishdix@reddit
Portishead. Dummy gets the most love, but the second album is my favorite. I enjoyed the vibe more
locusofself@reddit
On equal footing at least!
Lethave@reddit
Fiona Apple
locusofself@reddit
Absolutely! All her albums are great but When The Pawn is just the best
Jr5309@reddit
When the Pawn….is perfection.
avt2@reddit (OP)
I'll start: the Deftones with Around the Fur.
locusofself@reddit
I agree. Tough call against White Pony though
ThePerfectSnare@reddit
The shade is a tool.
remeolb@reddit
A device, a savior
smashy_smashy@reddit
Damn, it’s tied with Adrenaline for me!
Full-March-4700@reddit
This is the answer
lactoady@reddit
Grandaddy- The Sophtware Slump
Agreeable_Mouse6000@reddit
Tool - Aenima
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.
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.
DrunkenAdama@reddit
Last good Tool album. It got pretty insufferable after that.
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.
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.
-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).
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.
-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.
FatReverend@reddit
That was the 3rd if you count the Opiate EP.
FRESH_TWAAAATS@reddit
Okay then Tool - Undertow :)
Wolf_Parade@reddit
"second album"
FatReverend@reddit
An EP is still an album, just a miny one.
EBMille4@reddit
I love Opiate so much
thinkfloyd_@reddit
EPs don't count!
Chubbadog@reddit
Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
skillzbot@reddit
tiny music my personal fav
giantmaters@reddit
Tough one for me. Purple is good, but Core rocks your face off.
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.
Glittering-Stuff-599@reddit
100% agree.
I feel the same way about Pearl Jam Ten and Vs.
whahaaa@reddit
fly in the vaseline, I am
VampireOnHoyt@reddit
Yes! So underrated.
craighaney172@reddit
One of the greatest albums ever.
electricstache@reddit
My buddy had the vinyl, it was purple. So cool.
Osurdum@reddit
The Band - The Band.
I have the music tastes of a 74-year-old dude.
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.
Osurdum@reddit
It's also excellent.
kyarilora@reddit
Tori Amos - Under the Pink (depending on the day)
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.
SupermouseDeadmouse@reddit
It’s sooo good, but I LOVE Little Earthquakes too.
haymelz@reddit
You could argue that Little Earthquakes is her second album if you count Y Kant Tori Read. 🙃
SupermouseDeadmouse@reddit
Good point
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 🔥 🔥🔥
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.
Squish_Miss@reddit
Came here to say this!
ThizGuyFawkes@reddit
The Killers - Sam's Town
Rebekah513@reddit
I posted this as well. Sam’s Town made me a hardcore Killers fan. I still follow them around to this day.
TabsAZ@reddit
No way - like the entire first half of Hot Fuss was hit singles.
ThizGuyFawkes@reddit
I'm telling ya, Sam's Town is a smidge better. The good songs don't always get radio play.
Rebekah513@reddit
The Killers- Sam’s Town
electricstache@reddit
Nirvana, Nevermind.
HechicerosOrb@reddit
I think their best is In Utero
Peelboy@reddit
Man, maybe I’m the only one who really likes bleach. I like most of their stuff but bleach just feels good.
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.
Potential-Ant-6320@reddit
I would take bleach
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.
HechicerosOrb@reddit
Bleach rules, that’s my next fav. I’m a negative creep and I’m STOOOOOOOONED
electricstache@reddit
Heart-Shaped Box is one of my all time favorite songs. Dumb, All Apologies, Rape me... Definitely a solid album.
NYCWriterOfAllThings@reddit
Ding
snot3353@reddit
Isn’t this their third album?
electricstache@reddit
Just Bleach before as far as I know.
snot3353@reddit
Wow yea you’re right… for some reason I thought In Utero came first.
OptimalAmbition8524@reddit
I think it gets a bad wrap for its commercial success. But side b of that album could not be better
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.
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.
FoppyRETURNS@reddit
This is the answer.
pizza-regret@reddit
Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
MisterPickles44@reddit
Pearl Jam - Vs
sultan33g@reddit
System of a Down - Toxicity
-Andar-@reddit
Collective Soul
Dizzy_Pop@reddit
I’m personally partial to Dosage, but self-titled is a masterpiece, too. Definitely a step up from their debut.
Peelboy@reddit
I really like blind melons second album.
