Greatest Sophmore Albums in Rock History

[Iron MikeyJ]

The Bends by Radiohead

Sap by Alice in Chains

GnR lies or Illusions by Guns n Roses

Fixed.

Ride the Lightning hands down for me.

Peace Sells

With the Beatles

Axis Bold as Love

Vulgar Display of Power, Thriller and the MMLP if they count.

What's the Story Morning Glory?

Meantime by Helmet

Led Zeppelin II

Purple by STP

Paranoid

Nevermind

Thriller isn't a sophomore unless you ignore his pre-Epic work.

I agree. Thriller isn't REALLY MJ's 2nd album. Even if you ignore his J5 stuff, he had at least one, perhaps 2 OFFICIAL Motown albums.

[bacardimayne]

Can't just ignore Got to Be There and Ben.

[Iron MikeyJ]

Can't just ignore Got to Be There and Ben.

Even though it's probably better if you do, lol.

[Powerage5]

Totally forgot to put Coheed on my list - In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3 is a great album.

[GivenToFly]

The Black Crowes wins both debut and sophomore for me

Get Your Wings by Aerosmith

Everyday Demons by The Answer

The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion by The Black Crowes

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan

Bayou Country by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Communique by Dire Straits

Images and Words by Dream Theater

Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly

The '59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem

GNR Lies by Guns N' Roses

117 Degrees by Izzy Stradlin

Led Zeppelin II by Led Zeppelin

Vs by Pearl Jam

The Rolling Stones No 2 by The Rolling Stones

[Sixes]

The Black Crowes wins both debut and sophomore for me

Get Your Wings by Aerosmith

Everyday Demons by The Answer

The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion by The Black Crowes

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan

Bayou Country by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Communique by Dire Straits

Images and Words by Dream Theater

Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly

The '59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem

GNR Lies by Guns N' Roses

117 Degrees by Izzy Stradlin

Led Zeppelin II by Led Zeppelin

Vs by Pearl Jam

The Rolling Stones No 2 by The Rolling Stones

Great picks in The Gaslight Anthem and Flogging Molly

[Zeppelin]

And Images and Words. What an awesome album.

[Johnny Drama]

The Bends by Radiohead

Sap by Alice in Chains

GnR lies or Illusions by Guns n Roses

Fixed.

Ride the Lightning hands down for me.

Peace Sells

With the Beatles

Axis Bold as Love

Vulgar Display of Power, Thriller and the MMLP if they count.

What's the Story Morning Glory?

Meantime by Helmet

Led Zeppelin II

Purple by STP

Paranoid

Nevermind

Thriller isn't a sophomore unless you ignore his pre-Epic work.

Well yeah hence why I suffixed those three albums with "if they count" considering most folks couldn't give a shit about Metal Magic, Got to be There and Infinite, respectively.

[sturginho]

10. Nevermind - Nirvana ( is this really they second album)

yes, Bleach was their first album released by Sub Pop, Nevermind was their second album and was released by Geffen

I guess I was sort of going for major label sophomore. In Utero maybe better fit. But Bleach was rereleased on Geffen?

It was rereleased by Geffen yes. But I don't think it is correct to consider only "major" label releases, in that case 'Ixnay on the Ombre' is The Offspring's debut album cos it was the first one to be released exclusively by Columbia?

In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth:3 - Coheed and Cambria

Oh yes.

Totally forgot to put Coheed on my list - In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3 is a great album.

It is still my favourite album from them, although I know most people rate Good Apollo 1 higher

[wasted]

Sothern Harmony is a great record best of the 90s good. Slave to the Grind as well. Monkey Business best video of all times. I see you rolling I'm drunk

[WFA]

ohhhh shit i forgot slave to the grind was the sophomore album! Fuck, knock of This Is Gonna Hurt and put that on. If Thriller is being counted as MJ's second (even though it's not!) knock off cheap trick and replace it with MJ on my list

[DieselDaisy]

You do not pick or choose what is considered an artist's second album. Thriller is de jure et de facto, MJ's sixth album.