KindFail7638@reddit
Pearl Jam VS
BinocularDisparity@reddit
Almost every artists second album is the best album
nyXhcinPDX@reddit
As I Lay Dying-Shadows of Security
ourredsouthernsouls@reddit
Sloan - Twice Removed
ourredsouthernsouls@reddit
Interpol - Antics
CaterpillarIcy1056@reddit
Weezer Pinkerton.
Fantastic-Sea-7806@reddit
Fiona Apple - When the pawn…
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).
amiableviking@reddit
Dude, hell yes
owlcityy@reddit
Limp Bizkit - Significant Other
whahaaa@reddit
Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual
After_Match_5165@reddit
Nothing's Shocking is still my favourite but objectively I know Ritual is better.
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).
TheFoxandTheSandor@reddit
The Decemberists her majesty
ServoWHU42@reddit
amiableviking@reddit
Opeth - Morningrise
ebles@reddit
Good one, but I have to respectfully disagree and say My Arms Your Hearse.
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
ServoWHU42@reddit
ebles@reddit
In my opinion, Åkerfeldt, Lindgren, Lopez and Mendez was the definitive lineup.
Tinyhulk27@reddit
Drove 5 states away with some friends to see them live. No regrets.
Also username fits.
German_Merman@reddit
Big Star - Radio City
Nervous-Rush-4465@reddit
Queens of the Stone Age “Rated R”. Just incredible.
ConspicuousSomething@reddit
Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair.
-electric-warrior-@reddit
The Black Crowes - Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
Chivalry4Me@reddit
Beyoncé- B Day TLC- CrazySexyCool
adamusama@reddit
Burial - Untrue
NorthsideB@reddit
Twista. Adrenaline Rush is miles better than his first album Mista Tung Twista.
MitchellSFold@reddit
Ziggity_Zac@reddit
Oh man! Love this album!!!
MitchellSFold@reddit
It never ages. Had it on in the car all day today... on CD, no less!
Azipcoder@reddit
Counting Crows - Recovering the Satellites
blahdeep@reddit
Bjork
snot3353@reddit
SCIENCE
FUWS@reddit
Linkin Park Meteora. Pretty much every song is a banger
OptimalAmbition8524@reddit
Faint, is what made me go back and give Hybrid Theory another chance
discerningpervert@reddit
Still can't beat Hybrid Theory IMO
Far-Ad-9798@reddit
Exactly, Hybrid Theory was a masterpiece.
ChimmyChongaBonga@reddit
Have to agree here, Hybrid Theory is a debut masterpiece.
farttowel84@reddit
Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire
OptimalAmbition8524@reddit
The Battle of Los Angeles is classic.
nyght2063@reddit
Seal!
Toclaw1@reddit
ATLiens - OutKast
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.
jmshub@reddit
That album is over 18, so Jesse would hate it now.
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.
fourofkeys@reddit
weezer's pinkerton
fourofkeys@reddit
gotta follow up with nine inch nails' the downward spiral.
919_919@reddit
Broken was in between Pretty Hate Machine and the Downward Spiral.
fourofkeys@reddit
you guys are killing me with these comments. broken was an ep. that is not an album.
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.
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/
FatReverend@reddit
That's the forth if you count Broken and Fixed.
fourofkeys@reddit
those are eps.
FatReverend@reddit
I know. Technically an EP is still an album by definition.
fourofkeys@reddit
next you're gonna tell me that a demo is a full album.
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]) "
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.
prstele01@reddit
This is a crazy take.
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)
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.
Toocl7@reddit
Belle and Sebastian - If You're Felling Sinister
ThaDude8@reddit
Offspring - Ignition
5thSeasonFront@reddit
YES! Correct answer for ‘90s bands. What a killer album. Even better than Smash, IMHO.
ThaDude8@reddit
Smash was a great album for sure, but Ignition was just a bit more raw and powerful for me
Agent17@reddit
The prodigy - music for a jilted generation. Still banger city.
NJ2SD@reddit
Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power (I'm ignoring the glam era)
tettoffensive@reddit
Did they have glam era albums?
TabsAZ@reddit
Yep, complete with “Diamond Darrell” in the credits.
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.
tettoffensive@reddit
Yea I am familiar I just haven’t heard any albums from that era.
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.
NJ2SD@reddit
Same, actually
youcancallmet@reddit
Adele - 21
ILustForVolcan0@reddit
Superdrag - Head Trip in Every Key
panic_the_digital@reddit
Absolutely their masterpiece, grossly overlooked
Negative-Farmer476@reddit
King's X, Gretchen goes to Nebraska.
critical_patch@reddit
Led Zeppelin
Tripl3Dee@reddit
Soundgarden - Superunknown
ExplanationShoddy233@reddit
Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique
BraveLittleToaster8@reddit
Easily one of my top ten albums of all time.
frougle_mcdugal@reddit
TinFinsFC@reddit
Bitch better have my honey.
lastcallpaul11@reddit
Voodoo Glow Skull - Firme
instant_ramen_chef@reddit
El Cucuuuuuuuy!
xt0rt@reddit
Shoot the moooooon!
instant_ramen_chef@reddit
Green Day - Kerplunk!
Here's some shocking info, Dookie is their 3rd album.
brainvheart143@reddit
If we count 36 Chambers as first, then Tical all the way.
ebles@reddit
City by Strapping Young Lad.
VinylCollector1@reddit
The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It
GoodElectricNW@reddit
Outkast - ATLiens
foreskinboots@reddit
Hell yea. That album was like my mid/late 90s soundtrack.
_gonesurfing_@reddit
Unh huh. Yeah yeah.
neuro_space_explorer@reddit
Great answer, might be my favorite of theirs.
foreskinboots@reddit
Nas - It Was Written
FreeBadCo@reddit
System of a down -Toxicity
Wiserputa52@reddit
“Blind” by The Sundays
DemonMF777@reddit
Danzig II
ncpsycho@reddit
Eve 6- Horrorscope
sleeperninja@reddit
Not Spacehog.
ChefNorCal@reddit
Blink 182 - Dude Ranch
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!
sattyspritz@reddit
Correct. Scott Raynor forever.
slopesurgery@reddit
Jimmy Eat World - Clarity
slopesurgery@reddit
The Get Up Kids - Something to write home about
34thUsernameAttempt@reddit
Days of the New - Days of the New II, the Green ablum
DrunkenMaths@reddit
Mr Bungle - Disco Volante
Again ignoring the demo albums I do still love the self titled, and California!
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.
GardenRafters@reddit
Low End Theory-Tribe Called Quest
needmoregatos@reddit
First album I ever wrote out the lyrics to. Spent many hours rewinding that cassette!
emilybg78@reddit
OutKast—ATLiens
captainbeertooth@reddit
If we can consider a ‘new lineup’ of a band.. Blood Sugar Sex Magik blows Mother’s Milk to dust.
--CDXX--@reddit
Raconteurs. Second album is masterpiece level imo
nochumplovesucka__@reddit
Not their 2nd album, but their 2nd album after getting famous.
Green Day
Insomniac > Dookie
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.
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.
Enough-Persimmon3921@reddit
Claypool Lennon Delirium - South of Reality
PhillNewcomer@reddit
Limp Bizkit - Significant Others
_shaftpunk@reddit
Cryptopsy- None So Vile
relaxguy2@reddit
Blind Melon ~ Soup
HalfwayHomie@reddit
De La Soul is Dead
BrazilianMerkin@reddit
Buhloone Mind State and Stakes in High are both so good though
whyneedaname77@reddit
They are. But is dead is just all over the place and great.
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.
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.
GrigsbeeYoBoy@reddit
Came here for this!
nicgk@reddit
Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
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.
lankyleper@reddit
Great album (along with pretty much their entire catalog), but their 1st album will always be the best for me.
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
NoLimitHonky@reddit
I WORE OUT, this album. So good!
WorldwidePies@reddit
Lots of great suggestions already. How about these :
Lou Reed - *Transformer*
Black Sabbath - *Paranoid*
C0BRA_V1P3R@reddit
The Cure - Seventeen Seconds
Suede - Dog Man Star
Intersectaquirer@reddit
Radiohead - The Bends
RetroBerner@reddit
Deftones - Around the Fur
Tylerdurden389@reddit
Alexander O'Neal - Hearsay
sweat-it-all-out@reddit
Garbage - Version 2.0
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.
theluzah@reddit
Korn - Life is Peachy
BluEydMonster@reddit
Garbage
johnnyhammerstixx@reddit
Live- Throwing Copper
Fine_Violinist5802@reddit
Ride the Lightning
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.
DBPanterA@reddit
Only song off the album I have not heard live is Escape. They played it once. 🤪
Don_Shetland@reddit
I came to say metallica. Ride fucking kicks ass.