Edited October 15, 2014 by DieselDaisy

[GivenToFly]

The Black Crowes wins both debut and sophomore for me

Get Your Wings by Aerosmith

Everyday Demons by The Answer

The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion by The Black Crowes

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan

Bayou Country by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Communique by Dire Straits

Images and Words by Dream Theater

Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly

The '59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem

GNR Lies by Guns N' Roses

117 Degrees by Izzy Stradlin

Led Zeppelin II by Led Zeppelin

Vs by Pearl Jam

The Rolling Stones No 2 by The Rolling Stones

Great picks in The Gaslight Anthem and Flogging Molly

Film Noir is my favourite song in recent years (at least since 2010).

[gunsfanoldie]

Ones I haven't seen:

High N Dry - Def Leppard. Arguably their best record and just Leppard in all their glory. Bravo guys.

Tangled In Reins - Steelheart. Phenomenal album from a great unknown band. They made a masterpiece here then the band sadly fell apart.

Journey - Look Into The Future. Just recently discovered this, but a phenomenal sophomore album that is just classic 70s.

[OmarBradley]

High N Dry - Def Leppard. Arguably their best record and just Leppard in all their glory. Bravo guys.

Tangled In Reins - Steelheart. Phenomenal album from a great unknown band. They made a masterpiece here then the band sadly fell apart.

[Bono]

The Bends - Radiohead

What's the Story Morning Glory - Oasis

Vs - Pearl Jam

Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins

[DR DOOM]

Diary Of A Madman

edit: saw a few others listed it

Edited October 17, 2014 by DR DOOM

[gunsfanoldie]

Ones I haven't seen:

High N Dry - Def Leppard. Arguably their best record and just Leppard in all their glory. Bravo guys.

Tangled In Reins - Steelheart. Phenomenal album from a great unknown band. They made a masterpiece here then the band sadly fell apart.

Journey - Look Into The Future. Just recently discovered this, but a phenomenal sophomore album that is just classic 70s.

Others that probably have been listed, just to complete my list:

Stone Cold Classics (my top 10):

1. Cream - Disraeli Gears (one of the best of all time)

2. Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow (brilliant)

3. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II (the king of sophomore albums)

4. Lou Reed - Vicious (his most commercial and pop record. A home run)

5. Neil Young - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (flawless)

6. Nirvana - Nevermind (a blockbuster)

7. Pearl Jam - VS

8. The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely (one of the best modern rock albums of all time)

9. Slash's Snakepit - Ain't Life Grand (arguably one of my favorite albums of all time)

10. The Zombies - Odessey And Oracle

Other Excellent Records:

1. Aerosmith - Get Your Wings

2. Black Sabbath - Paranoid (another blockbuster)

3. Elton John - Elton John (people forget this is actually his second album)

4. Elvis Costello - This Year's Model

5. Graham Parker - Heat Treatment (he hates it and thinks it was rushed. Its his best album)

6. Guns N Roses - GNR Lies (I know this one is kind of a cheat, but I know it is a sophomore album as a whole and its fantastic)

7. New York Dolls - Too Much Too Soon (IMO their better record)

8. Paul McCartney - Ram (IMO his best solo record)

9. The Raspberries - Fresh

10. The Redwalls - De Nova

Various Other "Very Goods":

1. Bad Company - Straight Shooter

2. Billy Joel - Piano Man

3. Black Stone Cherry - Folklore And Superstition

4. Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle

5. David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World

6. The Doors - Strange Days

7. Eagles - Desperado

8. Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape

9. Genesis - Nursery Crymes

10. Jet - Shine On

11. John Lennon - Imagine

12. The Moody Blues - Days Of Future Passed

13. The Move - Shazam

14. Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory?

15. Rod Stewart - Gasoline Alley

16. Rush - Fly By Night

17. Slash - Apocalyptic Love

18. Steel Panther - Balls Out (not a joke, an excellent record)

19. Triumph - Rock And Roll Machine

[DieselDaisy]

Strange Days is probably my favourite Doors LP. It has a, strange quality haha. There are all these weird ballads on there like You've Lost Your Little Girl. Brilliant album.