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.
pladhoc@reddit
That you have good taste
Red_bearrr@reddit
Came here to say this. Went from good thrash metal to genre changing phenom.
koei19@reddit
I second this, massive improvement between Kill 'Em All and Rise the Lightning
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.
NYCWriterOfAllThings@reddit
Interpol - Antics
whyneedaname77@reddit
De La Soul. De La Soul is Dead.
JediNeo101@reddit
Thriller
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. 👍
JediNeo101@reddit
Didn't even think to include the Jackson 5 discography.
kmckenzie256@reddit
I mean solo albums
JediNeo101@reddit
Oh wow, did not know that. Thought it was off the wall then thriller.
listener_x@reddit
Alice In Chains - Dirt
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.
ItsDarwinMan82@reddit
100%
nighmeansnear@reddit
Violent Femmes, Hallowed Ground
whahaaa@reddit
Boards of Canada - Geogaddi
whahaaa@reddit
Nightmares on Wax - Smoker's Delight
LoBisTAH_chOWdah@reddit
Led Zeppelin II
REO_Speed_Dragon@reddit
Glad I didn't have to say it. They're all good but II is the magnum opus.
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
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.
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.
discerningpervert@reddit
III has Tangerine, also Since I've Been Loving You and Immigrant Song, both of which have incredible love versions
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.
Separate_Counter9427@reddit
System of a Down - Toxicity
Led Zeppelin II
whahaaa@reddit
Fatboy Slim - You've Come a Long Way, Baby
whahaaa@reddit
FSOL - Lifeforms
whahaaa@reddit
Massive Attack - Protection
elkniodaphs@reddit
Vs. by Pearl Jam is a sympathetic (though not technical) favorite. Glorified G is basically my anthem.
_gonesurfing_@reddit
Less than Jake - Loosing Streak
Far-Ad-9798@reddit
Losing streak is what got me into LTJ. Hello Rockview, Anthem, or GNV FLA rotate as my favorites.
TangerineFade@reddit
Hole - Live Through This
Tiny_Entertainer_713@reddit
Hole - Celebrity Skin
Sorry but Live Through This just doesn’t do it for me.
ErnieMcVenkman@reddit
Incubus - S. C. I. E. N. C. E..
Far-Ad-9798@reddit
Correct, easily their best albums with Make Yourself not far behind.
thakroz@reddit
Marshall Mathers LP
ScreenSensitive9148@reddit
Fiona Apple
tehSchultz@reddit
311 grassroots
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.
shiftdown@reddit
Man, I can't put anything above their 3rd that's self titled.
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
roncopenhaver13@reddit
Pantera Vulgar Display of Power
melissisms@reddit
That was their sixth album, darlin.
roncopenhaver13@reddit
Ok; I know this, you know this, that makes 2. The band doesn’t even acknowledge those albums
blueblockerhiphopper@reddit
Granddaddy - “The Sophtware Slump”
Far-Ad-9798@reddit
Zebrahead- Waste of Mind
Don_Shetland@reddit
Since Ride the Lightning was already commented, I'll add this...
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Comedian_Recent@reddit
System of a down Toxicity
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.
StillhasaWiiU@reddit
Rammstein: Sehnsucht
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.
Jolly_Werewolf_7356@reddit
Def Leppard - High N Dry
korbendallas13@reddit
Blind Melon
kissmeimfamous@reddit
The Low End Theory
Drab_Majesty@reddit
Bjork - Post
FatReverend@reddit
Post gets 2nd place of her albums for me. I like Debut more but just by a hair.
throwinitallawayeay@reddit
Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
monstherocket@reddit
Alexisonfire - Watch out!
blantdebedre@reddit
Pantera - vulgar display of power (at least on a major label)
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.
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.
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.
radiojosh@reddit
Counting Crows - Recovering The Satellites Dave Matthew Band - Crash Crash Test Dummies - God Shuffled His Feet
Critterteeth@reddit
Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West
sassyfontaine@reddit
Daft Punk’s Discovery
Mike__O@reddit
Garbage Version 2.0
bascule@reddit
New Order - Power, Corruption, and Lies
Potential-Ant-6320@reddit
Carly Rae Jepsen - Emotion
Weezer - Pinkerton
GreenZebra23@reddit
FatReverend@reddit
Acid Bath, When the kite string pops.
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.
5thSeasonFront@reddit
Great pick, and 100% accurate post.