[Iron MikeyJ]

Diary Of A Madman

edit: saw a few others listed it

I listed it Doom. Great minds my friend....

[CheapJon]

The following albums are the sophmore albums that I've cared to buy as of yet, missing a few in my collection. Could be forgetting an album or two as well.

Bombus - The Poet and the Parrot (X)

Graveyard - Hisingen Blues (X)

Down - Down II (X)

Oasis - Morning Glory (X)

Sabbath - Paranoid (X)

Zeppelin - II (X)

Aerosmith - Get Your Wings (X)

Tool - Ænema

Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg (X)

Hardcore Superstar - Bad sneakers and a pina colada

Ghost - Infestissumam (X)

Danko Jones - We Sweat Blood (X)

Crowbar - Crowbar

Kingdom of Sorrow - Behind the Blackest tears (X)

The Darkness - One Way Ticket (X)

Alice In Chains - Dirt

Nirvana - Nevermind

Dethklok - Dethalbum II (X)

Hellacopters - Payin' the Dues

Slash's Snakepit - Ain't Life Grand (X)

The ones marked (X) indicates that I have the debut as well. And no, I do not own GN'R Lies.

I'll add Doomriders - Darkness Come Alive

[Zint]

Many great ones listed.

I would add Dead Kennedys - Plastic Surgery Disasters and the Clash - Give 'Em Enough Rope.

[luciusfunk]

Ones I haven't seen:

High N Dry - Def Leppard. Arguably their best record and just Leppard in all their glory. Bravo guys.

Tangled In Reins - Steelheart. Phenomenal album from a great unknown band. They made a masterpiece here then the band sadly fell apart.

Journey - Look Into The Future. Just recently discovered this, but a phenomenal sophomore album that is just classic 70s.

Others that probably have been listed, just to complete my list:

Stone Cold Classics (my top 10):

1. Cream - Disraeli Gears (one of the best of all time)

2. Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow (brilliant)

3. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II (the king of sophomore albums)

4. Lou Reed - Vicious (his most commercial and pop record. A home run)

5. Neil Young - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (flawless)

6. Nirvana - Nevermind (a blockbuster)

7. Pearl Jam - VS

8. The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely (one of the best modern rock albums of all time)

9. Slash's Snakepit - Ain't Life Grand (arguably one of my favorite albums of all time)

10. The Zombies - Odessey And Oracle

Other Excellent Records:

1. Aerosmith - Get Your Wings

2. Black Sabbath - Paranoid (another blockbuster)

3. Elton John - Elton John (people forget this is actually his second album)

4. Elvis Costello - This Year's Model

5. Graham Parker - Heat Treatment (he hates it and thinks it was rushed. Its his best album)

6. Guns N Roses - GNR Lies (I know this one is kind of a cheat, but I know it is a sophomore album as a whole and its fantastic)

7. New York Dolls - Too Much Too Soon (IMO their better record)

8. Paul McCartney - Ram (IMO his best solo record)

9. The Raspberries - Fresh

10. The Redwalls - De Nova

Various Other "Very Goods":

1. Bad Company - Straight Shooter

2. Billy Joel - Piano Man

3. Black Stone Cherry - Folklore And Superstition

4. Bruce Springsteen - The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle

5. David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World

6. The Doors - Strange Days

7. Eagles - Desperado

8. Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape

9. Genesis - Nursery Crymes

10. Jet - Shine On

11. John Lennon - Imagine

12. The Moody Blues - Days Of Future Passed

13. The Move - Shazam

14. Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory?

15. Rod Stewart - Gasoline Alley

16. Rush - Fly By Night

17. Slash - Apocalyptic Love

18. Steel Panther - Balls Out (not a joke, an excellent record)

19. Triumph - Rock And Roll Machine

The Man Who Sold the World was Bowie's third album.

[gunsfanoldie]

The Man Who Sold the World was Bowie's third album.

Oh, technicality! But yes, you are correct. I forgot cause everyone considers the Space Oddity album his real first album that I forgot Man Who Sold The World is technically his third record.