Dramatic-Dark-4046@reddit
Blind Melon - Soup
GarciaWolf@reddit
I can listen to that front to back.. such an underrated band and album
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.
Basic-Aioli-7652@reddit
Placebo - Without you I'm nothing. Absolute classic for me.
NoLimitHonky@reddit
Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, for me
SweetCosmicPope@reddit
Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Supersrar
The Offspring - Ignition
NoLimitHonky@reddit
A.S. is still such an amazing album. I went to private school and used to get my CDs confiscated of M.M, Korn, etc. lol.
CorgiMonsoon@reddit
I was going to say Tragic Kingdom, but forgot that No Doubt released The Beacon Street Collection between their self-titled debut album and Tragic Kingdom, so it was their third
AsideLost@reddit
Rancid- And out comes the Wolves
cl3arlycanadian@reddit
Radiohead: The Bends
Bitter-Preparation-8@reddit
Not a xennial band despite me being one, but paramore’s “brand new eyes” is probably their best album. They’re definitely a “core millennial” group but who cares, very talented
neuro_space_explorer@reddit
TMore108@reddit
Mobb Deep - the Infamous
BoysenberryRegular62@reddit
"Purple" by Stone Temple Pilots. While it may have less radio hits than "Core", there are no skips. Also, I recently saw STP (rip Scott Weiland) in concert, and they played the entire album, start to finish !
telos2020@reddit
Cave In - Until Your Heart Stops
geoduckSF@reddit
Daft Punk - Discovery My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
PermitInteresting388@reddit
RATM Evil Empire
AdRadiant9379@reddit
discerningpervert@reddit
This is the right answer.
nipslippinjizzsippin@reddit
Linkin park. Hybrid theory was fantasic. Meteora was pure art.
Ask_Ari@reddit
Fugees - The Score
tofubotox@reddit
the White Stripes - De Stijl
small___potatoes@reddit
NIN - The Downward Spiral
Jonestown_Juice@reddit
The Cure's Seventeen Seconds.
FatReverend@reddit
Since we are not counting EPs, Marilyn Manson Antichrist Superstar.
Sutcliffe@reddit
Portrait is so good too. I always hem and haw about which I like better.
FatReverend@reddit
I love portrait but for me it's firmly ranked in third place with Mechanical Animals as number two.
thisprocessislame@reddit
A Perfect Circle- Thirteenth Step Ghost- Infestissumam Callous Daoboys- I Don't Want To See You In Heaven Mars Volta- Frances The Mute
VelvetMatthews@reddit
Its a close one, but I am taking Deloused by a small margin
AnySortOfPerson@reddit
Not even close.
farw1313@reddit
D'Angelo - Voodoo
JankDeckWins@reddit
Metallica- Ride the Lightning
Significant-Rush-129@reddit
It’s not their second but their third: Radioheads In Rainbows album. I know hardcore fans disagree with me, but that album, it does things to me!
ExplanationShoddy233@reddit
It’s their 7th studio album
adjust_your_set@reddit
Dude missed the mark by 4 😂
IM_A_MUFFIN@reddit
Linkin Park - Reanimation took everything they did and then turned it up to 11 to prove to everyone how they did things while bagging some of the biggest names in Hip Hop.
adjust_your_set@reddit
Glass Animals - How to Be a Human Being
Haraldr_Hin_Harfagri@reddit
Cranberries- No Need to Argue. Everybody Else is doing it.... Is a really close second though
have1dog@reddit
Two of my comfort albums
TiEmEnTi@reddit
good kid maad city
UnderH20giraffe@reddit
Pixies - Doolittle
im_a_picasso@reddit
Solo Paul's RAM
Moose_Kin@reddit
Foo Fighters - The Color and the Shape
sexwiththebabysitter@reddit
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
jazzlike-sounds@reddit
Tom Waits - The Heart of Saturday Night
A_Humble_Masterpiece@reddit
Gerry Rafferty - City to City
FatReverend@reddit
Slipknot Iowa.
Adrasteia-One@reddit
Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
spazzy4242@reddit
Stone Temple Pilots - Purple
chrisdecaf@reddit
Clinic - Walking With Thee
Britown@reddit
Soup by Blind Melon
psilosophist@reddit
Digable Planets - Blowout Comb
Agreeable_Mouse6000@reddit
Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire
headrat-yourhighness@reddit
Lonerism by Tame Impala